To be honest, finding this so-called Devil Sheriff wasn't exactly difficult, but it wasn't all that easy either.
Mainly, there were traces to follow.
After all, Lafitte had quite a reputation in the country he originally lived in.
Couple that with the intelligence network of the Assassin's Guild…
In the end, it was Daz Bonez who finally tracked him down.
Of course, judging by Lafitte's outrageous behavior, he didn't seem too concerned with hiding his whereabouts.
No bounty on his back, he was that carefree.
"You came here looking for me specifically… are you a Marine?"
Lafitte's gaze flickered.
Jay looked at his own outfit, making sure he wasn't wearing his Marine uniform. "I'm curious, what gave me away?"
"I smelled sea breeze and gunpowder on you."
"That's it? That combo could just as easily mean I'm a pirate."
"True. But a pirate wouldn't bother coming after a disgraced ex-sheriff."
Jay was about to say, 'Neither would the Marines…' but then a thought hit him.
So, he decided to test the guy.
"You guessed right, Lafitte. Since you already know we're Marines, you'll have to come with us."
"Go where?"
"The Marine 88th Branch Base."
Bingo. He gave himself away!
Lafitte dropped all pretense. With a strange smile, he removed his hat and gave a dramatic farewell bow.
"Terribly sorry. I've got other matters to attend to. I'm afraid I can't accept your invitation."
With that, he suddenly leapt backward, crashing through a stained-glass window behind him and fleeing outside.
Seeing this, Jay was certain.
This guy's definitely got a record, and not a small one. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bolted the moment we mentioned the Marines.
"After him!"
Jay and Daz Bonez gave chase immediately.
Lafitte ran fast, but Jay and Bonez were just as quick in pursuit.
Especially when Bonez transformed the soles of his feet into blades, gliding like he was wearing ice skates. In the blink of an eye, he caught up to Lafitte.
Foam Daisy Slash!
Bonez, face as cold and stern as ever, burst into action.
He turned his palms and fingers into blades, crossed his arms at the wrists, and lunged forward, slashing toward Lafitte.
Lafitte quickly raised his cane to block.
No one knew what that cane was made of, but it miraculously held firm against Bonez's blade attacks, it didn't break.
But the next second, Lafitte's expression shifted. He stomped hard and dodged sideways.
Swish swish swish!
Several radial slashes tore through the wall behind him.
That was the true killing blow of the Foam Daisy Slash.
If Lafitte hadn't dodged in time, the outcome would've been obvious.
Shhk…
Just as Lafitte steadied himself to speak, his top hat was sliced open, and his clothes were cut too.
Clearly, he hadn't completely escaped the attack.
Then Jay caught up, blocking Lafitte's escape route.
"In such a rush? Why not stick around for a chat?"
He didn't bother with his gun, just flicked his wrists, and two nunchaku snapped into his hands.
So what if it was two-on-one?
He was a Marine.
That made it righteous two-on-one!
"If there's a next time, we can chat then."
Lafitte adjusted his hat, still composed and calm.
Then suddenly, a pair of pure white wings burst from his back.
Crap!
This guy's a Devil Fruit user?!
Jay was stunned and immediately shouted, "Move! Don't let him fly!"
Dust Slash!
Bonez didn't hesitate, he launched a wide-range slash at Lafitte.
It forced Lafitte to abandon a direct takeoff. Still, thanks to the wings' maneuverability, he managed to dodge sideways and escape the attack's radius.
If Lafitte had tried to tank Bonez's slash and escape straight up…
Jay really wouldn't have been able to stop him.
But since Lafitte made the wrong move, there wouldn't be another chance.
Jay took a deep breath, bent his knees
Boom! He vanished.
Form One: Wave-Stepping Yasha!
Breathing techniques varied by user. This was the first one Jay created himself.
A sudden burst of incredible speed caught Lafitte off guard just as he was about to take off.
Jay's twin nunchaku lunged forward like tridents from the sea, completely blocking Lafitte's ascent.
If he forced his way upward, his neck would be broken.
Helpless, Lafitte had no choice but to retreat. With a flap of his wings, he darted backward, trying to create space.
But Jay wasn't about to let him go.
With another explosive step, he closed the gap again.
Then the nunchaku rained down on Lafitte like a furious storm.
Under that terrifying brute strength, Lafitte tried blocking with his cane, but after just one hit, his hands went numb, and his eyes flashed with shock.
In the next second, the cane that had withstood sharp blades… was smashed away by Jay's nunchaku!
The gap in raw power, magnified by superior weapons, left Lafitte unable to hold his ground.
A single solid hit would mean broken bones, at minimum.
He had no choice but to retreat over and over. Finally cornered, Lafitte shielded himself with his wings.
The nunchaku struck them with loud thwacks, each blow full of power.
But surprisingly, those soft, white wings were far tougher than they looked.
What the hell kind of Devil Fruit is this guy using? Judging by the form, it's gotta be a Zoan-type. White wings… what kind of animals have those? Don't tell me it's a giant goose…
Jay didn't keep guessing, he figured the truth would come out soon enough.
Bonez, skating silently behind Lafitte, now moved into position, his arms transforming into a series of rapidly spinning blades.
Spiral Draw Slash!
If this attack landed, Lafitte wouldn't die… but he'd be seriously injured.
But right at that critical moment, Lafitte's head suddenly lifted from beneath his wings, revealing an even paler, bloodless face.
Then he opened his mouth, filled with razor-sharp fangs, and let out a strange, indiscriminate sonic attack.
Jay was hit first, frozen in place as blood trickled from his ears.
That appearance…
That bizarre ability…
There's no way this is a normal Zoan-type!
Could it be… a Mythical Zoan? Even rarer than Logia types?!
Jay's heart pounded.
And Bonez, mid-sneak-attack, wasn't doing any better. His spinning blades were raised but completely stuck, he couldn't move or strike.
Then, from who knows when, the harsh screech began to fade…
And transformed into a beautiful, elegant singing voice.
Under that sound's influence, both Jay and Bonez began to act… not quite like themselves.