Just as Kuzan was about to move, Kenji temporarily added, "Oh, and after the battle, remember to report the situation to me immediately."

If Kuzan had some thoughts about the first command, thinking it might be a test from Kenji or something, then when the second additional command came, Kuzan saw Kenji's true intention—he wasn't stupid.

"Hmm, you mean for me to lead the team to observe the battle and then report the final outcome to you?" Kuzan frowned, confirming.

Kenji didn't respond verbally, just nodded slightly and casually.

Seeing this, Kuzan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

'Good heavens, you go to drink at the pleasure district, and leave the hard work to me? Please be a decent human being!'

Although Kuzan didn't say it directly, his small expressions were quite rich. And his little thoughts naturally couldn't escape Kenji's eyes.

'Heh heh! If I don't let my subordinate do the work, then why would I have you as a subordinate?' Kenji's lips curved into a slight smile, but he said nothing.

Since he had already assigned a troublesome task, he shouldn't be too overbearing.

There should always be some bottom line, right?

As for Kuzan, complaints aside, the task still had to be done.

However, just as he was about to contact the other Marine squad members, a small unexpected event suddenly occurred on the battlefield.

In the distance, Whitebeard, who had recovered from severe to minor injuries, and Marco, seemed to have no intention of turning back to the Moby Dick.

On the contrary, both of them were glaring fiercely at Kenji's side, their menacing gazes completely devoid of friendliness.

"Oh dear, those two guys don't seem to be planning to stop now." Kuzan became interested, speaking with a grin.

Perhaps he felt annoyed at receiving a troublesome task, or perhaps he just decided to throw caution to the wind.

Anyway, this guy was now enjoying the show and didn't mind if things got bigger.

After all, it wasn't like he would be asked to confront Whitebeard, right? Hmm, actually, there had been a time when he was.

Perhaps remembering the time a few days ago when he was forcibly ordered to fight Whitebeard, Kuzan quickly shut his mouth, the smile on his face rapidly fading, afraid that Kenji would arrange something for him again.

Fortunately, Kenji said nothing this time, only looking at Whitebeard and Marco in the distance, his eyes filled with surprise.

'Their own home base is about to be taken out, and they don't deal with it, but instead insist on fighting another enemy?'

Kenji thought for a long time but he couldn't figure out what was going on in their minds.

It was mainly Whitebeard. In fact, at this moment, within the entire Whitebeard Pirates, Newgate was the only one who could fight.

The others weren't just there to make up numbers, but if they wanted to deal with Shiki, they would need decades of training.

Therefore, whether Marco returned to support was not crucial. Whether Whitebeard returned was the most important.

"Perhaps they were hurt badly? Want to retaliate?"

At this moment, Kenji recalled certain events from many years ago, and he chuckled.

At the same time, Whitebeard and Marco in the distance made a move.

Marco was the first to rise, leaping into the air and transforming into a phoenix burning with scorching blue flames.

Then, he flapped his wings, and with the spirit of a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, he charged straight towards Kenji's side.

"What is that Newgate kid doing?" Kenji frowned slightly, not intending to make a move.

And this time, without him needing to speak, Kuzan himself jumped out.

In fact, Kuzan had already been very curious about Marco, who was covered in blue flames.

"He is a Mythical Zoan Phoenix Fruit user." Kenji explained indifferently.

Kuzan's expression grew even more surprised upon hearing this.

"Mythical Zoan? A Mythical Zoan even rarer than Logia and Ancient Zoan fruits?"

"Hmm, it seems I can't underestimate that kid."

As he spoke, Kuzan's lips curved into a smile, a confident smile.

Immediately following, with a loud "Boom," the ground beneath Kuzan's feet had already cracked, revealing two deep footprints, and Kuzan himself had already shot into the air.

He seemed to have been impatient for a long time. Now that Marco on the opposite side had taken the initiative to attack, he immediately moved.

In just an instant, Kuzan had arrived in the air, intercepting Marco's path.

"Huh? Who are you?"

Marco didn't recognize Kuzan, as he had only interned on Whitebeard's ship for less than two and a half years, while Kuzan didn't even have a formal Marine identity.

Seeing the other party block his path, Marco, after a brief moment of confusion, frowned and coldly shouted.

"Get out of my way!"

The next moment, he flapped his wings, and two streams of blue flames swirled towards Kuzan.

At the same time, Marco, with his transformed claws, fiercely struck down towards Kuzan's head.

"Hey! It's very rude to talk down to people!"

Kuzan grinned, his right hand clenched into a fist, reinforced and imbued with Armament Haki, then punched upwards to meet the descending claws.

Two streams of blue flames arrived first, swirling around Kuzan.

In an instant, Kuzan was engulfed in a sea of fire.

The sea of fire obscured Kuzan's figure, but Marco's gaze seemed able to penetrate the blue flames, and his sharp claws still accurately struck towards Kuzan's head.

He saw his sharp claws pass through the large expanse of flames, quickly reaching Kuzan's vicinity.

Then, his claws collided with a fist, a fist like steel.

"Your flames are completely powerless." Kuzan said with a smile.

As he spoke, the Armament Haki wrapped around his fist was quietly impacting Marco's sharp claws.

Kuzan was attempting to use the Emission technique of Armament Haki.

"Wah!"

In an instant, Marco was hit hard, unable to even maintain his flying posture, and plummeted towards the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his lips.

However, before Kuzan could laugh triumphantly, Marco, who had been knocked away, stabilized himself and flapped his wings to take off again.

Furthermore, Kuzan could perceive through his Observation Haki that Marco in front of him had almost no injuries.

Normally, this would be impossible. Kuzan himself knew how much power was in that punch just now.

"…Is that what they call 'immortality'?" Kuzan's heart stirred. Instead of being discouraged, his eyes showed interest.

"I just wonder, what is the limit of your ability… how strong an attack can you withstand?"

As he spoke, Kuzan's upward momentum ceased, and his body began to freefall.

Marco in the distance took the opportunity to flap his wings and charge straight over.

Just as the two were fighting fiercely, Whitebeard locked his gaze on Kenji, his eyes filled with strong fighting intent.

However, he didn't make another move, just stood there watching. Clearly, he was very hesitant at this moment.

Fortunately, his hesitation was quickly and enthusiastically resolved by Kenji.

"What are you waiting for, kid?" Kenji suddenly spoke, his calm voice clearly reaching Whitebeard's ears from a long distance away.

"Forget it, let me help you…"

"Help you return to your lair!"

(End of Chapter)

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