Chapter 45 : Squard vs Ian!!

The port of this small town had turned into chaos.

A large number of pirates were running away, crying and shouting, wishing they had more legs to escape faster.

"Hahaha! Don't run away!" 

A young girl wielding a spiked club was chasing them like a gust of wind. "Come and fight me!"

"Soru!"

The girl suddenly vanished from her spot, and in the next moment, she had plunged into the fleeing pirates. The pirates behind her were instantly sent soaring into the sky like scattered flowers.

Her technique, already fast-moving, had been further accelerated with the incorporation of the Six Styles. Now, her speed was terrifyingly fast. The pirates' eyes couldn't even catch a glimpse of her. They only felt an invisible force attacking them from all directions.

She kept flickering, and with each flicker, a group of pirates was blasted into the air.

In an instant, the port was filled with screams, pleas for mercy, and the frequent, thunderous sounds of bodies being smashed and shattered.

"Looks like she's having a lot of fun."

Ian and his companions strolled leisurely from the port, observing Yamato wreaking havoc among the pirates. Black Maria covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "Yamato's energy is finally back. Indeed, Yamato is the cutest when she's full of energy."

Cute?

Ian shot Black Maria a sideways glance. This woman was saying something quite alarming with a straight face.

Did she really think someone who laughed heartily and mercilessly beat pirates with a steel club, causing their bodies to twist and fly through the air, was cute?

"Ian!"

Ian heard Yamato calling him.

The girl wiped the blood from her face and grinned as she waved at him, "Come join the fun!"

Oh, what a sharing spirit she had.

How many children would share their favorite toys with others?

Ian thought, how adorable.

"I think I'll pass. You can play by yourself."

Ian replied.

Jack, who had been itching to join the fight, lowered his head after hearing Ian's words. He also wanted to join the battle.

The days on the ship had felt quite dull.

"But aren't there more and more pirates?" 

Black Maria, taking advantage of her height, gazed ahead in surprise.

The pirates who had been fleeing into the distance had now changed direction. Many pirates from behind were heading this way, joining the battle against Yamato.

"Don't think that just because you're from the Beasts Pirates you can do whatever you want!"

"Let's show you our spirit!"

"Defeat them! Then we'll become famous across the seas!"

Shouting nonsensical slogans, the pirates joined the fray.

Ian found it all rather confusing.

Had they misunderstood something?

Rumors spread that the Beasts Pirates were planning to massacre the pirates on the island.

Some pirates immediately fled, but there were always those who, despite their recklessness, dreamed of making a name for themselves by defeating the Beasts Pirates.

And now, this was the scene that Ian and the others were witnessing.

"Hahahaha! Great! The more, the merrier!" 

As more and more pirates surrounded her, Yamato didn't feel any pressure at all. Instead, she seemed even more delighted. "Let's have some fun!"

Accompanied by her laughter, a ferocious aura swept across the battlefield in an instant.

A large number of pirates fell unconscious, foaming at the mouth.

Many others collapsed on the ground, their bodies too weak to stand.

The remaining pirates were few and far between, and all of them wore expressions of shock.

"Conqueror's Haki!!"

"How is this possible! From such a young kid!"

Haki wasn't rare in the New World, but Conqueror's Haki was still considered rare. They had never seen it before.

"Keep going!"

With the number of enemies reduced significantly, Yamato laughed heartily as the battle continued.

Outside the dock, on top of a house, a man with a telescope was observing the battlefield.

"The white-haired girl and the black-haired boy look to be around thirteen or fourteen years old. Their ages match exactly with what Mrs. Toki said. They must be Kaido's daughter and disciple!"

The man put away his Den Den Mushi. He had a spider-like tattoo on his forehead, long hair with sparse patches on top, and carried a massive sword on his shoulder—longer than his entire body—and a katana at his waist. His teeth were sharp, and his long tongue flicked like a serpent's over his lips.

"Hey, Rock!"

The man leaped down from the rooftop.

"Captain Squard!"

A pirate responded to his call.

"Contact Pops," the man said. "Tell him I've found the two kids Lady Toki mentioned. I'm going to bring them back to see him!"

This was the perfect opportunity! Kaido actually dared to send out such kids! Since it's such a coincidence, he shouldn't blame me for bullying them!

As for whether this would anger Kaido, with Pops around, what's there to fear?

Before his subordinate could answer, the man had already drawn the massive blade from his shoulder. "Everyone, follow me!"

"Yes!"

The man, Squard the Maelstrom Spider, was on the move!

"Fury!"

Yamato swung her iron club with all her might. The invisible shockwave transformed into a roaring spear that pierced through the pirates in front of her.

Now, there were hardly any pirates still standing before her.

Those who hadn't lost consciousness yet trembled on the ground, too frightened to move.

"Ah? Is it over already?"

Yamato looked around the battlefield with a hint of disappointment. "Is there anyone else left to fight?"

She wasn't satisfied yet.

Whoosh!

Her wish was soon fulfilled as a whooshing sound cut through the air.

"Yamato!"

From behind, Ian's voice echoed simultaneously.

Yamato swiftly swung her kanabo.

Clang!

With a resounding crash and the sound of steel clashing, a flying large sword was sent back.

In the next moment, Ian had appeared beside Yamato, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked at the man who caught the returning sword.

That figure looks familiar.

The large sword, and the dramatic entrance—could it be—

Kisame Hoshigaki!

"It's you!" the man declared.

The man hoisted his sword onto his shoulder and looked at Ian and Yamato with a condescending gaze, clearly confident in his appearance. "Kaido's daughter and disciple!"

Behind him, a group of pirates who had accompanied him were already drawing their swords and readying their guns, their eyes fixed on Ian and Yamato with intent.

The pirates who were slumped on the ground stared in shock at Ian and Yamato.

Kaido's daughter and disciple?

No way—such big shots?

Have they gotten themselves involved in something big?

"Eh? Ian!"

Yamato was quite surprised. "He knows us!"

Ian studied the man carefully, trying to recall his identity. Could it really be Zabuza? 

"Hey,"

He kicked a nearby pirate who was cowering and trembling as if he wanted to bury his head in the dirt. "Do you know him?"

Since they were all operating on this island, the pirates here should know this guy.

The pirate he kicked shuddered and quickly answered, "He's the captain of the Maelstrom Spider Pirates, Squard! He's a pirate under the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Ah, Squard.

Now that it was mentioned, Ian remembered him.

He was the so-called 'filial son' who stabbed Whitebeard in the Summit War.

It made sense; this area was close to Whitebeard's territory, so it wasn't surprising to see him here.

Ian raised an eyebrow. "So, the Whitebeard Pirates want to go to war with us, the Beast Pirates?"

"You don't think that Pops doesn't know what you've been doing in Wano, do you?!" Squard roared.

Ian couldn't help but smile a bit.

Because it was quite amusing, wasn't it? 

He had known all these years and still hadn't done anything.

"Even though Kozuki Oden joined that damned Roger Pirates, he was also a sworn brother of Pops!"

Squard hated Roger because Roger had defeated his crew and left him with nothing. "Pops was heartbroken and shed tears for his death! Bastards, you're all doomed!"

The man was incredibly furious for the father he revered.

But Ian couldn't help but laugh more when he thought about how Squard would one day stab Whitebeard with a chilling blow.

Squard's long sword fell to the ground, creating sparks as he dragged it forward. "You're unlucky to run into me here today. Come with me to see Pops and Lady Toki!"

Ian immediately caught the key point. "Did you say, Lady Toki?"

You mean, Kozuki Toki? 

Didn't she fly into the future to seek the 'world-changing moment'? 

She went to the Whitebeard Pirates? 

Squard didn't intend to answer further and only raised his big sword. "Capture them!"

The Maelstrom Spider Pirates charged forward.

It seemed that if Ian wanted to know more, he would have to question this guy thoroughly.

**********

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