Whoosh!
Without a word from Oguro, Rukia and Rangiku both activated Shunpo, dashing toward the Marines.
Clang!
Two streaks of steel flashed.
Dozens of muskets were cut cleanly in half, clattering to the ground with a series of metallic tinges.
The soldiers immediately staggered back in fear.
"Ho… how is this possible?"
Captain Nezumi was so shocked he forgot all about the pain in his hand. Even Smoker in Loguetown couldn't cut that many rifles in a single instant!
"W-what do you think you're doing! I'm the branch commander of this Marine base! If you dare touch me, the entire Navy will hunt you down!"
Nezumi threatened, his voice quivering.
"A Marine Admiral?" Oguro snorted, mocking. "Who do you think you are? One of the Celestial Dragons? Bringing in an admiral? I don't care if you bring in a Marine Admiral!"
Rangiku added with disdain, "This is the Navy that rules the seas? Just a branch commander? Someone like this isn't even fit to do menial work in our Thirteen Court Guard Squads!"
"Thirteen Court Guard Squads?"
Nezumi frowned. He had never heard that name in the East Blue.
Rukia turned to Oguro. "My lord, how should we deal with them?"
Oguro didn't reply immediately. Instead, he addressed Nami. "Nami, take everyone home. I'll have a proper chat with this Navy gentleman."
Nami, still catching her breath from the recent life-or-death situation, felt Oguro's presence towering and radiant. He didn't just claim Cocoa Village as his own—he truly protected them as his people.
No matter who the enemy was—even the Navy—they wouldn't dare touch them.
That absolute sense of security was something Nami had never experienced in her life.
"Yes! My lord!"
Her gaze firm, she called the villagers back to their homes. From now on, Oguro was their absolute protector.
Meanwhile, Nezumi and his men were hauled outside the village by the Ten-Person Guard.
"You're the lord, huh? My earlier attitude wasn't good. How about this: I give up the money, you let me go, and we pretend none of this ever happened?"
Along the way, Nezumi realized the situation was off. These people clearly weren't bluffing and immediately begged for mercy.
Unfortunately, not a single one of Oguro's group paid him any attention.
Soon, the Marines were driven back to the docked ship.
"Get out!"
With that, Oguro led his group away from the vessel.
Nezumi froze for a moment, then thought the Marines had been intimidated by his status. Overjoyed, he signaled his men to set sail.
Watching Cocoa Village recede into the distance and seeing that no one was pursuing, Nezumi's expression darkened with rage.
"Call the branch! Cocoa Village harbors dangerous pirates! Send every ship and flatten them with cannon fire!"
Letting him go didn't mean the matter was over. He was a branch commander, a Marine of prestige, and he had just been threatened by pirates!
And the villagers had seen him humiliated. That stain on his reputation could never remain!
Whether it was the so-called Thirteen Court Guard Squads or Cocoa Village itself, none of them could continue to exist.
"Yes, sir!"
His lieutenant immediately pulled out a den-den mushi to make the call.
But just then, a cold, piercing voice rang from above.
"Indeed, Lord Oguro is right. People like you can never change. The only way to change… is death."
Nezumi jerked his head upward.
A figure hovered above the ship: black hair, black Shihakushō, a Zanpakutō at her waist. It was none other than Rukia, lieutenant of the Thirteenth Squad.
"An… empowered one!" Nezumi's heart skipped a beat. He was completely unnerved.
"Open fire! Shoot her down!" he screamed frantically.
Although several muskets had been destroyed, plenty of spares remained aboard the ship. Soldiers scrambled to reload.
But Rukia had already begun her incantation.
A massive spiritual pressure gathered around her like a grand storm.
"Overlord! Flesh-masked deceiver! Wings of ten thousand forms! Etch the twin lotuses upon the Cinder Wall, and await the Abyss of Flame across the distant sky! Hado #73, Twin Lotus Azure Flame Descent!"
Boom!
Two enormous cyan fire lotuses, entwined with each other, fell from the sky.
The Marines raised their weapons, but only glimpsed a light brighter than the sun.
The next instant, the lotuses engulfed the ship in a cataclysmic explosion.
KABOOM!
Giant waves rose tens of meters high, carrying splintered debris and limbs, eventually sinking to the ocean floor.
Rukia hovered for a moment, ensuring no survivors remained, before flying toward the port.
Oguro watched the scene with awe.
When would he ever have that kind of power? Hado #73! That required the spiritual pressure and kidō skill of a squad captain. With that kind of strength, venturing into the New World would be possible.
On a whim, Oguro asked the system, "System, is there a way to quickly improve my strength?"
"Host may consume achievement points to directly replicate an ability from a subordinate."
The system had an answer! Oguro excitedly opened the interface, but his enthusiasm immediately died.
Each ability required an astronomical number of achievement points—better spent summoning new subordinates.
Back in the village, Nami and Genzo came out to meet them.
Genzo looked worried. "My lord, what about the Navy?"
Oguro waved a hand. "Them? They're gone. I made it clear to them—they won't bother you again."
Indeed. After being sunk, how could they cause trouble?
Genzo said nothing, clearly realizing the fate of those Marines.
Oguro patted his shoulder. "Forget about those scum. Go notify the other village representatives. We'll discuss setting up the management committee!"
Oguro had no intention of telling anyone the truth about the Navy's fate. These new territories had just been secured, and loyalty wasn't guaranteed. Who knew if someone might betray him?
Sending Rukia to sink the ship had been part of that precaution. Seeing it firsthand was far more convincing than speculation.
Unlike Luffy, who could beat up a Marine commander and leave, collecting millions in bounties, Oguro had no such background. Being targeted by the Navy voluntarily would be sheer suicide. Only dead enemies were safe enemies.
***
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