But Roy's icy voice suddenly rang out.
"Keh heh heh, Sengoku, you seem to have forgotten something."
"To be honest, I don't think you can kill me. Unless there are certain things you don't want anymore."
Sengoku was furious, yet he still froze, not understanding why Roy dared to speak like that.
"Heh, take a look at who these people are."
Roy ordered everyone to step aside, revealing the unconscious Marine survivors hidden aboard the flesh-and-blood warship, each covered with a sack.
Sengoku's pupils abruptly contracted. "These are..."
Earlier, they had assumed from the outset that Garp, Kuzan, and the other Marines had all died, and they had been seething with anger.
But the thirty or so figures covered in sacks before them were clearly Marines.
In particular, the figure lying motionless on the ground gave him an intense sense of familiarity.
Seeing Sengoku's reaction, Roy smiled with ill intent.
"I've long heard that Fleet Admiral Sengoku was known as a brilliant strategist back when he was an Admiral."
"I'm sure you've figured out that these prisoners in sacks are your Marines."
He did not identify them. Instead, he changed tack. "Now, I'll give you a choice."
"If you dare advance even one step, I'll kill one at random."
"So tell me, do you dare take that gamble?"
With that, Roy signaled Sanjuan Wolf to move forward.
How could Sanjuan Wolf dare move at a time like this?
The Marines' dark cannon muzzles were all aimed straight at them.
But when he looked up, he saw Roy gesturing at his head.
Cold sweat immediately poured down his body, and he could only move forward in despair.
Bullet and the others' expressions also changed dramatically. They wanted to stop him, but Roy silenced them all with a look.
But they did not understand. What Roy was doing was nothing short of threatening and provoking the Marines.
At such a sensitive moment, it was tantamount to courting death.
Yet Roy did exactly that.
Only Red, whose Observation Haki could probe people's hearts, gave Roy an admiring glance.
He knew Roy was gambling that Sengoku would not dare act rashly, while also breaking through his psychological defenses.
And that was indeed the case.
Roy was gambling that Sengoku would not dare make a reckless move.
Besides, there really were extremely important prisoners among these surviving troops.
At that thought, Roy looked at Sengoku's increasingly grim expression and continued to provoke him.
"Heh heh, they're just a few prisoners, aren't they? Is that really enough to make Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral, so indecisive?"
"As I see it, there might not be anyone all that important to you among these prisoners. If I were the Marines' supreme Fleet Admiral, sacrificing them to capture a group of heinous criminals would be what mattered."
"Otherwise, if they escape, countless ordinary people will suffer!"
Those words made the already tense atmosphere even more oppressive.
Many Vice Admirals and Marine soldiers finally lost their patience, disregarding discipline as they roared in anger.
"Damn it! This criminal is too arrogant! He's openly provoking us! I say we attack! It's a soldier's duty to die for his country. They won't blame us!"
"Exactly! If I were them, I'd rather die than be taken prisoner. I'd never want to become a weakness for Marine Headquarters that villains could use against us!"
They had rushed over from headquarters through the night.
A journey that should have taken less than two hours had instead taken several.
Now the criminals had appeared and were provoking them so brazenly. Who could stand it?
"All of you, shut up! How could we at Marine Headquarters abandon prisoners? If word gets out that the Marines abandoned their own comrades, do you want the whole world to laugh at us?"
Staff Officer Tsuru was furious and reprimanded them mercilessly.
The Marine soldiers who had been so aggressive immediately lowered their heads in shame.
That was right. They were the Marines who stood for justice.
The Fleet Admiral and numerous Vice Admirals were all present.
If they really abandoned their comrades, how would they be any different from pirates?
After all, only pirates abandoned and killed their comrades.
"Hahaha, interesting. This is truly fascinating."
"You righteous Marines really have shown me some touching camaraderie."
Roy laughed loudly, directing his attack straight at Sengoku. "Then, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what will you choose?"
"If you want to save these Marine soldiers, move your warships aside and stay out of our way."
"If you don't want them, I won't force you. We'll just kill the prisoners and fight another battle."
Seeing Sengoku's expression grow even grimmer, Roy's smile deepened. "But you'd better think carefully. Someone very important to you is among these prisoners."
Despite his words, his heart was utterly solemn.
That was because, although their group appeared to have left Impel Down openly and in boundless glory,
if Sengoku and the others held their ground and went to war at any cost,
then even with three top-tier fighters, they would eventually be worn down and killed.
In fact, simply sinking the warship completely would leave many Devil Fruit users unable to resist on the spot. Even someone as strong as Bullet would not last long.
So he could only gamble.
At that thought, Roy looked at the doubt and uncertainty in Sengoku's eyes and grew even more certain.
He had made the right bet.
Silence fell over the scene, broken only by the sound of the warship cutting through the waves.
Everyone's nerves were taut, their gazes fixed on Sengoku, the one who would make the decision.
Finally, after a brief silence, Sengoku spoke.
"Let them through!"
At those words, the Marine soldiers clenched their weapons tightly, their eyes full of resentment.
So they could only compromise after all?
The criminals, meanwhile, were overjoyed.
"I'll only give you a hundred meters of clearance. If you refuse, we fight."
But Sengoku immediately changed tack:
"At the same time, you must hand over the Marine prisoners in exchange."
He did not even give Roy a chance to refuse.
He directly ordered a Rear Admiral to take a small warship roughly a hundred meters to the rear.
The warships that had encircled them also spread out, opening a passage as though seeing off departing guests.
His calm gaze met Roy's without yielding.
The psychological contest between the two sides reached its peak at that moment.
"As expected of Marine Headquarters, and of Fleet Admiral Sengoku. I, Roy, admire this loyalty that keeps you from abandoning your comrades."
After exchanging a long look with Sengoku, Roy ordered the warship forward, tacitly accepting Sengoku's deal.
Splash!
Seawater surged as the criminals sailed straight out of the encirclement and into the open sea, beside themselves with excitement.
They had never imagined they would actually succeed.
Only Roy, Red, and Bullet exchanged glances, each understanding what the others were thinking.
The real clash and battle of wits had only just begun.
And however furious the Marines were, they ultimately did not attack.
But just after the two warships had sailed several dozen meters, Staff Officer Tsuru and Sengoku, whose faces had still been full of anger, narrowed their eyes almost simultaneously.
"Sengoku, Zephyr and the others should be here soon, shouldn't they?
"After all, we went on ahead while they stayed behind partly to account for unexpected developments."
"Don't worry. Roy and the others won't escape. Zephyr and his group will be here soon.
"Looking at it now, that casual choice we made back then has actually helped us."
Before you continue