"Dad, that's everything."
Marco sat cross-legged on the Moby Dick's deck, his expression gloomy.
At this moment, he was reporting to Whitebeard about the events of the previous day.
"Gurararara! This brat's really something!"
Whitebeard didn't get angry. Instead, he burst into hearty laughter, clearly interested.
"All right! I'll wait! I'll wait for him right here!"
"Dad, Shen Yuan's strength is truly unfathomable," Marco muttered, brows furrowed.
"I could tell during our fight—this guy wasn't treating me like a human being…"
Whitebeard casually swung Murakumogiri, his massive naginata, and smiled.
"Gurarara! He's Garp's grandson, after all! It's no surprise he's that strong."
Whitebeard's grin widened.
"You could say he inherited Garp's will of steel! Looks like the title of Iron Fist might pass on sooner than expected."
Marco nodded slightly, then shook his head again.
"No… Dad, that kid isn't just a brawler—he's a swordsman. A true swordsman."
"A swordsman?"
Whitebeard chuckled again, amused.
"I've heard all kinds of reports about Shen Yuan lately. Didn't you notice anything?"
Marco blinked. Honestly, he hadn't paid much attention.
"This little devil—he only targets evil. Pirates, slavers, corrupt nobles… he slaughters them all."
Whitebeard lowered himself slowly into his massive chair, lifting a wine gourd the size of a barrel.
He drank deeply.
"Dad! Stop drinking, your body can't take it!" Marco cried out.
"I know, I know," Whitebeard waved lazily, but the grin remained on his face.
---
Grand Line – Drum Kingdom
> [Location Reached: Drum Kingdom – Skill Points +5]
[You have accumulated enough battle data. Awakening Tree unlocked.]
[Skill Points Allocated: +5 → Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku) Lv. 4 ➝ Lv. 5 – Advanced Range Unlocked.]
"I've arrived on behalf of the World Government," Shen Yuan said mockingly, imitating Rob Lucci's cold, monotone voice.
"To execute the user of the Swallow-Swallow Fruit."
He strolled casually across the snow-covered path with Rayleigh and Tashigi at his side, sarcasm laced in his voice.
Smoker's face darkened.
A coat of Armament Haki (Busoshoku) gradually covered his clenched fists.
He stole a glance at Tashigi—who was smiling brightly next to Shen Yuan—and his face twitched.
She had mastered basic Haki infusion in just under seven days!
His confidence cracked.
Damn it… At this rate, I'll fall behind her completely…
He made a silent vow: I must unlock Observation Haki before her!
Suddenly, a shout echoed ahead.
"Outsiders! Stay where you are!"
The speaker wore a green coat, had steam coming from his nostrils, and pointed a giant axe at them.
It was Dalton, standing firm with several guards at his side.
"Stop wasting words. Just look at their ship—kill them and take their treasure!" one guard sneered.
"Silence! If we do that, we're no better than pirates," Dalton growled.
He turned back to Shen Yuan's group, eyes wary.
"Outsiders, state your purpose."
"Relax. We're just here to see a doctor. Is that allowed?" Shen Yuan said calmly.
Dalton sighed in relief. Judging by their appearance, they weren't typical raiders.
"All right. Please register your identities—"
"Captain… Look at this bounty…"
Dalton took the paper suspiciously. The moment he laid eyes on it, his jaw dropped.
"'Death God' Shen Yuan?! Bounty… 530 million berries?!"
Dalton's hands trembled.
Even his fingers won't move right…
"I'm sorry," Shen Yuan shrugged. "I just killed some trash along the way. Didn't think it would earn me a bounty."
The villagers nearby gasped and pointed in fear.
"That's Rayleigh! 'Dark King' Rayleigh!"
Rayleigh's glasses reflected the sunlight as he sighed.
"No way… I wrapped up tightly. How'd they recognize me?"
Shen Yuan gave him a deadpan look. "That ragged cape's practically part of your skin."
Rayleigh blinked, then silently tucked the cloak into his pants.
"…You're unbelievable," Shen Yuan muttered.
"Intruders, halt! We must report this to the king—"
"No need."
A cold voice cut through the air. A group emerged from the trees.
At the front stood a tall man in a black top hat, his hands in his pockets, eyes like daggers.
"Lucci…" Dalton's eyes narrowed.
Before he could speak further—
"Rankyaku!"
A sharp kick hit Dalton, sending him flying into a snowbank!
"I'm here on behalf of the World Government," Rob Lucci announced,
"To eliminate the Swallow-Swallow Fruit user and execute the pirate Shen Yuan, wanted at 530 million."
Rayleigh and Shen Yuan exchanged glances.
Their faces… became very strange.
"In the name of justice, I will purge you," Lucci declared, his tone flat.
"…This guy's serious?" Shen Yuan muttered. Then he chuckled.
"How about this?"
He scooped up a ball of snow and packed it tightly.
"Try catching this."
He infused it with Armament Haki and hurled it like a bullet.
BOOM!
Lucci extended a hand, casually reaching to catch it—
But missed?
"?"
He looked at his palm—
There was a hole right in the center!
"Guhhh—! Haaah…" Lucci grimaced, clutching his hand.
"A hidden weapon?!"
Lucci looked up—and panicked.
Shen Yuan, Rayleigh, and even Tashigi and Smoker… were all forming snowballs.
Deadly ones.
"All CP9 units, battle positions!"
Lucci roared. He leapt into the air and entered Zoan Hybrid Form, claws extending.
"Rankyaku Gaichou!"
A massive air slash swept out—
Shen Yuan dodged easily and threw another Haki-coated snowball.
"What the hell—are these cannonballs?!"
Lucci couldn't block directly.
He used Kami-e (Paper Drawing) to narrowly evade, only to find himself pelted with a barrage.
"Rokuougan!"
Lucci drove both fists forward, obliterating multiple snowballs with a concussive blast.
"Tch… hurts more than it should…"
He looked at his burned palm and gritted his teeth, dashing at Shen Yuan again.
Elsewhere, Kaku launched Rankyaku at Shen Yuan from the side.
"Too slow."
Rayleigh deflected the blade of wind with a flash of his sword and unleashed a swift counterstrike!
Kaku's pupils shrank—he couldn't dodge in time.
SLASH!
Blood spurted. Kaku collapsed into the snow, unconscious.
"Storm Legs!"
Jabra tried to intervene but Shen Yuan appeared behind him in a flash, wielding the Heaven-Swallowing Sword.
His aura erupted—
"Pfft!"
One clean strike—Lucci's eyes went wide as the blade dug deep into his chest.
He collapsed into the snow, Zoan form reverting. Silent. Motionless.
Nearby—
"Dark Rainstorm!"
Tashigi unleashed a precise combination with Shigure, downing Kumadori and Fukuro with ease.
Smoker fought against Blueno and Kalifa, subduing both with sheer brute strength and Haki-infused strikes.
Bruno tried to flee using his Doa Doa no Mi, but—
"Boom!"
Shen Yuan appeared in front of him and knocked him out cold with a single blow to the jaw.
The snow settled. Silence returned.
Around them, CP9 members lay sprawled in defeat.
Shen Yuan exhaled lightly.
"Smoker. Tie them up. Load them onto the ship."
Smoker hesitated. Technically… CP9 worked for the same World Government he did.
"That's an order."
Shen Yuan's voice was firm and commanding.
"…Aye."
Smoker sighed. Then began binding the agents.
Smoker: You're insane… but damn, you're awesome…