Chapter 54: Foolish Son

"Mom, the people on the warship look strange!" Weevil, his nose dripping with snot, squinted at the figures on the approaching ship, his voice laced with doubt.

"Those are Impel Down jailers," Miss Buckin replied, momentarily surprised. "It's unusual to see them outside the prison. What brings them here?"

Even Miss Buckin, accustomed to the world's oddities, found this unexpected. Impel Down guards rarely ventured beyond the prison walls. Their usual destinations, if any, were Enies Lobby or Marine Headquarters, not random locations.

"Impel Down? Where's that?" Weevil inquired, a hint of naivety in his voice.

"Didn't I tell you? It's a massive prison where Marines hold criminals," Miss Buckin sighed, her irritation directed at the dimwit beside her. "Forget it, it doesn't matter. Whoever they are, seize the ship!"

With a swift kick to Weevil's shin, she dismissed his question. As long as they weren't facing a Marine Admiral, she was confident in their ability to overpower them. After all, Weevil had even severed the hand of the former Admiral Zephyr, inadvertently destroying his entire recruit ship except for two survivors.

The consequences? Marine's response might as well have been nonexistent. Despite Zephyr's contributions in training Marines, they largely disregarded him.

"The idea that Marine intelligence wouldn't find Weevil is laughable. His entire fighting style screams for attention; he never attempts concealment. This growing arrogance is likely fueled by Miss Buckin's influence."

"Understood!" Weevil roared, hefting his naginata before launching himself towards the warship in a powerful leap. Towering at nearly seven meters (six meters and eight centimeters to be precise), he even surpassed Whitebeard's legendary height of 666 centimeters.

This very fact casts doubt on his lineage. Whitebeard, in his youth, possessed a normal stature, nowhere near Weevil's exaggerated proportions. Whitebeard's growth spurt came much later in life.

Therefore, based solely on height, Weevil doesn't fit the profile of Whitebeard's son.

"He charges in without orders" Luo Ning muttered. He didn't intend to send these guys to Impel down. Weevil, with his brute strength, would likely end up imprisoned on the sixth floor – a fool's paradise.

Having recently go out again, the warship wouldn't hold Weevil's peculiar power. Returning him was impossible, leaving only one option – a confrontation here.

As for Miss Buckin, that ruthless woman was a perfect candidate for a high-security prison. Her own strength was negligible; her reliance solely on Weevil. With him gone, the warship could easily detain her.

Seeing Weevil plummet, Luo Ning channeled his Reiatsu into a giant fist that slammed directly into him.

Suspended in mid-air, Weevil lacked any leverage. The blow propelled him straight into the seawater. Unfortunately, he wasn't a Devil Fruit user, or he'd be rendered powerless by now.

In truth, the current Luo Ning was the bane of all Devil Fruit users. He could manipulate seawater, even temporarily, making him a formidable opponent who could easily overpower them.

"Weevil!"

Miss Buckin, witnessing Weevil hurled into the sea, stared at the scene in disbelief.

However, Weevil swiftly emerged from the water and landed back on the deck. While Luo Ning's punch hadn't inflicted significant damage, it did snap half his beard off.

"Mom, I'm alright!" Weevil immediately yelled to his mother, assuring her of his safety.

He then turned his gaze back to the warship and leaped towards it once more, this time raising his naginata high.

While not a swordsman, Weevil possessed immense raw power.

His naginata clashed with the Reiatsu fist, resulting in a massive explosion.

Weevil's colossal form slammed into their ship, ripping a gaping hole through its hull. Thankfully, Luo Ning's attack consisted solely of Reiatsu, causing no damage on their side.

"No! The ship's sinking! Abandon it, quickly!" Miss Buckin shrieked, her shock evident at the sight of her son's destructive maneuver. They scrambled to board the rapidly sinking ship.

The gaping hole offered no time for packing. All the treasures and supplies onboard plunged into the depths with the ship.

Given Weevil's near-seven-meter stature, it's no surprise the ship didn't sink immediately despite the massive breach.

Without waiting for another reckless charge from Weevil, Luo Ning descended directly to the sea's surface. Supported by his Reiatsu, he remained afloat.

He possessed the ability to manipulate seawater to walk upon it, but it proved unnecessary. Reiatsu provided sufficient support, eliminating the need for such a fanciful display.

Meanwhile, Weevil had attempted to use a plank dislodged from the wreckage for buoyancy. However, his immense weight proved too much for the flimsy wood, which steadily sank beneath him.