Chapter 123: A Broken Leg

A two-masted pirate ship slowly sailed into the bay entrance. Painted boldly on its sails was a large and striking pirate skull emblem. Soon, the naval officers aboard the warship all took notice of this massive two-masted pirate ship entering the bay.

“Crossed twin blades, three blood streaks running through the left eye—that’s the mark of the Red-Haired Pirates!”

At the lookout tower, a marine holding a monocular telescope clearly recognized the emblem on the two-masted ship. Shocked, he let out a heart-rending report.

Upon hearing the report, some marines from the West Sea’s 158th division instantly lost their will to fight.

In contrast, the marines aboard Captain Garp’s warship quickly went into full alert upon confirming the enemy’s identity and swiftly took their positions.

The marines who sailed the seas alongside Garp were in a completely different league — both in strength and mindset — compared to those from the division.

“The Red-Haired Pirates…”

At the dock, Gion muttered to herself, stunned. Snapping back to reality, she handed the severely wounded and unconscious Wolf Rat over to the ship’s medic, then strode through the air to Bogart’s side.

“Bogart, should we engage?”

Her expression was grave.

Though the disparity in strength was vast, the navy could not simply sit idly by.

The messenger awaited Bogart’s command, ready to order the gunners to fire at the pirate ship at a moment’s notice.

Bogart raised his index finger to tilt his hat brim, his gaze heavy as he fixed on the Red Force—a name emblazoned on the approaching ship.

“Turn the bow around, aim the cannons at the enemy ship, and prepare all hands for battle!”

With that order, the warship sprang into action.

Bogart’s eyes never left the Red Force.

Though he ordered everyone to prepare for battle, he had no intention of initiating cannon fire.

Against an opponent of that caliber, firing would be meaningless at best and would only provoke the Lion himself.

The best outcome was not a desperate brawl but to avoid needless casualties.

On board the Red Force.

Shanks calmly observed the navy, fully prepared.

The moment he saw Garp’s warship, he immediately understood the situation.

“Boss, shall we make a move?”

Lucky Roo stood slightly behind Shanks, clutching a half-eaten chicken leg. Behind his dark sunglasses, his eyes gleamed with eagerness.

Jesus Burg stood on the other side, loosening the long spear on his back, a sly grin revealing his defiant spirit.

The crew on deck were equally eager, ready for action.

This time, not all the Red-Haired Pirates’ officers had come along.

After all, someone had to hold down their territory in the New World.

Thus, aside from Shanks, only Lucky Roo and Jesus Burg accompanied him.

“Boss, shall we strike?”

The crew eagerly pressed the question.

Once Shanks gave the order, they would unleash their malice upon the navy at the dock.

Feeling his crew’s fighting spirit, Shanks spread his hands in exasperation.

“I tell you all, don’t forget why we came here.”

The deck fell silent for a moment.

Then someone spoke up, “We haven’t forgotten—we’re here to help Jesus Burg ‘find’ his son.”

“Pfft! Hahaha!”

“Hey, the one laughing the hardest isn’t the boss? Jesus Burg, if you’re gonna aim, aim at the boss!”

Laughter erupted across the deck.

Jesus Burg’s face darkened slightly. Naturally, he wouldn’t point his spear at the occasionally unpredictable captain beside him.

He looked on helplessly as his comrades teased, then, as the ship neared the shore, focused his attention on Mad Hat Island.

Silently, he activated his Observation Haki.

Instantly, the number of presences on the island became clear before his eyes.

Two auras blazed like the midday sun.

“Hm?”

Jesus Burg raised an eyebrow.

“Boss…”

He looked at Shanks, his expression a touch more serious.

At the dock, the marines’ faces were grim, a stark contrast to the hearty laughter emanating from the Red Force.

The ship had boldly anchored before the dock as if Bogart, Gion, and all the marines were mere decorations.

Then Shanks was the first to disembark.

What followed was an imposing aura that commanded respect without anger, causing even Bogart and Gion to hesitate.

The marines brought by Garp remained composed, but some from the 158th division were so frightened they collapsed to the ground.

Shanks didn’t even glance at Bogart or the others as he strode purposefully toward the town.

Jesus Burg trailed closely behind, gripping his spear with a hint of defiance.

On the Red Force, Lucky Roo led the rest of the Red-Haired Pirates as they cast cold glares at Bogart and the assembled marines.

“Quite sensible.”

Lucky Roo held a flintlock pistol, aiming it at Bogart—the strongest among the marines.

According to their captain’s wishes, this fight was unnecessary.

But if the navy didn’t show sense, they wouldn’t hold back.

Bogart silently watched Shanks and Jesus Burg enter the town, refraining from rashly ordering an attack on the Red-Haired Pirates.

The pirates’ lack of hostility was precisely what he hoped for.

If a battle broke out, even if they managed to take a piece from the Red-Haired Pirates, their entire force would be wiped out.

As for the blatant provocations from the pirates on that ship, Bogart endured them.

...

On the flatlands near the wall mountain, Lafayette hovered in the air, surveying the battle below.

His attention was not on Garp or Sol but on Mord.

“Is that all?”

Lafayette’s tone held a hint of disappointment.

Personally, he wished to see more dazzling qualities in Mord that could captivate him.

Inside the battlefield.

Aokiji was being pinned down by Molly.

Not because Molly had grown stronger, but because Sol’s surprise attacks left Aokiji defenseless.

With Sol’s reckless support, Molly couldn’t pose a threat to Aokiji but managed to keep him occupied.

Garp furrowed his brows at Sol’s actions but could not hold back because of them.

Each move aimed directly at Sol’s vital points, forcing him into a perilous situation.

Even so, Sol persisted, reckless to the point of almost being hit by Garp’s fist as he fired to disrupt Aokiji.

To Aokiji, this suicidal behavior was incomprehensible.

As an outsider, Aokiji naturally did not understand the importance Mord held in Sol’s heart.

“Troublesome.”

Aokiji sighed inwardly, believing Sol’s actions were nothing but a desperate struggle.

Even if Mord and Sabo managed to get away for a stretch, it would be easy to catch them later.

Still, being caught off guard by those surprise attacks irked Aokiji.

Sol’s reckless support would ultimately bring him suffering.

Due to prior injuries, Sol’s timing in using the Moonwalk was a step slow, failing to ascend in time, and was struck by Garp’s fist in the left leg.

Without the protection of Armament Haki, the punch tore through Sol’s thigh.

With overwhelming force, the broken leg exploded with a burst of air as it flew into the distance.

After breaking Sol’s leg, Garp’s assault continued unabated.

His massive fist, enveloped in high-level Armament Haki, tore through the air toward Sol’s face.

At the critical moment, Sol gritted his teeth through the pain, hastily raising his rifled long gun to block Garp’s fist.

Bang!

The clash of Armament Haki was fierce; the rifled long gun shattered first.

Garp’s punch held the upper hand, smashing the rifle before slamming into Sol’s arm.

Crack!

The sound of bones breaking was sharp as Sol was sent flying backward, landing hard.

Garp followed swiftly, standing over the fallen Sol.

At the same time, Sol’s bloodied broken leg tore across the sky and, by coincidence, landed on the ground before Mord.

Mord’s heart skipped a beat as he turned to look.

Suddenly, the gruesome scene caused him to halt in his tracks.

By the time he reacted, “Usopp” was already in his hands, having been taken down by him.