Chapter 69: Proactive Retreat!
Of course, if Buggy had known back then that he would need to find Devil Fruits for Sandersonia and her sister, he definitely would have kept the Slow-Slow Fruit.
After all, using the Slow-Slow Fruit against Golden Lion Shiki would have made the battle much easier.
Although Hancock had never seen the Slow-Slow Fruit's ability, she was not unfamiliar with it at all. After all, when Buggy told Hancock about his past, he had given a particularly detailed account of various Devil Fruit abilities.
Therefore, when Bonez was hit, Hancock knew that Sarkozy IV's ability was the Slow-Slow Fruit.
Hancock immediately figured out how to deal with the Slow-Slow Fruit's ability, which was why she had rapidly retreated and then proactively used her own ability to create toys.
Of course, this alone was not enough. Before Hancock's doll could even reach Bonez, Bonez's chin had already been hit by a heavy punch from Sarkozy IV, wrapped in Armament Haki.
This was even with Sarkozy IV and his new subordinates not being well-coordinated. If Sarkozy IV and that smiling fellow had been in sync, Bonez probably would have suffered more than just a punch; he would have had a few more holes in his body.
As for the attacks from the other three Zoan-type ability users, they could be completely ignored. After all, these guys couldn't even imbue their attacks with Haki, so they weren't enough to cause any damage to Bonez.
The squinting-eyed man in mid-air, upon seeing Bonez get hit, did fly down immediately, wanting to land a vicious blow on Bonez. However, the rapier in his hand was blocked by the giant tin toy.
At the same time, from the ground behind Bonez, a giant hand made of mud and rock suddenly shot out. After grabbing Bonez, it threw him directly backwards, sending him flying towards Hancock's vicinity.
This was a new application of Hancock's ability. Instead of directly creating a full toy, she directly created a part of one, called the Mud-Rock Toy Arm.
It didn't have much attack power against a master, nor could it block much. It was merely for creating a momentary obstruction for the opponent.
Of course, it could also be used to move a comrade, just like now.
Seeing Bonez flying away, Sarkozy IV of course couldn't just watch. He once again fired his slow-down beam, attempting to prolong Bonez's time in the air.
However, Hancock had already thought of this when she used the Mud-Rock Toy Arm. The toy arm was raised high at the same time Sarkozy IV fired the beam, directly blocking all of it.
As for the Mud-Rock Toy Arm being slowed down, it had no effect on Hancock whatsoever.
The other two of the three Zoan-type ability users who wanted to give chase were blocked by the other tin toy, all except the most agile Saber-Toothed Tiger user.
Watching the giant saber-toothed tiger pounce towards Bonez, Bonez could do nothing, no matter what he thought; his body was still slowed.
Just as the saber-toothed tiger's massive fangs were about to bite Bonez's head, Hancock had already disappeared from her spot. In the next second, she appeared beside the saber-toothed tiger, her shiny black high-heeled shoe stamping directly onto the tiger's neck.
With a mournful howl, the giant saber-toothed tiger was sent flying by Hancock, landing in the distant ruins with a mouth full of blood.
Pulling Bonez back to Betty's side, Hancock said nothing. With a flash, she was beside the other soldiers. Her palms struck out continuously, and one by one, tin toys stood up and began to surround Sarkozy IV.
Watching the unkillable tin toys swarm towards him, Sarkozy IV, who had felt the situation was tricky from the beginning, now understood that winning would be very difficult. But he hadn't expected it to be this difficult.
He had originally thought that if he found an opportunity to launch a sneak attack before revealing his ability, he could definitely take out Daz Bonez. But Sarkozy IV had never imagined that the moment he made his move, and the first time he used his ability in front of the opponent, the girl who hadn't made a move yet would react with such divine speed.
Now, not only had the sneak attack not been a complete success, but it had also prompted that girl who hadn't acted to use her ability, and such a terrifying one at that. It was truly a miscalculation. But thinking about it from another angle, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. At least he now knew that this girl who hadn't made a move was the most terrifying existence among the three.
Having gathered enough intelligence, Sarkozy IV analyzed the situation for a moment and understood that this battle should not continue.
If it continued until their captain arrived, he might really suffer a disastrous defeat.
"Pochi, Saru, Lian, Lafitte, stop attacking! Strategic retreat, now!" As he spoke, Sarkozy IV turned and began to run wildly.
The four who were still entangled with the tin toys never expected their boss to suddenly flee. Not only them, but even Hancock and her team hadn't expected Sarkozy IV to be so decisive.
Watching Sarkozy IV and his men break away from the battlefield and disappear from sight, Hancock did not give chase. At the same time, she also stopped Daz Bonez, who wanted to pursue them.
"Hancock, are we just going to watch them leave like that?" Daz Bonez touched his chin, quite displeased. The spot where Sarkozy IV had hit him was still aching.
"Chasing them could easily expose a weakness. What Brother Buggy wants is a perfect victory, and this perfection is based on the condition that no one gets injured. As for them, they can't escape. With you here, even if they set out to sea, catching up is just a matter of time." Hancock was very confident about this.
"But they will contact the Marines or even some violent agencies of the World Government. This will create considerable difficulty for us." Daz Bonez could guess Sarkozy IV's subsequent call for help without even thinking.
"If they want to call for help, let them. Anyone Brother Buggy wants dead is dead, even if they hide in the Holy Land Mary Geoise. And I think this is even better. Just raiding three kingdoms, how can that be more shocking than taking out some guy while he's under the protection of the Marines or the World Government? Let's go, let's go meet up with Brother Buggy."
After speaking, Hancock picked up the still-recovering Betty and jumped onto the head of one tin toy, while Daz Bonez jumped onto the head of another.
Waving her hand to release the other toys, Hancock directed the remaining two to walk out of the city.
A few hours later, on a hillside dozens of kilometers from the Sarkozy royal capital, the arriving Buggy met the three who were resting.
"Brother Buggy, they retreated on their own. Betty was still weak at the time, so I didn't pursue them. I estimate they've probably gone to seek help from the World Government."
After hearing Hancock's words, Buggy smiled faintly. After stroking Betty's head, he said, "No one can save him. Let's go. We'll rendezvous at the White Town first, then set out to hunt them down."
(End of Chapter)