[Slacking off on the battlefield, Slacking Value +400]
"What slacking? This is called edge observation, okay! You just don't understand tactics..."
Raleigh complained about the system while watching the slaughter below.
Each flash of the golden sword light meant another figure falling.
Gion moved through the crowd, effortlessly deflecting every attack with the lightness of a butterfly flitting through flowers.
On the other side, Tokikake presented a completely different scene.
As a master of physical combat, Tokikake's every punch was filled with unparalleled explosive power.
His overwhelmingly powerful attacks left these inexperienced Mafia members utterly defenseless.
With a single punch, they were sent flying.
How could they possibly keep up with this!
"So satisfying, incredibly satisfying! Bring a few more, this isn't enough to quench my thirst!"
Tokikake appeared extremely excited, having been pent up for far too long during this period.
As a prodigy from headquarters, his trip to the East Blue made him realize he had been living in a narrow world like a frog in a well.
Though it didn't crush his spirit, it left him quite discontent.
Tokikake's strength was formidable—having reached the level of an elite captain, he could effortlessly defeat pirate captains with bounties of seventy to eighty million berries.
While people from the North Blue were generally stronger than those from other seas, they were still no match for a systematically trained headquarters prodigy.
"Die, you damned marine!"
Samuel raised his flintlock, aiming to shoot Gion who had her back turned to him.
At that moment, Gion, who had seemed completely unaware, suddenly sidestepped with a swift movement, evading the ambushing bullet.
Raleigh naturally witnessed this scene, stroking his chin and murmuring to himself:
"She's already mastered the application of Observation Haki in combat? Truly living up to her reputation as a prodigy."
Regarding Gion and Tokikake, he was well aware of their talents.
Frankly speaking, achieving what they had was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
The peak an ordinary person could reach through a lifetime of effort would likely be the rank of rear admiral in the marines, or with exceptional luck, vice admiral.
PS: (As for that deserter king (koby) who claimed to put in 200 times the effort and rose from an ordinary person to that level of strength in just two and a half years, Raleigh could only say his cheat was even more absurd than Nika.)
Raleigh clapped his hands, and suddenly, synchronized footsteps echoed from outside the battlefield.
The sound grew increasingly closer, and soon marines armed with flintlocks and sabers filed out in an orderly manner.
The dark, menacing barrels of their guns were uniformly aimed at the members of the Mesfield Family before them.
Seeing the marines encircling them, the Mafia members grew increasingly frenzied.
Gion glared furiously at Samuel in the distance.
Had it not been for her Observation Haki detecting the threat, she would have suffered a nasty surprise.
But now!
A flash of killing intent gleamed in Gion's eyes.
"I... surren..."
Samuel raised his hands high, attempting to surrender to the marines, but a golden blade aura sliced through the air.
Cutting off the words he hadn't yet spoken, leaving them trapped in his throat.
Samuel froze in place, a thin line of blood expanding from his neck.
A bewildered expression and disbelieving eyes.
'Why? Why would these damned marines still attack? Why wouldn't they accept his generous terms?'
He had only just climbed to the position of third-in-command in the Mesfield Family, with so much left to enjoy.
And just when he had finally awaited the transfer of the iron-willed Admiral Sakazuki, before he could even make his mark, he died by the blade.
How absurd.
Bang!
Over on Tokikake's side, the outcome was also decided.
Terence, who had been facing him, took a punch to the chest from Tokikake.
His body hurtled at tremendous speed into the surrounding buildings, the scattering dust signaling his inability to resist any further.
"Phew, what an exhilarating fight, Raleigh. Too bad you didn't join in." Tokikake exclaimed excitedly.
Raleigh glanced at Tokikake but didn't bother responding.
Really, communicating with such diligent and driven people was utterly impossible.
With only a few tens of thousands of Berries a month, they expect me to do such exhausting work.
If it weren't for the Marines not deducting Raleigh's pay or withholding his salary, Raleigh might have resorted to selling off military supplies.
Seeing that the necessary fighting was over and the situation was under control,
Raleigh stood up and jumped down from the building.
[Observing the battlefield from the sidelines, Slacking Value +500]
Watching his Slacking Value in the system increase by a large chunk, Raleigh was pleased.
His efforts in studying how to slack off had not been in vain.
Of course, Gion and Tokikake still deserved some praise.
Young people—a little encouragement and they'd lose their heads.
A few passionate words, and they'd forget their duties, charging recklessly to the front lines.
"Gion, Tokikake, your performance just now was exceptionally brave. This battle is the first step in reforming the North Blue."
"The dawn of justice in the North Blue begins with you."
Tokikake grinned foolishly, while a flicker of delight crossed Gion's face.
Raleigh, sharp as ever, noticed it all.
After praising Gion and Tokikake, Raleigh walked over to the surrounded Salisbury Family.
By now, all members of the Salisbury Family had laid down their weapons and were obediently squatting on the ground.
Though they didn't understand why the Marines hadn't killed them, they weren't foolish—staying alive was naturally better than dying.
Still, their ingrained loyalty led them to encircle their young mistress.
Looking at the trembling, frail figure at the center of the group,
Raleigh asked with interest,
"Hey, kid, are you the young mistress of the Salisbury Family?"
The small figure trembled incessantly with fear, but as the head of the Salisbury Family, she still held onto her pride.
In a voice feigning composure, she replied,
"Y-yes, I am the head of the Salisbury Family. My name is Salisbury Alice."
Raleigh nodded.
"Kid, are you interested in working with the Marines?"
"Huh?"
Alice was bewildered.
She had thought the best outcome would be being arrested and imprisoned.
But the Marines officer before her had said something utterly astonishing.
"According to our investigation, your Salisbury Family hasn't been involved in illegal activities like human trafficking or arms trading. Moreover, you've shown some level of protection for the civilians in your territory."
"Vice Admiral Borsalino has decided to give you a chance. You'll control half of this island, and we expect you to protect the civilians in your area from pirate threats."
Alice felt as though she couldn't distinguish between illusion and reality.
The words spoken by this handsome Marines officer had short-circuited her brain.
A Mafia family had never cooperated with the Marines before!
And during Sakazuki's tenure, her Salisbury Family had always feared being purged.
The only reason they hadn't been targeted was because they had exercised restraint, usually only collecting protection fees.
But was that really enough for the Marines to cooperate with them?
Alice was uncertain.
She glanced at her uncle, Rex—her father's trusted right-hand man.
Though severely injured and pale, Rex's mind was racing.
Cooperate with the Marines?
Undoubtedly, this was like making a pact with the tiger—he was well aware of the Marines's formidable power.
But if they didn't cooperate with the Marines, given the smiling commodore before him who had just wiped out the entire Mesfield Family, their Salisbury Family would likely be next.