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Sabaody Archipelago, Area 45. This was a tourist and entertainment district, with many speciality shops lining the streets.
Normally bustling with crowds and lively chatter, the atmosphere was quiet and tense now.
"Ivans, they're sticking to us tightly," said a bald man with a sword at his waist, his tone serious.
"I see them. These guys are trailing us from a distance, but they're not attacking."
"They're probably waiting for stronger reinforcements," replied Ivans, a man with a rifle slung over his back and goggles on his forehead.
His voice was deep and steady. He quickly recognized the strategy behind the Marine forces that were following them closely but spreading out widely.
"We don't have much time left!" Ivans added.
A tall, muscular man with dark skin grumbled, "Damn it, we were just planning to stay here for a day before heading to the New World, and now this happens!"
"It's all because of those bastards from the Jones Pirates. They're notorious scum," said another chubby man.
"I heard that guy's a complete lunatic," the chubby man continued.
The five of them moved quickly, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't shake off the Marines trailing behind them.
Ivans' expression grew grimmer until, at one point, he suddenly unslung his rifle and raised it.
"What's wrong?" the chubby man asked.
"Marine reinforcements are here!" Ivans replied.
Through his scope, he saw a clear image of a young figure, and at the same time, the major who had been tracking them was saluting respectfully.
It was evident that this younger-looking man was the major's superior.
At that moment, one of Ivans' companions noticed something strange: the Marines who had been following them were beginning to retreat.
"They're pulling back? What's going on?" the bald man with the sword asked, puzzled.
These Marines had been on their tail for most of the day, and now they were suddenly withdrawing.
Ivans' expression grew even more serious. Through his scope, he saw that young officer suddenly lift his head and look directly toward their position.
"This guy... is dangerous!" Ivans felt a chill run down his spine, his instincts screaming at him.
"Just got word," said the only woman in the group, her voice filled with fear, "the other four Supernova pirate crews have either been captured or wiped out!"
"What?" The sudden news shocked the entire group.
"They were all pirates with bounties over 100 million!"
The woman took another deep breath and added, "Three of those pirate crews were taken down by a young officer."
Hearing this, Ivans adjusted his scope to focus on the officer's shoulder, quickly identifying the rank insignia—Rear Admiral.
"A Rear Admiral?" The woman was stunned. "How do you know?"
Sweat began to bead on Ivans' forehead. In terms of raw power, they weren't the strongest among the five Supernova crews.
The fact that three crews had fallen to this man clearly indicated his terrifying strength, and it meant that they were in deep trouble.
Meanwhile, Arashi finished his conversation with the major who had been tracking the pirates.
"I'll take it from here. You and your men can withdraw," Arashi said with a faint smile.
"Then we'll leave it to you, Rear Admiral Arashi!" The major didn't hesitate at all, feeling a wave of relief as he turned and left.
He was well aware of the incredible feats Arashi had accomplished not long ago.
Arashi turned and looked at Ivans, surprised that the pirate hadn't fired yet. Without hesitation, he began walking toward them.
"He's coming, Ivans!" the woman shouted.
"I see him!" Ivans had his right hand on the trigger but hesitated to pull it.
Deep down, he sensed that if he did, the next moment would bring a catastrophic end for him and his companions.
A crushing pressure, an overwhelming sense of dread, suddenly swept over them.
The young Marine Rear Admiral, Arashi, hadn't done anything yet, but Ivans felt an unprecedented weight bearing down on him.
Even the trigger, which he could normally pull with ease, now seemed impossible to press.
"Are we going to fight, Ivans?" the bald man, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, asked gravely. Ivans didn't reply.
In the blink of an eye, Arashi was getting closer and closer. Suddenly, Ivans saw a smile appear on the young Rear Admiral's face.
The next moment, Ivans' hand trembled, his face showing pure shock.
"He's... gone?!"
Ivans had never encountered an opponent like this before—someone who could vanish from his sights in an instant.
Almost immediately, a gust of wind swept over him, and the next thing he saw was a white cape fluttering in front of him.
Arashi was already standing beside him. Ivans froze, his face changing dramatically as he realized what had just happened.
"Mina!!" the bald man shouted as he drew his sword and slashed at the Marine before him.
Everything happened so quickly that the others hadn't even processed it.
Arashi effortlessly lifted the female navigator in front of him, paying no mind to the bald man's attack from behind.
As the sword sliced through the air, it suddenly stopped with a sharp clang as it struck Arashi's back.
"Iron Body!" The sword couldn't even scratch him, and the sound it made was that of metal striking metal.
This shocked everyone present, filling them with a mix of disbelief and terror.
"I'm not a patient man," Arashi said calmly. "One more strike, and I'll crush her neck."
He slowly turned, still holding the woman up, his gaze sweeping over Ivans, the furious bald swordsman, and the two others who were finally snapping out of their stupor.
"You have one chance," Arashi said, his voice cold and authoritative. "Surrender now, and stop resisting. Or she dies first, and then the rest of you follow."
Ivans' expression flickered with indecision. The bald man and the others were equally anxious, but faced with the situation, they were helpless.
Finally, Ivans sighed, lowering his rifle.
"You win."
As he looked at them, Arashi smiled, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He released Mina and then said calmly, "Come with me."
The five exchanged glances, their eyes focused on Ivans, who shook his head, signalling them not to act rashly.
With their mission complete, Arashi didn't linger.
The five pirates followed him in silence, watched closely by the Marines at the port as they were led onto a warship.
"Rear Admiral Arashi is incredible. He took down four of the five Supernova pirate crews by himself!"
"And he's strong enough to go toe-to-toe with the Dark King Rayleigh. If it weren't for his lack of seniority, he'd probably be qualified to be an Admiral!"
"I heard Rear Admiral Arashi is Vice Admiral Garp's disciple!"
These comments reached Ivans and the others, their expressions shifting.
This young Marine had not only fought Rayleigh but was also the disciple of the Marine Hero, Garp. They were stunned by his background and reputation.
Moments later, they boarded the warship, and Rosinante steered it out of the port.
"You have two choices," Arashi said, finally breaking the silence.
"First, from today onward, you can live as Marines under my command."
"What? You want us to become Marines?" one of them asked in disbelief.
Arashi ignored the question and continued with the second option. "Second, the ship turns around, and you're all sent to Impel Down."
"I'll use my connections to ensure you're placed in the deepest, most secure Level Six, where you'll spend the rest of your lives peacefully, with no surprises," Arashi added with a grin.
The five of them exchanged looks, their faces saying, "Thanks a lot!" But the decision was clear—each of them chose the first option.
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