The sound of gunfire in the colosseum gradually ceased, leaving only the chaotic noise of spectators fleeing in panic.
On the arena platform, Buffalo's lifeless body and the unconscious Baby 5, half-embedded in the shattered floor, elevated Maude's presence in the eyes of everyone watching.
They had just witnessed the overwhelming strength Maude had displayed.
Incredible!
Even members of the infamous Donquixote Family, wielders of Devil Fruit powers, couldn't withstand more than three exchanges against him.
And yet, despite the staggering gap in power, the greed of those present refused to waver.
Fueled by mob psychology and the sheer value of an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, they remained steadfast.
"Bacardi Maude…"
Dozens of eyes locked onto Maude before shifting to Lafitte, who stood beside him.
Moments earlier, Maude had tossed the crystal box containing the Devil Fruit to Lafitte.
"Hoho… so this is the legendary Ancient Zoan," Lafitte remarked, seemingly unbothered by the malicious stares directed at him. He inspected the fruit inside the crystal box with calm interest.
In contrast, Jim wore a serious expression, standing imposingly behind Maude to shield him from potential gunfire.
Meanwhile, Maude lifted the unconscious Baby 5 by her collar. Blood and dirt stained her once-pristine face, smudging her delicate features.
"Self-destruction is a terrible habit," Maude muttered coldly, gazing at her limp, dangling form.
If not for his quick reflexes in knocking her unconscious before she could fully transform into a missile, the outcome would have been disastrous for him.
"Lafitte, you're in charge of the Devil Fruit."
Maude's sharp eyes swept over the restless crowd.
Pirates and bounty hunters on the spectator stands stared at Lafitte with burning greed, forming a stark contrast to the panicked civilians scrambling to escape.
Their unwavering fixation was driven by the Devil Fruit in Lafitte's possession.
This was precisely what Maude had anticipated. The fruit itself served as bait, and as long as it remained in sight, it would keep his targets tethered to the arena.
It was one of the main reasons Maude had made the first move to claim the Devil Fruit—so he could use it to lure in his prey.
There was only one piece of bait, and Maude wasn't about to let it be devoured so soon.
"Understood."
Lafitte nodded, fully aware of the plan's significance. He pressed his crimson lips together before unfurling his pure white wings, ascending into the air with the Devil Fruit.
The fruit was meant for Jim, but before that, it had another purpose—to turn the colosseum into a giant mousetrap.
The insatiable greed of the hunters would drive them into the trap of their own accord.
As Lafitte soared overhead with the fruit, the gazes of pirates and bounty hunters alike followed him upward.
"Shoot him down!"
A single cry pierced through the chaotic murmur, igniting a new wave of hostility.
The words acted as a battle cry, and the arena erupted into a storm of gunfire.
Countless bullets tore through the air, all aimed at Lafitte.
"Hoho…"
Relying on Observation Haki, Lafitte deftly evaded the hail of bullets with calculated movements.
Back on the platform, Maude watched as Lafitte drew most of the firepower away. Suppressing his concern, he turned to Jim and handed him the unconscious Baby 5.
"Jim, keep an eye on her."
"Understood."
Jim caught Baby 5 in his large hands.
Maude gave him a brief nod before darting toward Conan and Barton on the opposite side of the arena.
"Jim, stop standing around and find somewhere to hide!"
Perched on Jim's bald head, Bailey pointed toward an exit gate at the edge of the arena, adopting a commanding tone befitting a self-proclaimed "big brother."
Without hesitation, Jim followed Bailey's instructions, moving swiftly toward the suggested location.
Neither Jim nor Bailey needed to participate in the battle, so staying on the conspicuous platform was unnecessary. Hiding at the edge of the colosseum was the wisest choice.
Several pirates and bounty hunters noticed Jim and Bailey's retreat but didn't give it much thought.
Their focus remained on Lafitte and the Devil Fruit in his grasp.
As long as the fruit was in play—and Lafitte, as a Devil Fruit user himself, couldn't consume it—there was still a chance for anyone to seize it.
They believed that if they could bring Lafitte down, the fruit would be up for grabs. And unlike Maude and Lafitte, who paraded it openly, whoever claimed it next wouldn't hesitate to take the first bite.
With most of the attention diverted to Lafitte, Maude set his sights on Conan and Barton, marking them as his next targets.
"Hm?"
Barton, who was nearing the arena's exit, suddenly felt a chilling wave of killing intent from behind.
Beside him, Conan also sensed the danger, and the two turned simultaneously to see Maude charging toward them, blade in hand.
Damn it…
A cold sweat ran down their backs as they realized Maude's intentions.
Moments ago, Barton had spouted bravado, only to be slashed by Maude. He had hoped to turn the situation around but was interrupted when Buffalo and Baby 5 had drawn Maude's attention.
At the time, Barton had considered using the opportunity to ambush Maude.
But Buffalo and Baby 5 had fallen so swiftly that Barton abandoned the idea entirely.
Having decided to give up on the Devil Fruit, Barton had been preparing to leave the colosseum with Conan.
And yet, Maude was now coming straight for them.
Caught off guard, their confusion was replaced by fear.
"We're not after the Devil Fruit anymore!"
Barton shouted, hoping to make his intentions clear.
His plea was simple: they no longer intended to fight for the fruit, so Maude had no reason to trouble them.
Maude, however, said nothing, his expression unreadable as a faint, cryptic smile curled his lips.
That smile sent a shiver down their spines.
In that instant, they both understood.
This man…
It hit them.
Bacardi Maude wasn't after the Devil Fruit.
He was after them.
"Y-you…!"
Cold sweat poured down Barton's back as he drew the large cleaver strapped to his waist.
Suddenly, Maude's earlier words echoed in his mind.
"From the very beginning, I never planned on retreating."
It all made sense.
"Bacardi Maude… from the start, you were planning to—"
Barton's words were cut short as a slash came hurtling toward him, forcing him to defend himself.
In that moment, he fully understood Maude's true purpose.
It wasn't the Devil Fruit that Maude sought—it was the hunt.
For a man like Barton, seasoned in years of piracy, the realization sent an icy dread through his core.
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