After listening to his subordinate's explanation, Laden's expression grew even uglier.
"Everyone, stop!"
With Laden's roar, the underlings who had already been scared out of their wits hurriedly retreated. In that instant, they hated themselves for not having two extra legs.
"So the main target finally came out?"
Sara stretched out her tongue and licked the blood from her spikes, smiling as she looked at Laden.
Daz Bonez released the dead underling in his hand and looked toward the target ahead.
Laden glanced at the two of them, then at the wreckage scattered all over the ground. His face turned grim.
"West Blue's cold-blooded assassin, Daz Bonez. Did you come here to take my head for the bounty?"
Daz Bonez looked at him expressionlessly.
"Taking your head for the bounty is just something I'll do along the way.
"As for why I came to find you, you robbed a shipment last week. Someone was unhappy about it, so they sent us."
Laden drew the two blades from his back and looked at them.
"Oh? I was wondering who it was. So you're from Baroque Works."
Laden stared at the two as if they were already dead.
"Since you're here, stay. Perfect timing. I also wanted to see what that damn organization is capable of."
Daz Bonez looked at the twin blades in his hands, disdain flashing through his eyes. He merely raised his hand and crooked a finger.
Laden's mouth split into a grin.
"Don't die too quickly. That would be boring."
The moment his voice fell, Laden kicked off the ground and burst forward, flying toward his opponent.
"Go, Boss! Kill him! Show him the strength of Quick Blade Laden!"
A group of underlings cheered from the side.
As for going up to help?
Heh. Don't joke around.
Hadn't they seen how terrifying those two were? Going up now would just be suicide.
Daz Bonez looked contemptuously at the twin blades slashing toward him.
Perhaps Laden's speed was fast in the eyes of ordinary people.
But in front of him?
Heh.
His five fingers turned into sharp blades, and he caught the two swords in front of his chest.
Clang!
Screech, screech!
The sound of metal grinding against metal rang out.
"What?!"
Shock flashed across Laden's face.
It wasn't that he hadn't seen this man's ability earlier. He simply hadn't expected him to catch his blades head-on.
"Weakling."
Daz Bonez looked at him coldly and kicked out fiercely with his right foot.
Bang!
Laden was kicked in the waist and sent flying backward, crashing into a pile of wooden crates.
Boom!
The underlings stared blankly as their boss was sent flying with one kick.
In the past, it had always been their boss instantly killing others.
Why had he been the one instantly knocked away today?
Crash!
Laden pushed aside the broken wood, his eyes fixed firmly on Daz Bonez.
"I'll kill you!"
He picked up his twin blades again and charged at Daz Bonez.
Clang, clang, clang!
Every collision sent sparks flying between blade and hand.
Laden's expression grew uglier.
"A Devil Fruit shouldn't be this ridiculous."
"Two-Sword Style: Oni Slash!"
Daz Bonez brought his hands together. After taking his stance, he hardened his body like steel and calmly spat out two words.
"Dice Slash."
Clang!
Laden appeared behind Daz Bonez, his face full of disbelief.
"He… he… he blocked it? He blocked Boss's Oni Slash!"
The small leader stammered as he watched, something in his heart collapsing in an instant.
The surviving underlings swallowed hard, their faces full of terror as they slowly edged backward.
They couldn't stay here.
Even their boss's strongest move couldn't kill this opponent. If they stayed any longer, they would all die.
"Your boring tricks end here."
Daz Bonez turned and looked at Laden.
Laden's face was grim, and the thought of retreat rose in his heart.
This was no longer a question of whether he could win.
In the West Blue, who didn't know the name Daz Bonez?
As long as this assassin took a job, the target would die. He had never failed.
Laden tightened his grip on his swords.
"I can return the shipment to you. I can also give you a large sum of money. Just let me go."
Sara had already returned to her normal appearance.
With such a reliable partner, it seemed she didn't need to work too hard.
"There's no chance of that. When you robbed that shipment, didn't we already warn you? Unfortunately, you didn't listen."
Sara lit a lady's cigarette, looking at Laden with regret.
A dual-wielding swordsman with some skill.
Laden knew he had fallen into trouble this time.
His underlings were gradually distancing themselves from him. If that woman hadn't been guarding the entrance, they probably would have run already.
Laden closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his gaze was firm as he looked at Daz Bonez.
"Come. If a swordsman doesn't dare risk his life, what kind of swordsman is he?"
Daz Bonez looked at him contemptuously.
"You swordsmen are always so long-winded. You pick up a blade or sword and think you're invincible.
"Today, I'll tell you this: swordsmen are nothing more than circus performers doing tricks."
As he spoke, Daz Bonez transformed his arms into several blades and spun them at high speed, preparing to finish him.
Pfft.
Just as the two faced each other, ready for the final exchange, a soft laugh rang out.
The huge warehouse had been quiet. Even the underlings didn't dare breathe too loudly, afraid that man would notice them next.
"Who?"
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice.
They saw three people standing above them.
Two men and one woman.
One man wore a smile and held a cane.
Another had heavy dark circles beneath his eyes and looked expressionlessly over the crowd.
The last was a green-haired young woman, fresh and beautiful. She was the one who had laughed, one small hand covering her mouth as her pretty eyes narrowed.
"Looks like there's a turn of events."
Laden's eyes brightened as he looked at the three people standing on the crates.
Seeing everyone look at her, Bai Hezi forced down her laughter.
"Sorry. I just heard a joke. That sentence should really be reported to Morgans."
Daz Bonez's face darkened.
He had no tender feelings toward women. He stared coldly at the smiling girl.
Lafitte twirled his cane and looked at Daz Bonez.
"Hoho. Pardon the intrusion. Our captain has taken a liking to you and wants to bring you aboard."
Daz Bonez's face was cold.
"I'm not interested in boarding some nobody's ship. Since you've shown yourselves, prepare to stay here."
The moment Daz Bonez finished speaking, Lafitte looked at him with his false smile.
Akin spread the wings on his back, and with a duang, Haki covered his hand. He was just about to step forward and teach this man a lesson.
But Bai Hezi stretched out a hand and stopped him.
"I'll test this man who looks down on swordsmen."
After Bai Hezi finished speaking, her beautiful eyes widened.
Buzz!
A wave of black-red Conqueror's Haki erupted from her body and swept toward the underlings below.
Of course, that man was not spared either.
Thud, thud, thud!
Wherever the Conqueror's Haki passed, the underlings rolled their eyes back and collapsed unconscious. Even Laden, who was badly injured, couldn't withstand it and fainted.
Daz Bonez and Sara suffered the strongest impact.
The former was still alright, though his expression turned grim.
The latter turned pale and stared at the girl above like she was a monster.
"What is this?!"
Sara dropped to one knee, struggling to breathe.
Daz Bonez's expression became serious.
He knew now that he had met a real opponent this time.
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