It was none other than Tashigi, whom Vivian had just contacted via Den Den Mushi, who tackled Kuto to the ground.
Earlier, Tashigi had spotted Kuto in the crowd and saw him draw his blade, intending to attack the Celestial Dragon. In a moment of urgency, she rushed forward. {WTF!??}
The speed she unleashed not only allowed Kuto to dodge Saint Rosward's gunshot but also caused Kuto's long sword to cut her palm, smearing her blood all over Kuto's chest.
She thought this would create the illusion that Kuto had been shot dead, but who knew…
"Bring her to me," Saint Rosward ordered, pointing at Tashigi.
Nerves immediately tightened.
A drop of cold sweat appeared on Tashigi's forehead, and Kuto, lying on the ground, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword again, ready to strike at any moment.
"Hey, woman, didn't you hear? Get over here yourself!" A black-clad bodyguard shouted at Tashigi.
At his words, Tashigi slowly stood up.
Kuto's blade was already half-drawn from its sheath, his aura locking onto the black-clad man and the Celestial Dragon, ready to strike.
At this critical moment…
Bang—!
A gunshot suddenly rang out, breaking the tense scene.
"Ah!" Saint Rosward screamed in pain.
The bullet grazed his cheek, leaving a distinct blood mark on his skin.
"Protect Saint Rosward!!" The black-clad bodyguard shouted, and in the next second, a dozen bodyguards immediately shielded Saint Rosward and Saint Shalria.
"What's happening?"
"Someone dared to shoot at the Celestial Dragon?!"
All the onlookers were utterly shocked.
At the same time, Luffy, Brook, and Chopper, who were kneeling on the ground, also turned their gazes towards the direction of the gunshot, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"It's Loget Larvin!! The sharpshooter with a bounty of 140 million Berries!" someone shouted.
The next moment, Saint Rosward and Princess Shalria curled up in fear, clutching the clothes of the bodyguards in front of them.
"What's going on, why is that guy here!!" Saint Rosward shouted.
Although he hadn't experienced it himself, he had heard about the attack on his fellow Celestial Dragon, Saint Jalmack, in the Calm Belt. The one who dared to raid the Celestial Dragon's ship, rescue a large number of slaves, and severely injure Saint Jalmack had come to the Sabaody Archipelago?
And now, with that gunshot…
"He must be here to kill us!"
Although there had been assassins targeting the Celestial Dragons before, it was the first time a pirate known for his sharpshooting skills had appeared.
He had also heard that this Loget Larvin could easily shoot someone in the head from hundreds of meters away.
A pirate who feared nothing, with such exceptional marksmanship, had truly terrified Saint Jalmack to the core.
"Why haven't those damn Marines caught that guy yet!"
"It's been months already, a bunch of useless fools. Quick, call the Marines stationed near the Sabaody Archipelago!!" Saint Rosward roared hysterically.
Meanwhile…
Seeing this, Tashigi and Kuto quickly stood up and, taking advantage of the chaos, blended into the dispersing crowd, disappearing without a trace.
Larvin felt incredibly unlucky.
Really, he had never encountered anything so outrageous.
He came from the West Sea and loved hunting in the mountains and forests since he was a child, which is how he developed his incredibly precise marksmanship.
Later, he made a name for himself at sea, with a bounty reaching 40 million Berries, and gathered a group of followers who admired him. After much hardship, Larvin finally arrived at the Grand Line, beginning his new adventure.
But fate had other plans.
Just two months into the Grand Line, Larvin found himself framed!
Yes, three months ago, a newspaper suddenly reported that he had raided a Celestial Dragon's ship at night and rescued a shipload of slaves.
To know, that day he was drunk and dreaming in the arms of his second wife.
When he woke up, his crew told him that his bounty had increased from 40 million to 140 million.
140 million Berries…
An increase of 100 million!
But he hadn't done anything!
Most pirates would secretly rejoice at their bounty increase, but Larvin's situation was different.
He was accused of attacking a Celestial Dragon!
Just last month, more than ten naval ships came to capture him!
Several vice admirals were involved in the operation, leading to his first and third wives being captured and imprisoned, separated from him.
If it weren't for his excellent swimming skills, keen sense of smell, and superb disguise techniques, he would probably be in Impel Down, eating prison food and enduring torture.
Because of this, after suffering so many disasters that should have belonged to him, Larvin finally understood one thing.
Since things were already like this, why not just admit it?
Resentment had deeply rooted in his heart, so after hiding for nearly three months, Larvin finally picked up his weapon, went to the Sabaody Archipelago, and from about 300 meters away, pulled the trigger at the Celestial Dragon.
He wanted the world to know, and the person who framed him to know, that he, Larvin, indeed dared to attack a Celestial Dragon.
And he did it in broad daylight, unlike that person who acted timidly!
But unfortunately…
Because there were too many people blocking his view, and he was too nervous, the bullet did not hit the Celestial Dragon's head as he had hoped.
"But the next few shots, I won't hold back…" Muttering to himself, he aimed the gun at Rosward' head again.
He had made up his mind to kill a Celestial Dragon at this moment, to make the world remember the name Loget Larvin.
At the same time.
Marineford.
"Hello, is this the Navy Headquarters? Lord Rosward has been attacked and is currently in life-threatening danger. The suspect is a sharpshooter with a previous record, Loget Larvin. Please send an admiral to support immediately!"
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, a bodyguard's voice came through anxiously.
In the office, Sengoku, who answered the call, turned to Vice Admiral Tsuru sitting on the sofa.
The two exchanged glances, and Sengoku immediately ordered his assistant, "Find Kizaru immediately and send him to the Sabaody Archipelago to capture this Loget Larvin."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"