Navy Branch Base – West Blue
Inside an office on the top floor, Navy Lieutenant Commander Lyca listened to the latest intelligence report from his subordinate, his expression gradually turning grim.
"Blackwood Town attacked by Ghost Hand Rowan… Capone Lecky of the Capone Family brutally tortured and killed by Ghost Hand Rowan?!"
As a Navy Lieutenant Commander, Lyca's salary was far from impressive. Arresting pirates was part of his duty, and unlike bounty hunters, he couldn't collect bounties—only military merits. Because of this, he had long maintained secret dealings with the Capone Family to secure additional income.
The massacre at Tarro Town had been orchestrated by the Capone gang in exchange for a hefty bribe. Lyca was originally supposed to cover up the incident. However, in a flash of opportunistic inspiration, he decided to do something far more profitable he framed Ghost Hand Rowan for the crime instead.
This way, he not only fulfilled his transaction with the Capone Family, but also eliminated the troublesome bounty hunter who kept stealing the Navy's spotlight. From his perspective, it was the perfect arrangement.
A flawless, win-win situation.
At least, it should have been.
What he hadn't anticipated was that Rowan's strength far exceeded his expectations.
Even after setting up an elaborate encirclement, Rowan had still escaped unscathed.
And now
Capone Lecky, the very man Lyca had traded with, had been killed inside his own stronghold by Rowan himself.
Which meant only one thing.
Rowan likely already knew the truth.
Lyca snorted coldly, his face darkening.
"So what if you know?" he muttered to himself. "You've already been branded as a ruthless pirate. Even if you reveal the truth, who would believe you?"
To the ordinary people of the world, the Navy was justice itself. Their credibility was absolute. With the charges already placed on Rowan's head, clearing his name would be nearly impossible.
Still, there was one lingering problem.
If the matter dragged on too long, it might attract the attention of Commander Moby or other Lieutenant Commanders. Although Lyca had handled the Tarro Town incident personally, other officers still had the authority to investigate.
If that happened, his own head would be on the chopping block.
To avoid such a disaster, he needed to arrest or silence Rowan as quickly as possible.
Just as Lyca's thoughts churned with unease, a Navy soldier suddenly rushed into the room.
"Lieutenant Commander Lyca! We've received a report Ghost Hand Rowan has been spotted on the island!"
Lyca shot to his feet.
"Where?!"
"At the West Coast pier!" the soldier replied urgently. "Commander Moby and Lieutenant Commander Tamo have already led troops there!"
A nearby Lieutenant Commander frowned in confusion.
"That lunatic… did he really walk straight into a Navy base? Is he insane?"
Lyca remained silent, his brows tightly knit.
Was Rowan really bold enough to come here deliberately? Could he have discovered Lyca's involvement and come seeking revenge?
The thought sent a chill down Lyca's spine.
Blackwood Town was one thing but a Navy branch base?
Surely even Rowan wouldn't dare to be that reckless.
Just as Lyca struggled to believe it, chaotic shouts and gunfire suddenly erupted from outside the building.
Moments later, a Navy Ensign burst into the room, his face pale with fear.
"Lieutenant Commander Lyca! Ghost Hand Rowan has broken into the base!"
"What did you say?!" Lyca roared.
He had known Rowan was dangerous, but this was beyond all reason. Storming a Navy branch base alone was nothing short of madness.
The man was a complete lunatic.
A flicker of genuine fear appeared in Lyca's eyes.
He had fought vicious pirates before. He had seen brutality, desperation, and violence. But someone who dared to attack a Navy stronghold head-on like this?
Never.
"Have Commander Moby and the others been informed?!" Lyca demanded.
"They've been notified! Commander Moby is already leading troops back!"
"It might be too late…"
Lyca clenched his fists, suppressing his fear.
"Gather every soldier still in the base! At all costs, annihilate Ghost Hand Rowan on the spot!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Ensign saluted and rushed out.
Outside, gunshots, shouts, and crashing noises echoed continuously. Lyca paced the room anxiously, gripping the hilt of his sword.
"You go out and take command as well!" he barked at the Lieutenant Commander beside him.
"Yes!"
The Lieutenant Commander took a deep breath, grabbed a musket, and headed for the door.
But the moment he pulled it open
The entire wooden door suddenly twisted in a grotesque spiral and exploded outward.
Splinters flew everywhere.
Instinctively, the Lieutenant Commander raised his musket to fire but a hand shot through the debris, seized the barrel, and twisted it effortlessly.
Crack!
The musket snapped in half like a dry twig.
The Lieutenant Commander's face filled with horror. He tried to retreat and draw his sword but Rowan was faster.
With a single step, Rowan surged forward and slammed a fist into the man's chest.
Bang!
The officer was sent flying backward, smashing into the wall and collapsing unconscious.
"Long time no see, Lieutenant Commander Lyca."
Rowan calmly brushed wood fragments from his shoulder and turned his gaze toward Lyca.
Lyca's expression turned ashen.
He drew his sword and held it defensively in front of him.
"Do you even realize where you are? This is a Navy branch base!"
"So what?" Rowan replied coldly.
"As a pirate with a bounty of 22 million Berries, forcing my way into a Navy base seems perfectly appropriate, doesn't it?"
Under Rowan's relentless approach, Lyca finally lost his composure.
With a roar, he gripped his sword with both hands and slashed at Rowan with all his strength.
Rowan didn't dodge.
He met the blade with a single bare fist.
Buzz!
The distortion force enveloped Rowan's hand, warping the air itself. The sword froze mid-swing and then twisted violently under the pressure.
Crack!
The standard Marine blade crumpled into useless scrap metal.
Lyca's eyes widened in disbelief.
Before he could react, Rowan's other fist smashed into his abdomen.
Bang!
The impact, infused with distortion power, felt like a cannon blast. Lyca coughed up blood and collapsed to his knees.
"Stop right there!"
At that moment, a group of Marines wearing justice cloaks stormed into the room.
Commander Moby had arrived.
Seeing the scene before him, Moby's face filled with fury.
Rowan flicked his wrist, drew his sword, and casually pressed the blade against Lyca's neck.
"Everyone, step back," Rowan said calmly.
Moby glared at him.
"Rowan! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"
"Of course I do," Rowan replied evenly.
"But I have no idea what the Navy has been doing. That's why I came here to ask in person."
Lyca, kneeling on the floor in pain, shouted desperately:
"Commander Moby! Kill him!"
Bang!
Rowan stomped down on Lyca's back, forcing him flat against the floor, the blade still resting against his throat.
"You don't have the right to speak right now."