"Soru!" The three appeared beside Zesi almost simultaneously.
Lampkin arrived first, taking the lead in the attack.
He drew his long blade, and a flash of steel streaked out.
It slashed toward Zesi like a bolt of lightning.
Youpi provided support, keeping slightly ahead of Lampkin to block any attacks for him.
The two attacked with all their strength to draw Zesi's attention.
The real killing move, however, came from the third man, Jason, who flickered in and out of sight as he waited for an opening.
Who knew how long the three had been carrying out missions together? Their coordination was exceptionally smooth.
With their seamless teamwork, they could often fight desperately and take down opponents considerably stronger than themselves.
Unfortunately, they had run into Zesi.
The gap between them was far more than a slight difference in strength.
In the New World, there was a group of people known as monsters.
It was not because they looked like monsters, but because their strength was monstrous.
And Zesi was one of those people known as monsters.
Zesi simply extended two fingers.
With a gentle pinch, he caught Lampkin's incoming blade between his fingers, stopping it from advancing any farther.
Seeing Zesi catch his blade so easily with two fingers, Lampkin was slightly startled.
But Lampkin knew Zesi was an expert and had never expected this slash alone to injure him.
He had only intended to force Zesi to dodge, creating a better opportunity for Youpi to attack.
He had not expected Zesi to stand there without dodging and catch his blade with just two fingers. That was not something an ordinary expert could do.
After that brief moment of surprise, however, Lampkin immediately reacted and pulled hard on his blade.
But he discovered that the blade seemed to have taken root between Zesi's fingers. He could not pull it free at all.
Then Zesi twisted his fingers, instantly snapping Lampkin's blade in two.
At the sight, Lampkin's jaw nearly dropped.
Although his blade was not a Famous Sword, it was still a finely forged weapon that had cost him a great deal of Beli.
Yet Zesi had snapped it so easily with just two fingers.
Just then, Zesi flicked the broken piece of blade held between his fingers.
Swish! Blood sprayed.
With that casual flick, the blade struck Youpi as he charged forward at full force.
It was as though Youpi had willingly thrown himself into its path.
The blade easily tore through Youpi's Tekkai defense, leaving an enormous wound across his body.
Zesi turned and slashed again.
A finger flew into the air.
Jason clutched the stump of his finger in pain as blood kept spurting from it.
Disbelief appeared on Jason's face.
His incredibly hard Shigan, which he had trained for years, made his finger far tougher than even Youpi's Tekkai, yet it had been easily severed by that slash-and by nothing more than a broken blade.
"This is how you slash!" Zesi raised the blade fragment high between his fingers, then swung it at Lampkin, who held the remaining half of his sword.
A blade gleam flashed, and a flying slash shot toward Lampkin. He only had time to raise his half-broken blade to block.
But the slash's cutting edge sliced through the blade in Lampkin's hand in an instant and struck his body.
"Fleet Admiral, we've confirmed it. The reason Natural Disaster Zesi fought Big Mom was the Brunei Family. According to the latest intelligence obtained from the Big Mom Pirates, Natural Disaster Zesi is the Brunei Family's eldest son, Wenlai Zesi!"
At Marine Headquarters, an intelligence officer hurried into the Fleet Admiral's Office with a document.
He handed the report to Fleet Admiral Kong.
"What's the situation with this Brunei Family? I feel like I've heard of them somewhere!" Kong said as he took the report and began reading.
"The head of the Brunei Family, Wenlai Kate, was originally a fairly major flour and dessert merchant in the New World. Six years ago, the Big Mom Pirates approached the Brunei Family to arrange a tea party. But, perhaps because of Zesi, the Big Mom Pirates didn't rob them. Instead, they entered into a partnership with the family. From then on, the Brunei Family became a dessert supplier for Totto Land. After that, their growth became unstoppable. In just a few years, they became immensely wealthy, with assets worth over ten billion," the intelligence officer said.
Just then, Sengoku, who had been sitting nearby drinking tea, suddenly rose with a changed expression and asked, "Are they the family behind Brunei Fine Wine, which has recently become wildly popular across the seas?"
"Yes, the Brunei Fine Wine that's recently become wildly popular across the seas belongs to the Brunei Family!"
"You know this Brunei Family, Sengoku?" Kong asked in puzzlement.
"Earlier, Spandine of Cipher Pol sent a request for assistance, asking the Marines to send forces to help them wipe out a New World power called the Brunei Family. The charge was disobeying the Celestial Dragons' orders. Since it involved the Celestial Dragons, I sent Sakazuki, who was in the New World!"
Kong's expression changed as well when he heard Sengoku's words.
If Natural Disaster Zesi belonged to the Brunei Family, then Sakazuki would certainly run into Natural Disaster if he went there.
Although Sakazuki was very strong, he was absolutely no match yet for someone like Natural Disaster Zesi.
Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan were the three they were focusing on cultivating.
All three were top-tier in talent, strength, and Devil Fruit abilities.
They were already considering appointing them as the future Three Admirals.
So they absolutely could not let anything happen to them.
"Quick, send someone to notify Sakazuki immediately. Tell him not to act rashly. Garp-where's Garp? Have him go to the New World. Tell him he must keep Sakazuki safe!"
"I'd better go. Garp has never wanted to get involved in the Celestial Dragons' affairs. But Fleet Admiral, we must discuss this matter with the Five Elders. Completely breaking with Natural Disaster over wine would be foolish. Unless we can kill Zesi once and for all, we have no way to withstand Natural Disaster's wrath and retaliation. Kuzan may be able to freeze Zesi's tsunamis, but he can't stop Natural Disaster!" Sengoku said.