196 With the Justice System

"Hu—"

Shamrock stood on the deck, the sea breeze ruffling the fine hem of his elegant coat.

Figarland Shamrock

He turned back, sweeping his gaze over his companions.

"What a boring trip. The air here even makes the food taste worse!"

An elderly man with a body full of bulging muscles and a cross-shaped beard—Shepherd Sommers—was carefully wiping each of his fingers with a pristine white silk handkerchief.

Shepherd Sommers

Beside him, a tall and slender figure with long, disheveled hair—whose body faintly showed the form of a qilin—yawned lazily, leaning against the railing.

"Let's finish this quickly. It's nowhere near as comfortable as Mary Geoise!"

Rimoshifu Killingham, Mythical Zoan-type, Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model: Qilin.

Rimoshifu Killingham

Behind them, several teams of CP0 agents stood motionless like statues, their presence hidden and silent.

"Vmmm—"

Soon, the outline of the G-3 Branch appeared on the horizon.

The ship entered the port smoothly—no questioning, no obstruction.

"Hm...?"

However, when the ship finally stopped and Shamrock clearly saw the state of the port, his eyes narrowed slightly.

The vast harbor... had no soldiers standing in formation, no officers bowing to greet them.

Only three figures.

Three old men, standing side by side, waiting in silence.

One with snow-white hair and a body as broad as a mountain, carelessly picking his nose.

Another wearing a seagull-adorned cap, his expression relaxed.

And the last one, with short purple hair, a ferocious mechanical arm, and a steel-blooded aura that exuded authority even without anger.

Garp. Sengoku. Zephyr.

Three monuments of the Marine's old era!

"No... something's wrong..."

Shamrock's instincts screamed alarm.

Why would these three old monsters—who should have retired long ago—appear together at G-3?!

This was definitely not a welcome!

Just as his wariness surged and he was about to give an order—

"BOOM——!!!"

"BOOM——!!!"

Two overwhelming auras crashed down like thunder!

One—majestic and vast, like the descent of a Buddha!

The other—wild and unrestrained, like a hero shaking the heavens!

Sengoku and Garp's Conqueror's Haki erupted simultaneously!

The twin waves of Haki intertwined and merged—like invisible tidal fury—forming a colossal hammer that smashed straight into the World Government's ship!

"Crackkk——!"

The enormous white vessel groaned under the unbearable force as its solid frame shattered inch by inch!

"..."

The elite CP0 agents didn't even have time to react—their eyes rolled back, foam spurted from their mouths, and they collapsed unconscious.

"!?!!"

Sommers and Killingham's faces changed dramatically. They immediately released their own Haki to resist, yet their blood still churned violently under the pressure.

"This... this is...!"

Shamrock's pupils shrank sharply. The grace and composure on his face were gone.

These two old men didn't even bother with words—

They just attacked outright?!

As expected!!!

The Five Elders' suspicion was right—

The Marines... had completely betrayed the World Government!

With just his small unit, how could he possibly face three legendary Marines?!

He reached into his coat to call for reinforcements—

"Whoosh—!"

A dark-red figure vanished from the port in an instant.

The next moment, he appeared on the deck.

Zephyr!

His cold eyes locked onto Shamrock.

His ferocious mechanical arm was wrapped in dense, nearly tangible dark-red Haki. With a roar that tore through the air, he threw a single punch!

"!!!"

Shamrock reflexively drew the rapier at his waist and brought it up to block.

"CLANG——!"

The dark-red fist collided with the gleaming blade!

The immense power transmitted through the sword, pinning Shamrock completely in place!

"Hu—"

While maintaining pressure with his right fist, Zephyr brought up his left and drove it straight into Shamrock's chest!

"PUH——!"

Blood gushed out violently!

Shamrock was sent flying. When he struggled to his feet, his eyes were wide with disbelief.

Marine Instructor—Zephyr... wasn't he supposed to be terminally ill?!

"Sss——!"

Warm blood splattered across Zephyr's skin.

Threads of crimson droplets seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, seeping into his flesh—
transforming into pure life energy.

"Ha——!"

Zephyr pulled his fist back, an unprecedented wave of vitality coursing through every vein and bone.

How long had it been...

How long since he'd felt the thrill of a true strike like this?!

Indeed... the boy Hawke was right!

For someone who had honed martial arts to the absolute peak, an ordinary Devil Fruit was nothing but a shackle.

But a Mythical Zoan... that was different!

Every Mythical Zoan possessed unique powers!

He could feel it clearly— the immense life force washing through him was healing every old wound, every ounce of vitality drained by age!

"Clank——"

Zephyr swung his arm, and the mechanical limb that had accompanied him for years crashed heavily onto the deck.

He didn't need it anymore.

A bit more enemy blood and he would return completely to his peak!

"Zephyr...!"

Shamrock wiped the blood from his lips and raised his rapier high.

"Cerberus!"

"Vmmm——!"

The sword let out a low, eerie hum. A mass of dark, flame-like cloud erupted from the blade—
coalescing midair into a monstrous beast!

Three savage heads. Six scarlet eyes. All locked on Zephyr.

Each head wore a metal collar.

Zoan-type, Inu Inu no Mi, Mythical Model: Hellhound (Cerberus)!

Cerberus!

"ROAR——!!!"

All three heads bellowed at once.

"Go,"

Shamrock commanded, pointing his sword at Zephyr.

"Tear him apart!"

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

The three heads lunged from different angles, like streaks of lightning!

"Tricks of insects!"

Zephyr didn't dodge. Facing the fanged maws capable of crushing steel, he simply threw—three punches!

"BOOM——!"

The first punch smashed the left head into a burst of blood mist!

"BOOM——!"

The second crushed the right head into powder!

"BOOM——!"

The last met the central head head-on!

Zephyr's massive hand clamped onto its upper jaw—his fingers tightened—

"CRACK——!"

The skull shattered like a fragile eggshell!

Three heads— obliterated in an instant!

"!!!"

Shamrock's eyes bulged wide.

Cerberus... was a Mythical Zoan!

"ROOOAR——!"

The headless beast wailed in agony, turning to flee back into the sword.

"Running away?"

Zephyr sneered, vanishing from sight.

The next instant, he was behind the beast—his hand edge coated in Armament Haki—
and he struck down fiercely!

"Slash——!"

The massive body split cleanly in two!

A torrent of blood poured out like a crimson waterfall, staining the deck dark red.

"Crackle... crackle..."

Shamrock's rapier slowly shattered into pieces.

"The condition for the ability transfer?"

Zephyr stood in the pool of blood, staring coldly at Shamrock.

"The developer of that technology... is right here."

How laughable.

The Marines had fought so hard—sacrificed countless brilliant soldiers—to fight against the world's pirates.

Yet these so-called gods, the Celestial Dragons, fed a Mythical Zoan— a fruit that could create a Top-Tier powerhouse to a lifeless sword!

To them, what were the Marines?

Fortunately...

Fortunately, this era had completely changed!

"The... developer... of the ability conversion?!"

Shamrock stood frozen, the words echoing in his mind.

A chilling dread surged up his spine!

Ability conversion...

That was Vegapunk's invention—the technology that allowed objects to eat Devil Fruits!

Vegapunk... was at G-3?!

When did the Marines move him?!

Didn't Saturn-sama say Vegapunk was still under his control?!

Questions exploded in his head like thunder, plunging him into total confusion.

The Marines... not only had they betrayed the World Government—
they had taken its most vital scientist!

"Aiya..."

Zephyr scratched his head, looking at Shamrock's pale face with a sheepish smile.

"My mood's so good... I might've let that slip."

"In that case..."

"I'll just have to keep you all—right here!"