One Piece Thundergod Marine

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The passage stretched deep into the shadows, making Kin'emon feel as if he were descending into the abyss itself. The flickering torches lining the walls provided just enough light to navigate through the oppressive darkness.

"Wait, Kin'emon, look here!" Kanjuro suddenly called out, pointing at a large wooden crate.

"These are...!!!"

"Military supplies!" Kanjuro's expression turned grim. "And not just any supplies—these are the same ones used by the Beast Pirates who were hunting us earlier."

The Marines' weaponry is crafted with distinctive materials to maintain secrecy, ensuring it remains separate from the crude yet deadly arms supplied to pirates and rebel factions.

"Such a stockpile… This is no coincidence!"

"So you mean...?"

"I suspect Pink Feather— the owner of this so-called Hidden Treasure Room— has ties to Kaido!"

"I see, I..."

Before Kin'emon could finish, a voice echoed from further inside.

"What are you doing? I told you we can't take these! The real treasure is in here! Hurry up and help me open the door!"

Pink Feather's impatient shout made the two samurai exchange wary glances before quickening their pace.

'Creak...'

The three-meter-high iron door groaned as they forced it open, the heavy metal grinding against stone. The moment a gap large enough for a child to slip through appeared, Pink Feather eagerly squeezed inside.

No room for carelessness!

Kin'emon and Kanjuro immediately pushed harder.

'Bang!'

The door slammed against the walls, and a dazzling golden light flooded their vision, momentarily halting their thoughts.

"So… much gold!"

But it wasn't just gold— piles of fine crafts, gemstones, rare antiques, and even gray stones infused with a peculiar energy. Among them lay chunks of Seastone, their presence only adding to the room's significance.

On a one-meter-high golden platform, Pink Feather was stuffing a blue, crystalline object into his cotton-filled belly. Seeing them enter, he cast a dismissive glance their way.

"Take whatever you want. I have no use for it."

Having already secured his true prize, he had no interest in these cumbersome riches. His only concern now was how to profit from what he had taken.

"Before that, I have a question for you, Pink Feather!"

Hearing Kin'emon's stern voice, Pink Feather raised a brow.

"It's 'Lord' Pink Feather, you fool!"

After his customary outburst, he looked at them curiously. "What do you want to know?"

"Why are there military supplies from Kaido's armory here? Who built this Hidden Treasure Room? And how do you know about it?"

A heavy silence filled the chamber.

Pink Feather's gaze darkened as he met Kin'emon and Kanjuro's solemn eyes.

"That's more than one question," he muttered.

"That doesn't matter! What matters is—"

Kin'emon's hand tightened around his sword hilt. "Kaido is our sworn enemy! If you are in league with him, then we have no choice but to cut you down!"

"If not, then helping you retrieve your treasure will settle our grievances!"

Pink Feather fell silent, then suddenly chuckled.

"Kaido, Kaido… That name again. No wonder 'he' looked down on me back then. No matter what I do, I can't escape his shadow."

"So, you admit it?"

'Clang!'

Kanjuro unsheathed his dual swords, gripping his brush-like weapon tightly.

"Ah, that's right!"

Pink Feather stood up, his gaze fearless.

"Kaido uses Wano's land and people to mass-produce weapons, sharing the profits with Kurozumi Orochi. And the one distributing those arms across the seas… is me."

Kin'emon clenched his sword, rage simmering within, but he held firm to his samurai resolve.

"To handle such dealings, you must not be an ordinary person… I am Foxfire Kin'emon. And you are...?"

"Donquixote Doflamingo… right?"

Before Pink Feather could reply, a voice as light as a whisper cut through the tension.

Kin'emon and Kanjuro instantly turned toward the passage behind them.

Pink Feather— no, Doflamingo— stiffened, his bright yellow beak gaping in terror, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Celestial Dragon!!!"

"What are you doing here?!!"

He hadn't received word of any such arrival! As a notorious Celestial Dragon, his presence should have sent waves across the underworld.

Could it be…?

Recalling the ominous storm clouds that had gathered over Dressrosa the day before, Doflamingo suddenly realized.

"We were followed!"

They hadn't appeared out of nowhere— they had been tracking him all along, concealing their movements with eerie precision.

Rowen, observing the stunned expressions of the samurai and the plush-bodied Warlord, exhaled a ring of smoke and smirked.

"Seems I was right… I don't recall ever meeting you, but I doubt anyone would dare feed me false intelligence."

"You've fallen quite far. I suppose I played a part in that?"

"I only came here for some fugitives, but running into you… what a pleasant surprise."

Unaware of the Hobi Hobi no Mi's existence, Kin'emon could only speculate about their strange exchange. However, Rowen's Marine uniform told him enough.

"A Marine? Is Vice Admiral Smoker leading the charge? Have we been so careless?"

"Leading?"

Rowen shot him an amused glance, grinning.

"Don't get it twisted, fool. Smoker doesn't have the authority to send me anywhere."

"This is no ordinary Marine," another voice cut in.

King Riku stepped forward, standing behind Rowen. "This is one of the infamous Marine Admirals— the Admiral Soryu!"

"Admiral?!"

Kin'emon and Kanjuro swallowed hard.

Even if they had never met one before, they knew well what a Marine Admiral represented.

They were monsters who could shake entire seas, the greatest military power of the World Government! In Marine eyes, an Admiral stood on the same level as Kaido himself.

An 'Admiral' had come for them?! Kin'emon felt a bitter smile creep onto his lips.

They had struggled against 'Vice Admiral' Smoker, barely escaping. But an Admiral? That was a nightmare given form.

"So... care to put the cuffs on yourselves?"

Rowen waved a hand. Soldiers stepped forward, holding Seastone shackles.

"You're so weak, I can't even be bothered to lift a finger."

"Spare us the trouble, won't you?"

"And you, Doflamingo…"

Rowen's gaze locked onto the plush-bodied Warlord, who had been inching toward a hidden button behind the golden platform.

"I don't know what that does, but I suggest you 'don't' press it."

"Because sometimes… living is worse than dying."

A crushing wave of Haoshoku Haki erupted.

The very air grew heavy, and a faint dragon's roar echoed in the chamber. Kin'emon and Kanjuro collapsed to their knees, barely able to breathe.

This presence… was just like Kaido's!

Doflamingo trembled as Rowen's shadow loomed over him.

"I won't accept this!!!"

"Oh?"

Suddenly, Rowen's voice came from behind him.

No one had seen him move.

'Crack!'

A massive hand gripped Doflamingo's throat, lifting him effortlessly.

Rowen exhaled smoke into his face, baring sharp white teeth.

"And what exactly do you plan to do about it?"

"I—"

'Boom!'

Doflamingo's body slammed into the wall, leaving a spiderweb of cracks.

Rowen lifted his hand again, staring down at the unconscious Warlord.

"Sorry. Not interested."

Gulp.

So terrifying! 

The crowd around swallowed hard, trembling.

Crack, crack, crack...

A series of crashing sounds echoed as Kin'emon and Kanjuro decisively brought out the handcuffs and secured themselves, sitting on the ground obediently. 

(End of Chapter)