"Flying Slash!! Great Swordsman!!?"
Kyle's jaw dropped as he witnessed the slash that Rhodes unleashed. He was instantly petrified. As a notorious gangster boss in the North Blue, he possessed a certain level of experience.
Why would a great swordsman, capable of thriving in the New World during the latter half of the Grand Line, appear in the North Blue and involve himself in such a trivial matter?
Was this the peculiar behavior of the strong?
"This barely qualifies as a flying slash, and I'm far from being a great swordsman. It's simply that I possess greater strength, and the pressure exerted by the sword is just more intense."
As he spoke, Rhodes had already surged into the throng, sword raised high.
"I survived the great swordsman's flying slash!"
The thug who had been knocked off his feet by the sheer force of Rhodes' swing hadn't yet grasped the situation and scrambled up in astonishment. Upon witnessing the arc of the blade, he believed his life was over, yet he was unharmed.
Am I quite strong?
As this thought flickered through his mind, a knife flashed, and the next instant, he was staring at his backside.
"No, you merely altered the manner of your demise."
Rhodes continued to wield the knife in his hand, and with each flash of the blade, another figure crumpled to the ground. These adversaries before him were pathetically weak!
A red glint flashed in his eyes, and Rhodes slightly sidestepped to evade several bullets. Then, with a swift movement of his feet, he instantly appeared before the one who had fired the cold shot and dispatched him with a casual flick of his knife.
It seems that this cheat code of [Knight Never Dies with Bare Hands] can no longer significantly aid me.
This thought crossed Rhodes' mind.
This golden finger allowed him to skillfully utilize a variety of weapons. With this ability, he had rapidly mastered the techniques of wielding various armaments, be it swordsmanship or marksmanship.
However, this boon seemed to have its limitations. Just like swordsmanship, under the influence of the golden finger, his swordsmanship skills were at most approaching the level of a seasoned swordsman, and it appeared that mastery was the ultimate extent of what the golden finger could achieve.
Even now, despite not yet mastering the skill of "Cutting Steel," [Knight Does Not Die Barehanded] could no longer provide him with further advantages when wielding a sword in combat. After all, his proficiency in swordsmanship was already quite advanced, and he was now only a step away from the so-called "Cutting Steel" technique.
As for [Sit-ups]...
These guys are so weak that they can't exert any real pressure on me at all.
**********
These guys are all monsters!
Why would such a monster want to involve himself in the affairs of our mafia family?
Observing Rhodes and his two companions systematically eliminating everyone in the hall, Kyle felt a throbbing headache.
Kyle gestured for Jason, who had retreated to his side at some point, to approach and said in a low voice, "You go and stall those three. I'll mobilize the family members outside."
Having said that, without waiting for Jason's reaction, Kyle quickly scurried out through a side door at the back, leaving Jason alone in the hall, staring with growing despair at Rod, who was steadily advancing towards him.
Boss Kyle has an overly optimistic view of my abilities. Facing an enemy of this caliber, I am but a mere minnow.
"Hurry up and wheel out all our cannons and reduce this building to rubble!"
After fleeing the main building, Kyle waved his hand to summon a few of his underlings and began issuing instructions.
"But, Boss Kyle, we still have brothers inside."
Bang!
As soon as one of the younger thugs opened his mouth to speak, a bullet pierced straight through his head.
"You must remember, this is the Felke family, and I am Felke Kyle!"
He cast a sharp glance around, and the thugs surrounding him immediately scattered, swiftly pushing out cannons.
Everything is for the family! Those people should feel honored to be able to dedicate their lives to the family's cause!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The next moment, countless shells whizzed towards the building in the center of the manor. At such close range, neither the heavy doors nor the solid walls could withstand the onslaught. They were instantly shattered, and flames rapidly engulfed the entire room.
"It should all be over now."
Lighting a fresh cigar and surveying the ruins before him, Kyle breathed a sigh of relief and regained his composure. It was just a pity about the designer named Gray.
The scene he had witnessed earlier flashed through Kyle's mind. The long-haired boy opposite had to be using the new type of firearm designed by Gray. He could actually fire ten bullets in an instant. If he could master such a technique, even dominating the North Blue wouldn't be an impossible feat.
"You pissed me off. Those people inside were your subordinates, right?"
"The cat spoke!"
Amidst the horrified expressions on the faces of the Felke family members, a black cat leaped out from the smoldering ruins before them, perched atop the garden fountain, and fixed Kyle, standing in the middle of the crowd, with a cold stare.
"A Devil Fruit user?"
Kyle was momentarily stunned, then he reacted.
"But it's just a black cat."
Kyle waved his hand, and the thugs around him raised their guns and fired one after another, unleashing a barrage of bullets at the black cat.
"Gone!"
Facing the incoming hail of lead, a trace of disdain flickered in the black cat's eyes. The next second, a flash of black light erupted, and the black cat had already plunged into the crowd.
Just as the Felke family members were frantically looking around, the black cat's body suddenly swelled, and then a lithe figure materialized within the throng. The next instant, the figure soared through the air.
"You used your subordinates as bait. You are such a jerk!"
Nia glared at Kyle before her, a cold light gleaming in her eyes. A pair of pointed black cat ears appeared atop her head, and simultaneously, a black cat tail swayed unconsciously behind her, her muscles coiling taut.
"Damn it, why are you pestering me?"
Kyle exhaled slightly in annoyance, tossed the cigar to the ground, reached up and loosened his tie, and all the muscles in his body visibly tensed.
The reason he had managed to establish such a large mafia family was precisely because of his fists!
"I say, have you made a mistake? You are the one who refuses to pay and wants to kill us all!"
With a thunderous shout, the ground beneath Nia's feet cracked slightly, and she propelled herself forward, appearing before Kyle in an instant, her long legs lashing out with unrestrained fury.
Bang!
Kyle blocked Nia's side kick, his arm shuddering slightly. The powerful gust of wind generated by the collision sent the thug feigning death nearby scrambling away in haste.
"How about this, I'll give you the money, plus an extra five million, and you can just leave."
Feeling the immense force on his arm, Kyle offered.
The gang was merely a business to him. Face was irrelevant. Only profit mattered.
Under the current circumstances, continuing the fight was not cost-effective. Settling the matter with money would be ideal.
"As long as I kill you, everything you just offered will belong to me!"
A fierce glint ignited in Nia's eyes, and a few strands of black fur sprouted on her skin. Then she grinned, revealing two sharp fangs.
"I am the user of the Cat-Cat Fruit, Black Cat form. I can't fully control myself in this state. If my methods become too brutal, I apologize in advance."
The next moment, a cold flash of claws and blood splattered across Kyle's chest.
"That's it, meow~"
Looking at the droplets of blood sliding down her claws, Nia licked her tongue, her yellow vertical pupils filled with primal wildness.
(End of this chapter)