The butler led the group into the courtyard.
Sinan Slin was currently sleeping soundly, with women on either side of him.
*Creak—*
The sound of a doorknob turning echoed.
Sinan Slin groggily opened his eyes:
"Hmm?"
A figure wielding a saber approached and swung at him. Sinan Slin jolted awake.
Without a second thought, he flipped the quilt over and threw it at his attacker.
Then, he grabbed a coat and flipped out of the window.
As soon as he cleared the window, he saw Ji Lei Yasi En and others waiting on the ground with axes. Damn it...
Ji Lei Yasi En grinned ferociously.
He stomped his foot and rushed into the air.
He gripped his axe with both hands and swung it at Sinan Slin.
Sinan Slin's expression darkened as he watched the giant axe descend towards his neck.
He swung his arm forward, and the air in front of him exploded with a soft crackle.
This propelled him backward, adjusting his stance as he activated Iron Body:
"Iron Body: Hundred Forge Balloon!"
*Clang!*
The giant axe first embedded itself into his fleshy abdomen, then a metallic clash followed.
Ji Lei Yasi En felt the force of his axe being continuously absorbed.
Then, a whistling sound cut through the air.
Sinan Slin caught the giant axe and punched towards Ji Lei Yasi En's head.
*Bang—*
Ji Lei Yasi En, who had raised his fist at some unknown moment, met Sinan Slin's punch.
The two separated and landed on the ground.
At this moment, a figure from upstairs also jumped down.
Sinan Slin's pupils contracted upon seeing the figure:
"Damn it, what do you think you're doing?"
"Megan Locke."
The burly Marine soldier, Megan Locke, let out a soft breath:
"Just cleaning out the rot."
Sinan Slin gritted his teeth:
"You're asking for death."
Locke smirked dismissively and charged forward with his saber.
Sinan Slin moved like a nimble fatty.
He directly used Soru to rush into the sky.
Seeing Locke charging towards him, Sinan Slin's legs moved in afterimages:
"Rankyaku: Ranzan!"
Numerous crescent-shaped blue slashes shot towards Locke.
Locke used Kami-e to dodge them and in an instant, he caught up to the fleeing Sinan Slin.
He gripped his saber with both hands and brought it down.
*Clang!*
Iron Body blocked it again.
However, Sinan Slin himself was sent crashing to the ground like a cannonball.
Below, Ji Lei Yasi En, carrying his giant axe, and several elite pirates charged forward.
Sinan Slin, who had been slammed into the ground, pushed himself up with his hands.
He spun around 360 degrees:
"Rankyaku: Enbu."
Like ripples on water, circular Rankyaku slashes spread outwards.
Ji Lei Yasi En cleaved through the incoming slashes with his axe and swung down.
Sinan Slin retreated several steps, dodging the giant axe that aimed for his vital points.
He bent his knees, intending to ascend into the sky.
*Whoosh—*
A Flying Finger Pistol grazed his scalp.
It startled him, breaking out in a cold sweat.
With grim determination, he met the attack head-on, repelling Ji Lei Yasi En with a punch and warily watching the two.
Locke, who had lowered his finger, also frowned slightly. He was getting impatient...
Sinan Slin's right fist, which had just collided with the giant axe, trembled incessantly.
Deep wounds, visible to the bone, bled profusely. He looked towards Ji Lei Yasi En's side:
"You're pirates, aren't you?"
"How much did this guy pay you?"
"I'll pay you ten times that."
"No, fifty times."
"As long as you help me kill him."
"And I'll give you two more young women each as playthings."
"What do you say?"
Seeing his subordinates show signs of wavering, Ji Lei Yasi En's grin widened:
"Foolish."
"Killing you will also be mine."
As his words fell, Ji Lei Yasi En and Locke simultaneously charged at Sinan Slin.
The three of them became locked in a chaotic melee, their figures constantly crossing.
Gradually, Sinan Slin realized something was wrong.
*Bang—*
After kicking Locke away.
Sinan Slin suddenly came to his senses and looked at Ji Lei Yasi En:
"Something's wrong!"
"That's Soru!"
"You're a Ma...!!!"
*Squelch squelch—*
A series of sounds of blades piercing flesh echoed.
Locke, who had just been kicked away and landed near the elite pirates, suddenly erupted.
His long saber instantly bisected several of them.
He shook the blood off his blade and slowly walked towards Sinan Slin.
Sinan Slin, stunned, finally understood.
This was all a trap... a trap set specifically for him...
Damn it, who was it!!!
Now, only three people remained in the courtyard; the rest had already been sent away by the butler.
The two slowly approached Sinan Slin.
Ji Lei Yasi En's face suddenly contorted into a wicked grin.
He slapped his right hand on his face.
*Slap—*
He transformed into Sinan Slin!
Looking at the horrified Sinan Slin opposite him.
This "Sinan Slin" spoke with a mischievous voice:
"Round two."
"Begin!"
---------------
Wind Chime Island, Marine Branch 65.
*Bzzzz— Bzzzz— Bzzzz—*
A rapid alarm blared.
Gunfire and shouts of battle echoed throughout the base.
At some point, pirates had infiltrated the base.
Awakened soldiers scrambled to fight back with their weapons.
After leading the pirates into the base, the four of them vanished.
They were actually hidden on a rooftop, watching the battle below.
Watching the soldiers and pirates dying below, they clenched their fists.
They were the ones who had shown them the way...
They were a bunch of trash...
They were a bunch of good-for-nothings...
They should have been destroyed long ago...
But now that it was happening, they had restrained themselves several times from rushing out.
But they were pulled back by the more rational soldier:
"For the plan."
"Jiram."
Jiram, the youngest and most impulsive among them, took several deep breaths.
He closed his eyes, trying not to look at the scene below.
But the dense gunfire still forced him to look.
Finally, after seeing several Marine soldiers who had organized a resistance being dismembered by a horde of charging pirates.
He could no longer hold back.
*Swish!*
His figure vanished instantly, appearing below.
He flickered continuously using Soru, his finger guns firing incessantly.
Numerous bloody holes appeared on the necks of the surging pirates.
The rational soldier glanced in the direction of the mountain and sighed:
"Let's move."
Seeing familiar faces die before their eyes.
No one could remain calm, regardless of right or wrong, good or evil.
But sacrifice was unavoidable.
This was a necessary step.
The plan could not stop...
In fact, similar plans were already underway or being prepared in branches across the world...
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh—*
Three whooshing sounds pierced the air as they plunged into the battlefield.
---------------
At dawn.
The surviving soldiers, most of them, collapsed on the ground.
A few scattered soldiers were collecting the bodies of their comrades.
The four soldiers from headquarters were hailed as heroes by everyone, but strangely, their leader was nowhere to be found.
At some point, two long shadows appeared at the entrance of the branch.
This immediately tensed the atmosphere within the branch.
However, upon seeing that it was Branch Director Sinan Slin, the soldiers breathed a sigh of relief.
Both Sinan Slin and Locke were heavily wounded.
Locke held the pale head of Ji Lei Yasi En, who looked as if he had been dead for a long time... but no one paid attention to such details.
Sinan Slin's throat was a bloody mess, and he was supported by Locke as they walked.
As soon as he reached the entrance, Sinan Slin's blood surged.
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Under everyone's gaze, he lost his life.
Locke slowly withdrew his hand from Sinan Slin's back...
Several days later.
Following Sinan Slin's dying recommendation, and a brief discussion among high-ranking officials.
Megan Locke, who had beheaded the pirate Ji Lei Yasi En with a bounty of 21 million, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.
He also temporarily assumed the position of Director of Marine Branch 65.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The Fleet Admiral glanced at the document and tossed it aside. This was a report from below.
Small branches in the Four Seas did not require his personal appointment; they merely needed to be reported.
However...
How many branch attacks had occurred now?
The pirates were becoming increasingly rampant...