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

Chapter 308 Murphy’s Law
"You mean you not only failed to capture your target, but also had a warship seized and escaped?!"

About half an hour later, CP0, dressed in a pure white suit, finally led his men onto the sea in a Fishman Island-style ship to rendezvous with the Navy.

Upon seeing the scene, clearly the result of a fierce battle, with ship debris scattered everywhere, he felt a sudden jolt in his heart, followed by a bad premonition.

Sure enough, after learning the whole story of what had just happened by questioning Albury, even this 'Shield of the Celestial Dragons,' who always appeared unfathomable, almost couldn't help but curse.

What does it mean to be 'unwittingly allowed to escape'?
Three warships! Two vice admirals! And a perfect encirclement formation from the start!
Not only that, the other party was also injured!
And this is how you beat me up?!

They didn't manage to rescue anyone, and they even lost a boat!
You two aren't some kind of civilian lieutenant generals, are you?

CP0's shoulders heaved, and even with that eerie mask on, everyone could clearly guess the angry expression on his face.

His black-clad agents also took a few steps back without leaving a trace, distancing themselves slightly from their superior who was somewhat out of control.

……

"Oh, oh, please don't be angry."

In the end, it was Albury who stepped forward, slowly walked to the CP0 officer's side, and bowed slightly, saying:
"Lieutenant General Mien did his best, but the opponent's ability was just too strange, and we were caught off guard."

Albury also witnessed Mien being blasted away by the golden light... Was it a Devil Fruit ability? Or some kind of technique? He still couldn't be sure.

However, this is not important. Whatever that golden light is, it can be used as an explanation for the defeat in battle, or... an excuse.

"ability?"

As expected, upon hearing this important information, CP0 instinctively continued to ask questions.

“That’s right. Judging from the performance, it seemed to be a golden light. That’s why Lieutenant General Mien was injured. Otherwise, we would have completed the mission perfectly by now.”

"Golden light... um..."

After glancing at Mien, who was sitting cross-legged on the deck while the medic treated his shoulder injury, looking completely lost in thought, this well-informed top agent began to wonder if that ability also had an impact on mental health.

"Fortunately, with your help now, I believe those guys definitely won't be able to escape."

"Let's chase after them before they get too far."

"..."

Albury's respectful attitude and somewhat ingratiating smile were impeccable, so the white-clad CP0 ultimately didn't pursue the matter any further.

He nodded and said:

"Which direction did the target escape in?"

"Southeast."

"Southeast...wait a minute!"

Upon hearing that the other party was fleeing in the southeast direction, CP0 was stunned for a moment, and then became visibly panicked.

Their current location is above and to the side of Fishman Island, near the entrance to the New World, with the New World's shipping lanes directly to their southeast.

The Beasts' stronghold is located in the middle of the New World, so there's no problem for Bulfat to escape in the southeast direction... But the key issue is that a Celestial Dragon who just finished spending money in the New World is heading back to the 'Holy Land' Mary Geoise in the northwest direction!
Moreover, according to the itinerary reported by the colleague who served that Celestial Dragon, the other party will happen to pass through this sea area today!
Although the Grand Line appears quite long and narrow on a map, its actual width is still an exaggerated figure.

The probability of two ships meeting head-on here is extremely low.

But CP0 dared not gamble, because it concerned the Celestial Dragons, and they could not gamble even if the probability was zero.

-

With a cry of an eagle, the white-clad CP0's arm transformed into snow-white wings!

Bird Fruit - Snowy Owl Form.

"Navy, abandon all supplies and proceed at full speed to the southeast!"

"We must intercept them before they make contact with that person!"

After saying that, he flapped his wings and silently flew into the sky, heading southeast at full speed...

……

Since there's no Murphy in the One Piece world, naturally no one has ever proposed that ridiculous "Murphy's Law."

But just because no one has brought it up doesn't mean this law doesn't exist. After all, everyone has had this feeling at some point—the more you don't want something to happen, the more likely it is to happen!
Just like...

"report!"

"Nathania Saint, a naval warship has been spotted ahead!"

"navy?"

Tell them to make way!

On the magnificent and spacious deck, Nathania, dressed in a spacesuit-style outfit with a square glass dome around her neck, was test-riding her newly purchased 'mounts' one by one.

Snapped!
"This won't work either."

After jumping off the back of a skinny, brown-haired teenage girl, the Celestial Dragon kicked her directly in the stomach.

The kick was so powerful that it sent the girl sprawling to the ground, where she arched her back uncontrollably.

Despite this, the girl clenched her teeth and dared not utter a single cry of pain.

"Tsk, we bought so much this time, but not a single one can compare to that escaped merman slave!"

"Everyone will laugh at me if I go back like this!"

After kicking the girl several more times in frustration, the 'intense' exercise forced the Nathanian Saint to stop and catch his breath.

"hu~hu~"

"Have those CPs still not found my slaves?" "Uh..."

The agent serving nearby did not give a reply. Although the CP0 leader had contacted him before and said that he would definitely bring the slave back before the day after tomorrow... what if?
If the other party fails to bring the person back, or is a few days late, you yourselves, who have always been by the Celestial Dragons' side, will be the first to bear the brunt of their wrath.

So it's best to say nothing.

"What a bunch of incompetent good-for-nothings!"

"hu~hu~"

Sure enough, upon hearing that the matter was worthless, Natania immediately turned her anger towards CP, who had handled the matter.

"You, go and call those navy men over here, and have them help me find slaves."

Completely disregarding whether the other party was carrying out any mission, Nathania arrogantly gave the order.

Just a moment ago they were too lazy to pay attention to the other party, but now they can summon the other party with just a word. Nowadays, the Celestial Dragons completely treat the Navy like dogs that they can summon and dismiss at will.

"Yes!"

Without sensing anything amiss, the close aide-de-camp directly ordered the flag officer to raise the flag to signal the opposing navy to come and pay homage to the Celestial Dragons.

On the warship, Bourfat was leaning against the mast, chatting with his old friend.

He was very weak. Since the ship's doctor had been hit by a cannonball when he jumped into the sea, Bourfat had to treat his wounds himself based on his past experience.

"Huh?! You mean this child is actually your son?!"

"Looking at my friend holding the child I picked up," Bourfat exclaimed in surprise.

"Ah."

"I hid him in Fishman Town and went out to find him some food, but I didn't expect to run into the Navy and the World Government."

"If it weren't for you, I..."

"Hey~ What kind of relationship do we have? Why are we talking about this!"

"But unexpectedly, things turned out perfectly. It seems this child and I are destined for each other~"

"How about you recognize me as your godfather?"

"Godfather? Great! No problem!"

Lahail readily agreed to the request.

Bourfat is right. Perhaps he really is destined to meet this child. Otherwise, how could he have found the child in Fishman Street by such coincidence?

"Hmm~ By the way, what's this child's name?"

Nodding, Bulfat grew increasingly fond of the baby who was only a few months old but already over a meter long.

"A name... hasn't been chosen yet."

“That’s perfect, no rush. We’re both illiterate, so let’s leave it at that. When we get back to the pirate crew, I’ll have the most cultured scholars in the crew come up with a good name for us.”

"Ah."

……

"Brother Bourfat, they're letting us through!"

Just as the two were chatting enthusiastically about the child, they saw the lookout on the opposite side of the flag signal suddenly shout loudly.

"Ok?"

"What's going on? Didn't you just tell us to make way and leave?"

"Why did you suddenly change?"

The one speaking was the acting captain previously appointed by Bourfat, the squad leader, who was still commanding the ship in place of the injured Bourfat.

"I don't know either, but they're just telling us to go over there."

"Um……"

Looking at the massive ship opposite them, which appeared extremely luxurious and had a huge World Government emblem painted on its sails, the squad leader really didn't want to get involved with it...

But Murphy's Law.

……

"Saint Natania".

"Huh? What's wrong?"

After whispering a few words to his subordinate, the agent responsible for his personal service quickly walked to Nathania's side and reported in a low voice:
"Based on the observation from the lookout, the people on that ship opposite don't seem to be marines, but most likely pirates!"

"A sea, a pirate?!"

"Furthermore, we also spotted what appears to be your merman slave on the ship!"

"Is my slave that merman slave?"

"Great! Quick! Bring my slave back!"

"Now Roswald's slaves definitely can't compare to mine!"

Seemingly completely ignoring the pirates, Natania was overjoyed that she had finally found the strongest fishman slave and would be able to defeat her old rival Roswald in the next slave duel.

(End of this chapter)