"Diable Jambe!"
Zeff's right leg ignited like a torch in full view of everyone. Even the crew of the Chef Pirates had to step back due to the scorching heat radiating from Zeff.
Admiral Sam's face behind his mask turned grim. "So, you've eaten a Devil Fruit too, haven't you?"
Devil Fruit powers were rare in the East Blue. For them, seeing someone's body ignite could only be linked to the legendary Devil Fruits.
"Humph, a frog in a well will never see the big picture!"
With a shout, Zeff launched himself like a missile from the ground towards Admiral Sam on the deck.
"Clang!"
The red-hot right leg collided with Sam's golden mask, producing a crisp metallic sound. Sam was sent flying backward. Fisher moved too late to support Sam, and Zeff had already jumped back to the ground. His legs were no longer red but were emitting gray smoke. Even his boots were mostly burned off, revealing his bare feet.
But Zeff's full-force kick was effective.
Not only did it send Sam flying, but it also shattered Sam's golden mask, breaking a few of his teeth.
"Admiral Sam..."
"Stay back!!"
The pirates on the deck crowded around but were angrily rebuffed by Sam, who was clutching his face. Perhaps embarrassed to show his subordinates his pathetic state, Sam tore off his clothes and wrapped them around his head.
"How does it feel, Sam? My kick wasn't pleasant, was it?"
Zeff mocked Sam with a grin, although his right leg trembled slightly from the intense heat. It seemed the "Diable Jambe" technique also had some impact on Zeff himself. But this did not dampen Zeff's fighting spirit.
Having recovered slightly, Zeff once again launched himself towards Sam's pirate ship. This time, Fisher and the one-armed Schroeder stood in his way.
"If all three of you brothers were here, I might not stand a chance. At the very least, it would take two of you together. But now, it's just one guy and a cripple..."
"Sam, are you chickening out after just one kick?"
Sam did not fall for Zeff's taunt. Instead, he looked towards Click, who was nearest to him.
"Click, I was sneak-attacked and injured by that bastard. Go and team up with Fisher and Schroeder to take him down. I'll promote you to the fourth battle squad leader!"
"Yes, Admiral!"
Click's eyes grew cold, but he did not target Zeff; instead, he turned on Sam.
"Click, you..."
Sam, caught off guard, never expected Click to betray him suddenly. Was this guy a spy for the Chef Pirates?
Actually, Click was a highly ambitious and extremely cunning person. He joined Sam's Grand Fleet to one day replace Sam and become the East Blue overlord in the golden armor. But due to Sam's strength and armor, Click had never dared to act.
What puzzled Click the most was why Sam's three confidants—Fisher, Cook, and Schroeder—never appeared together before Sam. One of them was always absent for various reasons.
But none of that mattered anymore, for today was Sam's last day. Always hiding his true strength, Click was a towering figure. His large hand seized Sam by the throat.
Click laughed maniacally, "My dear Admiral, even if you're disfigured now, I'm curious to see your true face!"
The chaotic fight between Zeff and the others paused as they turned their attention to this scene. Zeff looked confused, while Fisher and Schroeder's faces were filled with shock and anger.
"Seize that traitor!"
Their calls were futile.
Click tore off the cloth covering Sam's face.
What shocked everyone was not the disfigured face of the once East Blue overlord but the fact that the face belonged to someone they all knew very well: Cook, one of the battle squad leaders!
"What is happening?"
Everyone was stunned. If this impostor Admiral was Cook, then where was the real Admiral Sam?
"I understand now. No wonder I always felt that Sam and his three leaders moved similarly. There was never a real Sam. It was all a trick by these three brothers!"
Zeff, who had fought Sam and the three brothers the most, had already noticed some clues from their fighting styles.
In fact, the so-called "Admiral" Sam was a fabrication created by Cook and his brothers to invent a revered figure among the pirates. The rarely seen Sam was just a role they took turns playing!
A motley crew needs a figure to look up to. This leader couldn't be any of the three brothers, as none alone could command enough respect. Hence, they created the mythical figure of Admiral Sam, someone even the three leaders couldn't defy.
"I've enjoyed a good show, but it seems there will be no more Sam's Grand Fleet in the East Blue."
Discovering the truth, Zeff felt elated. He stopped fighting Fisher and Schroeder and glanced at the warships that seemed to be intentionally slowing down. With a wave of his captain's coat, he laughed heartily and walked away.
"Did you all see? Admiral Sam has been killed by these three traitors! It was all their doing. They betrayed the Admiral!"
Click had a sudden inspiration and quickly played on this idea.
"This was all a scheme by the Cook brothers. They must have made a secret deal with the Marines to kill us all!"
"For such traitors who killed our Admiral and now want us dead, can you tolerate this?"
Emboldened by his newfound power, Click's voice grew louder. He snapped Cook's neck in front of everyone.
"Captain, shouldn't we do something about him?" a Chef Pirate asked Zeff.
Zeff didn't even turn back, "Why should we care?"
"We're heading to the Grand Line soon."
"The East Blue's problems are theirs to solve!"