Hawkeye had just walked out of the eerie mansion and continued deeper into Death Island.
Wearing a Navy hat with mouse-like ears, Colonel Rat led a squad of Marines, blocking Hawkeye's path.
"Hawkeye!"
Colonel Rat's lips curled slightly as he said, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku of Navy Headquarters has issued the latest order: all Marines and hired forces must obey deployment, including the Shichibukai, and must participate in the operation to capture the world's most wanted criminal."
Normally,
this cheap Colonel from the East Blue Branch would naturally not be qualified to speak to Hawkeye in such a manner.
But now it was different; the order was issued by Navy Headquarters, by the Fleet Admiral, and behind them stood the World Government and the Five Elders.
Therefore, even someone as strong as Hawkeye had to obediently follow orders.
This was his understanding.
Just like in recent years, despite his lack of powerful strength, he had managed to rise to Branch Colonel by manipulating power and deceiving his superiors, and was now gradually climbing back to a position in Navy Headquarters, leveraging the assets from his dealings with the Arlong Pirates.
This was the taste of power; even the strongest Marines could only be his subordinates.
In his mind, even Hawkeye, a Shichibukai, had to obey the commands of power.
However,
he had never considered that when strength reached a certain level, it could easily tear apart this layer of power, which was inherently built upon strength.
For these people, power was merely a fig leaf.
Swish.
A burning emerald green flame sword energy instantly left a deep, scorched blade mark across the entire street of Ghost Town.
The entire squad of Marines led by Rat was defeated in an instant, with most of them falling.
All entered a revival state.
"You—you dare to attack the Navy?"
Colonel Rat felt a sword energy, as if it could pierce the soul, graze the air beside him, scorching his cheek painfully.
The courage that had just emerged shattered at this moment.
Along with it, his worldview, nurtured by power, also crumbled.
Just as his legs went weak and he wanted to kneel, the Den Den Mushi in his arms suddenly rang.
[Tip: Cross-world Den Den Mushi usage fee, twenty reward points per second.]
The internal space of the Trial Tower and the outside East Blue seemed to be integrated, but they were actually two completely different spaces.
To communicate, it was naturally not that easy.
"It's Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
Colonel Rat seemed to have seen a savior and quickly answered the call.
The Den Den Mushi's head transformed into Sengoku's likeness, and his voice came through: "Hawkeye, you are a Shichibukai granted qualification by the World Government with a legitimate identity; obeying the deployment of Navy Headquarters is only natural."
One could hear the gentleness and helplessness in Sengoku's tone.
These Shichibukai were all unruly great pirates, and Hawkeye was the most difficult to command, almost never attending Navy meetings.
If it weren't for his strength as the World's Strongest Swordsman, which the Navy couldn't easily abandon, he would have been replaced by the World Government long ago.
"That's right, but I have more important things to do."
Hawkeye nodded, then shook his head.
He was most annoyed by unnecessary troubles; although he didn't fear the Navy, the trouble was that the Navy's pursuit and bounties would attract some small fry and flies, which were very annoying.
"Are you referring to contending for the Tower Lord in the very center of Death Island?"
Sengoku's voice continued, his speech slightly faster; such high communication fees made even Navy Headquarters feel a bit pained. He said, "The world's most dangerous criminal, Monkey D. Dragon, also has the same goal as you. You will eventually meet. Navy Headquarters' requirement is to capture him alive and drive him out of Death Island."
Within Death Island, even if Dragon were killed many times, he could revive, which was meaningless.
Moreover,
the Navy didn't want to just kill this fierce criminal who dared to defy the Celestial Dragons; executing him like the Pirate King was the best method.
It could not only uphold the World Government's authority but also warn the restless slaves and commoners that this was the consequence of daring to oppose the World Government.
"Alright."
Hawkeye nodded slightly after hearing the request.
He ignored the rigid Colonel Rat and continued to walk forward. Just as Sengoku, pained by the communication fees, was about to hang up,
Hawkeye turned back and reminded, "Mr. Sengoku, it seems you haven't realized what the arrival of that Game Merchant truly means. The Four Seas are no longer what you can imagine sitting in Navy Headquarters; they will soon undergo earth-shattering changes."
"If you can't keep up, even the high and mighty Celestial Dragons..."
He didn't continue the rest of his sentence.
Because he hated troublesome things.
The higher one stood in the world, the more clearly one could feel the terrifying abilities displayed by the Game Merchant after becoming a player, unlike those ignorant ordinary pirates who treated the Trial Tower as a game between the Navy and pirates.
From now on, the Four Seas would no longer have a place for cowards and the weak.
Any former strong individuals, including the Four Emperors and Navy Admirals, and even him, the World's Strongest Swordsman, could be surpassed, left behind, and finally crushed into the dust of history.
As long as that existence was willing to remain in the Pirate World, no one could stop this major trend.
Whoever blocked it would die.
Sengoku was a bit excited, not expecting such an unexpected gain. He quickly said, "Is that so, Hawkeye? It seems you've had close contact with that Game Merchant. Can you provide his information to the Navy?"
"Sorry, no comment."
Hawkeye heard Sengoku's attitude and shook his head helplessly.
Clearly, the other party hadn't taken his words seriously, still viewing the Game Merchant as some kind of special ability user or an existence that Navy Headquarters could deal with.
How foolish.
No, even he himself, before personally experiencing the Game Merchant's might, probably wouldn't have believed such a thing.
Hawkeye's lips curled into a smirk, looking like he was enjoying a good show.
It seemed the Navy was in for a rough time this time.
On the other side,
the Navy team led by Garp also arrived inside [Ghost Town], located deep within Death Island.
With his unsealing ability and rich combat experience, Garp's speed in hunting specters was very fast, and he quickly grasped his unique ability.
[Strong Fist]: Concentrates internal power, greatly increasing punching force for the duration.
Originating from the fighter class of the Xu Kingdom, a style focused on training the body and fists, without flashy Qigong or complex techniques, only fists and a body trained to the extreme.
Every move and stance would release the strongest power within the body.
Boom.
A punch, imbued with Armed Haki and carrying Strong Fist energy, made the air seem to vibrate.
"Hahahahaha, what astonishing power! Are there such formidable fighters in the Otherworld too?"
Garp rushed bare-handed into an eerie courtyard, throwing a flurry of punches at the dense swarm of specters.
The Marines behind him rushed to follow but were blocked by an invisible force at the vermillion gate.
These eerie courtyards were like small dungeons, allowing a maximum of five people to enter.
The Marines could only watch helplessly, waiting for Navy Hero Garp to come out.
"Vice Admiral Garp, the operation to capture the criminal cannot be delayed! If we linger any longer, the most dangerous criminal might escape!"
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