Chapter 57: Jeffery Pirates
As Dante Voss stepped off the ship, the Shadow Battle Suit began to shift, gradually forming a black hood that hid half his face.
Although he no longer feared revealing his identity, it could still bring trouble to the Straw Hats, so it was better to stay hidden until he parted ways with them.
The Scarlet Swordsman persona could be used,
but if The Crimson Shura's identity were exposed, the World Government would likely swarm him right here; the Straw Hats would never escape.
"Wait for me, Dante Voss, I'm coming too!" Seeing Dante Voss walk off, Nami felt a pang of unease and hurried after him.
Though she now possessed the powers of the Weather-Weather Fruit, she still felt insecure; only by staying with Dante Voss could she truly relax.
"She's leaving?" Chopper asked nervously.
"Forget it, it'll be fine—Dante Voss's there!" Usopp replied.
They didn't dare set foot on this pirates' island.
"Since Lady Nami is going, I must go as well." Seeing Nami leave, Sanji tried to leap off the ship to follow.
"Ah!"
Seeing Sanji about to leave, the cowardly duo panicked and quickly blocked him,
"You can't go! If you leave too, w-what if our ship gets attacked?" Usopp was so scared he burst into tears, trembling all over.
"Please don't leave!" Chopper sobbed.
Sanji looked exasperated.
"Alright, alright, let go—I'm not going."
...Mock Town.
The streets were packed with chaotic crowds.
Some fought each other, some lay drunk on the ground, and some picked fights on purpose.
In this might-makes-right town, law had completely vanished.
"Truly chaotic."
Dante Voss curled his lips into a slight smile, itching to draw his blade, but he suppressed the urge.
Blackbeard was still on the island; causing too big a scene might bring them into conflict.
Dante Voss currently lacked the strength to defeat Blackbeard and had no desire to clash with someone already capable of injuring a Four Emperor.
Don't be fooled by the impression that he fights everyone to a draw—his hidden power is formidable.
In the anime he seemed bullied by all, yet he always emerged the victor in the end—and that's what truly matters.
His strength must not be underestimated, especially his hand-to-hand combat, which stands at the pinnacle of the world.
Coupled with the Dark-Dark Fruit, he's currently one of the strongest among the Shichibukai.
Besides, the Straw Hats wouldn't let him slaughter here; better to leave a good impression and harvest slaughter points after returning from Sky Island.
"Wait for me, Dante Voss!" Seeing the vicious faces around her, Nami felt scared and quickly caught up, slipping her arm through his.
After stealing a kiss from him last time, their relationship had grown much closer.
The surrounding pirates' eyes lit up at the sudden appearance of such a pretty girl,
and a two-meter-tall brute blocked their path, staring at Nami with drool practically dripping.
"Pretty girl, why stay with this loser? Come to me—let big daddy treat you right."
As he spoke he reached out to grab her.
The other pirates nearby watched with interest, crowding closer.
Most pirates here knew each other; this brute carried a bounty over ten million and was no weakling.
He was even a crewman of the forty-million-bounty pirate Jeffery—on this island, few dared cross that background.
After all, apart from Bellamy with his fifty-million bounty, the handful of four-million-bounty pirates were the strongest powers around.
Nami shrank back in fear as that hand reached for her, pressing closer to Dante Voss.
Dante Voss glanced at the obstacle before him, not even bothering to draw a sword;
with a mere thought, Devil Power erupted from his body.
The black energy shaped itself into a blade that instantly severed the brute's arm.
"Ahhh!"
The pain of losing his arm made the brute tremble and collapse, rolling on the ground.
"Taken out in one move?"
"A new powerhouse pirate?"
"That outfit looks familiar..."
The surrounding pirates gaped in disbelief at the hooded figure cloaked in black.
This was a ten-million-bounty pirate, yet he'd been rendered helpless in a single strike.
Only when Dante Voss acted did Nami finally breathe a sigh of relief.
She gazed at him more affectionately than ever, pressing herself even closer.
Since childhood she'd relied on herself to handle everything; even sailing with the Straw Hats, she'd fought most battles alone.
By Dante Voss's side, however, she was a protected woman—a comforting, secure feeling.
She loved that sensation.
After severing the arm, the black energy blade morphed into a sharp spike.
The brute, still writhing, paled in terror and hastily shouted,
"I'm with the Jeffery Pirates! Our Captain is the forty-million-bounty Mad Blade Jeffery—kill me and he'll avenge me!"
Having declared his backing, the brute breathed easier.
On this island no one dared disrespect the Jeffery Pirates—his life should be safe.
Yet to his shock,
the black spike didn't pause at his words and drove straight toward his body.
"Thud!"
The spike pierced his skull with lethal precision, snuffing out his life instantly.
[Killed a pirate: gained 20 slaughter points]
Dante Voss ignored the corpse and continued forward with Nami.
Though he didn't plan a massacre here, that didn't mean he wouldn't kill.
The surrounding pirates stared wide-eyed at the lifeless body, then at the departing pair.
"Someone actually killed a Jeffery Pirate—Jeffery will retaliate; the island's gonna be lively!"
"Hurry, follow them—Jeffery's nearby and must've heard; let's watch the show!"
Scores of pirates tailed Dante Voss and Nami from a distance, waiting for the Jeffery Pirates' reprisal.
Dante Voss heard their chatter and actually looked forward to Jeffery's vengeance.
In that case it wouldn't be his fault—the enemy would be picking a fight.
Nami wouldn't object to him slaying such foes.
After all, her years on the streets had taught her not to show mercy to those who wanted them dead.
Sure enough!
They had walked barely a hundred meters when a hundred-strong pirate crew came charging after them.
At their head strode a saber-wielding brute even taller than the last.
Standing three meters tall, he carried a two-meter blade; his muscles bulged with raw power.
He glared at Dante Voss and roared, "Brat, was it you who killed my little brother?"