Chapter 327: I Don't Want to Retire All Alone!
If it was in the New World, such matters would always require high-ranking officers on board. The Beasts Pirates' flag could keep most trouble at bay, but when trouble does arise, it's a big trouble and Mandrell's ability wouldn't be strong enough to deal with it.
However, his ability is still sufficient for the first half of the Grand Line. Magikarp's scales, which are as hard as steel, give him incredible resistance to ordinary blades and firearms once his ability is activated.
To hurt him, one would at least need the skill to cut through steel. However, in the first half of the Grand Line, there aren't many swordsmen or opponents of his caliber who can achieve that. Typically, it is quite rare to encounter one.
Unexpectedly, in the Shikkearu Kingdom, he encountered such an opponent. After a brief clash, he realized this opponent was different from the kingdom's soldiers from before.
Looking at the unfamiliar swordsman and the well-equipped team behind him, Mandrell's expression darkened.
At the same time, a thought crossed Mandrell's mind.
"Is luck really something that abides by the law of conservation?"
Feeling the weight of the plate behind him, Mandrell suddenly recalled the esoteric theory of the Law of Conservation of Luck that had been circulating within the Arceus Cult for many years.
It states that one's luck is finite. Finding this plate was surely a stroke of luck, but it was quickly followed by a series of misfortunes. Similar thing had happened to him before when he had acquired the new ability.
Due to the support of King Sekai V's royal guards, the breach that Mandrell and his team had made was quickly closed, and they were surrounded once again.
The swordsman was particularly troublesome. He wielded a medieval two-handed sword that caused Mandrell significant trouble with each swing.
As the leader of the scout team, Mandrell was proficient in both types of Haki. He didn't initially use Haki against regular bullets since there was no need.
But facing this new enemy, he naturally used his Haki, reinforcing his scales. Now, the opponent's sword couldn't break through them as easily as before.
However, the impact from the swinging greatsword still affected him. And he found that while the swordsman didn't know Armament Haki, he was quite gifted with Observation Haki.
Due to his ability, he had developed in the direction of physical skills, but he could never land a hit on the swordsman. The swordsman used the length of his blade to maintain a safe distance, and whenever he tried to close in to the enemy, it would always be predicted in advance.
"You…your Observation Haki is not bad."
"It's the heart of a swordsman, something you devil fruit users wouldn't understand. Compared to you people, who rely on external objects for power, my body is the most fundamental source of my strength."
Mandrell laughed, "It's always entertaining dealing with ignorant people like you. You have no idea who you're dealing with. We are not with those rebels, but you fools don't understand the disaster that will befall you if you provoke us."
"I don't need to understand," the swordsman retorted. "I just follow King Sekai V's orders. Surrender now. You won't be able to escape. You're up against the most elite royal guards of the Shikkearu Kingdom."
Ignoring him, Mandrell turned to his subordinates, "Pierman, contact those staying on the ship. Use the ship's cannons to open a path, and you lead them back to the ship."
"And what about you, Boss?"
"I'll handle this old man, you people are not his match. Don't worry about me; I have my ways to escape."
The most formidable among those before them was the swordsman. His subordinates were no match for him. Exposing their backs to him would surely result in them being cut down one by one. Yet, if they didn't break through, they would eventually be defeated by the encircling royal guards.
At that moment, those left on the ship would become their additional reinforcements.
The so-called artillery support was a classic infantry tactic - infantry-artillery coordination. This tactic was practiced by the Beasts Pirates only after they entered Wano Country and started recruiting in large numbers.
Apart from the confrontation between higher-ranked officers, their battles could determine the outcomes of some wars. The infantry-artillery coordination tactic required high skills from both the infantry and the artillery.
The cannons crafted in Wano Country far exceeded previous cannons in range and accuracy. Only then did this tactic become popular within the Beasts Pirates.
However, it's a tactic that is only used in large-scale siege battles. On Mandrell's ship, there were only two main cannons whose range could reach this position, and considering the firing interval, they had to closely follow the pace of the cannonballs so that they could rush out easily.
"Understood."
Pierman took out a flare gun from his pocket and shot 4 signal flares into the sky. It was a pre-arranged signal indicating they were surrounded and needed a pathway cleared with artillery.
They cannot guarantee that they will always have time to communicate using Den Den Mushi, so this signal method is also crucial.
Upon seeing the flares, the pirates on the ship began calculating distance with a special telescope and brown paper.
Precision in cannon firing is also a skill. These elite artillerymen had been tormented by countless mathematical formulas before they became proficient.
"Adjust the cannon angle by three degrees. Fire a test shot."
Within a minute, a cannonball landed within the encirclement of the kingdom's army. Seeing the position was about right, Pierman fired another flare. During this time, the swordsman tried to stop them but was held back by Mandrell.
This signal meant the position was accurate. Then, cannonballs rained down non-stop and they gradually began to retreat.
"Boss, you must make it out alive."
Saying that, Pierman used Rollout to charge into the encirclement of the kingdom's army. Mandrell had assigned him the task of clearing the path due to his Gifter identity.
"Hurry up, my goal is to retire smoothly, but not to retire all alone."
He could have chosen to retreat first. If it were just him and Pierman, these people wouldn't have been able to stop them. Even facing the swordsman would result in minor injuries at most.
However, he made this choice so as to ensure that maximum of his subordinates could retreat.
He then charged at a uniquely dressed individual surrounded by many. By the looks of it, that person was the so-called King Sekai V.
By doing this, he forced the swordsman to focus on him and not on anyone else. He then rushed off in another direction. King Sekai V, who was shocked and angry, issued the order to pursue Mandrell.
Eventually, on a cliff by another coast, Mandrell was surrounded.
"You have nowhere to run. As a devil fruit user, the sea hates you. Why don't you surrender?"
"Surrender? I would advise you to cherish the time you have left, for your days are numbered. You have touched the taboos of both my leaders at the same time!
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