A single name.
That alone was enough to plunge the once-boisterous plaza into dead silence.
Though Bacardi Maude was nowhere to be seen, the pirates instinctively reacted—
Some with shock, others with sheer terror.
After all, even a man like Libis, with a bounty exceeding 300 million, had been frightened to this extent…
Moments later, as the pirates slowly came to their senses, their gazes converged on the entrance at the base of Ryugu Palace.
"Was that… Bacardi Maude's gunshot just now…?"
The gunfire had come from the entrance to Ryugu Palace.
If the shooter was indeed Maude, then it stood to reason that the bound and suspended Princess Shirahoshi was also his doing.
"But we didn't even see him. Are we sure it was Maude?"
Many pirates had been overwhelmed by Maude's reputation at first, but as they recovered from their initial shock, greed took over. Their eyes hungrily roved over Princess Shirahoshi's body as they voiced their skepticism.
"Are we really going to assume it was Maude just because of Libis' bizarre reaction? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"
"Yeah! That guy Libis—he takes a single bullet and immediately swears up and down that it was Maude? That's ridiculous."
"I remember two years ago, back at the Sabaody Archipelago, Maude killed several Supernova. Libis was one of that year's rookies too, but unlike the others, he never even tried to challenge Maude. The rumor was that he turned tail and ran."
"So… he's been traumatized ever since?"
"But this is still way too exaggerated."
Suppressing their initial fear, most pirates remained rooted in place.
A fortune beyond imagination lay right before their eyes, and they were men who lived for blood and plunder. There was no way they would give up so easily.
Thus, as the murmurs of doubt spread across the plaza, even those who believed in Libis' reaction didn't flee. They chose to stay.
But Libis himself, utterly convinced that Maude was behind the gunshot, had no intention of sticking around.
Even with the rarest treasure imaginable hanging right within his grasp, he could not overcome the fear that Maude had engraved into the depths of his soul two years ago.
"I need to get out of here… as far away from that man as possible!"
Clutching his wound, Libis turned and bolted toward the port town, Coral Hill, where the ships were docked.
"Libis."
A voice called out. A firm hand clamped onto his shoulder, halting his escape.
It was Arthur.
"The Maude Pirates have been in the New World for a long time now. Are you really so sure that was him?"
"Yes, I'm certain! That eerie marksmanship… there's only one man in the world who could do that—Bacardi Maude!"
Libis turned to face Arthur, his bloodshot eyes filled with terror.
"Libis, you…"
Arthur faltered at the sight of Libis' ashen face, his gaze hollow and haunted.
Taking advantage of Arthur's momentary hesitation, Libis shook off his grip and fled in desperation.
"..."
Arthur lowered his now-bloodstained hand and silently watched as Libis disappeared into the distance.
A once-proud and powerful pirate, reduced to this state—
All because of Maude's mere presence.
Even before laying eyes on the man, he had lost all courage.
"…Forget it."
Arthur withdrew his gaze from Libis' retreating figure and turned back toward the pirates who still remained in the plaza.
Though they had lost Libis' strength, the sheer number of pirates gathered here meant that taking down the weakened Ryugu Palace would be no difficult feat.
"I will claim the treasures of Ryugu Palace."
Arthur had no intention of letting Libis' paranoia shake him. He strode toward the coral reef, preparing to take command in Libis' stead.
At this point, a Devil Fruit was within his reach. There was no way he was walking away.
Besides, the sheer number of pirates in the plaza ensured that the attack would happen regardless.
Libis was irrelevant now.
Arthur leaped onto the coral reef, his sharp gaze sweeping across the gathered pirates.
He could not afford to wait any longer.
The pirates took notice of Arthur as he climbed up, turning their attention to him.
Meeting their expectant gazes, Arthur bellowed, "Tell me, brothers—what is it that you desire?!"
"Is that even a question?!"
"TREASURE!!!"
"AND WOMEN!!!"
The pirates roared in response, raising their weapons high.
"Exactly!"
Arthur clenched his right fist and raised it overhead, his expression fierce. "Treasure! Women! Everything you desire lies within Ryugu Palace! If we take it, it's all ours!"
"YEAH!!!"
"Storm the palace! Storm the palace!"
Fueled by Arthur's words, the pirates erupted into cheers, brandishing their weapons in excitement.
The allure of untold riches and pleasure clouded their judgment, drowning out any lingering fear.
As he watched their fervent reactions, a smirk tugged at the corner of Arthur's lips.
With all the island's pirates gathered here, it no longer mattered who led the charge.
...
Inside Ryugu Palace.
The once-proud elite soldiers of the palace lay sprawled across the floor, knocked unconscious by Maude's Haki.
Neptune and his three sons sat bound, their bodies tightly wrapped in shadow tendrils, unable to move.
"Damn you, human! Release Shirahoshi at once!!!"
The four royal figures glared furiously at Maude, who stood near the palace entrance.
Moments ago, they had watched helplessly as Maude used Shirahoshi as bait, throwing her out of the palace. Yet they had been powerless to stop him.
Their hearts burned with rage and frustration.
Overwhelming emotions surged within them, making them wish they could tear Maude apart with their bare teeth.
But their anger was met with indifference.
Maude let their shouts pass through one ear and out the other. His gaze seemed to pierce through the water-protected walls of Ryugu Palace, observing the chaos unfolding in the plaza below.
He had assumed that Libis' reaction and his outburst would be enough to scatter the pirates.
He had even prepared to take action himself—
But he hadn't expected this outcome.
"Greed… outweighing fear?"
Maude's eyes narrowed slightly. He muttered, "So this is what it means to be a pirate."
His original plan was to use Shirahoshi as bait to draw in all the island's pirates.
Yet someone had already beaten him to it, rallying them for a full-scale assault on Ryugu Palace.
That saved him some trouble.
Just as he finished his thought, the roars of the pirates echoed from the plaza below.
"They're chanting about storming your palace," Maude remarked casually.
"..."
Even without Maude's comment, Neptune and his sons could hear the deafening cries from outside.
They instinctively glanced at the soldiers lying unconscious around them. Their expressions darkened.
If those pirates broke in now, the consequences would be unthinkable.
"If I were to let them in…"
Maude turned to face them, his voice teasing.
"Wha—?!"
Neptune and his sons' eyes widened in horror.
They knew that no amount of pleading would change Maude's mind.
They could only glare at him with murderous fury.
Maude ignored their hostile stares and continued, "With your forces in this state, do you really think you can stop them?"
"Don't underestimate us!!!"
"Isn't it just the truth?"
"..."
Neptune and his three prince sons clenched their teeth in silence.
"However, you can rest assured."
As he walked toward the passageway, Maude spoke calmly: "Because I will eliminate all threats to Fish-Man Island."
"..."
Given the situation, Neptune and his sons could hardly believe Maude's words.
Yet, they also couldn't discern his true intentions.
...
On the rocky outcrop at the edge of the plaza,
Lafitte observed the pirates, who had regained their fierce momentum, and smiled. "It's about time to set up the Visual Den Den Mushi. Well then, let's get to work, everyone."
"Mhm."
The crew nodded in succession before dispersing in all directions.
Meanwhile, in the square, the pirates, driven by their desires, remained oblivious to the impending danger.
Arthur stood atop a coral reef, watching the pirates whose spirits had peaked, and felt a surge of excitement in his heart.
He clenched his fist and punched the air with all his strength, shouting at the top of his lungs,
"Then what are you all waiting for?!"
"..."
Yet, the only response he received was absolute silence.
The scene he envisioned did not unfold, leaving Arthur momentarily stunned.
Maintaining his raised fist, he looked down at the pirates, one by one, only to see their expressions frozen in shock and confusion.
"What's going on?"
Arthur was both puzzled and alarmed.
Just moments ago, these guys were as hyped as if they'd been injected with adrenaline. But in the blink of an eye, they'd completely changed.
"Are they... waiting for me?"
Just as Arthur was filled with doubt, a slightly familiar voice rang out behind him.
In an instant, a figure flashed through his mind—Maude.
A chill shot up Arthur's spine, spreading throughout his entire body in mere moments.
He wanted to turn around and confirm the identity of the voice's owner.
But his neck felt as stiff as if it had been frozen in place—he simply couldn't move.
As for the countless pirates standing before the coral reef, they were utterly dumbstruck, staring at the man standing behind Arthur.
"Bacardi Maude... is really here..."
The pirates were both incredulous and terrified.
For that brief moment, they couldn't even comprehend how Maude had appeared behind Arthur out of thin air.
But now, they had no time to dwell on such matters.
In the very next second, without needing a single person to lead the charge, every pirate scattered in terror.
The sight was nothing short of spectacular, leaving Arthur's expression an absolute masterpiece of disbelief.
The scrawny little boy from before was now a great pirate who could make tens of thousands flee in fear with just his presence…
"It's been a long time, Arthur."
Maude reached out and draped an arm over his "old friend's" shoulder.
Even with the undertaker's mask, there was no way Maude wouldn't recognize Arthur.
Arthur's body trembled as he forcibly suppressed the urge to attack Maude. His lips moved slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Maude didn't mind Arthur's silence. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the pirates who were frantically fleeing the square.
"Do you think they can escape, Arthur?"
"..."
Arthur's expression changed slightly as he struggled to reply, "P-probably not."
"Be confident. Take out the 'probably.'"
"..."
Arthur's mouth twitched.
Maude took two steps forward, passing Arthur, and stood at the edge of the coral reef.
"Arthur, I didn't expect to see you here."
"The one who should be surprised… is me."
Arthur took a deep breath, staring at Maude's broad back.
"Heh."
Maude glanced back at Arthur and said seriously, "Are you ready? If you can't withstand it, you'll die."
"What?!"
Arthur's heart pounded.
Without another word, Maude released his Conqueror's Haki.
An almost imperceptible black wave of aura erupted like a raging tempest, spreading rapidly across the square.
Standing closest to Maude, Arthur felt as if his mind had been struck a hundred times in an instant. His vision blurred, his knees went weak, and he nearly collapsed.
Crack... Crack...
Under the overwhelming pressure of Maude's Haki, Arthur's undertaker mask suddenly fractured, splitting into several pieces and falling to the ground, revealing his bloodless, terror-stricken face.
Maude's Conqueror's Haki swept through the entire area.
The pirates who had been frantically running for their lives suddenly froze, as if their souls had been ripped from their bodies. Without warning, they lost consciousness and collapsed.
One after another, pirates fell to the ground.
The sound of bodies hitting the floor echoed continuously.
Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands.
In less than two seconds, nearly ten thousand pirates were knocked unconscious by the sheer force of Maude's Haki, lying motionless across the square.
However, among them, several hundred pirates with considerable strength—like Arthur—managed to withstand the pressure.
"This is... Maude's Conqueror's Haki."
As they gazed at their fallen comrades, their faces turned ashen, filled with horror.
Maude glanced at Arthur's pale face and patted his shoulder as if offering congratulations.
"Congrats, you survived."
"!!!"
Arthur's heartbeat quickened.
In that instant, he grasped the true meaning behind Maude's words.
The man before him… intended to kill everyone who couldn't withstand his Conqueror's Haki!
Realizing this, Arthur's already pale face lost what little color remained. His legs gave out entirely, and he collapsed to his knees, staring blankly at Maude's back.
Libis was right...
Arthur's eyes trembled violently.
Maude leapt from the coral reef, striding over the fallen pirates toward the few hundred who had survived his Haki.
"This monster…"
"What are you standing around for?! Run!"
Seeing Maude approaching, the remaining pirates—devoid of any will to resist—bolted toward the coral hills without looking back.
All they wanted now was to board their ships and flee Fish-Man Island as quickly as possible.
"Engrave this fear into your hearts."
Maude halted, not bothering to pursue. Instead, he watched indifferently as the pirates fled faster than rabbits.
Leaving survivors was the best form of publicity.
...
Ryugu Palace.
A large, mobile Visual Den Den Mushi quietly perched atop a stone decoration.
The light from its eyes projected an image onto a water screen, broadcasting the unfolding events.
Bound tightly, Neptune and his three sons stared blankly at the scene playing out in Gyoncorde Plaza.
Suspended beneath the palace corridor, Princess Shirahoshi also watched in stunned disbelief as Maude single-handedly dealt with the pirates within seconds.
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