One Piece : Strongest Vice-Captain Mr. 3!

Command Room of the Navy's Encircling Warships

"Rear Admiral Koby, after repeated observations by our scouts, it has been confirmed that the Snake Princess Pirate Crew's Perfume Yuda is slowly approaching us. Hancock and her sisters, along with all their crew members, are on the move!"

A Marine Captain rushed in with a report in hand, urgency evident in his voice.

"Is the intelligence accurate? Can we confirm their intentions? Are they here to negotiate or do they really intend to attack us?" Koby asked, his tone serious.

For some reason, since a while ago, an ominous feeling had settled in his heart, lingering and refusing to fade. 

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off…

"Although we're at a distance and it's getting dark, making it hard to see the details, the report indicates that all members of the Snake Princess Pirate Crew are indeed fully armed, and their intentions to attack are quite clear!" the Captain quickly replied.

"In that case, we will proceed as planned. Once the Snake Princess Pirate Crew enters our cannon range, open fire!" Koby understood that this was not the time to hesitate based on a gut feeling. The battlefield situation was constantly changing, and he was about to face a formidable opponent—one of the notorious Seven Warlords of the Sea!

"All the main warships around the island have gathered, right? And remind the reporters on the ships to document the attack of the Snake Princess Pirate Crew." 

To be cautious, Koby ordered all surrounding warships to converge. 

Their objective was to capture the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock. 

Earlier, Koby had worried that if the cunning Snake Princess hid within Amazon Lily, using the kingdom's residents as shields, their operations would become significantly constrained. 

After all, the residents were innocent, and they were the very people the Navy was supposed to protect. 

Now, with Hancock boldly leaving the island and actively provoking a conflict, she was destined to pay the price for her so-called arrogance and defiance!

"Understood!"

The officers were eager to take action, each one gearing up for the mission.

Before long, the remaining four warships tasked with capturing Hancock drew closer.

The five warships lined up in formation. Under the soldiers' operations, the heavy cannons aboard creaked ominously as numerous dark cannon muzzles adjusted their angles, aimed at the gradually revealed Perfume Yuda.

As the highest commander of this operation, Koby donned his justice cape and stood on the main warship's deck alongside several Captains and soldiers, ready to confront Hancock and her Kuja Pirates.

This mission was not only about strictly implementing the order to abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea but also had another crucial objective.

That was to showcase the world government's brand new superweapon: the "Seraphim"! 

Naturally, everyone present was filled with adrenaline, eager to engage with a powerful figure like the so-called Pirate Empress. It would allow them to hone their skills while also training their subordinates.

Moreover, most of the commanders secretly thought they wanted to at least fire a cannon or two, to take down a few pirates.

Otherwise, if they simply deployed the secret weapon to crush everything, how would they take credit for it? How could they expect promotions or riches?

Despite the Navy being on high alert and firing their cannons, the Snake Princess remained calm and composed, with the ship moving in slow, steady circles.

The pirates on board showed no signs of movement either; they didn't redirect their cannons for a counterattack nor did they appear to want to turn and flee.

"Strange, this is really strange…" 

Koby, holding a telescope, had been watching Hancock and her crew since earlier.

From a distance, they appeared aggressive, completely ignoring the Navy's warnings and pressing forward. Yet, the more they pressed on, the more suspicious it seemed.

Why were they maintaining such fixed positions? No matter how focused they were, basic communication was necessary, right?

"Wait a minute!"

Suddenly, Koby realized something extremely important.

What about the two large sea snakes that usually accompanied the Kuja Pirates, pulling their ship along? 

If Hancock was really planning to launch a full-scale attack at sunset, as reported, how could she possibly do so without those agile sea snakes, opting instead for the cumbersome ship propulsion?

A growing unease turned into a rapid heartbeat as Koby finally grasped that something was wrong. He hurried to the edge of the deck, waved his hand, and shouted to the nearby warships:

"All warships, obey orders! Immediately commence cannon bombardment on the pirate ship ahead!!"

Huh? This wasn't how it was supposed to go. The enemy hadn't even entered the range for precise strikes yet…

Although the battleship commander and the gunners were filled with doubts, military orders were absolute. After a brief moment of hesitation, they firmly executed Rear Admiral Koby's command and ignited the ship's cannons.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!

Brilliant flames shot out as countless heavy black cannonballs pierced the night sky, falling straight toward the location of the Perfume Yuda.

In an instant, the sea around the Perfume Yuda erupted with a deafening series of explosions.

The powerful cannonballs created towering columns of water, turning the previously calm sea into a rolling chaos, with flames shooting into the sky.

Strangely, despite facing such a dense barrage of fire, the Perfume Yuda showed no signs of evasive action, moving forward with a silent determination.

It was precisely because of this lack of movement that the navy gunners found their opportunity; finally, one cannonball accurately struck the deck of the Perfume Yuda.

Boom!

The cannonball exploded on the deck, instantly engulfing the pirates in flames.

Boom! Boom!

Several more cannonballs struck the Perfume Yuda's mast and main cabin. The terrifying force unleashed a spectacle akin to a fire-breathing monster, mercilessly consuming the Perfume Yuda, which was now slowing down and beginning to sink.

As the pirates on deck melted away like wax figures, the legendary pirate ship that forged the name of the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, sank in just a few minutes right in its own territory, within this vast Calm Belt…

"Rear Admiral Koby, did I misjudge? Why are the members of the Kuja Pirates unaffected by the cannon fire, showing no signs of resistance?" 

Seeing the Perfume Yuda sink so easily, the captains aboard the battleship, lost in dreams of promotions, finally sensed the seriousness of the situation.

Koby did not respond, his gaze fixed on the sea near the sinking position of the Perfume Yuda.

In the bright firelight, he could faintly make out what appeared to be Hancock's head, blasted away by the cannon fire.

It looked grayish-white, like a candle's wax!!

"This is bad! It's a trap! Damn Mr. 3!!!"

Even the usually calm and collected Koby couldn't help but erupt in fury, crushing the ship's railings with his hands.

"All hands, heed my command! Full power ahead to Amazon Lily!"

The two giant sea snakes of the Kuja Pirates appeared here, disappearing into the depths at Hancock's command, straining to drag the last batch of wax figurine residents underwater.

Among them were Mr. 3 and several other key members of the Kuja Pirates, including Granny Nyon. Thanks to their sturdy wax-coated protection, they could safely reach the seabed and rendezvous with the mercenary organization that Buggy had sent.

A bright full moon hung high in the night sky, and suddenly, with a "gurgle," a few bubbles emerged from the calm sea surface.

After this commotion, the vast Amazon Lily fell into a dead silence, until...

The hurried footsteps of the Navy arrived at the scene.

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