Chapter 57: The Cadres' Triumph
The giant fireball engulfed Speed, the scorching air wave making resistance impossible.
Changing bullets?
Are you sure you replaced bullets and not artillery shells?
What kind of terrifying explosive power is this?!
BOOM!
Cough...!
Speed's equine back was charred black as the concussive force hurled her through the air. She only stopped after crashing violently into a thick mangrove trunk.
"It's so hot... Damn it... Ugh!"
She struggled to speak, her body wracked with pain. The next moment, the cold, hard barrel of a gun was shoved into her mouth.
"It's the same bullet," Skylark stated calmly, her small frame radiating a terrifying aura of finality. "If you move, it will explode in your mouth."
Blood and sweat mingled as they dripped down Speed's forehead. She froze, utterly defeated.
On another part of the battlefield, not far away.
"Right-Angle Ghost Flash!"
Shing!
A blue sword aura sliced through the air, aimed directly at the half-sheep Sheepshead.
"Ugh!"
A pained wail was cut short as Sheepshead was sent flying through a wooden house, crashing out the other side. His body was now covered in deep sword wounds, and he could no longer maintain his half-beast form.
"An... old man..." he gasped, each word a struggle. "So... so strong..."
After a few feeble attempts to crawl, Sheepshead lost consciousness completely.
T. Peng sheathed his bamboo sword, "Bamboo," walked over to the fallen Gifter, and swiftly clamped seastone handcuffs around his wrists.
"It seems the youth of today aren't all they're cracked up to be," T. Peng remarked with a hint of disdain.
Further down, near a cluster of houses.
Zap...!
Zap...!
Ginrummy lay convulsing on the ground, arcs of electricity crackling over her body. Above her, a small, man-made thundercloud slowly dissipated.
Nami patted her chest, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Phew... So, these are the pirates from a Yonko crew? They look fierce, but they're not much in a fight? If I'd known, I wouldn't have run... Is she going to be okay? I didn't electrocute her too badly, did I?"
As the cadre battles concluded one by one, Ian's four officers gathered their captured opponents—Holdem, Speed, Sheepshead, and Ginrummy—and secured them together.
In the center of the devastation, the battle between Ian and Jack raged on.
T. Peng looked at Peacock, his expression anxious. "It's been about half an hour, hasn't it? I don't know how long this can last... Adjutant Peacock, haven't you reported this to Headquarters yet? The opponent is from a Yonko crew. According to protocol..."
He didn't finish the sentence. Since following Ian, he had broken protocol more times than he could count. He was realizing he had no solid ground to stand on when it came to "following the rules."
Peacock offered an awkward smile. "I reminded our Major General as soon as we got the news! Starting a war with a Yonko, especially against a core cadre like this... the protocol is to first report to Headquarters and get permission before engaging. It's a rule set by Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself. But Little Ian said..."
Everyone looked at her, eager to hear Ian's response.
Peacock perfectly imitated Ian's defiant expression and tone: "Screw the rules!"
T. Peng: "..."
Skylark: "..."
Nami: "That is so Major General Ian!"
After hearing Peacock's words, T. Peng seized on a crucial detail. "So... Major General Ian didn't actually tell us not to notify Headquarters? What do we do now? Should we report it?"
This put Peacock in a difficult position. He was right. Ian had only retorted in the moment; he hadn't explicitly forbidden them from reporting. Now, with the battle dragging on, reporting it could save Ian a lot of bureaucratic trouble later.
"Colonel T. Peng has a point..." Peacock sighed. "It's really hard being Little Ian's adjutant. He won't hold a grudge, will he? How about we vote? All in favor of reporting, raise your hands!"
T. Peng raised his hand immediately.
After a moment's hesitation, Skylark raised hers as well.
Nami, however, remained firm, her arms crossed, showing no support for the idea.
Peacock shrugged helplessly. "Well, that's two against two. Major General Ian really should get more officers; it's hard to get a tiebreaker. Ah, forget it... Let's just report it to Headquarters."
After careful consideration, Peacock finally chose the course of action she believed would be most beneficial for Ian in the long run.
In the battle circle, Ian could hear his subordinates' conversation with perfect clarity thanks to his enhanced hearing. He chose not to stop them. His initial hesitation to report was strategic; he was worried that Marineford, being so close, would dispatch support like Garp or Aokiji too quickly upon hearing they were facing a Beast Pirate Calamity. That would rob him of this perfect opportunity.
A pirate with a billion-berry bounty! He was a massive source of points and the most convenient "sparring partner" imaginable. How could he let others steal the initiative?
The reason he wasn't stopping them now was simple: it was no longer necessary.
Jack's recovery ability was truly terrifying. Ian could sense it clearly. The mammoth just needed a little breathing room to regain his footing. But Ian had no intention of giving him that chance. The real fight was about to enter its final, decisive phase.
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What was Your first Anime? Mine Was Death Note.
I Think i am hungry for Stones.