The camera technology in this world was already quite advanced, capable of printing photos instantly.
As Claire's group sprinted down the corridor, she pressed a button on the camera. Two photos slid out.
"Here," Claire said, still running, holding out one of the photos to Pedro, who was on her right.
"Thanks," Pedro said, taking it and tucking it into his coat.
He glanced to his left at Claire, then, after a moment of thought, he spoke while still running. "Tell me your plan."
Claire's eyes shifted slightly to look at him, a little surprised by the jaguar's sharp mind.
"One moment. I need to report to my boss first."
Pedro nodded, his eyes fixed forward as he ran, saying nothing more.
Claire didn't slow down. She dialed Wilder's number. The Den Den Mushi rang twice before it was answered. Wilder's authoritative voice came through. "Claire?"
"Boss, we have the text," Claire reported, her tone laced with a hint of pride.
"Excellent!" Wilder's voice was filled with praise and affirmation. He then added, "Are the Straw Hat's crewmates still with you?"
The Den Den Mushi's voice was not quiet. Pedro, running alongside her, heard it and slightly adjusted his pace to match Claire's.
A thought flickered in his mind, a glint in the depths of his eyes. So that man, Wilder, is here as well…
"Yes, boss, we're still together," Claire answered. She then asked, "Boss, what are our next steps?"
Pedro's ears twitched, subconsciously trying to learn more about Morass's plans.
"Are you being pursued?" Wilder asked, apparently hearing the sound of their hurried footsteps.
"Uh… yes," Claire admitted, slightly embarrassed.
In truth, she had never been pursued like this before, and she was a little ashamed to admit it for the first time.
Of course, alongside the embarrassment, there was also a thrill, a sense of excitement that came from being hunted in enemy territory.
There was a moment of silence on the other end as Wilder seemed to be thinking.
"Since the Straw Hat's men are still with you, stick together and get out of there as fast as you can. Big Mom should be heading your way soon. Once you're clear, find a way to blend in and get to the palace rooftop. I'm here. The wedding banquet is also being held here. When the time comes, if all goes according to plan… this is where we make our move." Wilder's calm voice sent a jolt through everyone who heard it.
Big Mom is coming?
Pedro's pupils contracted, as if a bad memory had been triggered. His fists clenched unconsciously.
Franpetar and Jacks's expressions also turned grim.
This was not good news. They had a Sweet Commander on their tail, and now Big Mom was on her way? This was…
This was going to be a problem.
Although Brook was running slightly behind, he had clearly heard the conversation. His face, if he had one, turned pale, and his jaw dropped in an exaggerated fashion.
"Understood, boss." Claire's face was stern as she hung up. She looked at the others. "Everyone, we need to pick up the pace!"
"Right." The others nodded grimly.
The group pushed their speed to the absolute maximum, hurtling forward.
Just then, Brook's legs began to spin like wheels, and he sidled up next to Claire, getting closer… and closer… as if he was about to press his entire body against her.
He only backed off a little when he met her frosty gaze.
"And what should I call such a beautiful lady?" Brook asked, his legs a blur of motion while his hands elegantly performed a gentleman's bow.
Claire's eyelid twitched. What is with this weirdo?
Still, she answered coolly, "Claire."
"Claire! Yohohoho! What a beautiful name! In that case… my dear Ms. Claire, may I be so bold as to see your panties? Yohohoho!"
...
A minute later, the group was still sprinting down the endless corridor. A tall skeleton now had a large bump on his head and a chipped tooth, his entire skull looking bruised and swollen.
Strangely, he still maintained an air of profound, gentlemanly elegance.
"Well then, Miss Claire, I understand your and your country's intentions. To have your help in our joint effort against Big Mom is a great confidence booster. I will inform Luffy when I rendezvous with him."
"No need. Franpetar will go with you. You can coordinate the specific details of the plan with him. He knows our plan as well," Claire said, resisting the urge to beat up the guy who was once again trying to get too close.
"Franpetar… and Jacks, you go too," Claire said, turning to the two of them. "You'll operate with the Straw Hat crew. Give them one of the weapons we prepared and explain the plan to them."
"Yes."
"Alright."
Neither of them objected to Claire's arrangement. As the highest-ranking minister, she had the authority and the strength to make such decisions. She continued, "Once you've met up with Straw Hat and integrated your plans, come to the palace rooftop."
Everyone nodded. Brook then pointed to the objects on the backs of Claire, Franpetar, and Jacks. "I've been meaning to ask… what are those things you're carrying?"
What Brook was referring to were wooden cylinders, about a meter long and thirty centimeters in diameter. Each of the three Morass members had one strapped to their back.
"They're weapons to use against Big Mom."
"Oh? OH! Against Big Mom, you say? This…" Brook was stunned. Even the usually silent Pedro couldn't help but widen his eyes, his gaze shifting to the cylinders on their backs.
"Wh-what's inside? Can I see?" Brook asked, reaching out a hand.
"Idiot! Do you really think now is the time for that?!" Claire was speechless. She leaped into the air and brought her fist down in a critical hit on Brook's head.
"Y-yes, you have a point, Miss Claire," Brook said, once again subdued.
The five of them continued their frantic sprint. Soon, they finally reached an intersection. But at that moment, groups of soldiers swarmed in from the surrounding corridors, blocking their path forward.
There were about two hundred of them in total, a mix of Chess Soldiers and human soldiers. In their midst were two large, stout men with bald patches on their heads. Clearly, they were also sons of Big Mom.
"Heh heh…" The first bald-patched man grinned cruelly, his eyes fixed on the five of them as if they were prey. Armament Haki spread across his thick arms, instantly coating them in black.
"Get them!" Without a single wasted word, the second bald-patched man also coated his arms in black Haki. With a wave of his hand, he spat out a single, vicious word. The soldiers swarmed forward. He then leaped into the air, crossing dozens of meters in an instant, and appeared above Claire, bringing his fist down. The punch tore through the air, creating visible ripples.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
At the same time, the soldiers raised their guns and pulled the triggers. A dense hail of bullets surged toward the five of them.
The first bald-patched man also shot toward them like a cannonball. In mid-air, his massive arm was already raised, his fist clenched and coated in terrifying Armament Haki. A cruel smile spread across his face as he aimed a punch at the center of their group.
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!
The sharp sound of bullets filled the air as they flew from the front. At the same time, two human cannonballs were attacking from above and straight ahead. The situation was critical.
"Hmph!" A black shadow shot past Claire from behind, appearing above her head in an instant. Then, with a loud BOOM!, the bald-patched man was sent flying back the way he came, even faster than he had arrived, crashing into a group of soldiers.
"So fast!" Pedro's pupils contracted. He looked up. Above Claire, Jacks, who had been at the back of the group, now had his arms transformed into a pair of wings, which he flapped to hold himself aloft. He stood in mid-air, his cold gaze sweeping over the area where he had kicked the bald-patched man.
His feet had also transformed into a pair of thick, sharp talons. His five claws were spread wide, shimmering with a dark light, giving off an incredibly dangerous and lethal aura.
Claire was also shocked. She glanced up at Jacks for a moment before looking away, a small smile playing on her lips. "Not bad, Jacks. It seems the boss's expectations for you weren't in vain."
No one, not even Franpetar, had expected Jacks to have grown this strong. His speed and explosive power were so great that even Claire hadn't had time to react before the bald-patched man was sent flying. And in that instant, she thought she had seen five bloody holes burst open on the man's chest.
At first, she thought she had been mistaken, but now…
Claire's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of blood on the floor, confirming that she had seen correctly.
Jacks didn't reply to Claire's words, just offered a faint smile. He then looked ahead and said, in a tone that was both commanding and playful, "In any case, I can't let our highest-ranking minister waste her energy on these small fry."
"True enough." Just then, Franpetar stepped forward with a smile. The two exquisite pistols that had been holstered at his waist were now in his hands. His eyes fell on the first bald-patched man, who was now charging toward them in a rage.
Jacks glanced at Franpetar out of the corner of his eye, a smirk on his face. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting coldly. "I'll leave that one to you. One each seems fair. As for these annoying bullets… I'll take care of them."
With that, Jacks's body suddenly dropped, gliding forward as he spread his wings wide.
BOOM!
A shockwave from his incredible speed exploded in the distance, the sound deafening.
Everyone's heart skipped a beat, once again shocked by Jacks's power.
He had completely vanished from his original position, and his speed…
"Th-that speed…!" Franpetar and the others' eyes widened. Jacks's growth had once again shattered their understanding.
"That's much faster than the speed of sound!" Claire's mouth was agape in shock.
At that terrifying speed, the entire corridor was filled with a humming sound, like a fighter jet, that echoed without end.
Jacks had become a blur, as if his entire body had been smudged. He shot directly toward the soldiers ahead.
As he flew, a gale-force wind erupted from his rapidly beating wings, sharp as a blade and carrying an immense air pressure that filled the space.
Wherever he passed, the bullets would halt and wobble in mid-air, then, as if they had lost all momentum, they would clatter harmlessly to the ground.
From the moment Jacks made his move, kicking away the first bald-patched man, to his current high-speed flight that neutralized the bullets, the entire sequence seemed long, but it all happened in an instant.
Before the bullets could even reach Claire and the others, their threat had been completely eliminated.
By now, the first bald-patched man had reached them. Claire was at the front, so she was his primary target.
Franpetar snapped out of his shock, his eyes locking onto the man. His body flickered, and he disappeared.
The bald-patched man's massive fist was already crashing down on Claire. Seemingly picturing her mangled state after his attack, a cruel smile spread across his face. "Hahaha! Enjoy this!"
Swish!
But in the next moment, a petite figure appeared between him and Claire. His knees were slightly bent, his body in a half-crouch. Even compared to Claire, his frame seemed delicate and small.
But at that moment, the bald-patched man's massive fist stopped less than ten centimeters from Claire's face.
His body stiffened, and cold sweat poured down his face. His pupils trembled as his gaze slowly lowered, finally coming to rest.
A large-barreled pistol, a faint wisp of white smoke curling from its muzzle, was held steady in Franpetar's right hand. His left hand held another pistol, tucked close to his waist.
And where the smoking muzzle was pointing, in the bald-patched man's abdomen, there was a hole the size of a soccer ball. The edges were scorched black. His midsection was completely gone. You could see straight through him to the corridor beyond.
Thud!
The light faded from the bald-patched man's eyes. He slowly fell backward, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.