The assassins' expressions began to change. They had initially believed that this operation would be much smoother. The enemies before them were just a few naval officers; how could they possibly match up to their well-trained assassins?
But reality delivered them a harsh blow.
Those seemingly ordinary naval elites had actually reacted so quickly and launched a counterattack without hesitation.
Even worse, the skills of several high-ranking naval officers were proving to be a challenge for them.
"Damn it!"
One of the assassins, his face grim, cursed himself inwardly for being too confident.
Previously, he had easily taken down several vice admirals, and even some veteran admirals hadn't warranted much of his attention.
But now, he clearly felt the strength of the people before him, especially when Fire Fist charged at him with a fierce momentum, almost overwhelming him.
"Quick, kill them!"
His commander's deep voice broke through his thoughts.
Seeing the gradually collapsing situation around them, the assassins realized that their plan had gone awry.
Although they were still killing, the increasing number of New Navy counterattacks began to put pressure on them.
"Heh..."
An assassin chuckled contemptuously, a cold glint in his eyes. He drew a slender dart from his chest and swiftly threw it towards Garp's neck.
The dart cut through the air, whistling as it flew like a phantom.
However, Garp had already sensed the danger. He reacted extremely quickly, abruptly shifting his body, relying on his incredible physical reflexes to narrowly avoid the fatal blow.
The dart grazed his collar and pierced straight into the wall.
He grinned, seemingly unfazed by the near miss.
"Is that all you've got?"
Garp laughed, his eyes flashing with disdain.
The assassin was taken aback for a moment, then he suddenly swung his sword at Garp's neck, but Fire Fist's naval war hammer had swiftly moved in front, forcefully blocking the attack with a loud "clang."
Garp still wore a smile on his face, unwavering.
Then, he swung his hammer backhand, hitting the assassin's shoulder. The force caused the man to instantly lose his balance and fall to the ground.
"Damn it!"
Despite this, the assassins still didn't give up. They knew time was running out, and they had to retreat quickly to continue their mission.
So, using a pre-arranged escape route, they fought their way out.
Although they had killed many officers, even some vice admirals, their goal had not been fully achieved.
Another assassin, seeing the situation was unfavorable, quickly turned and leaped out of the window, his figure disappearing like a ghost.
On the other side, Fire Fist noticed the assassins' retreat, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. He leaped forward, wanting to give chase, but Garp's deep voice came from behind.
"Don't chase them. We've already lost too much."
Garp stood up and waved for the others to stop.
Fire Fist stopped, saying in a deep voice:
"We can't let them escape so easily. They'll take information back.
The World Government will never let us off easily."
And these assassins were no ordinary enemies. Each of them was battle-hardened, with complex backgrounds and powerful support.
Although they had lost several officers, the surviving naval soldiers were still full of determination.
"They must have come prepared this time," Fire Fist said in a low voice.
"This isn't just a simple assassination; it's an organized, planned counterattack."
Garp nodded, his brow furrowed, already making a plan.
"That's right, the World Government won't let us off so easily.
The battle to come will be the true test."
Then, Garp turned to the other New Navy officers, directing them to begin clearing the battlefield and bring the wounded back for treatment.
At the same time, a hint of coldness flickered in his eyes.
Even if the enemy successfully retreated, they would never give the World Government another chance in the next battle.
"From today onwards, yes, they will know the true power of our Navy and the New Navy."
Garp gritted his teeth, silently vowing.
The assassins' retreat did not make them feel relieved. Instead, it made Fire Fist and Garp more vigilant. They knew that the war to come would be even more brutal.
......
After successfully escaping the New Navy base's encirclement, the assassins did not immediately evacuate. Instead, they chose to continue to lurk on the island.
Their figures once again blended into the shadows of the island, as if disappearing into the endless darkness.
The air on the island was heavy and tense. Night fell, and only the silent sea breeze swept around. A few night birds occasionally chirped in the air, but this tranquility was the best cover for the assassins' activities.
The leader of the assassins, his face covered in cold sweat, his breathing a little rapid, but his eyes still flashed with a firm coldness.
The companions behind him also focused on guarding the surroundings.
Although they successfully escaped from the fierce battle, they knew that today's action was not perfect, but rather a bit hasty.
"We can't let them off so easily."
One of the assassins said in a low voice, his eyes filled with anger and resentment.
He stood in the shadows, his fingers tightly holding his sharp dagger, making a slight noise.
"Continue the operation, clear goals," the leader of the assassins said coldly, his eyes sweeping across the New Navy base in the distance.
"We have to remain hidden and wait for a better opportunity.
As long as we live, the high-level members of the Navy and the New Navy will never be at ease."
"They think they can defeat us, what a joke!"
Another assassin sneered, tightening the grip on the knife in his hand.
"This is just the beginning. We will infiltrate their defenses again and again, making them fall into endless panic without realizing it."
Their mood did not waver in the slightest. Although the temporary failure made them feel a bit resentful, the sense of mission in their hearts became stronger.
They were the World Government's loyalists, not just for money or power, but for a belief that had long been deeply rooted in their bones—the World Government's will is supreme.
No matter the cost, they had to make the New Navy pay for their previous "betrayal."
For them, death was not terrible. What really frightened them was the failure to complete their mission.
"Keep a low profile and continue to lurk," the leader of the assassins ordered again, his voice revealing an unquestionable majesty.
The others responded and gradually dispersed, disappearing into the darkness.
They were not going to carry out a simple assassination, but to quietly spread fear and unease in every corner until their target was crushed, until they could no longer recover from this invisible threat.
At the same time, on the other side of the island, Garp, Fire Fist, and other surviving generals had begun to count the casualties and formulate response plans.
Although they had temporarily secured the safety of the base, they knew that the World Government's counterattack would not stop there.
The enemy would not let them go, and they had no room to retreat.
Everyone understood that the days to come would be endless fierce battles.
Garp stood quietly on the high platform of the base, looking into the distance.
Every inch of land on the island seemed to be full of danger, and he felt a pressure he had never felt before.
The World Government's loyalists lurked around them, like ghosts in the dark, ready to give them a fatal blow at any time.
"They are just the beginning," a hint of coldness flashed in Garp's eyes as he clenched his fist tightly.
No matter what, they would never be defeated.
The power of the New Navy must not be ignored.
At the same time, the assassins were still lurking in every corner of the island, carefully observing the movements of each Navy member.
They waited for the right opportunity, ready to go.
And the pervasive atmosphere of danger on the island gradually penetrated the hearts of every New Navy member. They knew that the tranquility could be broken at any time.
...
...
