45. High-Frequency Particle Blade

Marsh turned around to look again at the girl behind him.

One glance, and he was immediately shocked.

Black hair, deep blue eyes, and a high-bridged nose... this girl!

No way!

How did she end up here in the Sabaody Archipelago?!

"Tsk tsk, Lieutenant Marsh. I just remembered, isn't this girl none other than the 79-million-Berries bounty Devil Child Nico Robin?"

Before Marsh could respond, Blake smacked his forehead again and said, "Ah, now I remember. This pirates I hired them to help capture this girl!"

"Men, let her go! This is a misunderstanding. You, take the pirate captain to the infirmary, and see if he can still be saved!" Blake pointed at a soldier with his cigar. The soldier quickly picked up the captain and rushed him off.

Meanwhile, Nico Robin looked around at the Marines surrounding her with a terrified expression, her eyes welling up.

She remembered how, years ago on Ohara, she and the scholars were surrounded just like this by these so-called 'just' Marines.

It seemed that today she wouldn't escape.

But after years of hiding, maybe it was better this way.

If dying meant she could reunite with her mother, Dr. Clover, and Saul, then perhaps that wouldn't be so bad.

"Rear Admiral Blake. Are you really planning to cover up for these pirates by pinning the blame on an innocent civilian girl?"

Marsh stepped in front of Robin, his voice loud and firm, emphasizing the word civilian. "And I don't recall any regulation that allows the Navy to secretly collaborate with pirates or even openly cooperate, for that matter."

Hearing Marsh's words and watching him step in front of Robin, Blake's expression darkened.

He hadn't expected this young lieutenant to really interfere in his business.

He had already shown him respect earlier; was he now refusing to take a hint?

"I've seen your appointment notice. You were just promoted to lieutenant, weren't you?" Blake pressed his cigar out in his hand.

His subordinate handed him a katana immediately.

"Yes." Marsh nodded.

It wasn't unusual that Blake knew, as officer appointments from Marine Headquarters were announced to the entire force.

"I don't know who's backing you, but if you go straight to the training camp now, I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said."

"Who's backing me?" Marsh glanced over his shoulder, then smiled and replied, "There's only one thing behind me, Justice!"

As he finished speaking, a flash of cold steel appeared right in front of him, aimed at his throat!

Almost simultaneously, a crescent-shaped gleam intercepted the blade!

No one around could tell who moved first!

If anyone had to judge who was faster, Robin thought the crescent might have been just a bit quicker.

The clash of blades created a shockwave, and the ground beneath them split in two!

Blake swung his sword over his head and then brought it down again, but Marsh deflected it by striking Blake's wrist with his sword hilt!

Blake's left hand turned black as he launched a powerful punch toward Marsh's chest.

Marsh instantly covered his upper body in Armament Haki to brace himself against the punch!

With a metallic screech, the ground beneath them split further, and the roots of the red tree below fractured.

Blake took a sharp breath, narrowing his eyes.

Where had this monster come from? This kind of strength, and he's just a lieutenant?!

Marsh, feeling the force of the punch, furrowed his brow.

To make him feel pain even through fully developed Armament Haki could Blake really only be a rear admiral?!

In the next moment, Marsh seized his chance, grabbing Blake by the collar and yanking him forward.

Then, with a swift motion, his sword emerged from its sheath!

Moon Breathing: First Form - Dark Moon, Evening Palace!

Even though it was daylight, Robin felt as if countless crescents of moonlight were blooming in front of her!

Blake's expression shifted, he couldn't dodge!

In an instant, he activated Armament Haki, covering his upper body to meet the blade's edge!

Blood splattered.

Unexpectedly, Marsh's bamboo blade tore through his Armament Haki and sliced a deep wound across his chest.

If Marsh hadn't held back at the last second, Blake might've been split in two!

So this was the power of the high-frequency particle blade or rather, the grace of the Golden Bell blessing on his sword!

Cutting through Armament Haki felt as effortless as slicing through butter!

"Rear Admiral!"

"Damn it!"

"Attack him!"

Seeing their superior covered in blood, the Marines around Blake raised their weapons and rushed at Marsh.

"Stand down!"

Blake gritted his teeth to prevent his subordinates from marching to their deaths, coughing up another mouthful of blood as he spoke.

"The girl is yours." He shot Marsh a hard look, then slapped the head of one of his subordinates. "What are you standing there for?! Take me to the doctor already, this hurts like hell!"

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