Deadly bullets tore through the air at blinding speed, all aimed at a single target, the host of the banquet, Gilbert.
The attacker's timing was impeccable. He struck when Gilbert was at his most exposed, standing away from CP7 and his personal guards, surrounded only by the nobles he had been flattering, and in the midst of his greatest moment of pride.
The gunfire was sharp and precise, every shot targeting Gilbert's vital points while cutting off all possible escape routes.
But CP7 truly lived up to its reputation as the Celestial Dragons' watchdogs, their reaction was instantaneous. The moment the first shot rang out, the CP7 agent wearing the red tear-mark mask used Soru to appear in front of Gilbert, his body hardening as he activated Tekkai (Iron Body) to block the attack.
A sharp clang-clang-clang! echoed as the bullets struck him harmlessly, tearing through his clothes but unable to pierce his skin.
At the same time, another CP7 agent wearing a black mask transformed into a black panther hybrid, revealing his Zoan-type Devil Fruit powers. He too used Soru, flashing across the room to the waiter who had suddenly drawn his pistol at Gilbert, and with a single lightning-fast thrust of his finger, drove it through the man's heart.
When he withdrew his hand, his finger dripped with blood, his target collapsed lifelessly at his feet.
But the attack didn't end there.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Even as that gunman fell, more gunfire erupted multiple shooters now. Many of the castle's long-serving servants and guards suddenly turned, drawing hidden weapons and opening fire. But their targets weren't Gilbert anymore.
They aimed at the guests, the nobles who had publicly sided with Gilbert only moments earlier.
Unlike Gilbert, these nobles didn't have CP7 agents or elite guards protecting them. At best, a few had one or two competent bodyguards.
In mere seconds, screams filled the air as bodies dropped to the floor, blood splattering across the marble tiles.
Panic exploded. The grand banquet descended into chaos as people scrambled for cover or bolted toward the exits, desperate to escape the bloodbath.
But when the guests reached the main doors, they found them sealed shut. The one leading the blockade was none other than Hodgson, the castle's head of security, supposedly one of Gilbert's most trusted men.
Now transformed into a massive serpent-man wielding dual greatswords, Hodgson and his fifty-odd heavily armed subordinates turned their blades on the fleeing nobles.
Screams echoed one after another. Blood began to pool on the banquet floor, the scent of iron mingling with fear.
"Hodgson! What do you think you're doing?! I've treated you well!" Gilbert shouted, trembling with fury as CP7 agents and his two remaining guards formed a protective barrier around him. "Tell me, what did King Gresham promise you? Whatever it is, I'll pay you double!"
But Hodgson was unmoved. He swung his blades mercilessly, cutting down nobles and merchants alike while commanding his loyal men to continue the slaughter.
Still, Gilbert wasn't without allies. Many of his own loyal guards, trained under his two personal enforcers, Watt and Wicks rallied quickly, charging forward to confront Hodgson's rebels.
From his vantage point in the shadows, Aaron watched alongside Williams, a cold smile forming on his face.
"Heh… so Gresham finally strikes back. And fast, too," Aaron murmured, his tone laced with dark amusement. "I should've known the old king wouldn't go down quietly. To have a man like Hodgson, Gilbert's chief of security, no less on his side all along… that's a masterstroke. It means this entire castle's defenses were just for show."
This was precisely why Aaron had remained calm earlier, even as Gilbert paraded one "victory" after another. His Observation Haki had already revealed the truth, Hodgson was Gresham's mole.
When Gilbert declared war, Gresham had prepared a "gift" in return: a trap buried deep inside Gilbert's own home.
The banquet's guests represented the backbone of Vilia Port; powerful nobles, merchants, and officials essential to its operations. Many of them couldn't easily be replaced. If they all died here tonight, Vilia Port would descend into chaos.
And since Vilia was Gilbert's main base of operations, a crisis here would devastate his forces at the frontlines. Soldiers fighting under his banner would lose morale, knowing their families and homes were under attack.
And once morale collapsed… the war would follow.
"Damn it! Watt! Wicks! Kill that traitor Hodgson!"
Gilbert, realizing the gravity of the situation, barked orders at his two Zoan users.
Responding immediately, Watt and Wicks transformed; one into a goat-man, the other into a black cat-man, before rushing Hodgson with weapons drawn.
"Honored CP7 agents, I beg your assistance! Help me suppress this rebellion!" Gilbert shouted next, desperation bleeding into his voice.
But the CP7 agents didn't move. Their orders were clear, protect Gilbert's life, nothing more. Fighting rebels wasn't part of their mission.
Still, Gilbert was no fool. He knew their type. "Of course," he added quickly, "I wouldn't expect you to fight for free. One hundred million Berries each, paid in full after this is over."
That got their attention.
Even for government agents, opportunities for wealth were rare under the Celestial Dragons' strict control. The offer was too tempting to ignore. Several masked agents glanced toward the red tear-marked leader.
"...Just this once," the man said coldly.
At his command, several CP7 agents vanished in a blur, using Soru and Shigan (Finger Gun) to execute the remaining gunmen with ruthless precision.
Meanwhile, on the main floor, Hodgson was forced back by the combined assault of Watt and Wicks.
"For the Drum Kingdom!" Hodgson roared, his voice echoing through the hall.
He knew CP7's intervention meant his chances were slim but he had no intention of retreating.
With a fierce glint in his eyes, he and his men shouted the same battle cry, then each pulled a small pill from their belts and swallowed it.
The effect was immediate. Their eyes turned blood-red, veins bulging as their muscles swelled grotesquely. Their power surged to terrifying levels, they tore through enemies like wild beasts, ripping nobles and guards apart with inhuman strength.
"...What the hell?" Aaron muttered, his expression hardening.
Even Gilbert's face changedh, is usual arrogance replaced by a flicker of genuine fear.
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