Chapter 45 - CHAPTER 45 - A Ruthless Strike

"Captain Luka, I will report everything that happened tonight truthfully. Captain Lorry, you had better think carefully about your choices." Rear Admiral Harry scoffed, his expression grim. He had not expected Luka's influence to spread so quickly, nor that even Captain Lorry had been swayed. Was the allure of power really that strong? Just because Luka was a direct envoy of the World Government, was that enough for them to willingly become his lapdogs? Harry's heart burned with rage, but at the same time, he felt a deep sorrow. Fewer and fewer people stood firm in their convictions, and perhaps one day, he too would be cast aside for failing to keep up with the so-called march of power. If Luka hadn't come tonight, things might not have escalated to this point. In truth, the thought of killing Luka had crossed his mind long ago—ever since a certain case where justice and financial gain had clashed. Harry had fought to uphold justice and ensure reparations for the victims, while Luka had argued that nobles should be granted immunity. In the end, Luka won, and Harry lost. From that moment on, more and more people had chosen to side with power, while Harry could only watch as the victims' families fell into despair. That sense of injustice had festered in his heart, sometimes manifesting as a fleeting desire to kill Luka. Maybe eliminating him now would be for the best. Luka had even been in contact with Anlin, a pirate captain. The connections were clear, but was Harry really willing to take this step? Could he bear the consequences? No. He couldn't. His family still lived in the Marine residential town at Marineford. His grip tightened around his weapon, but in the end, he let go. Luka watched as Harry walked away, looking like a defeated stray dog. Turning to Captain Lorry, he asked, "Did you bring it?" "Yes, Captain," Lorry responded, gesturing to several Marine soldiers. They pushed forward a large piece of artillery—a mounted siege crossbow. Its base resembled a cannon, but instead of a typical firearm, a massive military-grade arrow rested on it. The arrow's shaft glowed faintly, pulsing with energy. "What a fine weapon," Luka murmured, running his fingers over the arrow. Instantly, the projectile transformed, revealing the form of a pangolin. This was a specialized arrow infused with a Zoan-type Devil Fruit—the Pangolin Fruit. To enhance its lethality, it incorporated advanced experimental technology, including laser acceleration. Unlike radioactive lasers, this weapon's energy was focused into the arrow, allowing it to pierce even thick steel plating with ease. The arrowhead, crafted from pure Seastone, could not transform with the pangolin's abilities but was incredibly effective against Devil Fruit users. This was Luka's trump card. However, the weapon had one drawback—it required the massive siege crossbow to launch at full power. The setup was too cumbersome for Luka to carry around, which is why he had not used it earlier. "Harry, you've interfered with my plans too many times," Luka muttered, his gaze growing colder. The chaos of the night provided the perfect cover. If a rear admiral were to die now, it could easily be explained away. After all, there were plenty of scapegoats—Shichibukai, Balm, the merchants. Luka dismissed the officers he didn't fully trust. "Send the Marines to capture any fleeing or hiding pirates. Move immediately. The reputation of the Marines depends on your actions tonight." "Yes, sir!" The officers hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed orders, despite knowing that launching a crackdown in the darkness would lead to heavy casualties and even greater chaos. Luka didn't care. As long as he survived, there would always be more soldiers. Meanwhile, Harry walked some distance away, staring at the fires raging across the area. A deep sense of loss settled over him. But just as he was about to move, a chilling sense of danger washed over him. He spun around just as a gleaming, armored arrow pierced through his chest. Before his Haki could fully form as a defense, the projectile struck, its impact like a thunderclap. The moment it touched his body, it exploded in a blinding flash of energy. Flames consumed him, his face frozen in shock as he saw Luka smirking from afar. That was his weapon. The Laser-Pangolin Arrow. Luka's secret trump card—used against a fellow Marine. Harry had never even considered that Luka would go this far. And at such close range, with no warning. "Come back," Luka called, gesturing. The arrow morphed back into a pangolin, scurrying to Luka's feet before reverting into an arrow once more. "Escaped?" Luka frowned as the dust settled. Blood splattered the ground, yet there was no corpse. He had landed a direct hit—how was Harry still alive? "Spread the word," Luka commanded Lorry. "Rear Admiral Harry conspired with pirates to assassinate a Marine officer. He is now gravely injured and on the run. All Marines are to treat him as a traitor and bring him to justice." "Understood!" Lorry replied hastily, though his hands trembled slightly. He had witnessed everything firsthand, but since he was already in Luka's camp, he dared not speak out. Still, a chill ran down his spine. Harry had been struck through the chest, his internal organs shredded by the laser-enhanced projectile. Even if he managed to escape, there was no way he could survive. The order to hunt him down was merely a precaution. From a rooftop nearby, hidden in the shadows, Blido watched everything unfold. "Luka really is ruthless," he murmured, licking his lips. "The Marines are as treacherous as ever—turning on their own without hesitation. I wonder how the fight between the Shichibukai and Bam is going." Elsewhere, Rosen sensed the explosion and felt the ground tremble. He instinctively leapt away just as the earth split open beneath him. With a loud crash, Bam burst from underground. His Collision-Collision Fruit allowed him to smash through any obstacle. Burying him alive had been a fool's errand. But as he emerged, Bam's eyes turned bloodshot at the sight of smoke rising from the distillery district. It was over. Everything was ruined. The brews, the storage—all gone. "This is your fault! I'll tear you all apart!" Bam roared, his voice filled with unhinged fury. Rosen's instincts screamed at him—something was wrong. Had Bam taken some kind of stimulant? Or was his rage pushing him past his limits? But as the saying went, "If you seek to destroy a man, first drive him mad." Since Bam had lost all reason, this was the perfect opportunity to end him once and for all. Rosen made up his mind—no more testing the waters. This would be a fight to the death. Luka, meanwhile, scowled. "What does this have to do with me?" It was clear now—Bam had marked him as an enemy, no matter what. Tonight, he had to ensure Bam was eliminated. Surprisingly, he found himself hoping Rosen would win. Luka wasn't fond of the Shichibukai, but a victory for Rosen would work in his favor. If necessary, he was willing to lend a hand. But if Rosen ended up weakened in the process... Then Luka wouldn't hesitate to strike him down as well. If that happened, he could frame Rosen for the night's destruction and paint himself as the hero who stopped a rampaging Warlord of the Sea. His influence ensured the higher-ups would accept the story. The only question was: Would Rosen be weak enough when the time came? (End of Chapter)