This place used to be Golden Lion's territory, so the architectural style leaned toward the classical era. Aside from the central mansion, there were over a dozen smaller outbuildings.
These structures were interconnected in a complex web; trying to sneak in through the ground floors was practically impossible. The rooftops were the only viable path.
"The blueprints are definitely inside the main building. We need to find a way to get closer..."
Big Mark tugged lightly on the chain in his hand, moving as quietly as possible.
But the moment he took his first step, his body suddenly stiffened.
"Who's there?!"
He shouted sharply, twisting his body to stare toward another direction.
It was the roof of one of the other outbuildings, which was situated at a much higher elevation.
From down here, Big Mark had to look upward. The darkness of the night obscured his vision, but he could just barely make out the shape of a crow perched on the edge of the roof, its eyes fixed steadily in his direction.
Strangely enough, the bird's eyes were blood-red, with three tomoe symbols slowly rotating within them.
"What on earth is that?" Big Mark felt a chill run down his spine; those eyes seemed to possess a strange, unsettling power.
"Hehehe..."
Just then, a soft laugh drifted through the air.
Big Mark froze completely, his expression turning grim. "Who's there? Stop hiding! I know you're nearby—what's the point of skulking in the shadows?"
"Your instinct for sensing danger is quite sharp."
The voice sounded again. The next moment, countless crows descended from the sky, covering the rooftop completely.
The birds swarmed together, merging and blending until they slowly took the shape of a human figure.
Standing there was a man with blood-red eyes, each containing three black tomoe.
"So, the new Warlord recruited by the Marines isn't just some random nobody after all," Big Mark thought, his heart pounding with unease. This eerie entrance made it impossible for him to remain calm.
"Who are you?" He took a deep breath, tightening his grip on the chain in his hand. "Another intruder? Or..."
To this, the man replied calmly.
"From Phantom. Uchiha Itachi. Relax, I'm no big shot—just a simple ninja. My assignment tonight amidst all this chaos is to capture the two of you alive."
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Big Mark's eyes flickered. He had actually heard this name before.
While the existence of Uchiha Itachi was kept secret from the outside world, the Marines knew exactly who he was.
Before embarking on this mission, the Marines had specifically shared intelligence regarding key members of Phantom, and Itachi was among those mentioned.
"How did you spot me?" Big Mark asked with a heavy expression. "I completely changed my face!"
His Steal-Steal Fruit ability allowed him to take whatever he touched with his right hand—including the facial features of others.
Earlier, he had eliminated a patrol squad and stolen one of their faces, planning to use it as a disguise to slip away unnoticed if they were discovered.
He never expected that a member of Phantom would lock onto him instantly despite the disguise.
Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi remained expressionless. "Your disguise is flawless. I couldn't detect a single trace of falseness. Aside from your voice being a giveaway, even your aura is indistinguishable. As to how we were able to find you so easily... you don't need to know."
Realizing there was no point in pretending anymore, Big Mark wiped his face with his left hand. Instantly, his features twisted and shifted, returning to his original, ugly appearance.
"Heh heh... I didn't think you'd actually see through it," he laughed dryly, raising both hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Now... if I told you I was just here to enjoy the view... I don't suppose you'd believe me, would you?"
Itachi raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You certainly know how to react wisely—surrendering immediately."
"I'm not very good at fighting, so... I think I'll be leaving first!"
Big Mark's voice trailed off. Suddenly, he turned around and leaped straight off the roof.
Vladimir had been anticipating such a move. Seeing him flee, he moved instantly to give chase.
But right at that moment, the chain around the large dog's neck loosened and fell away. A low roar echoed into the night, and the creature's body expanded to ten times its original size.
Awooo!
A long, mournful wolf howl pierced the darkness.
The beast's fur changed subtly, becoming brighter, sleeker, and more lustrous. It bared its fangs, radiating a terrifying, savage killing intent.
"Hahaha! Finally! I've regained my true form!" The wolf-dog spoke in a human voice, laughing wildly and triumphantly.
"Stop him! Don't let him get away!" Big Mark's voice rang out, but his figure had already vanished into the shadows of the night.
The giant wolf bared its teeth in response. Inwardly, it had absolutely no intention of helping Big Mark, yet it couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"Hmph. Sooner or later, I'll kill that bastard myself!"
The wolf's eyes flashed dangerously as it turned to face Vladimir, speaking in a deep, rumbling voice. "You're not going after him?"
"He won't get far. Compared to him... I find you much more interesting."
Uchiha Itachi gazed at the beast calmly. "Your name is Polu, right? An awakened Zoan user?"
"I used to be a great pirate too!" Polu sneered. "Surely you've heard the name—'Poison Wolf'!"
He had risen to fame in the years immediately following Gol D. Roger's death, when the Great Pirate Era had just begun.
It was a time when monstrous figures were emerging left and right, all fighting to claim the title of Four Emperors. He was one of those who had failed in that struggle.
"No, I haven't," Itachi shook his head simply.
"What?!" Polu roared in anger. "Don't lie to me! It's only been a few years since I was famous—how could you not have heard of me?! My bounty was 899,000,000 Berries!"
A bounty of nearly 900 million... roughly equal to the combat strength of one of the Three Disasters?
Itachi looked him over carefully, then shook his head slightly. This awakened Zoan user was certainly strong, but he was nowhere near the level of the Disasters.
Seeing him remain silent, Polu's eyes darted around craftily. He let out a low chuckle and said,
"Actually... I never intended to make an enemy of you guys. Phantom is way too powerful—I'd have to be out of my mind to go poking a tiger with a stick. But the truth is... that bastard and I share a special bond. If he dies, I die too. So... how about you let us go? I swear, from now on, whenever I see anyone from Phantom, I'll take the long way around!"
He spoke in a deliberately cowardly and humble manner, trying his best to sound harmless.
But Itachi remained unmoved. His gaze sharpened, and in an instant, his pupils transformed into the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Suddenly, time seemed to slow down. The entire world became crystal clear before his eyes; every minute detail, every tiny movement, nothing could escape his perception.
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