vncnus Chapter 260 Top Assassin, Suspicion Arises
Chapter 260 Top Assassin, Suspicion Arises
Chapter 260 Top Assassin, Suspicion Arises
The clear echoes of metal clashing had not yet completely dissipated when Zoro and Kojiro finished a fierce sword fight.
The two sheathed their swords and stood on either side of the plaza made of hard, colorful coral, with Zoro reflecting on the insights he had gained from their recent exchange.
The subtle ripples brought by the ocean current brushed against the hem of their clothes.
Just then.
"It's terrible!!! Your Majesty—Your Majesty has been assassinated!!!"
Zoro and Kojiro turned their heads sharply almost simultaneously, their sharp gazes instantly piercing through space and landing in the direction of Ryugu Castle.
The focused concentration that had been on their swordplay exchange vanished instantly, replaced by extreme shock and solemnity.
They exchanged a glance and saw the same judgment in each other's eyes.
This was definitely not the work of the opposing camp!
Swordsmen have far sharper intuition than ordinary people, especially at such close range. They can vaguely sense that there is an extremely cold and ominous aura flashing by in the direction of the Dragon Palace, but it is definitely not the familiar aura from any direction in front of them.
"Trouble is brewing." Zoro spat, a hint of annoyance flashing in his single eye, but more so a waryness of the sudden change in the situation.
He immediately realized that the Straw Hat crew had been thrust into the spotlight.
"————!"
""
Kojiro's originally peaceful demeanor became heavy, and he frowned slightly.
"This is not a good omen. This scheme to frame someone is intended to incite conflict. Your Excellency, we must return immediately, restrain our personnel, and prevent the situation from escalating."
Without needing to say more, the two top swordsmen reached a temporary understanding at this moment.
They set off simultaneously, their figures as swift as lightning, speeding towards their respective ships. Only the faint sound of the water they created remained in the air.
The news spread like wildfire through the port area, like an out-of-control plague.
"His Majesty the King has been assassinated!"
"It must be those later humans! It must be them!"
"Arrest them!"
Panic and anger swept over every fishman and mermaid who heard the news like a tsunami.
With red eyes, they spontaneously surged toward the port, surrounding the fleet of the Thousand Sunny.
The roars, cries, and questions mingled together, creating a suffocating sound wave.
Although the guards of the Dragon Palace tried their best to maintain order and formed a human wall to block the attack, they were also leaderless, and their faces were filled with grief, confusion and deep distrust of humanity.
The atmosphere on the Thousand Sunny instantly became tense.
"Uncle Neptune—has he been assassinated?" Luffy's smile vanished completely, his rubber fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.
He was furious that he had been wronged, but even more furious that someone wanted to hurt the seemingly generous fishman uncle.
"Who did this?! I'm going to beat them to a pulp!"
"Calm down, Luffy!" Nami, though pale, forced herself to remain calm and quickly analyzed the situation.
"There's no point in explaining now! The only question is whether King Neptune is alright! If he comes forward to clarify, everything will be fine."
Robin's sharp eyes swept over the excited crowd and the vigilant guards around him.
"The information was transmitted too quickly and too efficiently. This is definitely a meticulously planned conspiracy. The assassins are likely still lurking on the island, or have already taken advantage of the chaos to leave."
Zoro returned just then, leaped onto the ship, and said in a deep voice, "Both that guy and I sensed it; it wasn't the Crusaders. There's a third-party rat lurking in the shadows."
Roger crossed his arms, his face ashen. He used his powerful Observation Haki to carefully sense his surroundings, trying to catch the last trace of coldness.
"They've been hiding really well! I hate these kinds of cowardly scum who dare to stay out of the light!"
Franky and Usopp were already nervously guarding the ship's side, Chopper had prepared medical supplies, Brook gripped his cane sword tightly, and King Hassan remained as still as a rock, but there seemed to be something colder in his silence.
The flagship of the Crusader Fleet.
"Fufufufufu————" Doflamingo's image emitted an enigmatic laugh, but his tone also carried a hint of annoyance at being caught up in trouble.
"What a huge scapegoat, Diamanti!"
"Joker! I swear! Our people absolutely did not—" Diamanti hurriedly defended himself from his wheelchair, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"Alright, I know you wouldn't be stupid enough to do something like this after Kojiro becomes the hero of Fishman Island!"
Doflamingo interrupted him, his image's sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"It's no use saying all this now! Kojiro, what do you think?"
Kojiro had also returned, standing at the bow of the ship, calmly observing the direction of Ryugu Castle and the commotion of the crowd.
"His aura is unpredictable, and his stealth skills are exceptional; he is no ordinary assassin. His intention is to disrupt the situation, not simply to assassinate. We and the Straw Hat crew are all pawns and targets in his game."
Doflamingo grinned: "Fuck, so in other words, we're inexplicably stuck in the same boat as the Straw Hat Pirates again?"
"This is interesting! Pass down the order: everyone stay on the ship! Without orders, anyone who dares to take a single step out will be skinned alive!"
Both leaders quickly realized that this was a frame-up, but the lower-ranking pirates and the people of Fishman Island were unaware of it.
The pirates of the Cross Society gripped their weapons tightly, confronting the angry fishmen below the ship, their shouts of cursing filling the air.
The Straw Hat crew was in a similar situation; Luffy tried to rush out to argue several times, but Nami stopped him each time.
"We have to go see the Dragon Palace!" Luffy shouted impatiently.
"What happened to Uncle Neptune? We can't just sit here and wait to be wrongly accused!"
Roger agreed: "That's right! I want to see who's behind this!"
Similarly, Doflamingo's image also gave the order: "Kojiro, get ready, we need to visit Ryugu Castle. We can't keep carrying this blame forever."
However, leaving the port for the Dragon Palace is easier said than done.
"We can't wait any longer!"
When Luffy saw the crowd starting to try to break through the Thousand Sunny's coating, he could no longer hold back.
"I want to go to the Dragon Palace! Rubber rubber—"
'
He took a deep breath, his chest bulging, and prepared to use the rubber balloon to push the crowd away.
"Luffy! No!" Nami cried out.
At this critical moment, Roger made his move.
He took a sudden step forward, and the terrifying Conqueror's Haki belonging to the Pirate King erupted like a tangible tsunami!
Om-!
It wasn't directed at anyone; it was simply a release of pure pressure.
In an instant, the civilians and guards in the fan-shaped area in front of the Thousand Sunny were struck as if by an invisible hammer, their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed to the ground in droves!
The deafening noise of the port was instantly cut off, plunging into an eerie silence!
"Go!" Roger shouted and jumped off the ship first.
Zoro and Sanji followed closely behind, and Luffy also realized what was happening and immediately caught up.
The four of them, like sharp knives, rapidly advanced towards the Dragon Palace.
Nami, Chopper, and the others stayed on the ship to provide support, while Brook and King Hassan stood quietly at the bow, alert to any movements from the shadows.
"They've made their move!"
"Stop them!"
The guards, unaffected by the domineering aura, and the civilians in the distance roared in anger, while more guards surged from the direction of the Dragon Palace to try to stop them.
"Three-Sword Style: Black Rope Tornado!" Zoro showed no mercy, and the violent sword aura tornado instantly cleared the road in front of him.
"First Flesh Kick!" Sanji moved like lightning, accurately kicking away the guard who tried to approach.
Luffy uses his Gum-Gum Fruit powers to launch himself between buildings like a slingshot, propelling him forward at high speed.
Roger's approach was even more straightforward. With each swing of his fist, imbued with top-tier Armament Haki, dozens of guards were sent flying, and no one could get close to him.
This assault team, composed of the Pirate King and future top fighters, advanced relentlessly towards the Dragon Palace.
But with each step forward, the rift between them and Fishman Island seemed to deepen.
On the other side, seeing the Straw Hat crew forcibly break through, Diamante anxiously shouted from his wheelchair.
"Joker! They've charged! What do we do? Are we just going to watch them get there first?"
Doflamingo's image emitted a sinister laugh: "Fufufufu, why are you rushing ahead? Are you trying to take the blame? Let them draw the fire!"
"Kojiro, take a few men and follow them, but not to help, but to watch the show! Find out what exactly happened at Ryugu Castle."
Kojiro frowned slightly, but did not object to his Master's order.
He selected a few agile subordinates, whose figures blended into the shadows of the building like ghosts, hanging far behind the Straw Hat crew, and quietly followed.
The Straw Hat crew of four overcame numerous obstacles and finally arrived at the giant coral bridge leading to the main body of the Dragon Palace.
However, the place was already on high alert. A large force led by the captain of the elite guards of the Dragon Palace City, armed with sharp weapons, formed a solid formation and blocked the way with murderous intent.
More pursuers were surging in from behind.
"Humans! Halt! Any further advance will result in immediate death!"
The captain of the guard roared, his eyes filled with determination as he witnessed Roger's terrifying strength.
Luffy stepped forward and shouted, "We're not the murderers! Let us see Uncle Neptune!"
"Don't even think about it! Who knows if you're planning another assassination attempt!"
The two sides were on the verge of war, and a battle was about to break out!
At this critical moment.
"stop!!!"
A roar filled with anger and authority came from the direction of the Dragon Palace.
Jinbe, his body wrapped in bandages, his face solemn but his aura calm, strode over, escorted by several high-ranking guards from the Dragon Palace.
His left arm was wrapped in thick gauze, with traces of blood seeping out.
"Boss Jinbe!" The captain of the guards bowed to Jinbe, but still kept a wary eye on the Straw Hat crew.
Jinbe's gaze swept over the chaotic scene, the fallen guards and civilians, and finally landed on Luffy and Roger. His eyes were complex, with both scrutiny and a hint of barely perceptible helplessness.
"Jinbe! How is Uncle Neptune?!" Luffy asked anxiously.
Jinbe took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice, his words carrying clearly throughout the surroundings: "His Majesty is unharmed! He was merely frightened!"
These words relieved all the merman soldiers present, but their hostility was not completely eliminated.
Jinbe continued, his tone serious: "But the assassination attempt is a fact! This arm of mine was injured when I took that blow for His Majesty!"
He raised his injured arm, recalling the terrifying scene that had just occurred.
Not long ago, King Neptune was having a crucial private conversation with Jinbe in the study of a side hall.
Outside the enormous seashell window lies a magnificent and tranquil underwater landscape, with schools of colorful fish swimming leisurely by.
"Jinbe, the Cross Society's terms seem generous, but Doflamingo—I really can't trust him."
King Neptune stroked his enormous golden beard, his brow furrowed.
"As for Luffy, the Straw Hat Luffy, although he is Ace's acknowledged younger brother and has a straightforward personality, the waters behind him, Roger—and the Holy Grail War they are involved in are too deep. Fishman Island cannot afford another upheaval."
Jinbe nodded calmly: "Your Majesty's concerns are very valid. The Cross Society intends to take advantage of Fish-Man Island's geographical location and Noah's potential power, while the Straw Hat Pirates—their goals are simpler, but they bring greater variables."
"We need time to observe, and we also need to ensure that whatever choice we make, the interests and safety of Fishman Island must be the top priority."
Just as the two were discussing and analyzing the potential benefits and risks of siding with either side, a sudden change occurred!
The shadow of the huge coral bonsai in the corner of the study, which was originally used for decoration, seemed to have come alive, stretching out silently!
A petite figure, almost blending into the shadows, suddenly shot out at a speed too fast for the naked eye to detect!
The target was aimed directly at King Neptune's back, which was facing away from him!
The attack came without warning, without even a hint of killing intent or a sound of wind; only a deathly stillness that seemed to freeze the soul spread out!
"Your Majesty, be careful!" Jinbe's reaction was incredibly fast!
In that instant when the shadow shifted, his Observation Haki, honed through countless trials, detected that barely perceptible sense of danger!
Without a second thought, his massive body unleashed an agility beyond its size, and he instantly pushed the power of his Fishman Karate technique to its limit, forcefully shoving King Neptune and his throne to the side!
"puff--!"
The dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh.
A deep, bone-revealing wound instantly appeared on Jinbe's thick arm, which was taking the attack in place of King Neptune. Blood gushed out immediately, and a cold, corrosive energy tried to crawl into his body through the wound!
"Who is it?!" Jinbe was both shocked and furious. With his other hand, he unleashed a surge of Fishman Karate energy, blasting it like a cannonball at the eerie figure that had already merged back into the shadows!
boom!
A large hole was blasted in the wall, sending debris flying, but the shadowy assassin vanished without a trace, leaving only a faint, deathly stillness in the air.
"Assassins! Protect His Majesty!!"
The guards outside the door only then realized what was happening and rushed in in a panic, instantly surrounding King Neptune and the injured Jinbe.
King Neptune, still shaken, looked at Jinbe's bleeding arm, his face ashen, his massive body trembling slightly with fear and rage.
"Jinbe! Your hand—"
"It's nothing, just a superficial wound!" Jinbe gritted his teeth.
He used his Armament Haki to forcefully seal the wound and prevent the erosion of that cold energy.
His expression was extremely solemn as he looked around.
"Your Majesty, the assassin—has vanished. He was incredibly fast, and his ability to hide was beyond imagination. I—I didn't even get a clear look at his face; I only felt like—a moving shadow."
He recalled the scene that had just unfolded in a flash, and felt a lingering fear.
If it weren't for his almost instinctive sense of danger, King Neptune would probably be in grave danger by now.
"The assassin lurks in the shadows, his methods are unpredictable, and he strikes and retreats immediately. We have not even seen his face clearly, but we know that his attacks carry a cold and deathly power, which is definitely not that of an ordinary pirate or assassin."
His gaze shifted to Luffy and Roger: "Based on the scene and the nature of this force, this assassination is neither the style of the Straw Hat crew nor a method commonly used by the Crusaders."
Roger crossed his arms and scoffed, "Nonsense! Do I need to sneak around to kill someone?"
Luffy nodded vigorously: "Exactly! We should fight fair and square!"
Jinbe raised his hand, silencing the surrounding chatter: "I believe what you say."
"This matter is the result of another force infiltrating Fishman Island, intending to disrupt the situation and frame someone! Their goal is to make us kill each other!"
As he was speaking, he solemnly faced the crowd.
He surveyed the crowd, his voice firm and resolute: "Gentlemen! Especially now, we must not lose our composure and allow the real enemy's plot to succeed!"
"Please trust the investigation at Ryugu Palace, and please give me some time!"
However, can suspicion be so easily suppressed?