I the King of bandits of the East Sea

"Boss, is it really okay to leave Miss Stussy behind?"

Kuro asked, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, unable to hold back his concern.

Deep down, he felt a wave of fear.

Most of Sig's subordinates were ordinary mountain bandits, with only a few like Arlong being somewhat capable.

Stussy had always kept a low profile, working as a cleaner on the ship, appearing to be nothing more than a pretty face.

But the strength she had just displayed was enough to leave Kuro in awe.

"Yeah, Miss Stussy's opponent is a Marine Vice Admiral..."

The bald man chimed in as well.

This made Kuro glance at the bald man with even more suspicion.

Could this bald man, like Stussy, be far more capable than he seemed?

If Sig had someone as strong as Stussy working as a cleaner, then what about this seemingly ordinary bald man, who was one of Sig's close confidants? Could he be even stronger?

As Kuro pondered this, he heard Sig calmly say:

"Don't worry about it at all. Just focus on running faster."

Does Sig believe Stussy can completely hold off a Marine Vice Admiral...?

Kuro suddenly felt that his plans to escape from Sig's mountain bandit group were becoming increasingly hopeless.

......

Among the Marine forces, Vice Admiral Momousagi had already been intercepted by Stussy.

As Sig and his group were about to leave Loguetown's central square, another squad of Marines appeared at the edge of the square, blocking their path.

These Marines had grim expressions, though some also showed signs of nervousness and fear.

"We absolutely cannot let Sig leave like this, tarnishing justice!"

Someone couldn't help but shout in anger.

Every action Sig had taken before and after arriving in Loguetown had been significant.

First, he had caused the massive East Blue naval fleet to suffer a crushing defeat.

Then, on Roger's execution platform, he had made a declaration similar to Roger's, engaging in a back-and-forth with Crocodile that directly revealed the previously secret concepts of the Ancient Weapons and the Celestial Dragons' national treasure.

Although the Marines themselves didn't know much about these matters, anything involving the Celestial Dragons was no small issue.

To do nothing and let Sig leave unscathed in front of so many witnesses would be a disgrace to justice!

But... Momousagi was already tied up, and they truly had no confidence in stopping Sig.

"We need to delay Sig and buy time for Vice Admiral Momousagi."

A Marine officer wearing a justice cloak stood at the front of the Marine squad and taunted:

"Are you planning to run away from Loguetown like this?"

"You stood on the Pirate King's execution platform and made such a declaration, putting yourself on the same level as the Pirate King, and now you're fleeing in panic?"

Though he was taunting, the officer was also sweating profusely.

These words were meant to provoke Sig and buy time, but if Sig were to get angry, they would be in serious danger...

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers who had started to disperse couldn't help but turn their attention back.

"Will this provoke Sig? The duel between Hawkeye and Sig is over, but now there's going to be a fight between Sig and the Marines?"

"These Marines have some guts... I saw quite a few of them faint earlier... How dare they say something like this now."

On the other side, Momousagi, who was still entangled with Stussy, had a slight change in expression.

After witnessing the duel between Sig and Hawkeye, she wasn't very confident about capturing Sig.

But duty demanded that the Marines couldn't just stand by and let Sig leave.

Especially Momousagi, a Vice Admiral who had come specifically for Sig.

Now that the Marines in Loguetown had spoken these words, they were likely to provoke Sig...

If someone like Sig were to actively attack the Marines, and Momousagi had no confidence in defeating him, the outcome could be even more disastrous.

"Running away? Marines, you think too highly of yourselves."

A cold voice rang out.

Sig completely ignored the Marines blocking his path, not slowing his pace in the slightest.

Thump thump thump thump...

"My time is precious."

"If it were Hawkeye Mihawk, he might have the right to make me stop and fight."

"But you small fries aren't worth a single second of my time."

Amidst the rhythmic thumping of the Emperor's Engine, the mountain bandits around Sig felt their spirits lift.

"Stupid Marines, you're not even worthy of making Boss Sig lift a finger!"

Kuro, who had already donned his cat claws, moved with silent steps, ghostlike, as he charged into the Marine ranks first, followed closely by the fish-man Arlong.

"Ollie Ollie!"

Behind them, the other mountain bandits shouted strange slogans as they charged forward.

Just as Sig was beginning to feel somewhat reassured.

In front of him, sand gathered into a human form, and Crocodile, cigar in mouth, appeared a few steps away, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he stared expressionlessly at Sig.

"Crocodile..."

Sig stopped in his tracks, his heart sinking slightly.

The Desert King had finally appeared before him.

But Sig still couldn't determine what Crocodile's intentions were.

Crocodile stood there blocking their path, but unlike Momousagi, he hadn't attacked immediately. Was there room for negotiation?

Thinking this, Sig put on a stern face and met Crocodile's gaze, testing the waters:

"Blocking my path to the Grand Line from both ends... Crocodile, are you teaming up with the Marines to oppose me?"

As soon as Sig finished speaking, Crocodile's golden hook shot out like a cannonball.

"I would never team up with the Marines..."

In the midst of his cold voice, the golden hook was already flying toward Sig's face.

Attacking without even a proper conversation?

Sig had been considering how to negotiate with Crocodile, but this came too fast and too suddenly. He didn't even have time to draw his folding knife.

In a moment of urgency, Sig activated the newly acquired Iruma card.

As the golden hook was about to hit his face, Sig's foot seemed to slip, and his body swayed to the left, narrowly dodging the attack.

"Crocodile, I don't have time to waste here with you..."

Before Sig could finish his sentence, another sand blade swept toward him, aiming to cut him in half.

This time, Sig leaped forward, barely avoiding the sand blade, his skin crawling with goosebumps.

"Damn it, isn't this ability a bit too intense?"

Sig's heart was pounding. He still didn't know if Iruma's dodge ability could completely evade Crocodile's attacks.

This was like dancing on the edge of a blade, with death lurking at any moment...

With Momousagi behind him and Crocodile in front, and only five minutes of dodge ability left..

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