~ Support & Read 12 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!

  ~ If you like the story, please leave a Review :)

  ????

  "A Pirate Hunter?" Mozambia studied Arthur ily.

  The adjutant beside him instantly raised his flintlock, aiming it squarely at Arthur, ready to fire at the slightest provocation.

  "You could say that. Gotta make a living somehht?" Arthur ighe Marines' hostility, a casual, fabricated expnation.

  Mozambia waved his hand, his soldiers to stand down. He led the fleet back towards the base. As they went, he asked, "Bounty Hunter, may I have your name?"

  "No reason I 't tell you. It's Seabury D. Arthur..." Arthur sed his surroundings and then sat down unceremoniously on a deck chair.

  His casual attitude once again irritated the disciplined Marines.

  "Seabury D. Arthur? The Lightning Master who destroyed the Mafia HQ?" Only now did the full impact of the situation hit Mozambia.

  "No wonder he's strong—as fast as Vice Admiral Kizaru. He's a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user." Possessing a powerful fruit provided an insane boost to one's strength.

  Arthur's name now echoed throughout the West Blue, and it was beginning to spread to the Grand Line.

  After all, destroying a medium-sized isnd with a siack was far beyond the capabilities of most Pirates. bined with lightning's ability to both attad defend, it ractically semi-invincible in the Four Blues.

  Apanying the Marine fleet, a group of Marines returo the branch base. After colleg the 45 million Belly bounty, Arthur had no desire to linger. He left immediately.

  Mozambia tried several times to persuade him to stay, probing for information from all angles. Arthur deflected with vague answers about unimportant matters and expressed no i in joining the Marines. Only then was he allowed to leave.

  ....

  Carrying 45 million Belly, Arthur strolled leisurely through the town on the isnd.

  His first act after getting the money was to ge his clothes. After all, he'd been at sea for three days without a bath. Arthur's liness was the only thing preventing him from smelling.

  Carrying a case of Belly, he entered a clothing store. The attractive proprietress was incredibly enthusiastic, personally seleg clothes for the statuesque Arthur.

  He chose a white shirt and pants, along with a blue greatcoat the same color as his lightning. His six-foot-six frame was on full dispy, the powerful chest visible through the unbuttoned shirt. bined with his handsome looks, he appeared to be a pletely different person.

  It's true what they say: clothes make the man.

  Ign the proprietress's subtle flirting, Arthur ged ahe store.

  He had always wondered why people in the One Piece world wreatcoats. Now he finally uood.

  Not only did they protect against the sea breeze, but they also looked cool and were a way to show off.

  The blue greatcoat billowing behind him in the wind, Arthur strolled slowly dowreet, happily buying a bunch of food and clothes simir in style to what he was wearing. He sent it all back to the Pirate ship, then tinued his leisurely stroll.

  The people he was waiting for hadn't arrived yet. He didn't want to leave just yet.

  He stopped here and there, Arthur's mood was still good. He found a few more taverns and bought a batch of strong liquor t back to the ship...

  ....

  Outside the waters of the branch base isnd, a warship bearing the mark of Marine Headquarters finally ehe harbor.

  A squad of uniformly dressed Marines disembarked, splitting into two lines oher side of the path, clearing a passage wide enough for several people.

  Shortly after, a man wearing pants, shirtless, with a Justice greatcoat draped over his shoulders, his purple hair striking, and a somewhat disheveled Vice Admiral in a yellow striped suit disembarked together.

  Behind Zephyr and Kizaru followed several strangely dressed individuals of varyis and builds—members of the Wover's direct, secret intelligence agency—Cipher Pol 0.

  Although they were dressed differently, they all radiated a dangerous aura of indiffereo life. Even Zephyr and Kizaru were relut to spend much time with them.

  "Admiral Zephyr, Vice Admiral Kizaru! We of CP0 will take our leave first. You need not yourselves with this mission!" The ber, covered in a white robe and wearing a smiling mask, spoke in an indifferent tone, as if he were giving orders to Zephyr rather than sulting with him.

  The Wover's diretelligence agency—CP0, answered directly to the world's highest authority, the Five Elders. They could even disregard orders from the Fleet Admiral, Kong.

  After all, to the Woverhe Marines were merely a facade. The real obedient dogs were always the members of Cipher Pol.

  Therefore, the Five Elders trusted Cipher Pol more than the Marihey could perfectly handle any dirty work.

  The best example was five or six years ago, around 1490, when "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World, user of the More-More Fruit, a formidable Pirate who rampaged through the New World.

  Byrnndi World's More-More Fruit was extremely powerful. His amplified—powerful attacks were impossible for the Marines, who were suppressing the Grand Lio deal with.

  In the end, it was members of Cipher Pol who turned World's subordinates against him, severely wounding him with firearms. Only then was he finally frozen ao the Uer Prison, Impel Down.

  This anization ractically om. No one knew if there were members among their own ranks.

  "The oppo is a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. This fruit is very fast. Only Kizaru has a ce of successfully restraining him. You are not up to the task!" Zephyr disliked CP0, believing they cked justice due to their indiscriminate killing. But for the sake of the mission, he had to offer a reminder.

  Just moments ago, Captain Mozambia had reported via Den Den Mushi that Seabury D. Arthur was still roaming the isnd. The bined forces of the Marines and CP0 could easily "persuade" him to join.

  "That is none of Admiral Zephyr's . We have our own arras!" The masked ber said indifferently, directly leading the others away.

  He didn't believe that the oppo would refuse after they revealed the name of the Wover.

  ....

  "Are they here?" Arthur strolled dowreet, looking around, sipping from a bottle of liquor. His Observation Haki clearly picked up their versations.

  He finally uood by now. The Wover didn't know the true capabilities of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, or perhaps they only knew some of its surface abilities.

  They didn't even know about the electric wave ability that could vastly amplify Observation Haki, and they dared to speak in his "presence"? Didn't they know they were exposing themselves?

  No wohe Devil Fruit Encyclopedia only had a few lines describing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Arthur had initially thought that the Wover was iionally cealing the fruit's detailed information, not wanting others to know.

  Now it seemed that their information on this invincible fruit was insuffit.

  "Vegapunk wants the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's electricity to aid in researo wohey're looking for me." Arthur stroked his , calmly p.

  ????

  ~ 12 Advanced Chapters Avaible on Patreon!

  https://p-atreon./dragonnx

  (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)