World's Most Evil Man Appears

"I'm going to the New World!"

Smoker took a deep drag on his cigar, his tone calm but resolute.

He could not stay in Loguetown forever.

Just as Wilton had said, the East Blue stage was too small. The Grand Line and the New World were where justice and order were needed most. He had not joined the Marines to coast through life.

He had his own dreams and his own justice.

Tashigi pushed up her glasses and nodded solemnly. From now on, she would not fear hardship, failure, or setbacks. She would train harder than ever, grow stronger, then fight bravely against evil and uphold justice.

Neither of them thought this way because Wilton had influenced them.

From the moment they joined the Marines, they had already decided to protect justice, defend the weak, and bring less pain and more happiness to this world.

"Farewell!"

Wilton turned and headed toward the warship.

But the moment he boarded, the previously clear sky suddenly darkened. The once-calm sea churned beneath the howling wind, and the warship began to pitch relentlessly.

Pitter-patter.

Raindrops the size of beans began to fall. In just a minute or two, the weather had changed completely. Such a thing would have been common on the Grand Line or in the New World, but in Loguetown, it was rather strange.

"What's going on?"

"This weather isn't normal."

Smoker looked up at the sky, thick with dark clouds, Lightning and Thunder flashing overhead. He kept puffing on his cigar, his brows tightly furrowed. Whether it was an illusion or not, an invisible pressure seemed to settle on his shoulders.

"Loguetown's weather has always been stable."

Tashigi was equally puzzled.

The shift in weather was too bizarre. There had been no warning at all. It began immediately with Lightning and Thunder, shrieking winds, and inexplicable rain.

"Be careful. A powerful figure has appeared."

On the warship.

Wilton's expression was grave. His Observation Haki vaguely sensed an aura, and he turned to look toward the sky on the left. At some point, a figure completely shrouded in a dark green coat had appeared there.

"When did he show up?"

Smoker, Tashigi, and the Marines, along with Arlong, Buggy, and Luffy on the deck, all followed Wilton's gaze. Their faces were filled with shock and disbelief.

Though the figure gave off no obvious aura, no one knew why, but everyone became extremely tense. Some even swallowed instinctively.

This silent entrance, coupled with the change in weather, made it clear that this mysterious man was no ordinary person.

That invisible presence was suffocating.

The oppressive feeling was nearly overwhelming.

"Marine Tough Guy Wilton. No wonder you're Vice Admiral Dalmatian's bravest Marine. Luffy was truly unfortunate to run into you."

A slightly domineering, rough voice descended from above.

Dragon looked at Wilton, who held dumbbells in both hands. He had heard of him by chance before. After all, the Revolutionary Army was in rebellion, so they naturally paid close attention to the World Government and the Marines.

For certain troublesome officers, if there was a chance to recruit them, they would spare no effort to do so, seeking out as many like-minded companions as possible.

"Wihahaha~"

"I never expected the leader of the Revolutionary Army to appear here."

Wilton raised a brow. This guy had indeed appeared after all.

As a Marine Rear Admiral, he possessed authority beyond what ordinary people could comprehend. Information on powerful figures from hostile forces was also a required subject for Marine officers.

"What?"

"The leader of the Revolutionary Army?"

Everyone present was shocked beyond belief as they looked at Dragon in midair. It was common knowledge that there was an organization on these seas seeking to overthrow the World Government.

That was the Revolutionary Army.

A mysterious and powerful organization.

Its leader had even been labeled by the World Government as the World's Most Evil Criminal.

Unlike pirates, the Revolutionary Army was an organized, planned, united force. They were not a scattered rabble like pirates. Aside from a few crazed and powerful pirates, none would even think of overthrowing the World Government.

"You've got to be kidding."

"Why would the World's Most Evil Criminal appear in Loguetown?"

"Hey, didn't that guy just mention Luffy?"

Nami and Sanji instinctively exchanged glances, each seeing confusion in the other's eyes.

Then they looked at Luffy, who was completely baffled and still asking what the Revolutionary Army was. He merely thought the title World's Most Evil Criminal sounded impressive.

"Could you do me a favor and let me take them away?"

The fierce wind swept through the air.

The hood of Dragon's dark green coat was blown back, revealing a fierce face without eyebrows and black hair casually draped behind his head.

Buggy and the others could be heard sucking in sharp breaths.

Dragon looked too vicious, carrying the air of a ruthless, brutal criminal. Combined with his suffocating presence, the pressure sank even deeper into their bones.

"No."

Wilton refused outright.

His expression had never been more serious. Holding his dumbbells in both hands, he began bouncing rhythmically in place, his upper body swaying from side to side with a steady cadence.

He was warming up.

Perhaps this battle would be the hardest one he had faced in the past five years. Even knowing that he would not be a match for Dragon, he still wanted to fight.

With so many people watching, he could not do nothing.

The fearless, righteous, death-defying image he had maintained for four years still needed to be strengthened.

At the same time, he wanted to see just how wide the gap was between himself and a top-tier powerhouse, and try to learn something from this battle.

"That makes things troublesome. I have to save Luffy."

Dragon felt a headache coming on, though he had expected this situation.

He had to save Luffy, after all. Luffy was his son.

As Dragon spoke and looked toward Luffy, Buggy and Arlong beside him opened their mouths slightly, their eyes nearly bulging from their sockets. Their hearts were filled with disbelief and anxiety.

Don't joke with us.

The Straw Hat Pirates were connected to the World's Most Evil Man?

Damn it.

Why had that idiot not mentioned it when they were fighting?

With a background like that, why did they even need to fight? Couldn't everyone have just sat down and had tea together? Now they looked like bitter enemies meeting face-to-face. How awkward.

Buggy and Arlong could hear their own heartbeats.

Perhaps Alvida did not understand the weight carried by the Revolutionary Army and the World's Most Evil Man, but the two of them were different. They had some experience and connections. Even Bartholomew had heard a thing or two.

This was no joke.

If Luffy had said from the beginning that he was connected to the Revolutionary Army and the World's Most Evil Man, they might not have attacked so directly. They would have talked first and fought later.

Maybe they could even have become friends.

Wasn't this screwing them over?

Why were Arlong and Buggy so terrified? Because the World's Most Evil Man had just said it: he had to take them away. He had to take them away. Those words were utterly firm and beyond doubt.

Their relationship was clearly anything but ordinary.

"If you want to take them away, you'll have to knock me down first."

Even against the World's Most Evil Man, Wilton showed no fear whatsoever.

He was determined to clear this reputation dungeon.

Dragon said nothing more.

The aura around him simply surged, and the pressure that had not been too suffocating suddenly enveloped the entire harbor as his sharp eyes widened.

An unmatched, overwhelming, fierce, and domineering will shot straight toward Wilton. Black-red lightning sparks began to spread through the stormy sky.

This was Conqueror's Haki.

Perhaps only one person in a million possessed it.

And this Conqueror's Haki targeted Wilton alone. Arlong and the others beside him noticed nothing at all.

He wanted to bring Wilton down quickly.