"Such power! He took down so many with just that!" The remaining Marines looked around in shock. Even those stationed outside had felt the impact of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki, leaving some disoriented and others collapsed, scrambling in a panic.
"Enemy attack!"
"Where are they? Where's the enemy?!"
"Who dares to attack us in our own base?"
They had no idea where the 'attack' had even come from.
"Could you bring my cart outside for me? I still have some more shopping to do around the island," Luffy said, looking quite pleased with himself after unleashing his Haki. With a smile, he addressed the Marines around him.
"Right away, sir!"
---
"Colonel, did you hear? Anything about Luffy's visit today is classified. That child… he's a special case."
In the base commander's office, the Den Den Mushi conveyed orders with authority, mimicking the stern voice of Sengoku.
The colonel, a hefty man who dwarfed most of his subordinates, nodded, a cigar in one hand and a thick necklace around his neck.
"Understood, Lord Sengoku," he replied, somewhat dismissively.
"Good. Be sure to inform the other bases in the area as well. When necessary, remind him that the Navy is his strongest and most reliable ally!"
With a click, the Den Den Mushi lowered its head and went quiet, signaling the end of the call.
"Hmph. What a terrifying kid; that must've been Conqueror's Haki. To get the high command calling in like this… Well, it's got nothing to do with me," the colonel muttered as he opened a drawer filled with carefully organized stacks of Beli. He took a deep breath, savoring the scent of money.
"Being the base commander sure is great~"
---
"Right here is fine." Luffy took over the cart from the Marine who had been pushing it, giving it a small tug to test the weight. It didn't bother him at all.
"Yes, Luffy-sama. If you need anything else, feel free to call on us Marines. Most of the merchants here on Glass Pearl Island will give you a discount for being under our protection." The Marines saluted him.
"Thanks. See you later!" Luffy waved, pushing his cart toward the rest of the shops. After all, he wasn't planning to pay for anything.
"Hey, kid. You think you can just walk around taking stuff like that?"
A voice called out as a group of pirates blocked his path, clearly annoyed.
They'd been shopping on the island, paying for goods like everyone else. And yet here was this kid, moving from shop to shop, never pulling out a single Beli.
"I've been watching you," one pirate sneered. "Going from shop to shop, taking whatever you want, and those shopkeepers even bow to you! Show us what you're using—must be some sort of card, right?"
The pirates were green with envy. They'd tried walking out without paying, only to have the shopkeepers threaten to call the Marines.
But here was a kid making a fool of them. He had to be put in his place.
Luffy tilted his head, pulling out his newly acquired handgun. He fired at one of the pirates, the shot hitting his knee and sending him crashing to the ground.
"Did he just… attack us first?!"
The pirates were dumbfounded. They couldn't believe a child would take the first shot without warning.
"Missed my mark, but seeing you kneel was worth it," Luffy chuckled.
Bang! Bang!
Two more shots, and two more pirates fell to the ground. Guns really were faster than swords; he was glad he'd chosen to train with them. Their raw power was undeniable.
The shopkeeper nearby, terrified, scrambled to call the Marines.
A bloodbath was brewing on Glass Pearl Island.
"Boss, we're under attack!"
The loud gunshots had attracted other pirates, who looked over to see their crewmates on the ground. Rage took over as they fired their own shots into the sky.
"Who's the rat who killed one of ours?"
"Show yourself! I'll wipe out your entire family!"
One pirate's angry howl seemed to echo in the wind, which suddenly picked up, scattering people and sending many of the surrounding pirates and bystanders tumbling to the ground.
Even the shopkeeper fainted from the shockwave.
Luffy calmly reloaded his gun, returning it to his waistband. Then he reached into the cart for a weapon with more punch—a double-barreled shotgun capable of blasting through half a body in a single shot. Its slow reload was a drawback, but the power was worth it.
He aimed at a particularly loud pirate, likely the captain or first mate, and pulled the trigger.
The shotgun blast obliterated the pirate's head.
"It's that kid! It's him!" the remaining pirates shouted, finally spotting Luffy.
"Care for a quick shooting match, pirates?" Luffy asked with a smile. Then he unleashed another wave of Conqueror's Haki.
This was too good an opportunity not to practice. He wanted to make the most of it.
A fresh wave of pirates collapsed under his Haki, though fewer fell this time. It seemed that Conqueror's Haki was less effective on people who'd already experienced it once.
"That brat's a Devil Fruit user!" one pirate exclaimed, watching his comrades fall.
"Devil Fruit or not, I'll cut you down!" Another pirate charged, brandishing a massive sword, crossing the distance in a single sprint.
Luffy pulled out his pistol and fired, the bullet hitting the pirate's blade and knocking him back. But before the pirate could recover, he was kicked aside by a familiar figure.
Benn Beckman appeared beside Luffy, holding Uta in his arms.
"Luffy, what were you just doing?" Uta asked, clinging to Beckman's neck and nervously glancing around at the fallen pirates.
After Uta noticed Luffy was missing, she'd been assured by the shopkeeper that he'd gone to the Marine base. She had started to relax, but then Beckman suddenly sensed something amiss and had brought her along to
check on him.
Now, they found Luffy standing amidst a dozen downed pirates and some unconscious civilians.
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