"Who's there?! Come out!"
After killing several of the Kingdom Army spies who had taken the deadly stimulant, the CP7 captain was stunned to find that all of his remaining subordinates had been slaughtered, without him even noticing the attacker's presence. A chill ran down his spine as a powerful sense of imminent death welled up inside him, and he roared in fury.
He knew it, someone unseen was targeting him.
Whoever this invisible enemy was, they had systematically killed every other CP7 agent. It was obvious this wasn't random; there was intent behind it. And now that he was the last one left, the next target could only be him.
But he couldn't ignore what was happening on Gilbert's side either. Before their deaths, Hodgson and the others had unleashed an astonishing amount of power, and with only Watt and Wicks, two cowardly guards desperate to survive, it would be difficult to completely hold them back.
At this moment, Watt and Wicks were already fully occupied by the remaining eight Kingdom Army infiltrators, who had been freed from fighting the CP7 agents. Hodgson himself had transformed into a massive water python, charging headlong toward a terrified Gilbert.
"Useless trash!"
Having been brainwashed since childhood, the CP7 captain valued the orders of the Celestial Dragons more than his own life. Protecting Gilbert was his duty, even if it meant dying in the process.
With a sharp swish, he vanished from sight using Soru, reappearing in front of Gilbert just before Hodgson's attack landed. Lightning-fast, he unleashed his strongest mov; Rankyaku: Wild Tiger!
A massive Rankyaku in the shape of a roaring tiger surged forward, jaws wide open, colliding with Hodgson and forcing him back.
At that same instant, Aaron, who had anticipated the loyal dog's reaction and had already positioned himself near Gilbert drew his blade in a single motion, executing his most powerful single-target sword technique:
Ittōryū: Iai Slash!
A massive crescent-shaped slash burst forth instantly.
The CP7 captain's strength was indeed formidable. In that moment between life and death, he swung his left arm to block the crescent slash and unleashed his strongest defensive Tekkai move to harden his arm to the strength of forged steel.
Tekkai: Adamant Iron!
Clang!
The crescent-shaped slash collided with his arm, producing the harsh clang of metal-on-metal. Sparks flashed briefly in midair, followed by a shockwave so intense that it blasted people and debris in every direction.
"Who are you?! What's your purpose?!"
The CP7 captain turned his head with difficulty, glaring into the empty space behind him as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
A moment later, a formless blade pierced straight through his chest, emerging from his heart. The blood coating the invisible blade briefly revealed its outline, before the blood itself turned invisible again.
Aaron didn't bother answering. He had no interest in conversing with a lapdog of the Celestial Dragons. Without hesitation, he pulled his katana from the man's chest and, in a flash, severed his neck, finishing off the last of the Celestial Dragons' enforcers within the banquet hall.
"The Clear-Clear Fruit really is terrifying for assassinations. If your enemy can't use Observation Haki, it's basically a death sentence. No wonder Absalom was so arrogant back in the West Blue, this power practically made him untouchable there. It's the kind of Devil Fruit that lets its user walk sideways through the world."
Aaron shook the blood from his blade and sighed.
A moment ago, he had deliberately drawn the CP7 captain's attention with Hodgson's charge and the crescent slash. Then, using Kuja Body Arts: Speed Enhancement, he had circled behind his target and delivered that invisible killing blow.
"Unseen warrior… please… kill Gilbert."
A weak voice called out from nearby. Aaron didn't need to look, he knew it was Hodgson, the Kingdom Army spy, speaking.
After taking a direct hit from the CP7 captain's powerful Rankyaku, the mortally wounded Hodgson could no longer withstand the drug's backlash. His once-burly body had shriveled into that of a frail, skeletal old man, his breath shallow and fading.
The others were no better off. Watt and Wicks, with their Zoan-type Devil Fruit powers, had barely managed to stop the spies' final attacks. Now that the drug's effects had worn off, the Kingdom Army agents had all shriveled into withered old men, completely drained and powerless.
With their assassination attempt failed, the remaining Kingdom Army infiltrators in the banquet hall were swiftly cut down. The hall fell eerily silent, broken only by the muffled sounds of Gilbert's soldiers outside trying to ram open the door.
"D-Don't listen to him! My good sir, as long as you promise not to interfere, I'll pretend none of this ever happened, and I'll pay you handsomely! How about ten billion Berries?"
Gilbert, trembling, hid behind Watt and Wicks as he shouted desperately, trying once again to use money as his shield.
But even as he spoke, fear gnawed at him. This unseen killer had slain CP7 agents, guards of the Celestial Dragons themselves. It was clear this man wouldn't hesitate to kill a mere noble like him.
And since the enemy was invisible, killing him would be child's play. Even if Gilbert survived tonight, he knew the man could easily find and kill him later.
After all, there's no such thing as guarding against a thief forever.
And now, a terrible realization dawned on him. The one who had killed Wapol at the Donquixote Auction House… was most likely this same unseen assassin.
Kill Gilbert?
Honestly, Aaron wanted to. The man was a vile aristocrat who treated slaves worse than beasts. But now wasn't the time.
Killing Gilbert now would bring him no benefit, only complications that could jeopardize his plans.
Aaron respected Hodgson and the Kingdom spies for their courage and self-sacrifice for Drum Kingdom and King Gresham. But that was their cause, not his. He wouldn't throw away his own plans for strangers.
Still, that didn't mean he couldn't collect some interest.
With a swift movement, Aaron etched a few rough yet legible words into the floor with his blade, a clear demand:
2 billion Berries.
One Bird-Bird Fruit.
Release the mermaid slaves.
"I… I agree. But please, promise me, you'll never come after me again."
Gilbert's heart bled as he read the words, but faced with an invisible killer, he could only grit his teeth and comply.
Aaron gave no verbal answer. The sound of his sword sliding back into its sheath served as his reply.
Gilbert recognized the sound; his invisible foe was sheathing his weapon. That meant he was safe. Relief washed over him, and his legs gave out as he collapsed to the floor.
Seeing this, the dying Hodgson despaired completely. With his final breath, he shouted,
"Long live the Drum Kingdom! Long live King Gresham!"
The other spies, barely clinging to life, echoed his cry:
"Long live the Drum Kingdom! Long live King Gresham!"
"Damn you… die, all of you filthy traitors!"
Enraged, Gilbert drew his golden pistol and fired repeatedly at the dying men.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire echoed through the hall, and the last traces of life from Hodgson and the others vanished with it.
Aaron watched expressionlessly but his hand, still gripping the sword's hilt, trembled ever so slightly.
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