Vice-captain of Whitebeard pirates

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"Since there were casualties here just now, it means the people should be nearby now. Let's go in and take a look," Larson suggested.

Naturally, no one objected. The group confronting the Labelle Pirates comprised Captain Whitebeard, Vice Captain Larson, Helmsman Planck, and Chef Thatch. For safety, the tavern owner remained on the ship, with Mal Coe on board to protect him.

As they walked into the forest, Whitebeard, leading at the front, suddenly halted.

"Wait," he said, squinting his eyes and scanning the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

In the next moment, they heard roars, and an unknown number of people charged out from both sides, surrounding Whitebeard and the others.

Thatch and Planck's faces showed sudden panic, whereas Whitebeard and Larson remained calm, having already detected the ambush.

"Interesting," Larson remarked with a slight smile, finding himself intrigued by the Labelle Pirates.

Holding their positions, Thatch and Planck stood closely behind Whitebeard and Larson, alert and watchful.

"Hahaha," laughter echoed from ahead as the crowd parted, and Labelle walked in.

However, seeing Whitebeard, Labelle's expression froze.

Why did this man match John's description so closely?

He paused and signaled to his side. Soon, John trotted up to him.

John was tough. During Rakuyo's siege, he had been one of the first to charge but survived by feigning death when someone nearby was killed.

Labelle pointed at Whitebeard and Larson, "Are they the ones you claimed attacked you?"

John widened his eyes, trying to get a clear look, only to find it was indeed Larson and Whitebeard.

Feeling slightly embarrassed since neither Whitebeard nor Larson had actually attacked him—he just mentioned them to avoid embarrassment—he was now at a loss.

But then he noticed Thatch hiding behind Whitebeard. His eyes brightened, and he responded firmly, "Captain, it's them!"

"Good!" Labelle grinned maliciously, eager to vent his frustration from Rakuyo.

Approaching Whitebeard, who stood about four meters tall, Labelle had to look up.

"You were the one who attacked my crew?" he sneered.

"Your crew?" Whitebeard and the others had already spotted John. Whitebeard considered for a moment and nodded, "Yes, we dealt with him."

Hearing Whitebeard's admission, Labelle's grin widened.

"If you injured my crew, shouldn't there be compensation?" Labelle suggested.

Compensation?

Larson and Whitebeard exchanged bemused glances. They were there to eliminate Labelle, yet he had the audacity to demand compensation.

Whitebeard asked calmly, "Who are you?"

"I am Labelle, captain of the Labelle Pirate Group!" he declared.

Larson surveyed the area. From his visual inspection, there were over sixty pirates. He wasn't sure if this was the entire Labelle crew.

Whitebeard smiled, "Aren't you interested in why we're here?"

"I don't care why you came!" Labelle retorted, drawing a pistol and aiming it at Whitebeard's head. "What do you think you can do if I pull the trigger?"

Whitebeard remained unfazed, "A piece of advice; don't point your gun at others so carelessly."

Labelle chuckled, perceiving Whitebeard's calm demeanor as mere bravado—even with their lives hanging on his decision.

"What if I insist?" he taunted.

Clang!

A flash of steel, and blood sprayed. Labelle's head already soared through the air before anyone realized.

With wide eyes, Labelle's mind briefly registered the sight of his own standing body before his head hit the ground.

Larson sheathed his sword slowly. "I told you not to point a gun at our captain."

"Ahhh!"

"Run!"

A scream erupted, and panic set in. The surrounding pirates, overwhelmed with fear after witnessing Labelle's swift demise, fled without any intention of fighting.

Their captain had been slain so effortlessly. None wished to be next.

"Is it... is it over?" Thatch murmured, looking at Labelle's body in disbelief.

"What did you expect?" Larson quipped, turning toward him. "Did you think we'd duel for ages?"

Thatch lowered his head sheepishly. Truthfully, he had.

For who could defeat the infamous Labelle Pirates? Yet their captain had succumbed so easily to Larson.

Labelle's death was unexpected, sudden, almost comically dramatic. The battle concluded in moments, astonishing all with its natural brevity.

Yes, the Labelle Pirates were formidable, but only when compared to weaker foes.

The true measure of strength between powerful figures isn't merely numbers.

Labelle, strong as he was, could barely uphold a substantial bounty in Larson's league.

Larson chuckled, "Labelle's done for, and the rest pose no threat."

Whitebeard sighed, "I thought this would be a warm-up."

"So, should we head back?" Thatch asked tentatively. Barely ten minutes had passed since they landed, and the conflict had abruptly resolved.

"Leave already? No!" Larson chided, "This pirate group has been in the East Blue for ages. Imagine their hoard. You two, find it. Don't come back empty-handed."

Planck and Thatch exchanged glances and sighed. "Got it."

They ventured deeper into the forest. Whitebeard prepared to return to the ship but noticed Larson lingering.

"What are you still doing?" Whitebeard asked.

"Have patience," Larson replied with a grin. "There's more treasure."

Whitebeard was puzzled by Larson's cryptic line.

Larson retrieved a phone transponder he'd taken from a naval base earlier. He dialed.

"Hello?" A familiar voice answered.

"It's me, Larson," he declared.

"...No news on Kaido yet. Please wait a few more days," came Tsuru weary response.

Larson chuckled, "This isn't about Kaido."

Tsuru paused, confused by Larson's unexpected motive.

Larson nudged Labelle's lifeless form. "I just killed a pirate, name's Labelle. If you have time, could you arrange his bounty?"

Tsuru: "..."

Whitebeard stood in amazement, newfound playfulness in Larson's methods.

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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11

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