Chapter 145: Station Sniper, Sniper's Return.
"Hey, hey, hey, you've got the wrong person, haven't you?"
Even with his throat held, the eccentric uncle named Franky still spoke with full vigor.
He hadn't resisted, but his punches and kicks had no effect on the man in the black suit and bowler hat. — If it weren't for the fact that the man's body was clearly flesh and blood, Franky would have suspected he was a cyborg like himself.
"I'm the behind-the-scenes hero of Water 7. I came to see why the Galley-La Company headquarters exploded..."
"Stop playing dumb, Franky."
Carrying him and the masked Usopp, Lucci, who was running on the rooftops, calmly interrupted him.
"When we encountered the Straw Hat crew's unexpectedly strong combat power, I already considered the mission a failure."
Boom,
With a burst of air, Lucci, who had returned to human form, used Geppo to carry both of them, keeping pace with his colleagues.
"But I didn't expect you to deliver yourselves to us at the last moment. How ironic—"
"Wait!"
Robin, who was being held by Bruno, anxiously looked at the struggling person in Lucci's other hand.
"You promised not to harm the Straw Hat crew. Let him go!"
"We will keep our promise."
Lucci, speeding across the rooftops, calmly replied.
"When we reach the sea train station, I'll release this long-nosed guy. After all—"
"He's just an extra we grabbed along the way."
!
Usopp, who was also struggling, froze. Was he just an 'extra'? If it were before, he would have felt relieved, but now—"Don't underestimate me!"
In his struggle, he suddenly slapped Lucci's ribs! Wrapped in the bandage in his hand was:"Impact Dial!"
Boom!
A surge of impact force suddenly hit Rob Lucci, causing his body to sway slightly in mid-air. At the same time, Usopp's arm swung back violently! The force was evident, but when the white shockwave dissipated—
"An interesting little toy."
"What..."
"But an attack like that won't kill anyone. You need to do this—" The grip on Usopp's neck loosened, and Lucci released his hold. However, before Usopp could start 'free-falling,' a hand gently pressed down on his chest.
"Rokuogan - Light!"
Boom—In an instant, the scene in Usopp's eyes rapidly receded! It felt like he had been hit head-on by a speeding warship, and his chest was completely numb!
He barely looked down to see that his shirt and bandages were gone, leaving only a bloody mess!
...Then, everything went dark.
In the eyes of others, the masked, long-nosed boy turned into a 'cannonball' and crashed into the ground! After smashing through a building, he was deeply embedded in the rubble.
As for whether he was dead or alive..."Rob Lucci!!"
Facing the furious Robin, Lucci, who was holding Franky, calmly glanced at the rubble of the building.
"Don't worry, he's not dead."
"I just used enough force to render him incapable of fighting."
Swish—Lucci, holding Franky, Blueno, holding Robin, and Kaku, supporting Kalifa, continued to move using Geppo while pulling out a Den Den Mushi.
"It's me, Rob Lucci."
"Yes... long-term mission, thank you for your hard work—"
"Don't waste time."
Lucci directly interrupted the pleasantries.
"Start the sea train, depart immediately!"
??
"But, Lucci—"
"That's an order!"
Rob Lucci, once again interrupting the other party, frowned in displeasure. Were CP members so undisciplined now? Daring to question their superior's orders?
"Report the station's combat strength!"
"Huh? ...Yes, there are fifty elite Marines, one hundred senior agents..."
"Get to the point!"
Facing the impatient Lucci, the other party, after a moment of hesitation, hurriedly continued the report.
"Top-tier combat forces include Navy Captain T. Penn, CP9 newcomer 'Sea Weasel Nero', and Ramen Kenzo Wapo..."
"Have these guys defend the station! Immediately, now!"
The white sailboat riding the wind in the sky behind him was the reason for Rob Lucci's actions. This need for 'cutting off the tail to survive' made this assassin, who believed in 'dark justice,' frown once again.
Indeed, weakness is a sin!
---
"What's that?"
On the deck of the flying 'White Merry', Nami looked at a building ruin on the ground that had just been smashed. A staggering figure emerged from it.
"Cough, cough... everyone... hello!... cough, cough,"
The long-nosed figure below, wearing a mask and cloak, waved weakly at the people in the sky.
"Can you give me a ride?"
..."That's right, I am Sogeking from 'Sniper Island'."
While Chopper bandaged his wounds, the masked Usopp introduced his 'character' to Luffy and Chopper.
"I'm a good friend of Usopp. If you're going to save Robin, I can help. Cough, cough~~"
"Hey, you're coughing up blood, don't push yourself—"
Facing Roman's words, the masked Usopp looked up, his eyes filled with determination or perhaps pleading.
"I... I can help!"
"Hehehe, if you're Usopp's friend, then you're our friend too!"
Luffy patted 'Sogeking' on the shoulder.
"Come along."
"...Alright!"
Ah, these idiots.
Clatter~~~Sheets of white paper flew from Roman's body, wrapping around Usopp... no, the Sniper King.
"My paper can provide a defense stronger than steel, but you'll still get hurt if you take a hit. So—"
"Be careful, Sogeking."
"...Hahaha, of course, just wait and see me in action! Cough, cough, cough~~"
Usopp, seeing you like this makes us even more worried! x4"Yes, yes, yes, we're counting on you, Sogeking!"
Luffy and Chopper happily accepted their 'new' companion, leaving Roman at a loss for words. However:
"Everyone, be careful. It seems the enemy doesn't plan to let us easily take Robin back!"
..."Is that the strange ship?"
"Shoot it down!"
At the entrance of the shipyard's south station, various weapons were aimed at the sky—more precisely, at the Going Merry' in the sky. As soon as Roman and the others entered the range, they would be met with a barrage of fire!
Meanwhile, after the conductor and train crew were thrown off the 'Puffing Tom', the sea train began to slowly accelerate, spewing black smoke.
"The enemy is escaping, we—"
"Right Angle Bird: Big Bird!"
A Marine captain with curly black hair under his helmet, a gaunt face, and a long neck that made him look 'seven parts ghost, three parts human' suddenly drew his sword and slashed in mid-air.
A right-angle-shaped sword wave, with a bird's head at the front, flew towards the 'Going Merry'!
The sharp, straight flying slash attacked the Straw Hat crew first! It seemed like it would split the white paper ship in two in the next second, but a figure had already jumped off the deck to meet the flying slash.
"Three-Sword Style: Gyuki: Brave Claw!"
Holding two swords in reverse grip and biting the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, Zoro fearlessly faced the ship-splitting attack, his fierce aura shattering the flying slash into light.
"Is this the expert who made the senpais flee in panic?"
Marine captain Nero, stepping on Geppo, suddenly drew his dual pistols and aimed at the falling Zoro. However, before he could pull the trigger, a heavy eight-sided Han sword silently appeared in his vision, making him break out in a cold sweat and instinctively try to dodge.
"Kami-e!"
Just as Sea Weasel Nero's body suddenly flattened like paper to dodge the long sword, a hand made of actual 'paper' reached out to grab him, accompanied by Roman's mocking voice.
"Playing 'Kami-e' in front of me?"
Isn't this like showing off your sword skills in front of Guan Yu—Smack!
With a snap of his fingers, Roman grabbed the CP9 rookie in his hand and slammed him down to the ground.
Boom!
After smashing half of Nero's body into the station's rock floor, the armored 'White Knight' Roman slowly stood up, scanning the terrified agents and Marine soldiers.
"It seems you've been abandoned."
"Don't listen to him, everyone attack!"
Although the government soldiers immediately opened fire, their bullets only produced a series of clinks and sparks on Roman's armor, which was far stronger than steel. It was like rain hitting banana leaves, making a lot of noise but leaving no marks.
"Go,"
Sheets of white paper flew out and began to spin rapidly.
"Paper Dance - Maple Forest!"
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