As she spoke, the fox-masked woman immediately pressed a button; this was the intelligence self-destruct switch. Once pressed, all the intelligence data here would be completely destroyed.
This is a self-destruct method common to many intelligence stations. Once discovered, they would rather self-destruct than let the intelligence leak out.
"It's poisonous, split up and run!"
The five people immediately rushed out of the cave, finding the surrounding forest already covered in a large area of blue mist. They all covered their noses and mouths with something and then fled in five different directions.
As intelligence personnel, they deeply knew that once their base was exposed, it would be difficult to escape. However, as long as they split up and ran, there was still a sliver of possibility of escape.
As the five people inside the cave rushed out, trying to escape the forest, the thirty masked individuals who had entered the forest's outskirts and were waiting like hunters converged towards the five people.
The Tiger Mask Man remained high in the sky, overlooking the forest below, observing his targets this time to prevent any oversight.
After the five people in the cave rushed out, the other four showed signs of physical exhaustion due to inhaling some of the blue toxic gas.
They were quickly captured, but before they were caught, they had all committed suicide.
As intelligence personnel, they had received rigorous training and cultivation, and they deeply knew that once captured alive, the fate of intelligence personnel was extremely miserable.
That's why they committed suicide without hesitation. Not having to endure that hellish torture, suicide was also a form of liberation for them.
The leader among the five, the woman wearing the mask, was dressed in purple tight shorts and a short shirt. Her exquisite and graceful figure was fully displayed as she sprinted through the forest.
While escaping, she took a pill, and her earlobes immediately turned red. This pill allowed her to not fear poisoning in the forest covered by the blue toxic mist.
Without needing to worry about poisoning, she also displayed astonishing speed. The six masked men who surrounded her trying to capture her failed to catch her; instead, she escaped.
"Everyone, converge towards the west side of the forest."
After the Tiger Mask Man above the forest discovered there was a fish that slipped through the net, he immediately gave orders to everyone, then took the lead, rushing over using Moonwalk.
"Damn it, it's CP1's Tiger!"
The woman with the fox mask glanced at the Tiger Mask Man above her behind her, gritted her teeth, and then fled towards the direction of Soro Island's port at an even faster speed.
"Rumble!!!"
"Hmm???"
Soro Island wasn't large, and the forest wasn't far from the port. Nox, who was at the port, could faintly hear the commotion from the forest using his Kenbunshoku Haki.
"Everyone, quickly pack your things and get on the ship, then leave the port. Don't wait for me; I'll catch up later."
Realizing something wasn't right, Nox immediately had the crew board the ship and leave here.
After all, if the enemy was numerous and held him back, he wouldn't be able to protect his senior apprentice brothers who hadn't grown up yet.
"Listen to Senior Brother, quickly get on the ship and leave here."
Kano knew the gravity of the situation and also knew that staying here would be useless and might even implicate Nox.
So they didn't delay. Even some spoils of war that hadn't been packed were all abandoned. They immediately boarded the ship, left the port, and sailed towards the Sea.
Nox didn't know if there would be any danger, nor did he know what would happen next, but being bold due to his skill, he waited here at the port to see if anything would happen.
The Sea was behind him. If there was any strong danger, he would immediately jump into the Sea and escape.
Within the Sea, not only would his combat power not be affected, but it would become even stronger. The enemy, conversely, would weaken or even not dare to enter the Sea due to fear of the Sea.
This was the confidence he had to stay and wait.
His training immersed in the Sea over the past year wasn't just about strengthening his body and sword techniques; he had also developed a weakened version of Fishman sea combat ability.
Entering the Sea, he was like a fish in water.
Nox didn't have to wait long before he saw a woman wearing a fox mask rushing towards him from the front.
Behind her was a man with a Tiger Mask, and also some other men who were similarly masked.
This scene, at a glance, looked like a plot where a group of men bullied a woman, then a hero saved the beauty, won her heart, and ascended to the peak of his life.
"I am Shakky, an intelligence officer of the Rocks Pirates. If you help me, you will receive generous rewards from me and the Rocks Pirates!"
Shakky, running at the front, saw that there were no ships at the port, only a man with a tall figure, red shoulder-length hair, and a sharp sword in his hand standing there, clearly waiting for them.
However, she didn't sense any malice from this man. Clearly, he wasn't allied with the World Government and others behind her.
Given this situation, Shakky simply took a gamble, betting on her identity and Rocks' fame and allure in the New World, to see if she could get this man to help her.
It could be said that Shakky's gamble was very risky, because if the other party didn't agree, the World Government's CP members behind her would also see Nox as Shakky's accomplice.
After capturing Shakky, to avoid exposing their whereabouts and being cornered by the Rocks Pirates in the New World, they would certainly eliminate Nox as well.
And the reason Shakky didn't immediately tell the CP agents behind her that Nox was the one coming to meet her was because she was afraid Nox might kill her first out of anger.
Therefore, what seemed like a gamble from Shakky was actually an attempt to drag Nox into the situation, just in a more indirect way.
"Shakky?"
Hearing this name, Nox recalled the "Bamboo Rod" bar. If his guess was correct, the woman with the fox mask in front of him was the Shakky from his memory.
And the people chasing her from behind were clearly CP agents trained by the World Government.
From this, it could be inferred that Shakky, this intelligence officer, had been discovered by World Government agents and was being pursued.
"I can save her. This can happen to serve as a connection to join the Rocks Pirates."
Nox thought to himself.
Currently, in the New World, the Rocks Pirates are the dominant force. Nox's current strength is still very weak compared to those top powerhouses.
He needed a backer who could shelter him as he grew, so he wouldn't be chased and hunted down all day by the Marine after they discovered his potential.
"If you are truly a member of the Rocks Pirates, I can help you. But if you are not, don't blame me if I kill you afterwards!"
Nox said seriously.
"Don't worry, I definitely won't lie to you!"
Seeing that the other party agreed, Shakky said happily.