One Piece: Nobody has more Devil Fruits than me.

Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall...

"Haha, don't worry, I swear on my life there won't be any problems!"

A stocky man in a major general's uniform held a glass of champagne, his face flushed with a smile.

His name is Duran, a rear admiral in the Navy Headquarters. He usually performs escort missions in the first half of the Grand Line. This time, he was transferred to the East Blue to escort the Heavenly Gold handed over by the Kingdom of Flaus.

In Durant's view, this was simply a cushy job.

What is the East China Sea?

The weakest sea.

Even a pirate with a bounty of over 20 million is pitifully rare, let alone a madman who dares to attack a World Government ship.

"With Major General Duran's words, I am completely relieved."

Sitting opposite him was a tall, thin man in fine clothes, Belit, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Flaus, who was in charge of escorting the Heavenly Gold on the ship.

Berlit wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, there's no need to be so nervous, but recently a group called the Devil Pirates have appeared in the East Blue, right? Their bounty has risen to 100 million, and our King is a little worried."

"What's a hundred million Berries? There are pirates everywhere on the Grand Line, and I've even seen Supernovas with hundreds of millions of Berries."

Duran took a big gulp of his drink and waved his hand dismissively.

"Pirates from places like the East China Sea can't really cause any trouble."

Which pirate would dare to declare war on the World Government?

He did know one person, the Donquixote Family, which was led by Doflamingo many years ago before he became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Durant is actually very unlucky.

Whether it was killing a Celestial Dragon or killing Vergo, these were secrets that should not be known to the outside world. Therefore, the only achievements attributed to the Devil Pirates were the destruction of the Arlong Pirates and the attack on multiple Navy warships.

The lieutenant generals, who were a level higher, only then realized that more than one major general had died at Russell's hands.

Belit nodded repeatedly, but he was still a little apprehensive.

As the Foreign Minister, he had traveled extensively and witnessed many situations, so he knew that such words were often a warning sign.

However, Major General Durant does seem quite confident.

His flagship was a standard warship of the headquarters, equipped with a full three hundred elite marines, whose firepower was enough to crush any pirate crew in the East Blue.

There are four more lower-class frigates.

Moreover, there was something else on the ship, and thinking of that thing, Belit relaxed a little more.

"Speaking of which, it was definitely the right decision for us to visit the Kingdom on the Bridge on our way here."

Duran laughed heartily, "What was that craftsman's name?"

"Gail Harris"

"That old man was originally our royal craftsman. He was indeed a genius, but he was too stubborn and disobeyed the king's orders time and time again. In a fit of anger, he was banished to the Kingdom of the Bridge," Berlit said.

Duran snorted coldly, "Criminals are supposed to atone for their crimes by performing good deeds."

That being said, he still had some thoughts about the criminal, but unfortunately, he arrived in such a hurry that he didn't have time to apply for an order.

As for the reason?

Then we must mention the power device invented by Gale Harris.

"Major General Duran, is this what you wanted?"

Belit took out a blueprint from his person.

The drawing depicts a sophisticated mechanical structure: meshing gears, linkages, power output...

It looks like a power unit, but it is far more sophisticated than a regular steam engine or diesel engine.

This is something Gale researched in the Kingdom of the Bridge. He created a new type of power device using tides and wind pressure, which can convert natural energy into mechanical kinetic energy, and its efficiency is several times higher than that of traditional steam engines.

The original intention was to use a power unit to help reduce the workload of the laborers in the Bridge Kingdom, but it was discovered.

It even caused unrest, and it took the killing of several laborers to calm things down.

Duran's expression gradually brightened as he took the blueprints.

Chapter 52 Integrity? Can it be converted into combat power?

Duran took the blueprints, his eyes shining brighter as he looked at them.

If this thing were installed on a warship, the navy's speed would increase significantly. If it were installed on a cannon, the range and power of the shells would achieve a qualitative leap.

With this achievement, he might be able to go even further.

Nowadays, in the navy, there are no fools left who are driven by so-called justice, seeking promotions, and making money together; that's what matters most.

Pirates crave money, fame, power, and prestige... and not every Marine is a saint.

"Don't worry, just come to me if you need anything in the future."

Duran patted his chest and made a solemn promise.

"When I come back from this trip, I'll take that Gale with me. That guy's pretty capable."

Belit nodded quickly, smiling as he poured Duran a full glass. "Of course, no problem. But Gale is a very stubborn guy."

"Dare to be stubborn in front of me?"

Duran waved his hand dismissively, "Once it's in the Navy's hands, even the most stubborn donkey will have to obediently pull the millstone for me."

The two exchanged a smile, which already sealed one person's fate.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, followed by the hatch being pushed open violently, and a naval soldier stumbled in, shouting, "Rear Admiral Duran! Something's happened!"

"What happened?"

Duran frowned. "What kind of panicked behavior is this?"

"Pirates! Pirates are attacking!"

Durant and Baillett exchanged a glance. The former put down his wine glass, grabbed the cloak hanging on the back of his chair, and strode outside.

"You can't handle the pirates in the East Blue?"

As Duran walked, he said, "You're all elites from headquarters. If you're afraid of small fry, you should go home and work as blacksmiths."

However, seeing the slightly frightened expressions on his subordinates' faces, he had a bad feeling.

The only possibility is...

"They're not just small fry, they're the Demon Pirates!"

Black background with red flames, a blood-stained blade, and a devil's skull!

That pirate crew that has recently gained fame?

Major General Duran quickened his pace and rushed onto the deck, where chaos had already broken out.

"What's the panic? How many people can a pirate crew have?"

"But, but there are really a lot of people," the marine said in a panic.

Then Major General Duran looked up and saw a huge swarm of figures flying towards them.

"It can fly?!"

Have all the pirates learned Moonwalk?

"Fire! Fire!"

Major General Duran roared, drawing his sword and pointing it forward, "Aim all guns at that ship and sink it!"

The navy's advantage lies in its ships and cannons; there's no reason to engage in boarding action right away.

The twelve main guns on the main warship roared simultaneously, and shells trailing black smoke streaked across the sea and whistled as they crashed into the Snard.

"Hmph, foolish pirates, daring to charge straight at me like that, I think their captain is a bit dim-witted."

The cannons were equipped with several power units brought back from the Kingdom of Bridges, and the whistling sound gave people a great sense of security.

With that kind of firepower, they might have wiped out this group of pirates before even engaging in boarding action.

Just then, Bailly rushed out, and Major General Duran reassured him, "Don't worry, they can't get through..."

The next second he saw Belit widen his eyes.

Following the gaze, Major General Duran was also speechless.

He witnessed a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.

Amidst the overwhelming barrage of cannon fire, a figure leaped into the air from the bow of the Snard, then quickly split into a massive black shadow, like a curtain.

"The shells were all absorbed?"

Rear Admiral Duran felt a chill run down his spine. According to news from headquarters, wasn't the captain of the Devil Pirates a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user?

What kind of animal is that?

I've never seen anything like it before!

"The shells are quite powerful. Is this some new cutting-edge technology developed by the navy?"