Pirate: It’s not a phantom beast, it’s a phantom god!

Chapter 296 Murderous Intention

Albury, male, 38 years old.

Haiyuan joined the navy in 1476. After fifteen years of navigating the seas, he rose through the ranks thanks to his accumulated military achievements and smooth interpersonal skills, eventually becoming a Rear Admiral.

Then he began his life of lying down and doing nothing.

The rank of Major General is incredibly powerful and influential, even capable of controlling everything.

But if it were placed at the Navy Headquarters, it would be quite awkward... its status would be basically equivalent to a turtle in the Yongding River or a badger in a watermelon patch.
The top combat force of this headquarters is the generals, the main combat force is the elite lieutenant generals, while major generals and brigadier generals are the kind of people who are just there for show and have little presence.

Normally, they just arrest some unknown pirates, or occasionally send them out to inspect the branches in the four seas... After all, a real, serious operation requires at least a vice admiral to lead the team.

Alberridge, who had a clear understanding of his own abilities, thought he would stay in the rank of major general for the rest of his life.

But perhaps he was born with a lucky streak in his career, and he was already preparing to retire early. He never expected that his fate would be completely changed in an operation where he followed a general to gain military merit.

That day, while he and a certain afro-haired pirate were still passionately exchanging blows, his peers had already started cosplaying oden on the high seas.

The Battle of Fenrir created a huge gap in the mid-to-lower-level combat power of the Navy Headquarters, and even opened up a vice admiral position.

As an officer who not only emerged unscathed but also preserved the navy's two warships, he naturally caught the attention of his superiors.

So... without even a moment to mourn his fallen comrade, the one who was immediately promoted on the spot was the former Navy Headquarters Rear Admiral—Albury!

At just over thirty years old, he was promoted to lieutenant general, a position that, to outsiders, seemed like a triumphant and successful one.
Instead of being the most complacent, he showed unusual restraint and caution afterward. As a lieutenant general with the authority to launch independent operations, he never acted alone, always taking on missions alongside other lieutenant generals.

As one of the few people in the world with a fairly clear sense of self, Alberridge knew the principle that "if one's virtue does not match one's position, disaster will surely follow."

But for that higher level of retirement pension, he was willing to take the risk... However, some protective measures were still necessary, such as always having to invite a strong lieutenant general to accompany him on each mission.

……

"Lieutenant General Mien, why don't you take over?"

After testing Jinbe's strength and realizing he was likely to get injured, Albury decisively stopped and gave up his position.

He cares more about whether he can retire safely and completely than about saving face.

It would be ridiculous if my retirement pension turned into a death benefit!
"That's fine, after all, dragging it out for too long might cause unnecessary trouble."

Ignoring his colleague's slacking off, Mien stepped forward and placed his hand on the hilt of his knife.

"..."

Seeing that the swordsman vice admiral he had been on guard against was about to make a move, Jinbe also became extremely alert, and his Fishman Karate techniques against the swordsman were ready to be unleashed.

Swish-!
呲~
"Um?!"

"what?"

A cold glint flashed, and two surprised and doubtful voices came from different people one after the other.

First was Jinbe. He touched his chest and felt a sharp pain there, but there was no wound.

"Was I... killed?"

"when?!"

I only saw the other person put their hand on the hilt of the knife, but I didn't see any action of drawing the knife, and I was slashed without even knowing when.

If this is a draw sword slash, then this is way too fast!

Meanwhile, Mien on the other side was also somewhat surprised.

Although Albury mentioned that the other person's clothes were strange, my 'One-Sword Style: Lightning Strike' struck them and they were completely unharmed.

You should know that the sword in your hand is a famous one, and your skill level has long surpassed the 'Iron-Cutting' realm. Normally, you can easily split gold and cut stone with a fruit knife.

Could it be that the other party's thin layer of clothing was actually harder than the special steel used on warships?
"Young merman, your clothes are peculiar; even my sword cannot penetrate them. But relying on them to defeat me is far from enough."

Mien slowly drew a silver rapier from its sheath at his waist, and with a flick of his wrist, the slender blade danced like a serpent.

"After all, there are always places it can't protect."

For example, the head.

"I don't want to take your life. It's not too late to surrender now."

"..." "Your Excellency Lieutenant General, you are a good man."

Jinbe tightened his clothes and gave the other person a smile.

"I appreciate the opportunities you have given me time and time again."

"However, I really don't have the information you want to know. I have never seen the person in the photo before, let alone know him."

"Then where did you learn your 'Six Styles'?"

At this point, Albury asked another question that seemed suspicious.

"This was taught to me by... uh, by my master."

Seeing that Jinbe's tone, though slightly hesitant, did not seem to be lying, Mien lowered the rapier in his hand slightly.

"Is your teacher... in the Navy?"

"……no."

"Are they from the World Government?"

"...Neither."

The sword hilt was gripped tightly again.

"So who is your teacher?"

Mien's tone was clearly hostile.

"she……"

"Eh~"

After much hesitation, Jinbe decided to reveal Osei's identity.

Even though he knew that speaking out might lead to a merciless attack from the navy man in front of him, he didn't want to deny Osei's existence, nor did he want to fabricate a non-existent person to replace Osei.

His chivalrous nature, which favored uprightness in all things, also made him disdainful of lying.

“My teacher… is named ‘Osiris’.”

“Osiris…you mean [Princess Hades]!”

"You're [Ming Ji's] apprentice?!"

Before Mien could make a sound, Albury couldn't help but exclaim in surprise and instinctively took a few steps back.

Ossie has been quite a troublemaker on the high seas these past few years, if not completely unknown.

As the person who achieved the first kill of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and also an exaggeratedly beautiful woman, her initial bounty was an unbelievable 400 million Berries... Of course, Sengoku's manipulation was indispensable behind the scenes.

Osei's successful breakthrough unexpectedly sparked a new wave on the seas—the hunting of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

In an instant, all the pirates who wanted to make a name for themselves turned their attention to these 'legal pirates'... They were just a group of guys who had surrendered to the World Government, how strong could they be?

I'll borrow your head for a moment.jpg
Then Ossi noticed that the underworld had suddenly become much more lively during that period.

However, the original Seven Warlords of the Sea were ultimately a product of Sengoku's deliberate suppression. With an average strength of only a Vice Admiral, a few of them were eventually hunted down by pirates.

Of course, O'Cie's record of 0.43 seconds for the fastest kill still stands far ahead and has not been broken.

And this ruthless woman is actually the master of this seemingly simple-minded merman... Doesn't that seem a bit odd?
"Hey, merman, are you sure you're not kidding us?"

"Someone like you actually knows [Ming Ji]?"

"Under..."

He probably wasn't lying.

Mien drew his second sword from his waist and said coldly:
"Back then, the Beasts obtained a complete handwritten copy of the 'Rokushiki' because of 'something,' so it's only natural that someone from that pirate crew would know the 'Rokushiki.'"

"Am I right, merman?"

His words were no longer as calm as before; instead, they revealed a chilling killing intent.

(End of this chapter)