"Murunfufu, you've got quite the mouth on you! Such a sweet talker, little cutie!"
After hearing this, Catarina Devon's previously gloomy expression suddenly brightened. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and let out a soft smile.
However, what came next made the pirate break into a nervous sweat.
"You're so adorable; I feel like preserving you as a specimen forever."
Buzz! !
The pirate's head was buzzing, and a flurry of thoughts raced through his mind.
This unpredictable and eccentric woman...
"How could a guy as unattractive as me make it into Lady Catarina's collection?"
He quickly bowed his head, trembling with fear.
"Murunfufu, no need to fret; I'm just messing with you, but..."
Catarina Devon continued to smile, yet her gaze suddenly intensified as she looked at the pirate who dared to question her, a pink glint flickering.
"Hehehe...hehehe..."
The pirate's eyes lost their spark, and he absentmindedly muttered something incoherent through the loudspeaker at the corner of his mouth.
He collapsed backward in a daze, contorting like an invertebrate creature, and his breaths quickened gradually.
Gently lifting the girl from the ground, Catarina Devon turned and walked away without a backward glance. Her chilly words echoed for all the pirates to hear.
"Since you've dared to challenge me, you'll have a price to pay. However, let him meet his end in contentment as a final reward."
Da da da--! ! !
The steady footsteps gradually faded, but each echo struck a chord in the pirates' hearts.
Suddenly, they regretted their decision to get involved with this woman.
Wouldn't it have been wiser to stick to being ordinary gangsters in the New World? At least then, they could boast about it later – "I once crossed paths with the Emperor of the Sea!"
Now standing beside this woman, could a slip of the tongue lead to dire consequences?
Initially, around thirty individuals joined the group, but now only 29 remain; the rest met their fate at the hands of their Captain.
The situation is precarious, with the blade's edge stained in blood.
"What if...we leak the information to the Marines about this guy?"
Suddenly, the pirate previously dubbed "cute" by Catarina Devon spoke up.
"That woman is a major criminal who escaped from the sixth level of Impel Down. I reckon the Marines will be relentless in pursuing her."
Catarina Devon's identity as an escapee from Impel Down Level 6 had drawn their attention.
As typical New World pirates, most of them had ended up alone after their companions were separated or met various unfortunate ends.
Even if they desired to join a pirate crew, the Sea Emperor scorned them, and assimilating into other pirate groups proved impossible.
Thus, they found themselves wandering like ghosts.
During this period, they chanced upon Catarina Devon. Despite being in fame long ago, the allure of a Level 6 fugitive was irresistible.
While the World Government didn't actively broadcast the news of Impel Down's breach, the truth couldn't stay hidden forever.
With a little attention to sea happenings, one could easily confirm the other party's authenticity.
Furthermore, the undeniable evidence lay in the strength exhibited by Catarina Devon.
...terrifying! !
"She won't find out, will she?"
Some pirates, although ready to face death at any moment when setting sail, felt a chill creeping in.
But as the grim reality of death approached, they realized... their hearts weren't as resolute as they thought! !
"What's there to be afraid of? If you stick around her, she'll end you sooner or later!!!!"
Emotions are a magical contagion. Once one or two people stand firm, others follow suit.
"So, which Marine Base should we report to?"
A wiry pirate promptly stepped in, already formulating plans.
"G-5 Base, this island falls under the jurisdiction of that Marine Base."
"..."
At the mention of this name, an uneasy silence befell the assembled pirates, their eyes meeting in shock.
After a prolonged pause, someone cautiously inquired, "Hakuryu?"
"That's correct..."
'Little Cutie' gulped nervously, appearing to reconsider.
"Maybe we should just drop the idea, huh?"
This guy is ruthless, and no pirate caught by him has a pleasant fate.
"If we voluntarily report and surrender, won't we end up directly imprisoned in Impel Down?"
Some individuals began considering offering food and shelter.
"I don't recall hearing about it..."
While a faction of pirates debated their options, Gatmu Village, the sole settlement on Gatmu Island, caught wind that people were missing. The village promptly reported the situation to the overseeing Marine Base.
...
"There have been recurring disappearances of young girls lately?"
Atlas furrowed his brows, perusing the documents in his hands.
Across from him sat Maynard, chewing a cigarette with a determined look!
In Atlas's absence, Maynard had taken charge of the base's operations.
Although it's a bit underpowered, it's just enough to keep the base operations running.
"Yes, it occurred right after the Summit War ended. The initial sightings weren't in our jurisdiction."
"Admiral Sakazuki also contacted us. They were the first witnesses, and the other party possesses impressive masking skills. I suspect..."
Maynard's instincts hinted that the sinister pirate might be linked to the group of fugitives who escaped from Impel Down.
"Go on!"
Atlas nodded, signaling him to continue.
With newfound confidence, Maynard took a deep breath and spoke with earnest eyes, "I suspect it was one of the criminals who broke out of Impel Down."
As he spoke, Maynard retrieved a small notebook from his jacket, carefully flipping through it before stopping midway.
"It's highly probable that she's Catarina Devon, a person with the Zoan Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine Tailed Fox. She's adept at disguise and possesses strong stealth capabilities. She's known for targeting beautiful women and goes by the name Crescent Moon Hunter."
"So, where's the latest incident?"
Atlas's expression grew focused.
It's quite likely that this woman managed to elude Akainu, showcasing her exceptional disguise abilities.
Only the Nine Tails Fox Fruit grants such a mystical capability.
You see, Akainu's expertise in observation haki isn't too shabby!
Knock knock knock——! !
Their conversation was abruptly halted by a rapid knocking on the door.
Atlas and Maynard exchanged glances before speaking in unison.
"Come in!"
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