Then, Croobi fell flat on his back, unconscious, in front of everyone.
The Dragon Pirates froze in disbelief.
They had never imagined their opponents would possess such overwhelming strength.
Even Arlong was on the verge of turning and running.
"Enough wasting time. Kill them all," Qin Chuan said calmly.
These pirates had been plundering this region unchecked. Deep down, Qin Chuan wanted to eradicate them completely.
Douglas Barrett's eyes turned cold, his murderous intent flaring like a blade. A wave of pressure surged from his body.
Arlong instantly realized things had spiraled out of control. There was no escape now.
He yanked out his jagged sawtooth blade from his mouth and shouted at his men, "Kill them!"
But before they could charge, Barrett roared.
In an instant, his aura exploded. A streak of blue energy surged out in all directions.
The shockwave swept over the Fishmen, and they were thrown back like leaves in a storm.
"Conqueror's Haki?" Qin Chuan narrowed his eyes. Even he was surprised.
He knew Douglas Barrett wielded all three types of Haki, but this was the first time he'd witnessed such control over Conqueror's Haki.
Conqueror's Haki—Haoshoku—is a power possessed only by those with the qualities of a king. It allows the user to dominate the wills of others, causing weaker opponents to faint without a fight. Unlike Observation or Armament Haki, it cannot be trained, learned, or inherited. It is pure fate.
Barrett had fully mastered it.
Arlong staggered to his feet, bloodied and battered, new wounds crisscrossing his body—gifts from Barrett's raw power.
Most of the Fishmen had died instantly under the pressure. Even Hatchan, one of Arlong's top men, lay collapsed and half-dead.
Only Arlong, moderately strong compared to his crew, barely managed to stay conscious.
He looked nothing like the tyrant from earlier. Blood streamed from his mouth. He could barely stand.
"You two... will you give me a chance to live?" Arlong asked weakly.
"Kneel," Qin Chuan replied, pacing slowly.
Arlong didn't hesitate. He dropped to his knees.
"Can I go now?" he asked, dignity stripped away.
Qin Chuan stared down at him. "When you were terrorizing these villages, did you ever let them go?"
"I... I didn't kill anyone for no reason!" Arlong stammered. "I was protecting them... from worse pirates... who burned and pillaged."
"Liar. You're greedy, cruel, and money-hungry. You didn't just attack nearby villages—you colluded with the Navy. Colonel Nezumi is your dog, isn't he?"
When Qin Chuan mentioned the name, Arlong's pupils widened. His jaw tightened.
He couldn't believe this young stranger knew so much.
"Nothing to say?" Qin Chuan's tone grew colder. "Be still. Close your eyes. It'll be painless."
He glanced at Barrett.
"No!" Arlong cried, his voice cracking in terror.
But it was too late.
In a flash, Arlong was dead.
Qin Chuan and Douglas Barrett turned and boarded the Navy warship they had arrived in.
Just as they reached the deck, a crowd from the town gathered at the shoreline.
"What now?" Qin Chuan frowned, unsure why the townspeople had come.
But then the villagers began cheering, waving, eyes filled with hope and gratitude.
Qin Chuan looked back at the warship.
It clicked.
The villagers had been hiding and watching everything. When they saw Qin Chuan and Barrett defeat Arlong and his crew and return to a Navy ship, they assumed the two were naval heroes sent to defeat the Dragon Pirates.
And now, the villagers had come to see them off with gratitude.
"I didn't expect to play hero today," Qin Chuan chuckled. "Maybe the Navy's serious about making me a Warlord of the Sea."
"A what?" Barrett blinked. He'd been locked away for years and had no idea what that meant.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea. It's a temporary system. There are seven members, all powerful pirates chosen by the World Government.
Each one has the power to destroy a country. So the government gave them legitimacy, in exchange for cooperation during critical operations."
"So... the world government hires pirates now?" Barrett sneered. "Sounds like a disgrace. Got names?"
"Well... you might recognize one of them. You fought him once back in the day. He's doing quite well now."
Barrett's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"