C17 Clique Pirate Group

"Mission: Eliminate Clique"

Mission Level: C

Reward: 500 Mission Points, 1 Permanent Chakra Fruit, Shadow Clone Technique, Body Technique: Konoha Dragon God."

This mission wasn't one found in the usual Mission Hall, but a genuine task issued by the system. The rewards were on par with the previous mission to capture Ace.

The Clique Pirate Group?

Isn't that the pirate crew that entered the Great Voyage only a week ago and was promptly chased back to the East Sea by Eagle Eye?

They claimed to be the largest pirate crew in the East Sea, yet Eagle Eye single-handedly defeated all five thousand of them.

It figures. A weakling with no real strength, leading five thousand fodder against the world's foremost Great Sword Hero, was bound to be powerless.

But how did Eagle Eye manage to cross the Windless Zone by himself?

Did he truly use the Supreme Great Sharp Blade as an oar to sail without wind?

Otherwise, his propulsion method remains a mystery.

Witnessing Eagle Eye rowing in the Windless Zone must have shattered his aloof image, prompting him to kill to keep the secret. Or perhaps Clique saw something even more confidential. The situation is certainly not as straightforward as it seems. So, Clique, you unfortunate soul, what exactly did you witness?

Rodney was engaged in a merchant ship escort mission. The current size of the Clique crew was nowhere near its later scale; there definitely weren't five thousand members, but the exact number was unclear. He needed to devise a plan en route.

"Should I head to Rogue Town and bring Smoke Man along?" He pondered, stroking his chin, and decided it was a good idea. Despite Smoke Man's hard luck, he could hold his own in a fight, much like Casari.

It had been two or three days since he left Branch 153, and Rogue Town was still some distance away. Checking his location, he realized the Clique Pirate Group was surprisingly close.

So, what's the strategy? Stealth, ambush, or direct confrontation?

He'd start with a direct confrontation and if that failed, resort to sneaking in for an assassination, even if it meant being an incompetent assassin.

Alas, not everyone is cut out to be a crowned assassin, brandishing a great sword and heavy armor, demanding heads at the slightest provocation, and resorting to cannibalism when starved.

The distinction between a true assassin and an imposter is immediately apparent!

He didn't let his mind wander; instead, he continued his training, which brought him joy!

Three days later, under the brilliant sunshine, Rodney was fully prepared, armed with ninja essentials like shuriken, White Fang, kunai, and explosive talismans. He noticed the Clique Pirate Group closing in on the merchant ship. Using chakra to adhere to the soles of his feet, he made his way to the crow's nest. Activating his Sharingan, he gained an incredibly long-range view. On the distant horizon, a fleet was slowly drawing near, each ship bearing the same pirate insignia: a skull flanked by hourglasses.

The flagship, adorned with a menacing black panther figurehead, exuded an aura of aggression—Clique Pirate Group!

Rodney couldn't help but smile; however, his first order of business was to urge the merchant ship's captain to make a hasty retreat.

"Pirates?!" The corpulent captain wasn't scared upon hearing the news; instead, he retorted, "The very reason I hired you lot is because of the pirates. What else would I need you for? Leave these ruffians to you, the guards."

"I can't protect this many people."

"That's not my problem. You'll have to figure something out. Pirate Hunter Jonathan J. Rodney, I hired you, so it's your issue to solve," the captain said dismissively, pointing at Rodney with his thick, carrot-like fingers.

Are you out of your mind?

Rodney was so frustrated he wanted to hurl his slipper at the captain's basin-sized face. With a fierce glare, he used the Sharingan to take control of the captain, compelling him to issue orders to halt the fleet.

Shaking his head, Rodney stepped out of the room, and under the captain's command, the fleet came to a stop.

The merchant fleet wasn't just one ship; there were others trailing behind, each transporting goods like local delicacies, tobacco, wine, and various other items. The captain had some integrity, steering clear of illegal merchandise.

Guards were stationed on the ships daily, but Rodney gauged that none seemed capable of besting him, suggesting they were merely there to earn their keep.

Unlike a passenger liner teeming with people, the merchant ship was staffed primarily with essential personnel and guards, totaling a little over a hundred souls. In the event of a skirmish, Rodney wasn't sure he could safeguard everyone.

Rodney nodded, leapt from the boat, and landed on the tumultuous sea surface.

As he moved with the waves, bobbing up and down, he noticed the absence of Sea King Species attacks, which left him feeling somewhat thwarted.

He had hoped to capture one and use it as free labor, but alas, he was left disappointed.

Nonetheless, he remained vigilant, ready for action at such a great distance.

"Water Clone!"

Three clones formed from the sea, each grasping an Explosive Talisman, and they surged toward the distant fleet.

Rodney had already deactivated his Sharingan to conserve energy.

Even though the Sharingan was a perfect match for his body, with a major battle on the horizon, it was prudent to conserve Chakra.

...

The Delido Salan was the vessel of the self-proclaimed pirate admiral, Clique, and it was where most of his formidable crew was stationed.

Clique, clad in heavy golden armor with his light purple hair tied under a headscarf, looked quite ordinary. In the One Piece Universe, beauty and ugliness were polarized, with few falling in between.

Maybe it's easier to draw someone a bit uglier... and it certainly adds character...

Well, maybe too much character...

"Can't we find something amusing to do?" Clique asked, propping his head up with one hand, clearly bored.

Sailing could be a monotonous affair, often more tedious than thrilling.

"Chief Clique, there's a merchant convoy that's stopped not far from here," the lookout shouted from the crow's nest, telescope in hand.

"Oh? A merchant convoy?" Clique perked up at the news, laughing heartily. "Lads, get ready. Notify the others; we're in for a big skirmish today."

The pirates aboard erupted in cheers, brandishing their weapons with glee.

Aydian, the strategist of the Clique Pirate Group, inquired, "Chief Clique, shall we proceed as we usually do?"

By that, he meant their usual ruse of impersonating the navy to lower the merchants' guard, a tactic Clique often employed. Whether it was feigning surrender or backstabbing the enemy, Clique would stop at nothing to achieve his ends. Unprincipled and ruthless, he knew nothing of gratitude—truly a villain beyond redemption.

"No need for underhanded tactics this time; I'm sick of them. Let's do this the honorable way—a righteous robbery! Hahahaha!" His laughter was grating to the ears.

The entire crew of pirates joined in the raucous laughter. The Clique's leader was spot on—resorting to dirty tricks was dull. A straightforward heist was far more thrilling!

How could the caravan's guards stand a chance against the Clique Pirate Group? They were the undisputed masters of the East Sea, the formidable Clique Pirate Group under Clique's command. Surely they could easily overpower a mere caravan.

Amidst their overwhelming confidence, the lookout's voice pierced the air once again, his tone laced with astonishment, "Chief Clique, there's someone... someone running on the sea's surface, heading this way at incredible speed!"

"Hey, have you had too much to drink? What kind of drivel are you spouting? How can someone run on the sea? It's the ocean! Do you get that?" a high-ranking pirate barked in response to the claim.

How could anyone possibly run on the sea? Had he lost all sense of reason?

The lookout insisted, "Damn it, Beck, I'm sober. I saw it with my own eyes. Four individuals, all looking exactly alike! Is he watching me?!"

Clique remained unflustered and declared, "Must be a Devil Fruit Ability User. No cause for concern. We're the Clique Pirate Group, the tyrants of the East Sea! A mere Devil Fruit Ability User poses no threat to us. These novices aren't invincible! All we need to do is dunk him in the sea, and the problem's solved! Sniper, take him out!"

"At your command, Chief Clique!"