"You're really letting just those two go up?"
"They're more than enough."
"Really...?"
Momousagi didn't agree outright, but she said no more. Instead, she simply watched.
Within the range of her Observation Haki, the strength of those two wasn't bad—somewhere between Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral level.
Compared to the group sent to intercept, they weren't weaker in the slightest.
But the problem was... there were over ten enemies.
And on their side?
Just the two of them.
Can they really win?
Momousagi wasn't so sure.
Meanwhile, ships from all factions were converging toward the volcanic island.
If you counted numbers, there were more than 2,000 people closing in!
But none of them realized the truth—that those who believed themselves hunters...
Were, in fact, prey.
And the real hunter?
Was none other than Jun Lin—the very group they thought was prey.
---
On the island.
A lopsided 2-vs-17 battle had already begun.
Eight enemies had surrounded Zoro.
And five of them—
Used swords.
That alone piqued Zoro's interest.
But first—
He had to deal with the three who didn't use swords.
They were annoying eyesores.
"One Sword Style..."
"Iai—Lion's Song!"
Whoosh—
A sharp wind split the air.
Zoro vanished from his original position. By the time everyone registered his new location, he was already behind a man in a tuxedo.
His sword, Wado Ichimonji, was sheathed once again.
A deep, bone-revealing gash stretched from the man's left waist to his right shoulder.
Blood gushed wildly, as if from a broken faucet.
Seconds later—
He collapsed, lifeless.
Hiss...
Everyone around sucked in a cold breath.
Not a single one of them had seen when—or how—Zoro had drawn his blade.
Too fast. Far too fast.
Zoro calmly turned to the remaining two non-sword wielders, adjusting his stance once more into Iai form.
On the other side, Ace, in contrast to Zoro's precision and skill, had charged in head-on—fists flying—just the way Zoro hated it.
Unlike Zoro, Ace had fully mastered all six forms of the Navy's Rokushiki and even developed several techniques of his own.
Momousagi, who had been observing, was utterly stunned.
Rokushiki?
And it wasn't beginner-level, either...
At least three years of dedicated training!
As for the other guy with a sword—while his use of Rokushiki wasn't as obvious—his earlier swordplay clearly integrated Soru.
What stood out most was the footwork he used before attacking. At least fifty steps in a blink—no small feat.
Even among Vice Admirals, few could reach that level!
In terms of raw physique, those two weren't necessarily superior.
But in reflexes, technique, and mastery of skills?
They surpassed everyone on the field.
That level of understanding of Rokushiki... is it really you?
Momousagi couldn't help but glance at Luo Lan again.
Luo Lan broke out in a cold sweat.
That crazy woman... why's she looking at me again?
Don't tell me she's actually suspicious of me?
That doesn't make sense!
Sure, Zoro showed some hints of Rokushiki, and Ace was straight-up using it—
But it's not like the Navy has a monopoly on Rokushiki!
Yes, it was developed by the Navy—but on this vast sea?
Plenty of others know it too!
No, I need to wrap this up quick and head back to Danaan. The further I stay from this lunatic, the better!
But just then, Luo Lan narrowed his eyes.
Crocodile...
Three figures approached—none other than Crocodile and his entourage.
Of all times to show up—why now, in the middle of a fight?
Luo Lan saw right through it.
The guy clearly wanted to use the chaos to eliminate him, the one who knew Robin's true identity.
Suddenly, an intense killing intent surged nearby.
Its source?
Momousagi—standing right beside Luo Lan.
She glared at Crocodile like a hawk, one hand already resting on her sword, Konpira.
As if to warn: Make one move, and I'll cut you down.
That action didn't comfort Luo Lan.
Instead, his heart went cold.
The chances she's figured out my identity... just shot up again!
"What the hell are you two doing? Stop wasting time!"
He bellowed toward the battlefield.
He didn't want to be here a second longer.
"What, in a hurry now?"
Momousagi's lips curled faintly.
"Of course not! I just think they're taking way too long."
"Is that really the reason?"
...Okay, now Luo Lan was sure.
She's definitely suspicious of me now.
What a pain...
Back on the battlefield, hearing Luo Lan's shout, Zoro and Ace both kicked it up a notch.
Having trained under 20x gravity, their movement speed and burst power far exceeded anyone in their class.
Within just five minutes—
Zoro had taken down three more. The remaining four stepped back and surrendered.
Ace, on the other hand, was like a humanoid beast—relentless and unstoppable. With his refined Rokushiki techniques, he downed four and incapacitated one. The other five, seeing how things stood, also surrendered.
"So, Seaweed Head, I took out five—one more than you!"
"Nope. One of yours didn't die. Doesn't count."
Zoro replied coldly.
Ace immediately flared up.
"What do you mean it doesn't count if they're not dead? That's cheating!"
Seeing the two about to argue again, Luo Lan quickly intervened.
Who knew what secrets these two idiots might accidentally blurt out mid-quarrel?
There were way too many outsiders nearby!
"Both of you, shut up!"
"Say one more word, and it's solitary confinement for a month when we get back!"
Whoosh—
Both their faces turned dark.
One month?
You sure someone can even come out alive after that long?
Okay, maybe alive—but mentally sound? Not guaranteed.
If it was just a day or two, even three, neither Zoro nor Ace would bat an eye. They were used to it.
But a whole month?
Even these two clowns shut up real fast.
"Alright, if no one else has anything to say, we're leaving."
Luo Lan scanned the surroundings.
Then turned and led Zoro and Ace away.
---
"Wait, Luo Lan, we're not gonna rob them?"
"Rob who? You idiot. You think looting them now is any different from robbing the black market?"
Luo Lan snapped.
The money brought up to the island—whether already handed over or being fetched—was all meant for black market transactions.
Robbing it now would be the same as stealing directly from the black market.
The only reason they got attacked earlier was because their transaction was already completed.
Whether their goods were stolen or protected after that?
Had nothing to do with the black market.
And they were about to do the same thing.
Actually... something even worse.
"Tch. Coward."
Ace muttered from beneath his mask, full of disdain.
"This has nothing to do with courage, genius!" Luo Lan snapped again. "You rob the black market today, and who the hell are you gonna sell stolen goods to tomorrow? Or buy stuff from?"
Ace didn't respond this time.
Because he remembered—
Luo Lan had promised: if the black market ever got a good Devil Fruit, he'd buy it for him.
Yeah... maybe don't burn that bridge just yet.
At least not before I get my fruit.
---
"Hey, Miss 79 million bounty... you've been tailing us all this time."
"You gonna come out, or what?"
As Ace wrestled with his inner thoughts—
Luo Lan's voice rang out again.