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Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 45.
This area was supposed to be a tourist and entertainment district—souvenir shops lining both sides of the street, crowds everywhere. Normally it would be buzzing, but now the air felt tight and unnervingly quiet.
"Evans, they're sticking to us way too closely."
The bald man with a blade at his hip spoke grimly.
"I see them. They're keeping their distance but not attacking. Probably waiting for heavier reinforcements."
"Our time's running out!"
Evans—rifle strapped to his back, goggles pushed up on his forehead—kept his voice low.
His eyes were sharp. It took him only seconds to realize the purpose behind the scattered but persistent Marine squads tailing them.
"Just our luck. We planned to stay here for one day before heading to the New World, and we walk right into a mess like this!"
The tall, dark-skinned man rumbled.
"Blame that bastard Jones and his pirate crew. They're infamous for a reason."
"Heard their captain's a complete lunatic."
The chubby man added with a miserable sigh.
The five of them kept up a brisk pace, but no matter what route they tried, the Marines wouldn't shake off.
Evans' expression grew heavier. Suddenly, he unslung his rifle and raised it.
"What is it?" the fat man asked.
"Marine reinforcements. They're here," Evans muttered.
Through his scope, a young figure came into focus—and the Major who had been chasing them was saluting him with visible respect.
Clearly, that younger-looking officer outranked the Major.
Then one of his crewmates let out a startled gasp. The Marines tailing them were… retreating.
"They're pulling back?"
"What's going on?"
The bald swordsman stared in confusion.
Those Marines had been glued to them for half a day straight, only to turn around and leave?
Evans' brows tightened. Through his scope, he saw the young Marine officer lift his head and look straight toward their position.
"That guy…"
"He's dangerous!"
The words tore out of Evans before he even thought about it. Cold sweat prickled down his spine.
"I just got word… the other four Supernova pirate crews—they've all been captured or wiped out!"
The group's only woman spoke, pale with fear.
"What?!"
The sudden news hit them like a hammer.
"They're all pirates with bounties over a hundred million!"
She took a shaky breath. "And three of those crews were taken down by one young officer."
Evans shifted his scope to the man's shoulder.
A moment later, his pupils contracted.
"A Rear Admiral…?"
The woman blinked. "How can you tell?"
Sweat was already sliding down Evans' forehead.
In terms of raw strength, their own crew wasn't even the strongest among the five Supernova groups. And three of those had fallen to this young Rear Admiral alone.
Which meant they were in very, very deep trouble.
Meanwhile, Kyle had finished speaking to the Major.
"I'll take it from here. You can withdraw," he said casually.
"Then we leave it to you, Rear Admiral Kyle!"
Relief washed over the Major's face. He left without a second thought—he knew far too well how absurd this man's recent accomplishments were.
Kyle turned toward Evans. To his surprise, the man still hadn't fired.
So Kyle began walking toward them, step by step.
"He's coming, Evans!" the woman yelped.
"I see him!"
Evans' finger rested on the trigger… but he couldn't pull it.
Every instinct in his body screamed that if he fired now, he and everyone with him would die in the next second.
Pressure crushed down on him—terrifying, suffocating pressure.
The young Rear Admiral hadn't done a thing, and yet Evans felt it like a weight on his soul. Even the trigger, normally so light, felt impossibly heavy.
"Are we fighting, Evans?" the bald swordsman growled, gripping his blade.
Evans didn't answer.
Kyle got closer and closer.
Then, suddenly, he smiled.
The next second, Evans' hand jerked—and his eyes widened in shock.
"He—he vanished?!"
In all his battles, he had never seen someone disappear from his crosshairs so cleanly.
A gust of wind swept past. A white coat flashed into view.
A figure was suddenly standing right beside him.
Evans froze. When his brain caught up, his face drained of color.
"Mina Tsutsui!!"
The bald swordsman roared and drew his blade, swinging wildly at the Marine.
It all happened too fast. The others couldn't even process it.
Kyle had already lifted the female navigator off her feet with one hand, completely ignoring the attack behind him.
As the sword sliced down, his body tensed slightly.
"Iron Body."
The blade struck his back with a metallic clang.
Everyone's face twisted in disbelief—stunned and horrified.
"I'm not a patient man," Kyle said calmly.
"One more swing, and I snap her neck."
Still holding Mina off the ground, he slowly turned.
His eyes swept over Evans' tense expression, the bald swordsman's fury, and the two remaining crewmates who looked like they'd just woken from a nightmare.
"You get one chance."
"Surrender. Stop resisting."
"Or she dies first… and you follow right after."
Evans' face twitched. The others looked anxious and helpless.
Finally, Evans exhaled shakily and lowered his rifle.
"You win."
A faint smile tugged at Kyle's lips—a hint of approval in his eyes.
He released Mina and said calmly:
"Come with me."
The five pirates exchanged looks. Four of them turned to Evans. He shook his head, silently telling them: don't do anything stupid.
Koan's assignment complete, Kyle didn't linger.
Evans' group followed behind him quietly. At the port, under the wary eyes of numerous Marines, they were escorted onto a warship.
"Rear Admiral Kyle is incredible. Four Supernova crews—taken down single-handedly!"
"They say he even fought Dark King Rayleigh toe-to-toe. If he had more seniority, he'd already qualify as an Admiral!"
"I also heard he's Vice Admiral Garp's student!"
The words drifted to Evans' ears. His expression shifted wildly.
Fought Rayleigh? Garp's disciple?
Just what kind of monster was this young Marine?
A short while later, they boarded. Rossinante steered the ship away from the port.
"You've got two choices," Kyle finally spoke again.
"One: Starting today, live as Marines under my command."
Evans hadn't even opened his mouth when the bald man shouted, horrified:
"What?! Join the Marines?!"
Kyle ignored him and continued.
"Two: I turn this ship around and send you straight to Impel Down."
"I'll even use my connections to get you into Level Six—the most secure, most infamous floor."
He grinned.
"I guarantee you'll spend the rest of your lives there in peace. No trouble. No surprises."
All five pirates stared at him.
Their expressions screamed: "Wow. Thanks a lot."
The result, of course, was obvious.
They all chose the first option.
"..."
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