OPKOTW: Chapter 309/311

Chapter 309: Lucci: Sorry, I’m About to Get Promoted

On Polani Island, Edward Weevil, a man with the mind of a child was currently enjoying a vacation with his mother, Miss Buckin.

Buckin was indeed once part of the same crew as Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.

This fact had always fueled the rumors about Weevil’s supposed parentage. Was he truly Whitebeard’s son? No one could say for sure.

Newgate himself had never publicly denied the claim. Was it arrogance, or was there some hidden truth to it?

Regardless, Buckin had long claimed to be Whitebeard's favorite woman. In reality, she was nothing more than a greedy, manipulative woman who shamelessly exploited Weevil's low intelligence for her own gain.

Weevil was incredibly strong.

Just recently, he had attacked a pirate crew and stolen a fortune.

And Buckin being the greedy pirate she was had already begun spending the loot. She didn’t believe in saving money. Like a true pirate, she preferred to enjoy her wealth while it lasted.

So here they were, shopping on the island.

Weevil happily gnawed on a massive skewer of grilled meat, while Buckin strutted ahead, occasionally stopping to inspect mink fur coats and other luxury goods.

Meanwhile, on a nearby rooftop, Rob Lucci stood with his signature black suit and top hat.

A white pigeon perched on his shoulder as he peered through a monocular, observing Buckin and Weevil.

Beside him stood Jabra, picking his nose with complete nonchalance.

"From what I’ve seen, that guy’s strong," Jabra said. "But his IQ is a total disaster. I don’t think it’d be that hard to deal with him if we use some tricks."

Lucci lowered the monocular and replied calmly, "Even without any tricks, I could take him down in a one-on-one fight.

But this time… His Highness Claudius will personally handle it, to avenge Admiral Zephyr."

"Tch," Jabra clicked his tongue, annoyed by Lucci’s confident tone. "You’re really proud of your awakened Zoan powers, huh? Acting all high and mighty."

"Awakening a Zoan Devil Fruit is a big deal. And as far as I know… you haven’t awakened yours yet," Lucci said without emotion.

Jabra slammed a fist against his chest. "I'm close!"

"Oh? Then prove it," Lucci replied indifferently.

Jabra was about to retort when Lucci spoke again.

"After this mission, I’m leaving the team," Lucci said softly.

Jabra froze for a moment, then grinned. "Hah! Finally realized that I'm the better man, huh? You finally see that I’m the best fit to lead the team? Don’t worry, Captain Jabra will take good care of you."

Lucci stared at Jabra like he was an idiot.

Then, after a moment, he said, "I’m being promoted. My strength has reached the threshold to join CP-X's elite combat division."

Jabra's smile faltered. "What?"

"Spandine recommended me to become Saint Claudius' personal guard. His Highness has already approved it," Lucci explained, his voice calm but his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Personal guard?" Jabra was stunned. "So you're leaving… just like that?"

"Mm. But I'll be back," Lucci said.

"Next time you see me, I might be sitting where Spandine is now, running CP-X. So try not to embarrass me, Jabra."

"You arrogant bastard! I hate that smug tone of yours!" Jabra snapped.

Before he could complain further, the Den Den Mushi in Lucci's pocket started ringing.

Lucci ignored Jabra and answered the call.

"Lucci here."

"The sea train carrying Saint Claudius has arrived at the port. According to the plan, we should begin evacuating the island," came Kalifa’s smooth, sultry voice.

Lucci’s eyes lit up at the mention of Saint Claudius.

"Understood. Begin the operation. Create some chaos," he ordered.

Minutes after Lucci hung up, sirens blared across the island.

The loudspeakers crackled to life:

"Attention! A pirate attack is imminent! All residents must immediately board the sea train and evacuate!"

Panic spread quickly.

People poured into the streets, rushing toward the train station in droves.

Weevil and Buckin were among the crowd, visibly confused.

"What the hell's going on?" Buckin muttered.

She didn’t know, and honestly, she didn’t care. If everyone else was evacuating, she figured she might as well do the same.

Lucci, still perched on the rooftop, adjusted his monocular.

When he saw Buckin turning to leave with the crowd, he whispered, "Move, Jabra."

The next second, Jabra vanished from his spot.

He reappeared moments later in the chaotic streets, holding a small box filled with gold bars.

Feigning panic, he "accidentally" bumped into Buckin. The box of gold fell to the ground, spilling its contents across the cobblestones.

Buckin froze.

Her eyes widened.

Then she burst into laughter. "Ahahahaha! We're pirates, aren’t we? If everyone’s running away, then all the treasure here is ours! And we’ve got the perfect scapegoat!"

Without hesitation, she abandoned her plan to evacuate.

Instead, she rushed toward the mink fur store she had earlier deemed too expensive.

Lucci watched the entire scene through his monocular.

When Buckin and Weevil smashed through the store's locked door, his lips curled into a cold smile.

"Greed," he muttered. "The root of all sin."

As the evacuation progressed, the island's once-bustling streets grew eerily empty.

The sirens wailed.

The trains departed one by one.

Within an hour, the lively tourist hub had turned into a ghost town.

Meanwhile, Buckin waddled down the street wearing three mink coats at once, sweating profusely but grinning like a lunatic.

Behind her, Weevil pushed a cart overloaded with luxury goods and stolen gold.

Buckin clutched a map in her hand, squinting at the landmarks.

"Alright, turn left at the next intersection," she instructed. "The jewelry store should be right there."

But before she could give Weevil the order to move, his expression suddenly changed.

The slow-witted look vanished from his face.

His instincts screamed at him.

"Mom!" Weevil shouted as he lunged forward, tackling her into a nearby fruit stall.

Buckin hadn’t even processed what was happening when a golden beam of light shot down from the sky.

It struck the cart of stolen goods with pinpoint precision.

A moment later—

BOOM!

A deafening explosion rocked the street.

The shockwave blasted through the area, splintering wood, cracking walls, and hurling debris in every direction.

The sheer force of the blast made Buckin's skin sting.

If Weevil hadn't reacted so quickly, she'd already be dead.

Back on the rooftop, Lucci lowered his monocular and whistled softly.

"Huh. He just dodged an Admiral's attack… on instinct alone," Lucci muttered.

Weevil's intellect might have been childlike, but his combat instincts were honed through countless near-death experiences.

The scars on his body were proof of that.

______

Chapter 310: Borsalino vs. Whitebeard jr

Buckin watched as all her wealth was reduced to ashes. Her face twisted with madness as she scrambled up from the wreckage of the fruit stand, screaming hysterically:

"Who?! Who dares attack us?!"

Weevil had already taken the massive naginata from his back and gripped it tightly, standing protectively by her side.

Suddenly, a figure appeared nearby, wearing a yellow-striped suit, a Marine Admiral's justice coat draped over his shoulders, and a pair of orange-tinted sunglasses. His posture was casual, and his expression had a certain sleazy indifference.

"Oh? You managed to dodge it? I was pretty confident about that last move," Borsalino said lazily in his signature drawl.

When Buckin saw who it was, she froze in disbelief. What the hell?! The highest power of Marine Headquarters? Admiral Kizaru?!

Didn't that old man say pirates were coming? Why is an Admiral here instead?

A chill of suspicion crept over her. Something about this situation smelled like a setup.

Before she could react further, Borsalino raised his index finger, pointing it toward the fruit stand where Buckin and Weevil stood. The fingertip began to glow with an intense golden light.

In the next instant, a laser beam shot out toward the pair.

Weevil, though simple-minded and arrogant, didn't care about titles like Admiral. He didn't recognize Kizaru, and even if he did, he wouldn't understand what that meant.

With a surge of power, his thick legs propelled his massive frame forward. The naginata in his hands came crashing down with incredible force, colliding with the laser beam.

A violent shockwave erupted from the point of impact, scattering debris everywhere and dispersing the laser mid-flight.

Weevil barreled through the resulting explosion and leapt toward Borsalino, swinging his weapon down with terrifying power. The attack cleaved through the Borsalino's body, slicing him cleanly in two and smashing the building behind him into rubble.

But the moment Weevil landed, a familiar voice echoed from a short distance away.

"Yare yare... that was close, that was close. So, you're the self-proclaimed son of Whitebeard? You certainly have the strength for it."

Weevil's eyes widened as he turned toward the voice, Borsalino was standing on a nearby rooftop, unharmed. The spot where he'd been "cut" was nothing more than shattered light particles reforming into his solid form.

Even with his limited intelligence, Weevil recognized the nature of this power. His brow furrowed in anger.

"Logia..." he muttered.

With a frustrated growl, he clenched his weapon tighter, coating the blade with a thick layer of black Haki.

"Don't you bully my mama!!" Weevil roared.

Without warning, he swung the naginata in a wide arc. A shockwave, crackling with Haki, surged forward like a wild beast on a rampage. The earth beneath it splintered, stone tiles ripping free and soaring into the air as the wave advanced toward Borsalino.

"Light-Refraction Prism."

Borsalino calmly crossed his arms over his chest and spoke softly.

The next moment, a brilliant beam of light shot from his palms to meet the incoming shockwave. The two forces collided mid-air, erupting in a deafening explosion that carved a massive crater into the ground.

As the smoke and debris clouded the area, Weevil charged straight through it. His naginata, still coated in Haki, sliced toward Borsalino with reckless ferocity.

Borsalino uncrossed his arms and conjured a golden sword of light.

"Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi." (Heavenly Cloud Sword)

The glowing blade met Weevil's attack head-on. Sparks flew with each clash, shockwaves rippling through the surroundings. Within moments, they exchanged multiple blows, their strikes creating powerful gusts that toppled nearby structures.

As the fight wore on, Weevil grew more agitated. His attacks became wilder. With a roar, he abruptly shifted his stance and slammed his naginata downward with all his might.

Borsalino's eyes narrowed.

"Oh no... that's bad," he muttered.

The naginata struck the ground with devastating force. A shockwave exploded outward, tearing through the street and engulfing the Admiral. The impact obliterated everything in its path, leaving a massive crater in its wake.

Weevil's expression lit up with excitement. "Mama, I did it!" he cheered.

But his joy was short-lived. Without warning, a wave of frost surged from an alleyway nearby, racing across the ground and encasing him in ice. Within seconds, Weevil was trapped in a massive, glistening block of ice.

A tall figure stepped out from the shadows. His breath misted in the cold air, and ice crackled beneath his boots with each step.

"Did you die, Borsalino?" asked Kuzan, his voice calm but carrying a hint of concern.

On a nearby rooftop, Borsalino reappeared, completely unscathed, with his hands casually resting in his pockets.

"Hoooh... that was close. He's pretty strong, huh? I might not be able to handle him alone," Borsalino said with mock seriousness.

"Yeah, sure," Kuzan snorted. "Like hell you can't."

Even if Weevil was a monster with raw power, no pirate could casually overpower an Admiral. Borsalino was obviously just fishing for an excuse to slack off.

"His ability definitely counters yours, though," Borsalino added.

Kuzan frowned, his gaze shifting to the frozen figure. Ice already showed signs of cracking along the surface.

"You're right," Kuzan muttered.

With a deafening crack, the ice shattered into countless shards. Weevil emerged, shaking the frost from his hair. His breath steamed in the air.

"Cold... Mama, it's so cold," he whined.

Buckin's confidence wavered. She recognized Kuzan instantly—Admiral Aokiji.

Two Admirals?

Her heart sank. This was a nightmare. Not even Newgate could win against two Admirals at once. There was no way out.

Unless... unless she could escape and find help.

Buckin's eyes darted around as she quickly formulated a plan.

Weevil will hold them off... and I'll run. My life's more important than his.

"Weevil! Keep those two busy! Mama's going to find some help for you!" she shrieked.

Without waiting for a response, she turned and sprinted away.

Weevil, ever obedient, beamed with childlike trust. "Okay, Mama! Hurry back!"

Kuzan and Borsalino exchanged unimpressed glances.

"That's just sad," Kuzan muttered.

"Yeah... poor fool," Borsalino sighed.

Buckin had only managed a few steps when she suddenly felt a sharp, burning pain in her chest. Her eyes flicked downward. Blood seeped through her clothes.

A cold, dispassionate voice sounded from behind her.

"Shoot to kill—Shinsō."


________

Chapter 311: Easily Defeating Weevil

"Abandoning your dear son and trying to escape? That's not very motherly of you, Miss Buckin," Claudius said softly, his figure appearing at the end of the street.

The moment his voice fell, Buckin, who had been frantically running, stumbled and collapsed to the ground. The sharp pain in her chest flared into agony as blood continued to pour from the wound. She clutched her chest and wailed in distress.

"Aghhh!"

She lifted her head toward the voice, and when she saw who it was, her eyes widened in terror.

As a scheming opportunist, Buckin made a habit of recognizing powerful figures she should avoid. After a closer look, her face paled with fear.

"Donquixote Claudius...? Impossible! Why would someone like you be here?!" she stammered.

This was the man who brought down Charlotte Linlin, a terrifying force in the pirate world. How could someone like her end up on the radar of such a monstrous figure? Two Admirals and now a Celestial Dragon?! What the hell was going on?!

Claudius slowly approached, a faint smile on his lips.

"Zephyr... the former Marine Admiral... was my teacher," he said softly. "Did you really think you could get away with what you did to him?"

"Zephyr?" Buckin froze, the name hitting her like a thunderbolt. What the hell is this?

She'd never heard of any connection between Zephyr and Claudius. In fact, almost no one outside the upper echelons of the Marines knew about that relationship. But if it were true... she'd messed with the wrong person.

Claudius's smile darkened. "Of course, it's not just that. We've let you run around this long for a reason. Soon, we'll need your head for something." His voice turned icy. "After all... aren't you Whitebeard's favorite woman? And isn't Weevil supposed to be his biological son?"

His words made Buckin's heart drop into her stomach.

Claudius stepped closer and, with no regard for her age or condition, raised his foot and stomped down on her back. She gasped as the pressure crushed her into the pavement.

"Time to pay for your sins," Claudius said coldly.

"No! Don't kill me! I was lying! I have nothing to do with Whitebeard! I've never even met him! Weevil isn't his son, it's all fake!" Buckin pleaded desperately, panic contorting her face.

Claudius didn't respond. Marco had already confirmed Buckin's past involvement with Newgate. She could spew all the lies she wanted, it wouldn't save her now.

"Shut up," Claudius said. "Don't worry, you won't die here. Like I said... we still need your head."

He pressed down harder with his foot. Buckin coughed up a mouthful of blood and passed out.

Across the battlefield, Weevil still locked in combat with Kuzan noticed what was happening. His eyes immediately fixated on his mother's prone form, her back pinned beneath Claudius's boot.

"Mama...?" he whispered.

Then his expression twisted into pure rage. Ignoring Kuzan entirely, Weevil charged toward Claudius, roaring, "Get your foot off my mama!!"

Kuzan reacted quickly, delivering a powerful kick to Weevil's back. The blow connected solidly, but to his surprise, Weevil barely flinched. It was as if the man's body could absorb a portion of the impact.

Weevil didn't even glance back. His only focus was on Claudius.

As the enraged pirate bore down on him, Claudius casually kicked Buckin's unconscious body aside and rested his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Demon Blade: Shindō.

Weevil swung his massive naginata downward with all his might. Claudius drew his sword in a single, fluid motion, meeting the attack head-on.

The moment their weapons clashed, an explosive shockwave burst from the impact. Borsalino had been right, Weevil's raw strength was monstrous.

Claudius's arm tensed, muscles bulging as he resisted the force pressing down on him. He shifted his wrist slightly, neutralizing the initial strike. But Weevil roared again, unleashing a secondary shockwave through his weapon.

This time, Claudius didn't back away. He tightened his grip on Shindō, and his arm flexed as he pushed forward. The compressed energy shattered, and the sword's edge bit into Weevil's weapon.

With a powerful heave, Claudius sent Weevil flying backward. The hulking figure slammed into the ruins of a building with a resounding crash.

Claudius exhaled, giving his wrist a small shake. "Phew... that was a bit of a workout," he muttered.

Kuzan chuckled. "Yeah, sure... You look real worn out over there," he said sarcastically.

On a nearby rooftop, Borsalino tapped his chin. "Hmm... looks like there's nothing for me to do here. Mind if I go to the bathroom?"

Before anyone could respond, the house beneath Borsalino exploded. Weevil burst from the debris and swung his naginata upward.

"Die, you bastard!!" he roared.

The shockwave tore through the air, creating visible ripples as it shot toward Borsalino. The Admiral's eyes widened slightly.

"Why me again...?" he muttered before raising his hand.

"Yata no Kagami." (Mirror of Eightfold Light)

A beam of light shot from his palm and refracted off a nearby surface. In an instant, his body transformed into photons and zipped away, dodging the attack.

Kuzan raised an eyebrow. "So... what'll it be? Big, medium, or small?"

Weevil landed, disoriented after missing his target. Kuzan took the opportunity to freeze his feet to the ground with a blast of ice.

Claudius appeared beside him in a blur.

"Let's see how well you handle this," he said.

With that, Claudius drove his fist into Weevil's chest with brutal force. The man's flabby torso absorbed some of the impact, but not nearly enough. Weevil screamed as the blow lifted him off the ground, shattering the ice around his feet and sending him hurtling into the ruins.

"Small," Kuzan said nonchalantly, answering his own question.

Borsalino materialized beside him, hands still in his pockets. "Small? Oh yeah... definitely small," he agreed with a lazy nod.

Claudius, still catching his breath, frowned. "What the hell are you two talking about?"

Kuzan scratched his head. "Wet farts."

Claudius's face twisted in disgust. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Borsalino casually shifted a few steps away from Kuzan.

Meanwhile, Weevil staggered to his feet once more. Borsalino, apparently done with his lighthearted banter, raised a finger and fired a precise laser toward the pirate.

The explosion engulfed Weevil in flames. At the same moment, Claudius stepped forward and swung his sword.

"Single-Sword Style: Mountain-Splitting Slash"

The slash sliced cleanly through the blaze, striking Weevil directly. Blood sprayed into the air as Weevil howled in pain.

"Ma... Mama! It hurts!" he wailed.

"Ice Time Capsule."

Kuzan placed his palm on the ground. A frigid wave surged outward, freezing everything in its path. The flames died instantly, replaced by glittering frost. Weevil's body froze solid, encased in thick ice. His screams were cut off mid-sentence.

The battlefield fell silent.

Kuzan stood, cracking his neck. "Well... that was easy," he said.

Claudius sighed. "Seriously, you're gross. You and Magellan from Impel Down would get along great."