205 205. Provoked

Jack had a lot of wounds on his tough body. Even if he ate a rare zoan fruit, it still couldn't nullify the brute strength contained within Issho's sword.

He had already lost an arm during their battle. Jack had a lot of stamina when it comes to battle but against an overwhelming opponent his stamina was as worthless as roadside trash.

Issho's cane sword sunk into his chest. An overbearing power erupted from the sword and crushed his heart.

Ugh!

Jack spat out blood and fragments of his internal organs.

How could this be...

He never imagined a simple mission to be end of him. Why did so many monsters appear among such a small crew of marines?

His mind was boggled by this thought as he breathed his last.

Diamante's heart almost leaped from his chest when he saw Jack die.

"You are one of Doflamingo's crew, right?"

A sweet but chilly voice broke him out of his trance.

His body turned stiff, he turned around with much difficulty and saw Shinobu standing just several steps away from him.

Behind her laid a long path made of ice cold bodies.

Though Diamante was a cruel man and had taken many lives, it was his first time seeing such a harrowing sight.

"My husband didn't come out to kill your captain because he isn't worth that much trouble. It seems he really wants to die."

Even someone like Diamante who had tremendous battle experience felt a tremor in his heart when he heard her.

Shinobu raised a finger and slightly curled it.

Diamante's iron shirt and his busoshoku haki was broken as a needle lodged itself into his heart.

His body suddenly felt limp. He lost the strength to stand up and fell face first into the ground.

As the last of his life left him he finally regretted. If they had just stayed put and forgotten everything then he wouldn't have had to die here, nor would Doffy bring trouble to himself.

Shinobu glanced at the battlefield and at their ship, "Gather our fallen, and check the cargo."

She instructed Mace and went to check on the seriously injured soldiers.

After a while Mace returned, he had an angry face as he reported, "Six men died and a part of the samples were destroyed."

Shinobu didn't pause and continued to treat the injured.

A while later she was finished. Washing her hands she was unnaturally silent.

"Issho-san, if we make a detour how long would it take to get back?"

Issho replied, "A day more."

Wiping her hands Shinobu said, "Alright. Let's go to the next island."

Issho, Mace and the others complied and got the crew ready. They preserved their comrades body and reported what happened to the headquarters.

When Akainu received the report he banged on his table and almost broke the entire floor.

"Damn that pirate!"

Aokiji also heard the news. His killing intent shot through the roof.

"So pirates now got the courage to attack marines?"

Sengoku was retired and no longer bothered with matters concerning pirates. However, even he was angry when he heard about what happened.

"That guy is a former celestial dragon, his courage comes from that. The things he know can be used as leverage. But this time he messed up."

He was concerned that Leo would do something stupid. So he send someone to personally give an account on what happened.

It was Aokiji who went to Leo to give him a formal report. He was also there to make sure Leo didn't rush to cut off Doflamingo's head.

However when Leo got the report he actually laughed out loud.

"That guy, he really is stupid."

Aokiji was really surprised when he saw Leo so laid back about the matter.

"I thought you would be fuming."

Leo curled his lips, "Oh, please. My wife isn't so weak for me to worry about her. If someone wants to kill her they have to atleast be at the level of a Yonko."

Aokiji raised an eyebrow.

Leo smiled, "Don't think I am overpraising her. Her combat ability isn't that great, but when it comes to poison she is absolutely the best out there. I dare say that even Megallan would be poisoned by her."

Aokiji suddenly smiled, "She is great doctor."

Leo shrugged, "Both profession require deep knowledge about the human body as well as how every drugs work, so being good at one would naturally imply being good at the other."

Aokiji sipped on his tea and said, "What do you think she would do after such an attack?"

Leo thought for a moment and said, "She hadn't said anything to me, but, the report says six men died. Now, Shinobu is someone who is extremely protective of her friends and family."

"After all this time she already considers the crew as her friends. What would you do if someone harmed your friends, not to mention Shinobu."

Aokiji placed the tea cup down and said, "So... he is dead?"

Leo nodded, "Absolutely. He provoked somebody he really shouldn't have."

Hearing his words Aokiji smiled. He leaned back on the couch. The couch was a bit small for his tall body.

"I didn't like that guy from the beginning. Anyway, it's about time the Shichibukai saw a change in it's members."

Leo laughed at his words. Aokiji also smiled.

...

"Doffy... the fleet was destroyed. Jack and Diamante were killed."

When trebol reported to Doffy he was trembling.

Doflamingo heard everything very calmly. However a bead of sweat trickled down his side burns.

He rubbed his forehead and said, "We need to prepare. A storm maybe on our way."

...

A warship was docked on a unknown island. Marines were busy loading the ship with large craters full of samples.

Shinobu watched everything from the ship.

After a while Mace walked to her and reported, "Ma'am, everything has been loaded."

Shinobu lightly hummed.

The anchor was raised and they were ready to sail again.

Looking out to the vast sea she said, "Let's go to Dressrosa."