An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
As the ANBU captain slowly opened his eyes, the rest of the ANBU rose as well, ready for battle.
"From this moment on, operate in groups of three squads. Use Water Release to destroy the docks swiftly. After that, you may proceed with independent action."
His gaze was icy as it fixed on Muir Island ahead.
"Move out!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At his command, the forty-eight ANBU instantly split into four groups. Each group consisted of three squads—twelve members—shooting toward the island like arrows loosed from a bowstring.
"Advance!"
The ANBU captain gave a low shout and led eleven members toward one of the docks.
…
"Hahaha! Lev, if you can't handle your liquor, don't force it! You're embarrassing yourself!"
"Shut it! It's just a little alcohol—I can down it in one gulp!"
"Hahaha! That's the spirit, Lev!"
Inside one of the docked ships, mafia members sat in a circle drinking and laughing loudly.
"Hey, did you hear? That Zephir Kingdom actually dared to lay hands on one of ours. They even declared war!"
"What? You're joking. What suicidal kingdom would dare touch the Gambino Family?"
"No, it's real. I heard the boss already knows. He's planning to send people tomorrow to teach Zephir a lesson."
"Count me in! They've got a death wish!"
"Hahaha! You just want to grab yourself a princess!"
Roars of laughter filled the cabin.
Iffli gulped down another mouthful of liquor. Watching his subordinates mess around, he grabbed the bottle and stepped outside.
"I'm getting some air."
He walked to the side of the ship, leaning against the railing. His eyes drifted toward the grand estate at the center of the island.
That was where the Gambino Family's upper ranks lived.
As for him? A mere dock supervisor.
"Glug… glug…"
He took another long swig, savoring the cool sea breeze.
Then—
His ear twitched.
Carried faintly on the wind, he thought he heard something.
"…Water Dragon…?"
"Did I drink too much?" he muttered, shaking his head.
Just as he considered heading back inside—
BOOM!!!
The three ships trembled violently.
The sudden jolt sent everyone crashing to the floor before they could even curse.
"What the hell—"
A sharp crash sounded as a bottle shattered on deck. Iffli stumbled, falling hard. His face drained of color as he looked up.
Under the moonlight—
Massive dragons of water surged upward around the ships, roaring silently as they coiled toward the sky.
In Iffli's shrinking pupils, the water dragons crashed down.
BOOOOM!!!
The impact shattered masts and split decks apart. Torrents of water flooded the cabins, sweeping mafia members away like rag dolls.
The ships tilted.
Then capsized.
"AHHH! HELP!"
"The ship's sinking! Get out!"
"Save me! I'm trapped!"
The three overturned vessels slowly sank. Mafia members flailed desperately in the churning sea, their screams tearing through the night.
At the same time—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions echoed from the island's other three directions.
The remaining docks were under attack.
…
Gradually, the sea calmed.
The three ships had sunk halfway beneath the surface.
A handful of survivors struggled in the water, stunned and disoriented.
"What… what just happened…"
Iffli, one of the first thrown into the sea, stared blankly at the wreckage and the few remaining subordinates.
Then he remembered the distant explosions.
A horrifying thought crept into his mind.
Were they under attack?
"No… impossible! Those water dragons—no human could—impossible!"
His face went pale.
And then—
"How… are there still so many left?"
A cold voice cut through the night.
"Who's there?!"
The survivors whipped around.
Under the moonlight, twelve figures walked calmly across the sea's surface.
At their head stood the ANBU captain.
Their black outfits, white harness vests, and masks gleamed faintly in the silver light.
"They're… standing on water?!"
Panic seized the mafia members.
"It really was human…" Iffli whispered, trembling.
The ANBU had no patience for their shock.
At the captain's signal, all twelve drew their short blades and dashed forward.
Slash! Slash!
They skimmed across the water, targeting the half-submerged survivors.
Cold steel flashed.
Blood sprayed.
Screams filled the night as one mafia member after another was cut down and dragged beneath the sea.
"Run!"
"Please! Don't kill me!"
They tried to flee.
But without weapons, stranded in open water, how could they resist enemies who walked on the sea itself?
Their throats were slit one by one.
The ocean turned red.
A flash of steel.
Iffli felt a chill at his neck.
His strength drained instantly.
"You… who are you…?"
He looked up weakly at the masked figure who had just passed him.
As his body slowly sank into the dark sea, a cold voice drifted into his fading consciousness.
"The Kingdom of Zephir."
"Ninja Assassination Tactical Unit."
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