One Piece: Nobody knows Devil Fruits better than me.

Chapter 199 Because I'm Here
The Kingdom of Lubniz.

This country is the homeland of the famous North Sea Expedition Admiral, 'The Liar' Noland.

Although that great adventurer was executed by the king for treason, just as Roger's execution ushered in the Great Pirate Era.

Although Noland's influence was not as great as Roger's, his story still circulated throughout North Sea.

This has led to the Kingdom of Lubnir being known even today for producing many adventurers.

Every year on the anniversary of Noland's death, adventurers gather at Noland's hometown, an island called 'Montblanc'.

They would drink fine wine in the island's towns and embark on their journeys—this once became the most lively event in the Kingdom of Lubnir, known as the 'Adventure Festival'.

But today's situation is a bit different.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

At that moment, the entire island of Montblanc was trembling.

The buildings in the port area collapsed under the massive impact.

Smoke billowed into the sky, and strong winds blew the fluttering festival flags away, while powerful shockwaves continued to emanate from the center of the town.

"Those two guys are truly monsters!"

"Hey, Admiral Noland's monument has been smashed!"

"It's not just a monument; at this rate, the entire town will disappear—by the way, why is a former admiral fighting against a confirmed Shichibukai? What happened?"

"I heard that General Zephyr retired after the military exercises?"

"What is a naval guerrilla force? I've never heard of it!"

At this moment, the adventurers who originally came to participate in the 'Adventure Festival' and a huge number of reporters have gathered here.

They looked at the source of the tremor with some alarm.

There, a great war, beyond the comprehension of most people in the world, is taking place.

"Ouch, it hurts, Mommy—this purple-haired old man's fist hurts so much."

"Weebull, I'll obey! I'll hit him!"

A gigantic, ugly giant with a crescent-shaped beard and his body covered in stitches was wielding an astonishingly large naginata.

He let out a wail that was incomprehensible to everyone.

"boom!"

Each of his swings was accompanied by an extremely intense Armament Haki, creating a piercing shriek that tore through the air and cleaved the ground into deep trenches.

At that moment, his strike even cleaved a merchant ship in two in the distant harbor!

When that plump body wielded the naginata, its movements were unexpectedly agile and graceful, as if it were a true master of martial arts.

Without a doubt—that was monstrous power.

While Whitebeard is still alive, his title is certainly not 'Whitebeard Jr.'

But the power it possesses is enough to awe people.

He is the new Shichibukai, the 'Giant Pirate' Edward Weevil.

But
"Qiang!"

The next moment, his naginata was blocked by a dark fist.

That single slash, powerful enough to destroy a merchant ship, collided with the fist, producing only a piercing metallic clang—the fist gripped the naginata, rendering Weevil immobile.

then
"boom!"

Without a sound, the huge, black mechanical arm 'Crusher' spewed out scorching steam and punched Weevil in the face.

"what!"

Weevil let out a painful roar.

The punch nearly twisted his body – his neck was visibly crooked, and his entire body was almost folded up and sent flying.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

After smashing through several buildings in succession.

"It hurts. Mommy, it hurts so much!"

His contorted body continued to howl, and some of the stitches on his body broke.

"It's Mom. I'll hold back!"

But the next moment, he twisted his crooked neck forcefully, straightening his folded body back into place.

"laugh!"

He picked up the naginata and stood up again.

His ignorant and bewildered eyes looked at the man walking towards him with a blank expression.

He wore sunglasses, and his eyes behind the lenses showed no emotion, only pure coldness and hatred.

At this moment, his short purple hair billowed in the wind like an angry lion.

"call!"

Zefa twisted the 'shredder' in his hand and took a drag of his asthma medication.

then
"boom!"

The next moment, the ground beneath his feet shattered!
With no interest in speaking, he transformed into a blur like a cheetah, his massive mechanical arm tearing through the air as it slammed down on Weevil once more!
"boom!"

The shockwave spread out again.

Meanwhile...
"Luxurious Vines Wall!"

"Retreat - Repair everything!"

Around the town where the two sides were fighting, massive vine walls and constantly reshaping walls blocked most of the shockwaves, ensuring that the people on the battlefield and outside were not directly harmed.

Meanwhile, figures were moving about efficiently.

They wore dark combat suits and had badges on their arms—badges depicting a skull, a symbol of pirates, and black gauntlets that were bombarding the skull.

That symbolizes a "pirate guerrilla force".

"The blockade of Area A and Area B has been completed, and the civilians have been completely evacuated—the two children on the main road to the east have been sent out."

"Three lines of defense and blockade have been built."

The tall, dark-skinned man replied, holding a Den Den Mushi (a type of Den Den Mushi).

He is the former Marine Headquarters Commodore "Shuzo", and now one of the officers of a pirate guerrilla group.

At this moment, while completing the task assigned by the Den Den Mushi, he couldn't help but ask with a puzzled look: "But, Binz, Ain—Zeff-sensei has clearly completely suppressed that guy, is it really necessary to be so cautious?"

He was a little puzzled.

Yes.

Even a layman can see it.

Although that guy named Edward Weevil was indeed very strong, he was clearly no match for Zephyr.

His domineering presence, combat skills, and speed—even the aged Zephyr—exposed an absolute crushing advantage over him.

According to Xiu Zuo's assessment, the battle would end in ten minutes at most.

Therefore, he couldn't quite understand why his two colleagues were being so formal.

"Don't underestimate that guy, Senior Shuzo."

Meanwhile, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi...

Ain and Binz, who had just used their abilities to block the shockwave, were standing on a high platform on the outskirts of the town.

Their gazes were also fixed on the town, which was gradually turning into ruins, and on the pirate who was like a nightmare in their memories.

“You weren’t on that ship at the time, so you can’t understand for sure. Edward Weeble’s body was not normal.”

Unlike Shuzo, who joined the navy earlier, they were the only two survivors among the trainee marines on that ship.

Therefore, they understand it better.

Edward Weevil was no match for Zephyr—it had always been that way.

But
"His physique and vitality are completely unlike those of a 'living being'."

Binz said in a deep voice, "Professor Zephyr has already told us that this will be a protracted battle."

After he finished speaking, Ain, who was standing next to him, dispersed the 'Retreating Flame' in his hand and said softly, "Moreover—this guy's actions this time are very abnormal."

"The old woman next to him is gone, and he had been avoiding us before, but this time he took the initiative to appear on this island and wait for us."

Ain gritted her teeth.

That's right—just as Roy knew.

After forming their pirate guerrilla force, they hunted pirates while constantly searching for Weevil's whereabouts. In fact, shortly after the military exercises, they had pinpointed Weevil's location and begun their pursuit.

They also discovered that Weebuhr often went out with an old woman whom he called 'Mom'.

Of course, they currently have no clue about the latter's identity.

This manhunt has been going on for quite some time.

Until recently, they heard the news that Weevil was about to become a Shichibukai, and at the same time, they found Weevil's traces on this island—to be precise, it was as if he had deliberately waited for them on this island.

The old woman beside him had vanished without a trace.

So even without Roy's reminder, they could smell the conspiracy.

But
They had no choice.

They would not let Edward Weevil go no matter what—it was something they absolutely could not compromise on.

So even knowing that the other party's presence here might be part of a conspiracy, they still chose to plunge in headfirst.

But unexpectedly, there was no ambush.

Edward Weebull was indeed on the island, and that's how things turned out.

"The situation has already spread, and the World Government and other members of the Navy will definitely stop us from taking action against the Seven Warlords of the Sea so that you can build a defensive line, which is also to guard against this situation!"

Ain said in a deep voice, "If anyone really comes to stop us, we are responsible for buying time for Teacher Zephyr. We must not let them interfere with Teacher Zephyr's battle!"

She knew it.

From the moment they chose to disregard the World Government's orders and attack Weevil—even their Navy colleagues were no longer trustworthy.

The only exception is
"Where is Roy?"

On the other end of the phone, Xiu Zuo asked in a deep voice, "He will definitely help us!"

"."*2
Upon hearing this, Binz and Ian exchanged a glance.

Then, they said in a deep voice, "Professor Zephyr told us before the war started—no matter what, do not notify Roy, and do not answer his calls."

".Is it?"

Upon hearing this, Xiu Zuo immediately realized the reason.

"Yes, Roy is 'Black Xie,' the hope of the future Navy."

"It won't do if our affairs drag him down."

He said so.

They didn't feel that Zephyr's actions were unfair—on the contrary, Zephyr had asked them to leave before taking action, but none of them chose to leave.

But Roy is different.

All three knew that Roy was the true 'successor' chosen by Zephyr.

Based on the current situation, it is almost certain that Roy will be promoted to admiral in the future, and there is even a good chance that he will become a fleet admiral.

He must shoulder the responsibility of upholding justice for the entire ocean in the future, and become the 'Black Xie' who stands against the stars.

Therefore, Zefa did not want to burden his disciple with his own affairs.

But it is precisely at this moment
"Click!" "Click!" "Click!"

Binz, Ain, and Shuzo could all clearly hear the loud static starting to appear in their Den Den Mushi.

then
"Hey!"

Not just their Den Den Mushi—all the Den Den Mushi on the entire island made the same sound at that moment.

"This is the World Government's special patrol vessel, the 'Northern Cross'."

It was a cold, indifferent voice.

"I am Clement, the newly appointed vice-commander of the World Government's Holy Land Guardian Legion, responsible for protecting the great Celestial Dragons. I am also the World Government's special envoy, Thatchers M. Pierre, who is inspecting the North Blue countries."

"We already know the situation at Montblanc Island—former Admiral 'Zeff' of the Navy, immediately cease your attacks on the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"I repeat, immediately cease the attack on Edward Weevil, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"Otherwise, this ship will, in the name of the World Government, arrest and execute you for 'rebellion'."

And it appeared along with that sound.

And on the distant horizon, at the edge of the sea, lies that enormous warship.

Ain and the others could see the huge cross flag on the warship, as well as the crest symbolizing the Celestial Dragon family, the Thatcherz family.

"Yes, they are Celestial Dragons!"

"World Government's special envoys inspecting various countries? I have indeed heard that they are in the nearby waters!"

"Former General Zephyr, has this been a rebellion?"

"Hey, hey, still looking? Run! People will die!"

And then came the sounds of panic from the crowd gathered on the island.

Binz and Ein's faces also turned pale instantly.

"World Inspection Envoy"

They had guessed that the World Government would definitely send someone to stop their actions, and were even prepared for war.

According to their thinking, it would take at least half a day for the nearest naval branch to send someone over.

But they never expected that the World Government's patrol ship would happen to be nearby.

"No, it wasn't just a coincidence. Was this also planned?"

Ain murmured, but then gritted her teeth and addressed the clearly panicked pirate guerrillas below: "Everyone, prepare for battle!"

She shouted so loudly.

But at this moment, both she and Binz knew that the situation was not good.

It is said that there are more than twenty ships in the vicinity of the huge 'World Patrol Ship' North Sea Cross, and each of them is an elite force responsible for guarding the Celestial Dragons!

Their troop strength and capabilities were simply insufficient to stop the enemy.

But it is precisely at this moment.
"Hey, what's going on—my Den Den Mushi! Eh!"

But then they heard that the voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi had changed.

First came the panicked voice of the deputy commander of the Holy Land Guardian Legion, followed by the howling wind and the sound of waves.

They could almost picture what was happening just from the sound—the Den Den Mushi flew up, crossed the sea, and then…
"boom."

It fell into someone's hands.

"Hey."

The next moment, they did indeed hear a completely new voice coming from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

"Binz, Ain, Shuzo, and old man Zephyr—"

It was a voice they recognized, one that seemed to carry annoyance.

"You bunch of bastards, what do you take me for?!"

The other party growled like that.

"Roy!?" *3
At this moment, Ain and the others could naturally tell who was speaking on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

"You promised me that day, didn't you?"

They heard Roy say that.

At the same time, they naturally understood the meaning behind Roy's words.

Before the military exercises, when Zephyr handed his boxing gloves to Roy, Roy made a request—that he should participate in the hunt for Edward Weevil.

At the time, Zefa did not refuse.

And now.
"If you want to back out, I haven't agreed!"

As soon as they finished speaking, they seemed to hear the Den Den Mushi being casually tossed away again.

Amidst the howling wind, Roy's lingering voice could still be heard through the Den Den Mushi.

"Tell the old man to relax and just teach that guy a lesson."

At that very moment, it seemed that Ain and the others could also see it.

On the distant sea, a figure stood blocking the massive hull of the enormous 'Northern Cross'.

"No one will stop him."

"Because I am here."

(End of this chapter)