The pinnacle of pirates begins with deceiving fate!

He punched Redfield in the lower right ribcage with his left fist, exploding his liver!

He punched Redfield in the lower left ribcage with his right fist, causing his stomach to explode!

Then, he delivered a left hook to Redfield's jaw, causing his front teeth to shatter and blood to spurt from his mouth.

Redfield's body moved backward uncontrollably, crashing into the ship's side covered in Armament Haki with a "thud," before bouncing back again.

As the fists rained down on him, Redfield felt his strength rapidly draining away, and even his vision began to blur.

This guy is amazing!

Whenever he tried to throw a punch to retaliate, his opponent would always duck and dodge in advance, then take advantage of his open defense to deliver a powerful blow to his side.

"You bastard, has your Observation Haki become so strong that you can see right through me?!"

Redfield roared, but John remained expressionless and punched him in the chin again.

It's actually a very simple technique: look down at Redfield's limbs and torso.

Before Redfield throws his right punch, he engages in small movements with his shoulder, arm, and even abdomen before pushing his fist out.

By capturing even a small part of the movement, one can predict the big move that will follow.

This is a skill from boxing and martial arts, a realm that those in this world who only know how to pile up strength and fight head-on don't understand.

When the difference in strength is not significant, skill will be the decisive factor.

This is called physical combat!

On this vast ocean, perhaps only the future "Red and White" battle at the summit will truly showcase the full potential of physical combat skills.

As for the rest...

They're just a bunch of mindless idiots who can only throw punches!

"what!"

As his consciousness was about to fade, Redfield roared and leaped backward, soaring over the ship's side and plunging into the vast sea.

He fled.

John stood still, not giving chase, his chest heaving rapidly like a broken bellows, his respiratory tract burning with pain.

His strength was also running out.

"Damn it, this body is too weak!"

This was despite Redfield being poisoned and in poor condition, yet he still struggled so much.

If Redfield were in his prime, he probably wouldn't have been able to exhaust himself before he could finish the fight.

"My body, I need a strong body!"

John couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed onto the deck with a thud. It took him a long time to recover before he pulled a Den Den Mushi out of his pocket.

It's pitiful for the little guy; even without being hit, he kept getting dizzy and waking up repeatedly during the intense fighting.

After much coaxing, the Den Den Mushi finally poked its head out and started working, making a call to Sengoku.

"How's it going? Did you manage to intercept Redfield?"

As soon as the call connected, Sengoku's voice came through eagerly.

John gazed at the azure sky, raised his hand to summon the rapier that had slid to the stern of the ship, and said weakly:

“The G-10 branch was almost completely wiped out, and Redfield… escaped.”

"..."

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before a deep voice finally spoke.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"..."

Chapter 97 Douglas Barrett

sunset twilight

The deep blue sea reflected orange-red hues as rafts drifted around the wrecked fleet, their searchlights illuminating the wounded who had fallen into the sea.

On the deck of the giant warship, Sengoku examined the rapier for a while, confirming that it belonged to Redfield, before turning his gaze to the figure sitting cross-legged on the ground, eating and drinking heartily.

Aside from being extremely exhausted and hungry, Sengoku didn't notice that John was injured.

This guy is that strong?

Or is it that Redfield's strength was greatly reduced due to poisoning?

With a question in mind, Sengoku stepped forward and stood beside John, speaking:

"Based on your performance, you should have been promoted to lieutenant general. However, judging from the results, not only did Redfield escape, but the G-10 Marines suffered more than three-quarters casualties. Therefore, you can only remain as a major general, and your responsibility will not be investigated."

"I see."

John swallowed his food and offered no objection to the treatment.

No matter how much effort you put in or how hard you try, it's all meaningless.

Everything depends on the outcome.

As for the casualties among his men, there was nothing he could do. He couldn't very well leave the marines at the G-10 branch while he faced the enemy alone, could he?

In the end, the marines were completely ineffective in the battle and even became a burden.

Sending in marines who can't do anything to intercept Redfield was a completely wrong command.

But that's the nature of the military; you can't prevent marines from playing a role just because they can't.

Even if the sacrifice is meaningless, we still have to go; the army is not a charity.

The saying "A kind heart cannot command an army, and a righteous heart cannot manage finances" originates from this.

The world is cruel. If you don't want to be one of those who sacrifice themselves in vain, then you should do whatever it takes to climb up the ladder.

Alternatively, one could break free from the genetic code of human social beings, isolate oneself from society, and endure loneliness by living alone.

No matter what choice you make, you will have to pay a price.

"I'll continue chasing Redfield in the second half of the race. Do you want to come with me?"

Sengoku wanted to give John a chance to get revenge.

However, John's answer was unexpected by Sengoku.

"If it's not an order, but a question asking for my own willingness, then I won't go together."

He had many things to do and didn't have time to play cat-and-mouse games with the Warring States.

Even if he could be promoted to lieutenant general for this merit, it wouldn't mean much to him.

"Then get some rest."

Sengoku neither advised nor forced him, and left with his fleet.

Even knowing that the trip would most likely be fruitless, they still had to demonstrate their determination to pursue Redfield.

Otherwise, the prestige of the Navy and the World Government will plummet.

At worst, they'll have to capture a few wealthy pirates to make up the numbers, so the world knows the consequences of angering the Navy.

The G-10 fleet remained at sea for two days and two nights until no more wounded could be rescued before returning to Dressrosa.

Since most of the marines in the G-10 branch were natives of Dressrosa, the people wept bitterly as the bodies covered in white sheets were displayed in the harbor.

Upon seeing John, King Riku rushed over in a fit of rage, grabbed his collar, and questioned him with tear-filled eyes.

"Why! Why didn't you protect them!"

My condolences.

John, expressionless, slapped Riku's hand away, uttered two words, and strode away.

The order from above was for him to lead the G-10 marines to intercept them. He couldn't disobey orders and act alone, could he?

If he acts alone and Redfield escapes, he will really face a court-martial!

Moreover, when engaging in battle, he always took the lead and charged ahead, rather than cowering behind and giving orders with words.

I have already done right by everyone.

"Damn pirates!"

King Riku didn't blame John; his actions were merely a result of his emotional outburst. After calming down, he attributed everything to the pirates.

People's hatred for pirates is accumulating rapidly.

Meanwhile, amidst the grief and anger of the crowd, a five-year-old boy stared blankly at the rows of corpses, his fists gradually clenching.

He is Cyrus, and he wants to become stronger!

The days that followed returned to normalcy.

The G-10 branch began its second round of recruitment, but the local residents of Dressrosa were not enthusiastic, resulting in a deserted area in front of the base.

During this time, a boy named Cyrus clamored to join the navy, but Reed ruthlessly sent him away.

"John, the local people here don't want to join the navy anymore. Should we try that method?"

Reed knocked on the door of the base commander's office and asked John, who was lying on the sofa reading and studying genetics, for his opinion.

John put down his book, met Reed's gaze, and nodded.

"It should have been used a long time ago. Let them know that if they don't do it, there are plenty of people eager to do it."

"As ordered!"

Reed raised his hand in salute and walked out of the office excitedly.

His "solution" was simple: recruit people from countries that were not members of the World Government.

There are many hungry people in this world. As long as they are given food, they will do anything!

Several days later

A country with endless war