At this moment, Bob was contemplating his next strategy for the fight when Zephyr words caught him off guard. He didn't anticipated that Zephyr, a Vice Admiral of the Navy, would propose a truce with a pirate. Looking at Zephyr, who was now staring directly at him, Bob furrowed his brow and began to analyze the reasoning behind it.
There were two possibilities: one, Zephyr was physically exhausted. His current state might just be a facade, and his stamina might no longer allow him to continue fighting, let alone defeat Bob.
The second possibility was that Zephyr simply chose not to continue the battle because the downsides outweighed the benefits—primarily the situation of the island and the safety of its residents. Of course, there was also the possibility that it was a bit of both.
However, for Bob, whichever reasons it was didn't really matter. He had no desire to keep fighting either. If the fight continued, whether or not he could manage to kill Zephyr was secondary. What truly mattered was that reinforcements from Navy Headquarters were already en route.
After all, there was no deep-seated hatred between him and Zephyr. It wasn't necessary to push things to the point where only one of them could walk away alive. The battle had escalated to this extent purely due to the situation forcing their hand.
Moreover, he still hadn't exchanged the money he had won from gambling earlier. If the fight dragged on and the island ended up being destroyed, all his previous efforts would go to waste.
Having made up his mind, Bob looked up, his voice calm and indifferent.
"Fine. I agree to the truce."
As soon as he said this, the Armament Haki covering Bob body faded entirely, symbolizing his willingness to cease fighting. Bob tattered clothing revealed his bronze-toned skin beneath, which gleamed under the sun, exuding a peculiar charm.
Meanwhile.
Some distance away, in an unidentified area, the Navy soldiers were observing the two men.
"What's happening? Zephyr-sensei and Bob have stopped fighting!"
"Wait... Bob Armament Haki is gone, and Zephyr-sensei Haki disappeared simultaneously!"
"What's going on? Has there been a winner?"
"No, look, neither of them has fallen. It seems both of them are holding back now!"
"They actually... called a truce!"
"..."
Seeing that neither side launched another attack after their last clash, the observing Navy soldiers were puzzled. But upon noticing the fading of the two men Haki, they began to consider a possibility—a truce!
"Fine."
Zephyr was slightly surprised that Bob had agreed to his proposal so readily. Even so, he didn't bother to question the reason.
"Next time I see you, I'll personally lock you away in Impel Down!"
Leaving behind this harsh declaration, Zephyr didn't waste any more time. Activating his Observation Haki to sense the Navy location, he leapt toward their position.
Before long.
Zephyr arrived in front of the Navy soldiers.
"Zephyr-sensei!"
The soldier holding binoculars was startled to discover Zephyr sudden approach. His hands trembled, causing the binoculars to drop to the ground as he hurriedly spoke up.
Zephyr gave a small nod, scanning the crowd. Just as he was about to speak.
"Ugh!"
A mouthful of fresh blood suddenly burst from Zephyr mouth. His face immediately paled, and his demeanor turned noticeably weaker. This was the backlash from Life Return. Now that he wasn't maintaining a combat-ready state, his body naturally relaxed completely, allowing the previously suppressed negative effects to overwhelm him like a tidal wave.
"Zephyr-sensei!"
The Navy soldiers cried out again in unison. But unlike their earlier exclamation, this time their voices were filled with worry and unease. To them, Zephyr had always been a figure of unwavering resilience and dominance—effortlessly defeating any pirate in his path. Yet now, seeing him so weak and battered before them, they felt a deep sorrow in their hearts.
"Let's go! Retreat!"
Zephyr wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth without uttering another unnecessary word. His commanding voice carried absolute authority as it reached the soldiers ears. Initially, he had intended to stay on the island and wait for reinforcements from Navy Headquarters. But given his current state, lingering on the island risked exposing his vulnerability to Bob, which could spark yet another battle.
Hearing this, the Navy soldiers quickly reorganized themselves into formation and started heading toward their warship.
As Zephyr departed, Bob let out a sigh of relief as well. He retracted all of his Haki and stretched, his body assaulted by soreness—a clear indication of muscle fatigue following high-intensity exertion. Glancing over the battle-ravaged ground, Bob shook his head. Only four words came to mind: utter devastation. Thankfully, the fight had taken place in the outskirts. If they had clashed in a bustling city area, even the mere shockwaves of their battle would have been enough to obliterate everything in their path.
Gathering his thoughts, Bob gaze shifted toward the direction of the casino. There were still some loose ends to tie up over there. And there was also that old fool John! Without hesitation, Bob bent his knee, lifted his leg, and leapt into the air, vanishing from the spot.
.......
Meanwhile, in a lavishly decorated room within the casino.
"With Zephyr, a Vice Admiral, involved no matter how formidable Bob might be, his fate is sealed!"
"Judging by the distant sounds of battle, it must've been a brutal scene. Bob won't escape this time!"
"He deserves to die! A notorious pirate showing up at my casino... and killing one of the gambling masters I paid a hefty price for!"
"Still... I didn't expect that calling in a favor from a Rear Admiral at a local Navy branch would result in Zephyr, a Vice Admiral, showing up!"
"I wonder if the Navy will reward us once Bob is captured. Maybe they'll even grant us legal operating rights for the casino—that's not entirely out of the question!"
"You're right. We should make a strong case for this when the time comes. This could be our ticket to going legal!"
"..."
Inside the room, the casino owner, the appraiser, and a shorter man carried on their conversation, each finding solace in their shared optimism. Ever since they had made that anonymous call to the Navy, they had anxiously awaited the arrival of a sufficiently capable force. After all, the individual causing havoc was none other than Bob, a commander of the Rocks Pirates. If the Navy's response team were inadequate and lost in battle, not only would their informants be exposed, but their lives would also be gravely endangered.
So when they learned that Zephyr himself had come, their joy knew no bounds. These were men from the underworld, well-acquainted with the strength and reputation Zephyr commanded within the Navy. For them, Zephyr's intervention meant Bob was bound to end up defeated and humiliated. Right now, they were even daydreaming about how they could curry favor with the Navy later, to the point of envisioning full legalization of their casino operations.
However, just as they were indulging in their lofty ambitions.
"Boom!"
The grand door to the luxurious room was violently blasted open by an enormous force. The resounding crash reached the ears of all three men, causing them to turn their heads in alarm. But before they could voice their indignation, the figure standing at the doorway became clear to them. Their faces turned pale in an instant, and their minds went blank.
"Bo... Bob!"
-------------------------------
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