After cleaving the mansion's massive front doors in two with a single swing, Ryu strode inside without hesitation.
The next moment, he froze mid of his step.
"Click. Click. Click."
A chorus of metallic sounds echoed through the grand hall as countless men in black suits appeared from every corner of the mansion. Rifles, pistols, shotguns—even weapons Ryu had never seen before—were all aimed directly at him.
A large sweat drop slid down the side of his face.
'Did those guys have been waiting for me inside this mansion to ambush me from the very beginning.'
Ryu's eyes twitched as he slowly glanced around at the overwhelming sea of gun barrels pointed his way.
Then a tall black suited man yelled out loudly to his subordinates.
"Kill him."
"BANG!, BANG!, BANG!, BANG!, BANG!"
Ryu's eyes widened, and without a moment's hesitation, he kicked off the ground and shot to the side like a cannonball. Bullets whizzed through the air where he had been standing just an instant before.
"WHOA—! These guys aren't playing around!" he yelled.
Sliding across the floor, Ryu rolled beneath a nearby table. In one swift motion, he grabbed its legs and flipped it upright. The table became an improvised shield as a storm of bullets slammed into it.
"RATATATATATAT!"
Wood splintered and debris flew everywhere, but Ryu remained crouched behind the battered table, grinning despite the danger.
"Sheeeesh! These guys aren't holding back at all!"
Ryu's lips curled into a savage, bloodthirsty grin. His eyes gleamed with dangerous excitement as he slowly wrapped his hand around the hilt of Chi Hime. With a sharp shing, the blade slid from its sheath inch by inch, its cold edge flashing under the light.
"This is gonna be a blast! I've never taken on this many foes at once!" he laughed, rolling his shoulders as fighting spirit surged from his body.
"Come on then... it's time for me to dance!"
In the next moment, he vanished in a burst of speed, charging headfirst into the chaos.
"Ryu Sword Style: Death Melody."
Ryu blurred through the grunts like a phantom, his figure flickering in and out of sight. Before the stunned crowds could even react, flashes of steel danced through the air. One after another, they dropped to the floor, defeated before they even realized they had been cut. Amid the chaos, Ryu moved with a fearless grin, weaving through the swarm as if he were performing a deadly dance.
"BANG!, BANG!"
The grunts unleashed a storm of gunfire, but Ryu weaved through the barrage like a phantom dancing across the battlefield. Every bullet seemed a step too slow to catch him. Whenever the gunmen thought they had him cornered, he would slip away at the last second or seize one of their own comrades, turning the unfortunate grunt into a living shield. The mansion descended into chaos as the grunts' bullets struck friend and foe alike, while Ryu carved a path through their ranks with a fearless grin.
It didn't take long for Ryu to carve through the crowd of black-suited grunts. Bodies dropped one after another as Chi Hime danced through the battlefield like a storm. With the last foe crashing to the floor, silence finally descended upon the mansion hall.
"Hah! Is that all you've got?!"
Ryu flashed a cocky grin before flicking his blade into the air. The sabre spun gracefully, scattering crimson droplets in a glittering arc. Catching it effortlessly, he slid the blade back into its sheath with a sharp click.
Ryu rolled his shoulders and glanced around at the sea of defeated foes, looking disappointed at them.
"Sigh, I was just starting to have fun."
"Looks like it's finally time to meet that Bege guy... and that other fellow—what was his name again? Franciscobo or something?" Ryu muttered with a grin, casually scratching the back of his head.
A spark of excitement flashed in his eyes as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.
"Heh... I wonder how strong those two really are. They'd better not end up wasting my time."
A fierce smirk spread across his face as his fighting spirit surged like a rising tide.
He then strode deeper into the mansion, his footsteps echoing through the grand halls as he wandered without a care. With his hands tucked into his pockets and a relaxed grin on his face, Ryu casually roamed the mansion as though he were taking a leisurely stroll rather than infiltrating an enemy base. Every corner, every corridor, and every lavish room became part of his little adventure as he searched for Bege and for the Capone Family mafia boss.
_______
Five minutes ago
With Jack
Jack slipped through the mansion window with the ease, his boots landing without a sound on the polished floorboards. A crooked smirk curled beneath the brim of his hat as he tapped it lightly, as if announcing his presence to a world that hadn't even noticed the storm had arrived.
"Infiltration complete… heh." Jack's lips curled into a sly grin as he melted into the shadows of the base. "Now then… where've they gone and stashed Captain Ning's treasure?"
His eyes gleamed with greedy curiosity as he scanned the corridors, every step silent like a ghost on the hunt. "They better not have made this too easy… or I'll be bored before the real fun even begins."
Jack strolled through the mansion as if it were his own personal territory, completely unbothered by the looming danger around him. With every lazy step, his body swayed side to side, almost like he was drifting with an invisible sea current rather than walking on solid ground.
A relaxed grin tugged at his lips as his eyes wandered over the lavish halls, treating the place less like a fortified base and more like a sightseeing route.
"DONG!, DONG!"
"AN INTRUDER?! EVERYONE—MOVE TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE AT ONCE!!"
"DON'T LET THE INTRUDER TAKE ANOTHER STEP INSIDE THE BASE!! EXECUTE HIM ON SIGHT!!"
Jack's lips curled into cocky, knowing smirk as the words hit his ears, his eyes gleaming with confidence and amusement like he'd already seen the outcome.
"Not bad, kid… you're making this far easier for me than I expected."
Jack's ears suddenly twitched as the thunder of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor—multiple grunts closing in fast.
With a sharp click of his tongue, he yanked open the nearest door and slipped inside. The room swallowed him whole just in time.
He pressed himself against the wall in silence, the shadows cloaking his presence, and peered out through the narrow crack of the doorway—watching the hallway outside with quiet, calculating eyes as the guards rushed past his hiding place.
Jack curled his lips into a roguish grin and remained hidden, patiently waiting until the last of the grunts stormed off down the corridor. The moment their footsteps faded into the distance, he slipped out of the room and continued his leisurely stroll through the mansion.
With his hands tucked into his pockets, he wandered through hallways carelessly. Before long, a door caught his eye on the right side of the corridor. Without the slightest hint of caution, Jack pushed it open and sauntered inside, casually whistling a random tune as though he were merely taking a walk on a sunny harbor rather than infiltrating enemy base.
The moment Jack stepped into the room, a large sweat drop slid down the side of his face.
"...Uh-oh."
The room was packed wall-to-wall with grunts. The instant they spotted the uninvited pirate, dozens of heads snapped in his direction. In a chorus of clicking sounds, rifles, pistols, and shotguns were raised and aimed straight at him.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Jack forced a crooked grin and casually tipped his hat.
"Oi, oi, easy there, gentlemen!" Jack raised both hands with a dazzling grin, completely unfazed by the guns aimed at him. "Violence won't solve a thing, y'know? Why don't we act like civilized people and clear up this little misunderstanding over a nice chat?"
He flashed a roguish smile that looked more suited for a party than a life-or-death standoff, as if he hadn't just walked straight into a room full of armed grunts.
"Kill him."
"BANG!, BANG!, BANG!, BANG!"
Jack sprang out of the room in a blur, bullets whizzing past him with a chorus of BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Whoa! That's a pretty aggressive welcome!" he laughed.
"BANG!, BANG!, BANG!, BANG!"
The corridor instantly erupted into chaos as Jack danced between bullets, firing back at the stunned grunts without missing a beat.
Jack flashed a roguish grin and pulled out his custom-made ammo with a flourish. Click-clack! In one smooth motion, he slammed a fresh magazine into his pistol and spun it around his finger before aiming it forward.
"Heh... now we're talkin'."
With his weapon loaded and ready, Jack tipped his hat and prepared for the next round of chaos.
Jack leveled his pistol at the grunts, his grin stretching wider and wider until it twisted into a downright manic smirk. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he tilted his hat.
"Heh... let's liven things up!"
Without a shred of hesitation, he pulled the trigger. The pistol roared with a thunderous BANG!, the shot tearing through the air as chaos erupted around him.
"BOOOOOM!!"
The moment Jack pulled the trigger, a deafening explosion erupted through the carridor like the roar of an enraged Sea King. Scarlet and orange flames burst outward in a violent wave, swallowing the corridor in a blazing inferno. The walls trembled, smoke billowed through the air, and chunks of debris rained down as the shockwave tore across the mansion.
Amid the fiery chaos, Jack stood with a wild grin plastered across his face, his pistol still smoking as the carridor glowed crimson beneath the raging explosion.
Jack sauntered through the smoke-filled corridor, hands in his pockets, as the aftermath of the fiery blast stretched before him. Black-suited grunts lay scattered across the floor, singed and unconscious, little more than charred obstacles in his path.
Only one man remained barely awake, groaning weakly amidst the wreckage.
A playful smirk curled across Jack's face.
"BOHOHOHO!... looks like you're the last one standing, pal."
He casually grabbed the grunt by the hair and yanked his head up. The terrified man could only stare as Jack pressed the cold barrel of his pistol against his forehead. Wearing a cocky grin that practically screamed trouble, Jack tilted his head and flashed a mischievous smile, his eyes gleaming with the reckless confidence of a true pirate.
"Now then..." Jack twirled his pistol with a carefree grin, the barrel coming to rest against the man's forehead again. His smile remained as bright as ever, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes that sent chills down the grunt's spine.
"How about you make this easy for both of us and tell me everything I wanna know before I start losing my patience?"
He cocked the hammer with a sharp click.
"Where's Captain Ning's treasure hidden? And trust me, pal, you really don't want me asking twice. So start talking... or the next thing flying through this carridor won't be words— it'll be your brains."
The grunt broke out into a cold sweat, beads of perspiration pouring down his face like a waterfall. His eyes trembled as they locked onto Jack's devil-may-care grin, terror written all over his face.
"W-Wait! Don't shoot! I'll tell ya everything!" he blurted out, his voice cracking in panic as he scrambled backward. "J-Just put the pistol down first!"
Jack threw his head back and burst into a fit of laughter, his boisterous cackle echoing through the halls like a thunder blast.
"BOHOHOHOHOHO! What a hopeless fool you are! Do you have any idea who you're standing against?! I am the one and only, the magnificent, the dazzling Captain Jack Sparrow!"
Jack spread his arms dramatically, his grin stretching from ear to ear as he leveled his pistol at the unfortunate man.
"Looks like it's time to decorate the floor with what's left of that empty head of yours. Farewell, pal! It was almost a pleasure knowing ya!"
His finger tightened around the trigger as his laughter echoed through the hall.
"BOHOHOHOHOHO!"
"W-Wait! Hold it! Please, don't shoot! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything I know, I swear!" the grunt cried, tears streaming down his face as he desperately waved his hands. His entire body trembled like a leaf in a storm, terror written all over his face.
Jack tapped the brim of his hat with a grin, he gave an approving nod, and spoke.
"Good answer now speak."
"G-GULP...!" The grunt took a shaky breath, cold sweat pouring down his face like a pig. His entire body trembled as he stared at Jack, terror filling his eyes as if he were looking at the devil himself.
"C-Captain Ning's treasure... and all our loot too! It's all stashed on the third floor of this mansion!" the trembling grunt blurted out, sweat pouring down his face. "Inside a storage room! The door's silver—bright silver! You can't miss it, I swear! That's everything I know, please spare me!" He bowed his head frantically, his voice cracking with panic.
Jack's lips curled into a wild, almost unhinged grin. Then he threw his head back and erupted into a booming fit of laughter.
"BOHOHOHOHO!"
His crazed laughter echoed through the carridor, carrying a dangerous edge that made it clear he was enjoying every second of the chaos.
"Good answer! Don't sweat it, pal—I keep my word. Since you cooperated, I won't be sending you to hell! But now..." Jack's grin stretched wider as he tapped the barrel of his pistol against the man's forehead. "...it's time for you to take a little nap! BOHOHOHOHO!"
"Without the slightest hint of hesitation, Jack's hand flashed forward like lightning. THWACK! His chop struck the back of the grunt's neck with pinpoint precision, and the unfortunate man rolled back dramatically, his eyes turning white before he collapsed to the floor unconscious in a single blow."
Jack turned on his heel and strode forward towards the stairs as if the entire mansion already belonged to him. With an easy, careless swagger, he wandered the corridor, his body swaying side to side like a ship riding gentle waves.
When he reached the staircase, he didn't hesitate.
He placed a boot on the first step and began to climb, each stride slow and deliberate, a crooked grin carving itself deeper across his face. His eyes gleamed with a sharp, almost predatory light—bright with greed, like a man who could already see the treasure waiting above.
________
With Ryu
After finishing with the grunts, Ryu sauntered through the mansion as if it were nothing more than a quiet stroll along a harbor at sunset.
His steps were loose and unhurried, almost playful, as though the chaos he'd left behind belonged to someone else entirely. The corridors stretched out before him like calm ocean waves, and he moved through them with the same ease as a drifting ship caught in a gentle current.
Not a single glance backward. Not a trace of urgency.
When he reached the third floor, a pair of heavy black double doors loomed at the end of the corridor.
Ryu's lips slowly curled into a knowing smile.
Without a trace of hesitation, he strode forward—calm, unhurried—his footsteps echoing through the silent hall as he closed in on the black double doors, as if he had already decided what lay beyond them.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and drove his foot into the doors.
"BANG!"
The impact echoed through the corridor as the doors burst open on their hinges, swinging wide as if the mansion itself had yielded to his will.
Ryu stepped forward into the room without hesitation, his sandals echoing quietly with each step.
Ahead of him, a middle-aged man sat behind a desk as if the chaos outside meant nothing. Calm. Composed. Almost bored.
A long sword rested lazily across his shoulder, its blade catching the dim light like a sleeping beast waiting to wake. His eyes lifted slowly toward Ryu—cold, sharp, and unwelcoming.
The air between them tightened instantly, as though the very room understood a clash was inevitable.
"…So you're the one making all that noise," the man muttered, voice steady as stone, his grip on the sword never loosening.
Ryu didn't stop walking.
The middle-aged man had spiky black hair and sharp, unyielding black eyes beneath heavy brows, his fair skin contrasting with a lean, battle-honed physique that gave him the quiet, dangerous presence of someone who had survived far more than he had ever spoken about.
He wore a black suit, identical to the other grunts at a glance, but something about him cut through the uniformity like a blade through silk.
At his side hung a long sword—its silver handle gleaming faintly under the dim light, the guard shaped in a perfect round arc of azure blue, like a calm ocean before a storm. The black sheath swallowed the blade's presence, yet somehow made it feel even more dangerous… as if it was waiting, patiently, for the right moment to bite.
He rose slowly to his feet, a lazy confidence in every motion, the long sword resting casually across his shoulder as if it weighed nothing at all—his gaze sharp, like a predator finally deciding it was time to move.
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes, studying Ryu from head to toe as if weighing his worth. After a long, measured silence, he finally spoke in a calm, low voice.
"You've done well… I'm genuinely impressed. You made it this far, intruder."
The man's gaze sharpened, calm but heavy with authority.
"You don't seem like the usual fools who barge in here just to make a name for themselves…"
A faint pause lingered in the air.
"…Now I'm curious. Who are you? And what exactly are you after?"
Ryu's lips curled upward into a wide, maniacal grin, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light as if he were savoring every heartbeat of the moment.
He started rolling his shoulders as if the entire situation doesn't matter to him."Since you're so curious, I might as well oblige."
He stepped forward slowly, sandals echoing against the floor with deliberate confidence.
"I am Miyamoto D. Ryu."
A faint grin curled across his face as his gaze sharpened, almost like a blade being slowly drawn from its sheath.
"I've heard… there's a man called Franciscobo Capone,"
"I was told he's a strong swordsman ."
"And then there's that Bege guy… if I remember right, he's a Devil Fruit user."
Ryu's eyes locked into the man Infront of him while smiling and continued.
"I came here to cut them both down… and see how strong they really are."
The atmosphere turned heavy in an instant, as if the very air had been locked in ice.
The black-haired middle-aged man's expression darkened. A subtle twitch ran through his brow, and in the next moment, veins bulged sharply across his forehead. His grip tightened, the pressure in the room rising like a storm about to break.
Ryu's grin stretched even wider, wild and unrestrained, as he continued speaking.
"I've got no interest in that treasure you lot are guarding," he said with a lazy grin, eyes half-lidded as if the whole affair bored him. "Jack wants to steal it from you… and I don't particularly care either way."
His hand slipped casually under his Kimono, voice dropping into a playful edge.
"But if I feel like it… I might just lend him a hand anyway."
"Hah… I've got to admit, that drunken fool knows his way around the West Blue," he muttered with a faint grin.
"With him around, moving through these seas will be far easier… I suppose I can keep cooperating with him for now."
The middle-aged man's expression twisted, shadows creeping over his face as fury surged through him. His jaw clenched tightly, veins rising at his temples, and when he finally spoke, his voice carried a cold, seething edge.
"First of all… it's Francisco, not 'Franciscobo.'"
The man's voice cut through the air like a drawn blade, cold and sharp.
"And let me make one thing perfectly clear… I am the one you've been searching for."
A slow, pink crystal layer started to form around Francisco's skin as he continue.
"You had the nerve to look down on me… and on the Capone Family."
His lips curled into a grim smile.
"For that mistake alone… I'm going to kill you."
Ryu flashed a bloodthirsty smirk as both of them moved in perfect sync, their blades tearing free from their sheaths in the same heartbeat—steel screaming against steel as they collided head-on, the shockwave of their simultaneous strike rippling through the air cracking the floor and the walls cracked as well like a spider web.
The two of them locked eyes in tense silence, neither willing to break the pressure hanging between them. For a brief moment, even the air seemed to stop moving.
Then, as if silently agreeing to measure each other first, they each took a slow step back.
Their boots scraped lightly against the floor, creating just enough distance from one another.
Ryu gave a maniacal wide smirk as he stared at Francisco.
'Interesting… he actually managed to match my full-power swing.'
A sharp grin crept across Ryu's face as as he kept his gazed locked on Francisco..
'This guy's strong… this fight is going to be a whole lot of fun.'
Without any more delay Ryu and Francisco dashed at one another and clashed their blade one more time.
"CLANK!"
_______