One Piece Gunslinger

Furthermore, the sound emanating from the Den Den Mushi's receiver could only be heard by Leon when he pressed his ear to it, unlike the typical Den Den Mushi that plays sound through the loudspeaker. This was likely due to the alteration caused by eating a Devil Fruit, significantly enhancing its secrecy. Hancock, knowing the conversation involved Celestial Dragons, didn't interrupt the call.

"Have you heard any news about Celestial Dragons lately? Let me know right away, the kind who aren't in Mary Geoise right now and are out having fun." Li Ang stated his request directly.

First, since the goal was to deal with the Celestial Dragons, Leon knew very well that he could only target those who were isolated and alone. Forcing his way into Mary Geoise would be suicidal.

"Hey, right, that's exactly what we need. Where is he now?" Li Ang asked, his eyes lighting up as if he had heard some good news.

Then he was quickly disappointed: "What? It's in the Sabaody Archipelago? Forget about it, it's too close to the Marine Headquarters. Kizaru can fly over there in a few minutes. Is there anywhere farther away?"

Dragon, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, was taken aback upon hearing this. He said in a mocking tone, "What's wrong? You want to cause trouble for the Celestial Dragons? I didn't know your plan had this extra element."

Karina, who was learning about espionage and intelligence from Long, stuck out her tongue and muttered under her breath, "His plans never go according to plan. There are always unexpected things that happen."

However, the subtle sound was still picked up by the perceptive Li Ang, and his voice quickly came through the Den Den Mushi: "That's Karina, right? I didn't expect your吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or witty remarks) skills to have improved so much since I last saw you. But that's not entirely under control, is it? Plans change all the time, especially the more complex and massive the plan..."

Before he could finish speaking, Dragon interrupted, "Alright, alright, no need to explain anymore. I've heard your arguments countless times. Just answer me, are you going to deal with the Celestial Dragons?"

Long could also see that Li Ang's attempt to change the subject was rather clumsy. They were just talking about intelligence, but the topic suddenly shifted to Karina. It was clear that Li Ang had something on his mind that he wasn't saying.

After Long finished speaking, there was a two-second silence on Li Ang's end before he emphasized a single word: "Yes!"

Li Ang was also a little conflicted about this. He could have easily lied, since this matter would only bring harm to the Revolutionary Army. The consequences of killing the Celestial Dragons could not be offset by gaining Amazon Lily as an ally; in a certain sense, they would be much more serious.

The benefits gained from this matter were essentially for his own good; it was Li Ang who profited from it, not the revolutionary army.

If he hadn't simply said "yes" like he does now, then Dragon wouldn't have become suspicious, nor would he have weighed the pros and cons of dealing with the Celestial Dragons. He would likely have readily given the information to Leon.

Instead of the current situation, after receiving Li Ang's affirmative reply, Long fell silent. Karina, standing to the side, covered her mouth with both hands; the concept of Celestial Dragons was simply too distant, too high and mighty. And the consequences of killing a Celestial Dragon were far too immeasurable.

But Li Ang still chose to tell him this, believing that Dragon would still support his decision, even if it would cause some damage to the revolutionary army.

As expected, Dragon finally answered, "West Blue, coordinates XXX, XXX, the Golden Emperor Tesoro's ship is currently there. I also received news that today, a Celestial Dragon father and son departed from Mary Geoise, their goal being to vacation on Tesoro's ship. The escort force is unknown, but there are at least two Vice Admirals from headquarters and four naval warships, all equipped with heavy firepower."

As for how to deal with the Celestial Dragons, what their purpose was, and what triggered their sudden urge to do this, Dragon didn't ask a single question.

Li Ang knew that Long had been under a lot of pressure to give him this news, so after receiving it, Li Ang sighed and said, "Thank you, and also, I'm sorry..."

Then the communication was interrupted.

Meanwhile, Dragon, watching the drooping Den Den Mushi, also let out a heavy sigh. He had already discerned from the last sentence that Li Ang's actions against the Celestial Dragons were not for the Revolutionary Army's sake. He was taking this action, which offered no benefit to the Revolutionary Army, for other reasons.

Seeing this, Karina asked curiously, "Shouldn't we have told him this?"

Long shook his head, which was his way of answering Karina's question. Then he walked to the window, looked at the clouds drifting by, and said softly, "Leon, you don't need to apologize. You've already sacrificed too much for the Revolutionary Army. It's time for them to help you this time. Do whatever you want this time. The Revolutionary Army will be your strong support."

At this point, Long seemed to have thought of something and couldn't help but smile.

Karina, who had witnessed the whole thing, finally understood: the two people who had been talking through the Den Den Mushi were not the commander and chief of staff of the Revolutionary Army, but two brothers who had been through thick and thin together.

"Is this the true camaraderie within the revolutionary army?" Only Karina herself could answer this question; no one else could.

Then, shifting the focus to this side, Hancock witnessed Li Ang's changing expression. Everything was fine at first, so why did it suddenly take such a turn for the worse, culminating in him apologizing to the person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi?

Hancock wanted to ask the reason, but the words that came out were replaced by a condescending sarcasm: "What's wrong? Is it because of me? If you find it difficult, then give up. Let's call off the terms between us. I don't need a useless person like you."

However, she regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth. Based on past experience, no one would be happy to hear such a thing. She didn't want things to get too tense either; for her, this was a rare opportunity. If she messed it up, she would hate herself.

"Damn it..." Li Ang was about to swear, but he was forced to calm down and suppress the thought as soon as it popped up.

If she were to say that out loud, given Hancock's arrogant personality, the rest of the matter would basically be off the table.

However, Li Ang still didn't give Hancock a friendly look, ignoring her words and simply saying, "Let's go."

Then he rowed the boat in the direction the dragon had told him earlier.

Chapter 285 The Self-Restraint of Bombs

Fortunately, the Celestial Dragons don't stay in Mary Geoise forever; otherwise, Leon really wouldn't have had any good solutions.

Now they had a target: the Celestial Dragon father and son who were on vacation. There weren't many other options for Li Ang.

However, what happened next gave Li Ang another problem.

Li Ang rowed his boat while pondering the situation. Even after reaching the Western Sea, he still hadn't decided when to make his move.

In reality, there are only two ways to deal with these two Celestial Dragons: either intercept them along the way, or infiltrate and assassinate them after they arrive in the Golden City. However, no matter when you choose to act, you will inevitably have to face a powerful guard force.

Along the way, at least two more vice admirals and four warships escorted them. The navy's calculations regarding this escort force were remarkably accurate.

This force is impossible for anyone other than a few top-tier powers to overcome.

Those short-sighted pirates who try to gain fame and ransom by attacking Celestial Dragons will only be throwing their lives away.

However, those powerful forces wouldn't do something that only benefits the World Government; they wouldn't get anything valuable from it. For the Celestial Dragons, their most valuable asset is themselves, so they can go out without money without a problem; others will obediently hand over their cash. But to these people who live on the edge, they're worthless. Ransom? Everyone knows they might get the money, but not live to spend it. After taking the Celestial Dragons away, high-ranking officers will arrive in no time.

What if it were a power on par with the Four Emperors who captured a Celestial Dragon? They wouldn't be afraid of threats from an Admiral. But if it were these kinds of people who captured a Celestial Dragon, they wouldn't be so shameless as to ask the World Government for a ransom. Can you imagine Whitebeard dragging a Celestial Dragon to demand ransom? That would be too undignified.

Even after the Celestial Dragons entered the Golden City, their defenses remained formidable. This is evident from the fact that no one dared to rob them of their wealth. They possessed 20% of the world's Beli. While there might be some exaggeration, even the World Government would be envious. Whoever could seize this fortune would unleash a global frenzy.

The World Government might not take action against him because he's someone they owe tribute to, someone who's served them like a dog. The other Four Emperors might not try to rob him either, because it's not worthwhile; they feel that taking this much money would result in the loss of key personnel, which would be a huge loss. In the eyes of these great pirates, enough money is fine, but talent and top-tier personnel are the foundation of their existence. This logic proves that the Gold Castle is not easy to deal with.

Therefore, if Li Ang chose to launch the assassination at that time, he would have to face this formidable enemy. Tesoro was also an awakened user of abilities, and he had the home-field advantage. The moment they entered, they were infiltrated with gold dust, essentially handing their lives over to him. Add to that his gang of lackeys. Even if they managed to assassinate two Celestial Dragons, the two of them wouldn't have a chance to escape.

Therefore, attacking a Celestial Dragon is a thankless and arduous task; only a fool would do it. And now, Li Ang has no choice but to play that fool.

Neither of these two paths was easy, and there were no good solutions either way. Li Ang struggled with the decision for a long time but couldn't decide which was better.

Hancock didn't cause any trouble for Leon along the way, simply sitting quietly at the other end of the boat.

Looking at Hancock, who was in such a rare state, Li Ang couldn't help but think, "If it were her, she would definitely be thinking about getting things done as quickly as possible, and I'm thinking about getting things done as quickly as possible too."

The difficulty of this mission lies precisely in the word "personally." If Hancock relaxed the conditions a bit and didn't have to kill the Celestial Dragons herself, then Leon could have several more methods, and he wouldn't even need to bring Hancock along. It would be more convenient and discreet for him to act alone.

Once he brought Hancock along, Leon had to consider the impact of this ticking time bomb. Although Hancock had promised to follow orders, Leon couldn't stop her if her terrible temper flared up.

Just as Li Ang was deep in thought, a small island appeared not far ahead. Although it was quite a distance away, Li Ang could tell from the scattered lights that there should be people living on the island.

"It's already evening. Let's go ashore and rest for the night. I'll think of a good plan. Don't worry, at their leisurely pace of sightseeing, it will take them at least two or three days to arrive. I'm much faster than them."

Upon hearing Li Ang's suggestion, Hancock simply nodded slightly in agreement and didn't say anything more.

"Sigh, this is really difficult to communicate with." Li Ang felt a little bitter. "I hope nothing goes wrong." Then, Li Ang took out a box of dark, thick substance and handed it to Hancock.

"What is this thing?" Hancock asked, puzzled, after taking the object.

Li Ang had anticipated this question, and he also knew that mentioning it was a disguise tool would displease Hancock. Therefore, he explained beforehand, "This is a tool to conceal your face. When applied to the face, it makes you look a bit sallow and gives you some dark spots. Use this to cover up your 'disturbing' beauty before you come to the island. Otherwise, if your identity is exposed, the rest of the operation will be ruined. But don't worry, it can be easily washed off with hot water later; it won't leave any residue on your face. After we defeat the Celestial Dragons this time, you'll still be the most beautiful person in the world."

Li Ang was experienced in disguise and had a full range of props, all to prevent becoming famous too early. Now these things came in handy again.

Honestly, Li Ang felt this was more tiring than coaxing a child. After all, even if you coax a child to the point of collapse, it won't explode, but Hancock will.

After saying this, Hancock's eyebrows furrowed, and she looked clearly displeased. He felt that what he was about to say would likely provoke Hancock's rage, but he still had to say it:

“This isn’t enough. Your outfit is still too eye-catching. First, you need to take off those earrings, and then you can change into these rough clothes. Hmm, there’s not much space here, I’ll just turn my head while you change. Oh, and these shoes too, change into these.”

Compared to Hancock's bad temper and the potential complications caused by his offensive requests, Li Ang no longer cared about exposing his spatial bag. As he spoke, he conjured one item after another out of thin air.

However, what happened next was rather strange. Despite being provoked, Hancock, like a bomb, didn't explode. She simply glared at Li Ang for a minute before smearing the black mud on her face.

This was completely unexpected for Li Ang. He had even prepared for battle, just in case Hancock suddenly attacked. He had already considered that if words couldn't persuade her, he would try to persuade her with physical force. On this vast ocean, the only place to land was this small boat, and he, as a non-powered individual, should have the upper hand.

"Huh? Has she changed her personality? What happened to her being quick to fight at the drop of a hat? But that look in her eyes is like she wants to eat someone alive. But as long as she doesn't fight, it'll avoid a lot of trouble." Li Ang's expression turned strange as he watched Hancock smear black mud on her face while trying to suppress her disgust.

"Are you thinking something inappropriate?" It must be said, Hancock was quite perceptive.

Of course, Leon couldn't admit it. Hancock had finally managed to control herself, and then he went and lit the fuse. Wasn't that courting death?

He could only cough twice before trying to explain, "No. No, I was just thinking about something else." But this explanation was rather weak and unconvincing.

Hancock said with displeasure, "No need to explain, I can see it all. But since I promised to follow your orders during the operation, I won't break my promise as long as it's not too outrageous."

Okay, Li Ang understands now. So it all comes down to arrogance. That's why he tries his best to keep his promises, even with commands that would infuriate her, Hancock would do everything in her power to suppress herself.

"What are you looking at? Turn your head away!" After smearing a layer of black mud on herself, Hancock threw the box at Li Ang's face. If Li Ang hadn't reacted quickly and caught it, he would have been covered in mud too.

Li Ang carefully put away the black mud, and in order not to provoke the hot-tempered empress again, he decisively turned away.

However, on this tranquil sea, the rustling sounds behind him were clearly audible to Li Ang, and with those sounds, Li Ang could even roughly recreate Hancock's movements in his mind.

"Wait! Why am I seeing these images?!" Thinking about it, Li Ang suddenly snapped out of his reverie. "This can't be. Logically, these shouldn't hold any appeal for me. Could it be because of what Sweet Wind did to me before? Did it leave a tiny crack in the valve of my heart?"

Li Ang quickly connected the emotions he felt when he was hit by Sweet Breeze before, and the two situations were now quite similar. However, this only strengthened Li Ang's confidence; Hancock was indeed the one capable of opening this valve.

After a while, Li Ang heard Hancock's voice from behind: "Alright, you can turn around now."

After turning his head, Li Ang looked at Hancock: "Very good, now no one can recognize her."

After a period of time and exposure to the air, the color of the black mud had faded, and Hancock's face had become sallow and rough. Her coarse cloth clothing also concealed her impressive figure; now, she looked no more than an ordinary villager—simple to the extreme.

"I hope you can keep all your promises, or I will definitely kill you." Hancock had clearly seen her own reflection in it as well. Therefore, Leon had no doubt about it.

Fortunately, he had no doubt that he could keep his promise.

Chapter 286 Drawing the Sword

Since Hancock can keep her promise, then Leon has no reason to fail.

Even someone with a thousand personality flaws, a powder keg ready to explode at the slightest touch, can keep their promises. So, Li Ang, who considers himself far superior to Hancock, can certainly do the same.

Perhaps it was this stimulus that spurred Li Ang to quickly come up with a preliminary plan. It just needed a few details to be refined and supplemented.

Afterwards, Li Ang composed himself and rowed Hancock to the island. Of course, Li Ang also carefully kept the clothes that Hancock had changed out of.

There's not much to say after that; everything else could be solved with Pele. After arriving on the island, the two found a hotel, enjoyed a delicious meal, and then had a wonderful night's sleep…

If there is no accident.

"boom!"

After being awakened by the loud noise, Li Ang realized that accidents, like those buggy little green devils, always seem to pop up around him.

Under these circumstances, Li Ang could no longer sleep. Although he didn't know what had happened, Li Ang could only impatiently get dressed and get out of bed. Amidst the sounds of gunfire, he slowly pushed open the door.

Hancock was already waiting for him outside the door.

"Yo, good morning." That was the first thing Li Ang said after opening the door, greeting her as if nothing had happened. Then, as expected, he received a glare from Hancock.

"These damned insects dared to wake me up! They deserve to die! Quickly, get rid of them all for me!" Hancock's morning grumpiness was worse than anyone else Li Ang had ever seen, and she naturally wished she could turn all those people into stones and throw them into the sea.

Honestly, if Li Ang hadn't emphasized before landing that Hancock shouldn't act rashly or reveal her strength, and that she should let Li Ang handle whatever happened, she would have rushed out and wiped them all out the moment she was awakened by the first cannonball.

Just as mentioned before, Hancock did not act on her own initiative, but listened to Leon and waited for him to handle the situation.

However, this agreement was made to prevent Hancock from causing trouble after landing, and indeed it was. If it weren't for this agreement, the innkeeper would probably have turned to stone for his disrespect. And the cook would have turned to stone for making terrible food.