"Kill them all. Leave no one alive."

Lance didn't even glance at the surrounding thugs screaming for vengeance for "Big Bear." He turned his back calmly, lit a cigarette, and took a deep puff. Behind him, the six IBM unleashed a storm of slaughter.

In an instant, blood sprayed, limbs flew through the air.

The guests' screams rose in waves, like the cries of souls trapped in hell. Clutching their heads, people scrambled and trampled one another in a desperate attempt to escape what looked like certain death.

"You bastards think I'm easy prey?!"

Big Bear roared like a beast, his bulging muscles suddenly expanding like a balloon, shredding his suit to tatters. In moments, he transformed into a humanoid bear, covered in thick brown fur, feral eyes blazing.

"I'm a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user—Bear-Bear Fruit! I'm one of Sheephead-sama's men! You know who we follow? One of the infamous Disasters—Jack the Drought! His name strikes fear across the New World!"

"You dare come here and mess with the Beast Pirates? You're dead!"

With a furious roar, Big Bear charged at Lance. He believed Lance was the strongest of the trio—take him out, and the girls would be easy pickings.

But before he could even launch an attack, something enormous appeared in front of him—a giant, bandage-wrapped humanoid towering half a head taller than him.

"Wh-What the hell is that…?"

Big Bear's confidence wavered as he stared up at the faceless, featureless monster. No eyes. No mouth. Just endless bandages… yet the dread in his chest surged.

He felt the urge to surrender.

But he was a Beast Pirate! He couldn't run, not now!

Shhk!

The moment he raised his guard, ten deep slashes tore across his body in a crisscross pattern. Blood sprayed like a fountain as searing pain overwhelmed him.

"Y-You…!"

Panic set in.

He was a Bear-Bear Fruit user—his defense was monstrous! Bullets bounced off him like pebbles. But this thing had shredded him like wet paper!

"Rokuro, don't kill him yet."

Lance spoke without looking back. He took another drag of his cigarette and cast a sidelong glance at Big Bear.

"Cripple both his legs first."

Despair swallowed Big Bear whole.

With no room to resist, he was instantly dismembered—both legs severed by Rokuro's claws. Screams of agony echoed as blood pooled around him.

"Lie once and I'll carve you up again."

"Tell me where Jack the Drought is."

Lance loomed over him, staring down coldly.

"I—I—I don't know! Please, I'm begging you! I really don't—AAARGH!!"

With a crunch, one of Big Bear's arms was torn clean off.

"Wait! I remember! I remember!"

"Sheephead-sama said they were going after some scientist. A valuable one. If they catch him, we'll be able to mass-produce stronger ability users!"

Big Bear babbled through the pain.

"A scientist…"

"A man who can create artificial Devil Fruits… that must be Caesar Clown. Which means…"

"Jack the Drought went to Punk Hazard."

Lance's eyes narrowed. That was all he needed.

"He can die now."

Lighting another cigarette, Lance turned and walked away.

Big Bear stared in horror as the bandage monsters closed in, claws gleaming with lethal intent.

…

Within thirty minutes, Kokapiro Town had become a slaughterhouse.

"AHH!! DEAD BODIES!!"

"MONSTERS!! RUN!!"

"Please—I don't want to die!"

Anywhere Beast Pirates were present, blood flowed like rivers. The stench of death choked the air for miles around.

"Whoa! Look at all this gold!"

Rebecca stood wide-eyed before the mountain of treasure.

Though royalty herself, the Riku family had never flaunted wealth. They once had to borrow from the populace just to survive. So seeing this much gold stunned her.

While the IBM wiped out enemies, they also looted the town's countless gambling and entertainment venues. In just a few stops, they'd amassed a literal mountain of gold.

No wonder Kaidō's crew took this town. It was a gold mine that never ran dry.

"Money doesn't matter to me."

Lance gazed at the wealth with a flat expression.

In this world where strength ruled above all, money was meaningless. With power, wealth came crawling to you—just like now.

That night, not only the pirates but the corrupt officials too were executed. The six IBM swept through Kokapiro Town, baptizing it in blood.

…

Several days later, at Angel Town's port, a shimmering mountain of gold had appeared.

"Mayor! Come look! There's so much gold!"

"Oh my god, I've never seen this much in my life!"

"Wait, there's a note on top!"

The mayor read the note aloud, hands trembling.

"If you dare steal—death will follow.

—Lance"

(End of Chapter)

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