Another street.
Sanji was weaving and dodging through the street, knocking down all the King's Army and Rebel Army who appeared here.
"All are Vivi-chan's citizens, stop fighting here."
He lifted his foot, looked at the fallen people, and after saying this, his body twisted like a noodle, eyes full of hearts, "Vivi-chan, your knight is here, surely I will help you stop this rebellion!"
Speaking of which, he then dashed towards the direction of the Royal Palace.
At this moment, he wasn't far from the high-placed Royal Palace. Once across this street, the giant staircase leading to the palace could be seen. But just then, a few people emerged from a nearby residence.
One of them was holding a treasure chest, covered with a layer of Belly and Gold Coins, seemingly a fruitful plunder.
"Looted quite a bit."
The person laughed, "With this, Master Sage will surely be satisfied."
"Better to loot more, to be safe. The Captain got nothing from the Royal Palace, and Captain Pearl is true to form, even stealing a girl's private stash—even if it's fifty thousand Belly—but as Pirates, we do have ethics." Another person said.
"That's true..."
"Put it down!"
Just as they were moving, a shadow suddenly descended from the sky, a foot slammed onto the face of the person holding the treasure chest, sending him spinning in mid-air before sliding several meters across the ground.
"Who are you!"
The other Pirates immediately took out their weapons and shouted.
"A girl's private stash..."
Sanji's eyes seemed to burn with fire, "It's Vivi-chan's fifty thousand Belly, isn't it? You not only robbed during the chaos but also took Vivi's money!"
Fifty thousand Belly, during the voyage, he heard Nami demanding payment from Vivi and mentioned similar words.
A princess of a nation, to have only fifty thousand Belly as her private stash, that's already quite pitiful.
And now these guys robbed it?
Of course, that's not the main issue!
"What's wrong with Pirates robbing, who are you anyway!"
"Shut up, I don't care about that kind of thing!"
Sanji shouted, "You must have barged into her private room, damn it, I also want to go there!"
"That's what you care about?"
The Pirates collectively yelled angrily, turning white-eyed, clutching their weapons, ready to charge.
Sanji clicked his tongue, bent his foot, about to kick away, when his gaze suddenly focused, looking behind.
"Stop it."
A voice rang out, halting the Pirates' actions.
"Gin, the General Commander?!"
At the exit of the street, a man holding two crutches appeared, walking towards them.
"You're not his match, continue the looting, leave this man to me."
Gin walked to the front of the Pirates, facing Sanji, his sinister and vicious face showed a smile, "Sanji, we meet again."
Sanji's eyes narrowed, "Gin... Disaster Pirates, huh? You really cooperated with Crocodile, what are you up to?"
"We don't know the Captain's plan, we just received orders to rob. Sanji, you should've been stopped by the Special Agents outside, why are you here?" Gin asked.
"Special Agents? If you mean that group of bizarre guys, when we arrived, they were already dealt with by the Navy. Gin, move aside, I don't want to fight you, let me go to the Royal Palace." Sanji shouted.
"I see..."
Gin nodded, tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a forced smile:
"Sanji, you are my benefactor, your Pirates too, you cured our men, I don't want to fight you, even Captain Sage mentioned inviting you to our banquet. But if you want to go to the Royal Palace, that's not possible, Captain Sage's plan must not fail."
"As a subordinate, I have the duty to eliminate any unknown factors, could you leave this city, once Captain Sage's plan is complete, you can do whatever you want."
Sanji was slightly stunned, took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep puff, slowly exhaled a stream of smoke, and said in a deep voice, "Seems we can't reach an agreement!"
Gin sighed, let the crutches in his hand fall, the side with the iron ball drooped down, his gaze sank, his face resembling a phantom:
"Sanji, let me warn you, I've changed a lot, if you wish to fight me, try not to die!"
"Is that so, I've also gotten stronger, last time at Baladi, we didn't truly have a serious fight, let's have one now!" Sanji laughed.
"Then..."
Gin bent his legs slightly, exhaled a breath, "Here I come! Soru!"
Whiz!
In just an instant, Gin appeared in front of Sanji, with his startled gaze, the crutch with the iron hammer struck Sanji's waist fiercely, causing him to bend to the side and spurt some blood drops.
But the hammer didn't succeed in sending Sanji flying out; his hands firmly gripped the crutch, kicked upwards fiercely, his leg creating multiple afterimages during the kick, aiming at Gin's body.
"Kami-e."
Gin's body softened, twisting with the wind force stirred by the kicking leg, dodging the continuous kicks, when one leg thrust forward fiercely, he dodged thoroughly, to the side, as another crutch wielding an iron hammer swiftly smashed towards Sanji's body.
Whizz!
The iron hammer struck empty, during Gin's attack gap, Sanji took advantage of gripping the crutch, exerted force with his hands, jumped upwards, his body spinning in mid-air, a leg like a battle axe slashed down towards Gin's head.
This blow is hard to dodge.
If hit in the skull, it won't feel good either.
But...
"Tekkai."
Bam!
Sanji's heel pressed on Gin's head top, the powerful kick stirred a wave of air outward, but Gin's body didn't budge at all, seemingly unaffected.
"So strong, you..." Sanji exclaimed in shock.
"Told you, I'm not the same anymore, Sanji."
Bam!
Gin swung the cane in his left hand in a circle, smashing the iron ball heavily into Sanji's abdomen, making him instinctively bend over, his mouth wide open as he spat out a few drops of blood.
"You bastard!"
He gritted his teeth tightly, grabbed the cane with one hand, and as Gin was still in an attacking posture, one of his legs whipped fiercely, striking Gin's neck.
"Neck Meat!"
Just then, Gin's movement stalled, and he coldly uttered, "Tekkai."
Boom!
It sounded like hitting something as hard as iron, the empty sound resonating loudly, Gin remained motionless, his fierce eyes fixed on Sanji, a cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, his arm suddenly exerted force, pressing the iron ball into Sanji's abdomen, slamming him heavily onto the ground.
The heavy force created a small crack on the ground, Gin swung the cane with his other hand as Sanji hit the ground, fiercely aiming at his head.
"Tch!"
Sanji spat out the cigarette in his mouth, flicking it towards Gin's eyes, causing him to blink instinctively, and at this moment, Sanji suddenly moved aside, supporting himself with both hands, like a donkey kick, his hind foot kicked Gin in the abdomen.
During the attack, naturally, Tekkai wasn't used, the powerful kick made Gin instinctively retreat a few steps, the direction of the iron ball also lost its aim.
Boom!!
A violent sound spread across the ground, the iron ball slammed into the ground creating a deep pit, its rubble scattered outward.
"Opportunity!"
Sanji pushed off the ground, his entire body spinning forcefully, transforming into a black whirlwind, his legs steadily kicking towards Gin's waist and ribs in the continuous spin.
"Coarse Crushing!"
"Tekkai!!"
Gin's eyes widened, standing firm in place, shouting loudly.
Bam!!
The kick hit his waist and ribs fiercely, the immense power made Gin's eyes roll upward, his body slightly shifted.
With a grim expression, he thrust the cane forward, the iron ball hit Sanji's face, sending his body flying into the air, directly slamming into the ground, sliding forward a bit.
"Rankyaku!"
Just as Sanji landed, Gin suddenly kicked up, sending a light blue vertical slash charging forward.
Sanji felt his hairs stand on end, rolling sideways as he landed, letting the slash hit the ground, creating a crack as if cut by a sharp blade.
Sanji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, holding his abdomen as he stood up.
Those hits were certainly uncomfortable.
"No wonder it's Mr. Sanji."
Bloodshot eyes appeared in Gin's whites, grinning, "The force is really strong, even my Tekkai almost broke apart."
"What are those techniques?" Sanji glanced at the cut mark, his expression turning serious.
A body as hard as iron, and this slash...
What kind of bizarre technique is this?
"Six Styles, taught by Captain Sage," Gin said in a deep voice.
"It's indeed a powerful technique, that guy named Sage seems quite impressive. Gin, this time you seem to have followed the right person, you are considered a High-Ranking Officer in this Pirates, right?" Sanji said with a relieved smile.
Compared to being with Krieg, Gin's situation improved significantly.
"No..."
Gin shook his head, "Even though the captain gives me this treatment in war loot distribution, I don't think I can fulfill the role."
Even with the Six Styles, he used them rather crudely.
Aside from being skilled in 'Kami-e', he learned four of the Six Styles, but still hadn't mastered Moon Step.
But these four styles, he merely grasped them, not mastering them.
Captain Sage said his physical qualities were good, allowing full practice of Six Styles, and to live up to the captain's expectations, while on the ship, aside from overseeing his subordinates' training, he himself doubled his practice.
In terms of aptitude, he didn't feel he was as 'excellent' as Captain Sage praised, compared to those High-Ranking Officers he acknowledged, he felt a wide gap.
"You can't fulfill the role yet? When did you become so modest?" Sanji laughed.
"Mr. Sanji, you should have seen in Nalohara, three women by Captain Sage's side, they are not ordinary, they are our Pirates' real three High-Ranking Officers."
Gin said, "Master Lily is a formidable swordsman, I know your ship has Roronoa Zoro, but I don't think he can match Master Lily because Master Lily wields the power to cut through steel, and has a more refined mastery of the Six Styles than I do."
Master Lily's 'Soru' and 'Moon Step' are already very refined, the others she chose not to train simply because they were unnecessary.
"Master Marika is unfathomable, possessing 'Life Return' like Captain Sage, her raw strength is astounding, able to lift a building effortlessly, her thrown shells are stronger than those fired from cannons."
"Though Master Renedia is still young, she is the soul figure of the Death Star ship, and like Straw Hat Luffy, she's an Ability User, incredible in her own right."
Moreover...
Master Lily is a Navigator, knowledgeable in profound theories, with superb command abilities.
Master Marika is an excellent chef, indispensable on the ship.
Master Renedia is proficient in mechanics and shipbuilding.
"Compared to them, apart from fighting, I am good for nothing, all I know is battle. But even so, I don't want to let Captain Sage's expectations fall short, I will practice doubly hard, striving to keep up with Captain Sage's footsteps, I believe Captain Sage will surely become the Pirate King!"
Gin stated deeply, "Mr. Sanji, if even I am undefeated, I advise you not to approach the Royal Palace, it's truly a deadly place."
Sanji shook his head with a smile, lighting another cigarette, exhaling smoke with a huff, watching the swirling smoke, murmuring, "Pirate King huh..."
"Gin."
He looked solemnly at Gin, "I also believe in our captain, Luffy will surely become the Pirate King!"
"You're not the only one with a mission, our captain entrusted me to help Vivi stop this rebellion. The Royal Palace, I must go, even if it costs my life!"
"Is that so..."
Gin tightened his grip on the cane, "Then I have no choice but to defeat you, Mr. Sanji."