The Mad Shark Pirates' captain, Squeak, Had his head chopped off in front of everyone!
And the rest of the pirate crew?
No need to spell it out…Their fate was just as grim.
And the one responsible for all of this, was just a seemingly ordinary Marine!
Moments later
A large group of Marine soldiers arrived at the scene.
"This…"
Every one of them sucked in a cold breath the moment they saw it.
If it weren't for the crowd still lingering around, they might have thought they had stumbled into a slaughterhouse.
The ground was littered with corpses — gruesome, chilling.
Some Marines even started vomiting on the spot.
But even so, they couldn't hide the awe and admiration gleaming in their eyes.
Just one look at the aftermath and they could picture the battle.
Suddenly, the Marines were puffed up with pride, their eyes gleaming like they'd just downed an energy shot.
Heads held high, chests puffed out.
They looked like they were the ones who had wiped out the entire pirate crew.
When in reality?
They were just here to loot the scene.
"W-Was this really done… by that guy?"
Smoker, standing among the new arrivals, was visibly shaken.
He stared at the field of corpses, eyes twitching, face pale.
The cigar in his mouth nearly slipped out.
After the incident at the Elite Training Camp, he already knew Kisame was strong.
But this?
What shocked him wasn't just the strength, It was Kisame's ruthlessness.
One man, single-handedly massacring an entire pirate crew? That wasn't something just anyone could pull off.
Smoker couldn't help but glance toward the tavern.
"T-Three days ago… someone spotted Doflamingo near the Dressrosa sea region."
Grace didn't hesitate.
She immediately spilled everything she knew about Doflamingo's movements.
All she wanted now was to get this walking slaughterhouse out of her sight.
The rest? She'd deal with it later.
"Dressrosa…"
Kisame quietly committed the name to memory. It wasn't a place he was familiar with.
Then, he turned to one of the Marines managing the scene outside.
"Those bodies are all yours now. Like we agreed—info for me, bodies for you. I'm not the type to go back on a deal."
"However…"
He paused, voice flat but serious.
"The entire Mad Shark Pirate Crew has been wiped out. With over a hundred pirates, surely more than a few had bounties. Altogether… there's probably a good 100 million berries worth here, don't you think?"
Hearing that, Grace's fear-stricken face twisted even more.
A bad feeling surged in her gut.
"W-What… what do you mean by that?"
Kisame replied, completely deadpan:
"Give me 100 million, and all the bodies are yours. Relax—you're only making a profit here."
No expression.
Just a totally serious face, like he was talking about selling cabbages.
"A-AHH!? What the hell—"
Grace let out a horrified cry, staring at the emotionless Kisame with tears welling in her eyes.
This is a tavern, dammit!
Not a butcher shop!
What the hell was she supposed to do with that many corpses!?
And it was 100 million berries, Why don't you just go rob it yourself?
Of course, these were just the thoughts running through Grace's mind…
She bit her red lips, looking as if something was shoved into her mouth, struggling to nod in agreement.
"Okay… okay…"
Under Kisame's "kind" gaze, she turned to instruct her subordinate.
Soon after,
The subordinate returned, carrying a suitcase.
Grace looked like she was being swindled, her expression sour.
She instructed her subordinate to place the suitcase on the table next to Kisame, and gritted her teeth:
"This is 100 million berries."
"Woman, stop acting coy after getting a good deal. You've made a profit."
Seeing her expression as if she'd been charmed by Kizaru, Kisame spoke with a knowing tone.
With that,
Without a hint of politeness,
He grabbed the suitcase and turned to leave.
But then, suddenly,
Kisame stopped!
This action made Grace's heart leap in her chest.
She couldn't help but wonder, is this guy suddenly thinking of taking advantage of her?
Given his brutal behavior, she thought that might not be out of the question.
But what she didn't know was that she was overestimating herself, Just when she was on the verge of a breakdown, He turned his gaze back toward her:
"If I can't find Doflamingo, don't worry… I'll be back to find you!"
With that, Kisame stepped out of the tavern, leaving Grace with her body trembling in shock.
"The Donquixote family" was still active in the Dressrosa sea area.
Kisame had no idea!
What if Doflamingo had already left?
Wouldn't that mean he'd take out his anger on her?
Grace's beautiful eyes turned lifeless, Her red lips trembled, and she sank into a chair nearby.
Her long, delicate legs started shaking uncontrollably.
If Kisame had stayed another half-minute, she was certain he would've seen her disgrace.
"Boss, you're just giving him the 100 million berries like that?"
One of her subordinates, noticing her reaction, hurriedly asked in a low voice.
"What else should I do? Or do you want to go take it back for me?"
Grace shot him a sideways glance with her fearful, still-shaken eyes.
"Uh, hehe, then I'll just listen to the boss."
Her subordinate looked at the "Justice" insignia on Kisame's back as he walked out the door and instinctively pulled his neck back.
Are you kidding me?
Chase after that disaster to get money back?
Unless I'm insane!
Even the boss lady sleeping with him wouldn't change that outcome!
The Mad Shark Pirates' once-dominant captain, Squeak, who controlled Pigeon Island,
had met a tragic end just like that.
As Kisame stepped out of the tavern, the first thing he noticed was Smoker, bruised and battered, standing out like a sore thumb.
"Take it."
He tossed the suitcase to Smoker, then started walking toward the dock.
"What about this? You're just going to leave it?"
"Leave it? Leave what? The bodies were sold!"
Kisame paused briefly, glanced at Smoker, and responded nonchalantly.
With that, he picked up Sharkskin, which still reeked of blood, and continued on his way.
Sold?
Smoker looked at the heavy suitcase in his hand and, immediately putting the pieces together with his previous conversation, realized what was inside.
His eyes widened, and his mind went blank.
He certainly didn't expect, this kind of solution!
The destruction of the Mad Shark Pirates spread quickly. Some celebrated, others mourned.
Those celebrating were, of course, the ones oppressed by the Mad Shark Pirates.
The ones mourning? That would be Grace, the tavern owner.
After Kisame left, Grace, still dazed, was suddenly snapped back to reality.
The Mad Shark Pirates had been wiped out, and this was far from over!
If it had been before, maybe she could've ignored it, but now the Mad Shark Pirates were under the banner of the Beast Pirates.
They were wiped out in her tavern, If this news spread, Even if she tried to seduce the sea, land, and air monster, it wouldn't help!
In this situation, could the Beast Pirates just let her go?
"What should I do?"
"Should I just leave the New World?"
Looking at her tavern, which she had worked so hard to build and now lay in ruins, Grace felt a deep inner struggle.
"No, I can't leave!"
"If there's a wrongdoer, there must be a master to seek revenge, the Beast Pirates can't just take out their anger on a woman like me!
If I contact them first, they might not come after me."
After weighing the situation in her mind, Grace figured that if Kisame couldn't find Doflamingo in Dressrosa, her own life might be in jeopardy.
So, she decided to act quickly, without hesitation. She picked up her phone and started calling the Beast Pirates.
As the leader of the New World's intelligence network, she didn't have the phone numbers for the Emperors, but she still had her subordinates' contacts.
With trembling hands, Grace walked into the back room of the tavern.
"Hmph! The Navy thinks they can threaten me? I'll make sure you have no return to the New World!"
Grace's desperate plan was set into motion as she took a dangerous risk, reaching out to the Beast Pirates. It was clear that this wasn't just a simple matter anymore, and her next steps would be crucial.
(End of Chapter)