Chapter 67: Vulcan's Authority

Vulcan didn't move until the first pirate lunged at him, a rusted sword swinging down. In a blur, Vulcan activated Soru, appearing behind the pirate in an instant. Before the man could react, Vulcan's Tekkai-enhanced arm knocked him aside with such force that he crashed into two others.

One after another, pirates fell, unable to keep up with his speed and precision. Vulcan's Shigan struck like a bullet, piercing the shoulder of one pirate and sending him sprawling. Another tried to close the gap, but Vulcan sidestepped, letting the man's momentum throw him off balance. Without missing a beat, Vulcan delivered a powerful blow that left the pirate writhing on the ground.

The crowd of civilians and Marines watched in stunned silence as Vulcan dismantled the pirate crew, moving with a calm efficiency that left no room for resistance.

The Commodore's mouth fell open, barely able to believe the skill he was witnessing. Vulcan's efficiency and strength were leagues above what Sabaody's Marines were used to, and it was clear to all that this was no ordinary Rear Admiral.

Finally, Razor, who had been watching in growing frustration, snarled and pushed through the remaining pirates, his hand gripping the hilt of his curved blade. His eyes were sharp, filled with malice as he spat, "Enough! I'll handle this myself!"

The blade he wielded began to glow with a sickly green aura, and a faint mist started to drift off of it. Razor's Poison-type Devil Fruit had been activated, and the mist swirling around his blade gave off an acrid smell that made the civilians nearby cough and cover their noses.

"Think you're special, Marine?" Razor sneered, taking a step closer to Vulcan. "Let's see how tough you really are!"

Razor swung his sword, sending a wave of poisonous mist hurtling toward Vulcan. But Vulcan didn't flinch. With a swift Kami-e maneuver, he effortlessly dodged the mist, his body moving fluidly like paper caught in the wind. Razor's attack struck empty air, and his expression twisted in frustration as Vulcan remained untouched.

Razor roared in fury and lunged forward, his poisoned blade aimed directly at Vulcan. But Vulcan met the blade head-on, his fist cloaked in Armament Haki. Razor's blade, meant to be as deadly as his Devil Fruit, shattered against Vulcan's fist with a resounding crack. Razor staggered back, eyes wide in disbelief as he realized he was outmatched.

Vulcan took a step forward, his calm demeanor unwavering. "You've caused enough trouble. This ends now."

With one swift motion, Vulcan brought down his naginata, stopping just short of Razor's neck. The message was clear—the battle was over. Razor's face went pale as he dropped to his knees, his confidence shattered.

The crowd of Marines and civilians erupted in murmurs as they took in the sight. Commodore Rys looked on with newfound respect, clearly impressed.

With Razor and his crew defeated, Vulcan turned to the assembled Marines, his expression hard. "This is what happens when you let discipline slide. Pirates and criminals take advantage of your hesitation, your fear. That changes now."

The Marines stood silent, their eyes wide as Vulcan continued. "From this day forward, you will train harder, push yourselves farther, and face every threat without backing down. The days of leniency are over."

He let his words sink in, scanning the faces of the Marines, most of whom looked both chastened and inspired by the display of authority.

The Commodore stepped forward, saluting. "Understood, Rear Admiral. We'll follow your lead."

Vulcan gave a slight nod. "Good. I expect every Marine on this island to be prepared for anything. We're here to maintain order, and we can't do that if we're constantly scrambling."

The Marines saluted, and Vulcan dismissed them to handle the aftermath and secure the prisoners. With the harbor cleared, Vulcan and Commodore Rys returned to the Marine base.

Back in his office, Vulcan wasted no time reviewing the latest intel. He spread maps across his desk, marking areas of known criminal activity. Commodore Rys leaned over the desk, studying the plans with a skeptical expression.

"You're planning to clear out these coves and corners where the pirates hide," Rys said thoughtfully. "But even with all our men, we don't have the numbers to cover every inch of Sabaody."

Vulcan's smirk was sharp. "We don't need to."

Rys raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you have in mind?"

"We're going to drive the pirates out of the smaller coves and force them into areas we can control. They'll have no choice but to congregate in the places we choose, making them easier to monitor and capture," Vulcan explained.

"But even then, we'll be stretched thin," Rys pointed out. "Unless… you're not planning on using just us Marines, are you?"

Vulcan's smirk grew. "Exactly. We're going to make use of the bounty hunters on this island. Sabaody's full of them, and if we can give them the right motivation, they'll work as a buffer between us and the pirates. They'll take out targets we don't have the time to chase."

Rys nodded, intrigued. "How do you plan to get them to cooperate?"

"Simple," Vulcan replied. "We'll sell them the intel of the pirate groups on this island and we will train a handful of Marines as instructors and send them out to recruit capable bounty hunters, offering training and intel on big-name pirates for a cut of the bounty."

"So they get their payday and a chance at fame, and we get more eyes and ears—and blades—in the field," Rys said, slowly nodding with approval. "Not a bad plan, Rear Admiral. And we could even earn enough from the intel sales to fund more operations."

"Exactly," Vulcan said. "But it only works if we're organized and prepared. Get ready to brief the Marines and start gathering information on potential bounty hunter recruits."

Rys saluted with a glint of determination in his eyes. "Understood. I'll begin preparations immediately."

That evening, Vulcan gathered the Marines and introduced them to their new training regimen. He spoke with a tone of finality, explaining that from now on, they would face each threat head-on, prepared and unyielding. This wasn't just a job—it was their duty to bring order to Sabaody.

As the Marines began their training, Vulcan looked out over the group, feeling the weight of responsibility. Sabaody would be a challenge, but with this strategy and the added forces of bounty hunters, they had a chance to turn the tide.