"Horo-horo-horo! In the end, the crew on this ship is pretty much the same!"
Yeah. Seriously, why is that?
"Captain. I know the plan, but is the layout still the same?"
Yeah, because the crew is almost all the same. Seriously, why is that?
...
Hey, really, why?
"No matter what the Marines do, speed is key. We might need to use the oars as well as the rudder. Put more people on sailing. Robin, you'll be helping." (Note: the rudder is used for fine-tuned directional control, while the oars provide forward propulsion and can be used for more powerful, immediate turning. Coordinating them allows for both efficient travel and agile maneuvering)
"Understood."
"Got it."
Well, at worst, I was planning to let Robin sail the ship and I would kick away all the guys trying to board and the cannonballs, or grab Robin and run to confuse them before escaping, so this helps a lot.
"I don't need to think about defense, right?"
"Yeah. I'll handle the cannonballs. Daz, for anyone who boards the deck, let Amisu and the others handle them. Lead them well."
"Horo-horo-horo. Since I can also use my ghost power, leave it to me. I'll scare them."
"Understood, I'll do it. Amisu, is that clear?"
"Yes! We will guard our posts until the end!"
This means we have many more options for our plan.
The number of enemies is huge.
But, they have many problems.
If they move as I think they will, we have a way out. ...But it's going to be tough…
–
The temporary safe ship, led by Captain Momonga, is slowly moving away.
I was worried they might shoot cannonballs at them, but maybe they won't dare to shoot with a Headquarters Captain there... Or maybe—
They attacked here, a bit far from the base where there's less room to run, to avoid the families of the victims...
Unexpectedly, sending some Marines back might have helped them, too.
They might have thought it would give them some excuse.
Even though the ceremony itself was being prepared as planned, they would make such a big show of this. And they're trying to avoid civilian eyes in a clumsy way...
But still, their way of doing things is sloppy and careless.
It looks like an on-the-spot idea.
Should I assume Sengoku is not there...?
There was a chance of this happening even with Sengoku there, but the way and place they set up this trap are sloppy.
Since they didn't attack right away, Sakazuki is not there, and it's almost certain that Kuzan is at Marineford.
...No good. There is no one to control the situation.
Because the highest-ranking person here is—
"Alright... Then we will attack you with all our forces! You will regret this, Silent Step!!!"
That fool. Daz sighs deeply as he watches the enemy ships move.
"...They are moving just like you thought, Captain."
"They want Robin. So, I understand why they want to surround us, but—"
"—They should have thought more carefully."
–
"Captain Momonga sent a report that they have moved to a safe distance."
"Good... Give the command to the fleet! We will now capture Kuro's crew! Everyone, get the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs ready!"
We won.
The West Blue Regional Manager was already thinking about what would happen after he captured Nico Robin.
I'll leave the follow-up work to the Captain who interfered from the Headquarters. Anyway, all the officers left at this base, even the ones not involved, will be investigated.
I heard she has the power to grow body parts anywhere, like a plant, but she's just a kid. A Devil Fruit user who hasn't fought much is not a threat.
The Marines who have become pirates are just rookies or people who only got skill training. They're just small fry whose only good thing is their looks.
Then they are not a real threat.
"Even if they're 14 years old, they are pirates! Show no mercy! Kill everyone except Nico Robin!"
Since I have the right reason for fighting pirates, I am in the right.
If I kill all the people left who might talk, I can at least buy time until I escape and meet Joker's men.
That's what the man thought.
"First, shoot the cannons to scare them! Don't give them a chance to turn around!"
"M-Manager!"
"What!? Start the attack now!"
"W-well—"
"Kuro's crew is not turning around! They are raising their sails and heading straight towards us!!"
"..."
"A-are they fools!!?"
–
"Set the sails, course two o'clock! Don't let the wind escape!"
The remaining Marines—ex-Marines, who practiced how to handle the sailboat while they were on that island—set the sails to catch the wind, and those who have nothing to do are rowing the oars to speed up the ship.
"The blockade is definitely good. But because of it, the enemy's numbers are spread out, and their fleet is thin. We'll break through there and leave this area!"
Also, the two sides of the fleet that started to surround us were moving separately.
It's clear they are not used to this. They must be a group that has never practiced fleet maneuvers for an encirclement.
Because of this, there are gaps between some of the ship groups.
"If we had turned around to the open sea, they would have caught up to us, and even if we had gotten away for a while, they might have used their numbers to shoot at us just to stop us."
The enemy is clearly surprised by our action and is rushing to shoot their cannons, but it's clearly for a scare, and no shots are hitting.
They are shooting too far, you fools! Shooting like that is pointless, even if it's just to threaten us.
This only shows their plan to capture Robin alive no matter what.
"Luckily, the wind is behind us! The ship's lightness, small size, and shallow hull are our advantages. We'll cut through the areas where they can't easily sail! The skill of the helmsman will be tested now!"
The wind has been getting strangely stronger.
This is fine. We are moving much faster than I thought.
...Enough to nearly tip over if we tried to turn gently!!!!!!!!!!
God, Buddha, Clemence! I know I'm a pirate now, but did I do something bad in my past life!!?
"It's dangerous to get close, but they will see it as a chance to steal Robin! That means the chance of them shooting will be even lower!"
If they stop shooting, I can also help clear the deck.
Especially since their goal this time is Robin.
"Daz, don't go too far forward this time. If they want to capture Robin, they probably have anti-devil fruit user gear. Lead Amisu and the others well to handle them. Because you have a steel body, if you let your guard down you could be captured!"
I should assume they have the strange nets as well as Sea-Prism Stone locks.
If things get bad, I might have to go full speed and use Shakushi, which I am still practicing.
"So all I need to do is stop the enemies from moving?"
"Yes, just stop the nearby ships from moving. Also, don't forget to use your Mini-Hollows to break the rudders and oars."
"Horo-horo-horo! Leave it to me, I'll mess them all up!!"
Good. Since they fought Gekko Moria's soldiers before, no one's spirits seem low.
"Captain! Here! I finished it!"
Robin, who went back to the cabin, brings my weapon.
It's a strange-looking weapon called the "Cat's Claws." It was made by taking apart a lot of the swords and gunpowder we got from the smuggler ship and the secret warehouse the other day, with Robin and the skillful crew members trying things out based on my words.
"Thanks, Robin."
Black and tough leather gloves.
Blade-like things are attached to each fingertip of the gloves, which were one of the stolen items from the smuggler ship.
It feels right, even though this is the first time I've touched and used it.
The weight doesn't bother me. It seems that the small amount of training I did was helpful.
"Well, it looks like the enemy is surprised and has started to change their course."
They probably started sailing, thinking we would turn around and run away, but they are panicking because we are approaching them at a crazy speed.
Because of this, they are struggling to aim their cannons, and the shooting has stopped for a bit.
"Alright, let's go."
Ah... I really am that Kuro.
I fix my glasses with a familiar gesture and look at the fleet that now has even more gaps.
I was right.
Some ships may be well-controlled on their own, but the person giving the orders at the very top is not used to sea battles.
As a fleet, they are second-rate.
Yes, no problem. —We can do this.
"Everyone—we are sailing towards Dawn."
A battle cry rises behind me.
--
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