[Inside the antique shop, hearing the beautiful woman’s offered price, the gaunt shopkeeper’s eyes widened with regret.
Why had he sold it so cheaply?]
[At the same time, the woman smiled, handed him a few Berry notes, and asked for clues about the person who had bought the slab.]
[Still filled with regret, the shopkeeper barely hesitated before starting to talk.
The woman also took out paper and began sketching based on his description.]
As the dust gradually settled, Moren—wearing his signature cow-cat mask and carrying a longsword—slowly walked into the corridor.
Behind the mask, his cold gaze looked down at the battered Basti.
Then he flicked his wrist, shaking the blood from the blade onto the ground.
“There’s no one left outside,” Moren said coldly.
“As for the people inside…”
He tilted his head slightly to listen.
Even through several thick soundproof doors, he could still vaguely hear the heated bidding and Horn’s passionate voice introducing the merchandise.
“These doors have excellent soundproofing.
Besides, they’re busy enjoying their ‘final pleasures’ right now.
How could they possibly care whether you live or die?”
Basti’s pupils suddenly shrank.
All those elite guards and Marines outside were dead?!
In the short time he had been inside?!
And without making a sound?!
Was this guy some kind of monster?!
“Y-You’re that madman, the ‘Black Cat Sheriff’!” Basti roared fiercely despite his inner fear, enduring the intense pain.
“You actually dare assassinate Marines?!
Do you know the consequences of doing this?!”
“The World Government won’t let you go!
Marine Headquarters will issue a massive bounty!
You’ll be hunted by the Marines until you die!”
Hearing this, Moren tilted his head slightly, his voice beneath the mask carrying open mockery.
“Consequences?
I’ve already killed plenty of scum Marines.
One more doesn’t seem to make much difference.”
As he spoke, he took several more steps forward.
The longsword in his hand pointed diagonally toward the ground, reflecting a cold gleam.
“Besides…”
“Does trash like you even count as a ‘Marine’?
Is the ‘justice’ on your body just about serving as guard dogs for these human-trafficking scum while taking a cut from their filthy business?”
Moren’s words showed no mercy, instantly tearing open the most hypocritical and ugly part hidden inside Basti, causing his face to flush red from humiliation and anger.
“In my eyes,” Moren said slowly as he raised the longsword and pointed its tip at Basti, “you deserve death more than the traffickers and buyers up there.”
“At least they never hide their greed and ugliness.
But you use the shell of ‘justice’ to wrap a soul even filthier than theirs.”
“So, are you ready, Captain Basti?”
Moren slightly lowered his body, taking the most basic opening stance from the swordsmanship Lyle had taught him.
“What comes next might be a little cruel for you.
After all, cleaning up trash doesn’t require much gentleness.”
Basti trembled all over from rage, but also from the fear and humiliation of having his disguise exposed.
He knew Moren was absolutely determined to kill him, so begging for mercy would be useless.
His only choice was to risk everything.
“Stop talking big, you arrogant bastard!” Basti staggered to his feet, wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth, and a vicious glint like a cornered beast flashed in his eyes.
Although corrupt, he had still climbed to the position of Headquarters Captain by fighting through mountains of corpses and seas of blood in his younger years.
He possessed abundant real combat experience and had mastered several forms of the Marine Six Styles.
“I wasn’t raised to be scared!
Want to kill me?!
Then pay for it with your life!”
He roared loudly, his entire body’s strength surging as he took the initiative to attack.
“Shave!”
His figure instantly blurred.
Although slower than during his prime, he still moved fast enough to leave afterimages behind.
The longsword at his waist left its sheath, turning into a fierce streak of white light aimed directly at Moren’s throat.
At the same time, the fingers of his empty left hand came together, hiding a killing move.
“Finger Pistol!”
Facing Basti’s counterattack, Moren’s eyes beneath the mask instantly became incomparably focused.
Mockery was mockery.
Strategically, he could look down on his enemy, but tactically, he had to take him seriously.
He knew that Headquarters Captains—especially those at Basti’s level—were considered the backbone of the Marines’ lower combat structure, completely incomparable to ordinary branch captains.
Some elite Headquarters Captains even possessed strength comparable to higher-ranking Marine officers.
The fact that Basti had been taught Shave, Tekkai, and Finger Pistol already proved he had once been viewed as a promising talent.
It was only his later corruption that dulled his sharpness and prevented him from fully drawing out his potential.
“That’s more like it!”
Moren growled inwardly.
Instead of retreating, he advanced.
With a flick of his wrist, the longsword traced a precise arc toward Basti’s thrust.
At the same time, two stickers on the blade flashed almost simultaneously:
[Viscous Combustible Whale Oil] + [Blazing Hot Flames]
Buzz!
A layer of oily black light instantly covered the blade.
Then, with a sudden roar, orange-red flames suddenly burst from the sword guard and rapidly engulfed the entire blade.
The scorching heat distorted the surrounding air, illuminating the dim corridor completely.
Flowing Blade Like Flame (Physical Version)!
Clang!
The burning blade precisely blocked Basti’s incoming strike, sparks scattering everywhere!
Some flames also spread toward Basti’s arm, forcing him to divert part of his attention to resisting the intense heat.
His hidden Finger Pistol attack was also avoided by Moren through a sideways sliding step that appeared dangerous, but had in fact already been predicted long ago.
“Your movements are too slow.” Moren’s voice was cold and clear, carrying the confidence of someone fully controlling the battle.
“My perception is extremely sharp.”
Before his words even finished, the momentum of his blocking strike suddenly changed, instantly shifting from defense to offense.
Borrowing the recoil force from knocking aside the opponent’s weapon, the burning blade traced a scorching half-circle through the air, carrying roaring wind and scorching heatwaves as it slashed viciously toward Basti’s chest!
The speed and power of this strike far exceeded Basti’s expectations!
“Tekkai!”
In his haste, Basti could only activate Tekkai with all his strength once more.
The muscles of his chest and abdomen instantly hardened like iron and stone.
Bang!
The burning blade struck heavily against his chest!
Even with Tekkai’s defense, the enormous impact still forced a muffled groan from him as he staggered backward several steps.
The Marine uniform over his chest was burned through, revealing blackened and swollen scorch wounds underneath.
The burning pain caused cold sweat to appear on his forehead.
The continuous burning of the flames even interfered with his Tekkai.
“This guy…!” Basti’s heart grew heavier and heavier.
He had originally believed the opponent was merely a madman relying on a bizarre Devil Fruit ability, but now it seemed the other party possessed an extremely solid physical combat foundation.
His swordsmanship was simple, ruthless, and filled with killing intent, far from ordinary.
The way he combined his Devil Fruit ability with his own combat skill so skillfully made him far more troublesome than a normal ability user.
“What exactly is your Devil Fruit ability?!” Basti panted heavily, trying to calm the surging blood in his body and the burning pain in his chest while attempting to stall for time with words.
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