Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
By the time the report arrived, it was already the following morning.
The tall, thin Elder frowned deeply:
"This can no longer be described as a coincidence."
"Anyone connected to that name..."
"Always turns into trouble in the end."
The curly-haired Elder narrowed his eyes:
"Hunt him down."
"After all, he came out of CP."
"He's done plenty of dirty work."
"For the government's reputation, he must be killed."
The tall, thin Elder sighed helplessly:
"That's the only way."
A secret assassination order was then issued...
...
Amazon Lily, outskirts.
Thick black smoke rose straight into the sky, and from a distance the entire sea was shrouded in darkness.
Seeing this scene, Shakky quickened her pace again.
She had rushed nonstop for hours, yet still... one step too late.
Just as she was about to reach the island, a sudden life-threatening crisis exploded through her nerves.
"Dark Hound."
A magma hound's head lunged infinitely forward from the shore.
Exhausted after hours of running, she barely sensed it and forced herself to dodge, but one of her ears was still sliced off.
Before she could retreat, Sakazuki's body at the shore dissolved into writhing magma and disappeared.
The magma that had grazed past Shakky's head suddenly swelled and condensed, forming Sakazuki's figure behind her.
Sensing his aura, fear surged across her face.
She tried to dash forward without looking back.
But before she could take more than a step, Sakazuki appeared behind her, seizing her shoulder.
Crack—
His hand, clad in jet-black Armament Haki, crushed her shoulder.
Holding her fast, he spoke coldly:
"Lava Bomb."
BOOM—!!!!
Above the sea outside the island, a colossal mushroom cloud of magma nearly a kilometer wide erupted.
Though Shakky used Haki to defend, the violent shock at such close range knocked her unconscious instantly, half the bones in her body shattered.
Sakazuki's half-magma body appeared in midair, reforming a molten arm that clamped around her neck.
Sizzle—
The sound of flesh burning under hot iron filled the air.
As Sakazuki squeezed, the suffocating pain jolted Shakky awake. Struggling, she looked at him.
Sakazuki met her gaze calmly:
"What an unexpected surprise."
"A pirate who vanished for years, and you turn out to have ties with Amazon Lily."
He had recognized this woman.
In his memory, years ago Garp had once pursued her relentlessly.
But just like Roger, after chasing her across half the world, he had never caught her.
Shakky's leg, cloaked in Haki, lashed out at Sakazuki. But in her grievous state, though she could still muster strength, the attack to him was no more than an itch.
Clutching at Sakazuki's massive hand, she forced the words out with difficulty:
"You... what have you..."
"...done to Amazon Lily?!"
Sakazuki cast her an indifferent glance:
"Don't worry."
"Not one of them remains. They died peacefully."
"No pain."
"You can rest easy."
Shakky's eyes bulged wide with rage:
"You—!!!"
Crack—
The crushing force in Sakazuki's palm broke her neck. Her head flew free of her body.
After learning the devastating truth, Shakky sank into darkness.
Her body dropped toward the sea, but Sakazuki reached out to catch her severed head.
In a flash, he flew toward Amazon Lily.
...
Elder Nyon, wrapped in bandages, was waiting anxiously by the shore.
The previous night, the people within the island had gradually awakened.
Leaderless, the situation was precarious, but as a former Empress herself, she could barely hold things together. After settling the people, she rushed here to wait, hoping to warn Shakky.
But it was useless—when faced with overwhelming strength, everything ended in an instant. And Sakazuki was not one to waste time with words.
Tap, tap—
Sakazuki landed, casually tossing Shakky's head before Elder Nyon.
"What was this woman's relationship with Amazon Lily?"
Elder Nyon closed her eyes in pain.
"Alas..."
"She was Empress after me."
"Two generations ago."
Sakazuki's brow arched. His magma-arm halted for an instant, the molten flow across the island pausing.
Another Empress of Amazon Lily. How many did that make now? He shook his head.
Fate, perhaps...
As the black smoke of magma receded outside the island, he asked:
"Any reinforcements?"
Elder Nyon forced a bitter smile:
"None. Amazon Lily is isolated from the world."
"Our connections are few."
"It's already..."
Sakazuki said coldly:
"In that case, this appointment ends here."
"I'll give you three years to rebuild the Kuja Pirates."
"Choose a captain with sense."
"In three years' time, you'd best establish a defensive line at the edge of the Calm Belt."
"Show results in exterminating pirates."
"Otherwise..."
He flicked a finger toward the ground, and below Shakky's head a molten hand rose, holding it out.
Sakazuki took the head, weighing it in his grasp.
Elder Nyon lowered her head respectfully:
"Understood."
Sakazuki gave a cold snort, then turned to leave.
Only after his warship slowly vanished from sight did Elder Nyon finally lift her head and exhale in relief...
...
Aboard the warship.
Sakazuki tossed Shakky's head to a soldier:
"Freeze it."
Karol asked:
"Are we sending this one to Punk Hazard too?"
Sakazuki rolled his neck:
"What for? She's useless."
"Freezing her is just to keep her from rotting. We'll put it in the papers later."
Karol chuckled:
Then, glancing at the ship filled with petrified figures, he frowned:
"What about all these?"
"Mission only half complete?"
Sakazuki replied:
"Once that man is remade into a weapon, then we'll restore them."
"Send these statues back to G-8 for storage, then head to Punk Hazard."
"Also, contact Enel."
"He should already be on the Grand Line by now."
"Tell him to go to Punk Hazard."
"We'll rendezvous there."
Karol nodded:
"Understood."
...
Grand Line, first half.
Aboard a massive warship sailing the sea, Enel responded to the Den Den Mushi with a few words before hanging up.
Stretching lazily, he noticed the little brat hiding behind Rosinante.
With a wicked grin, he suddenly appeared behind him, clamping a hand over Law's mouth and dragging him toward the cabin.
Law couldn't make a sound, struggling wildly.
His eyes widened in despair as the demon carried him farther and farther away from Rosinante. This idiot! Hurry up and save me!!!
But still, he was dragged inch by inch toward the cabin...
Just as Enel reached the cabin door with him, Rosinante seemed at last to notice Law's silent pleas.
Turning a page of his newspaper, he looked around, spotted Enel's cruel grin and Law desperately clinging to the doorframe.
With a helpless sigh, Rosinante walked over, took Law from Enel's grasp, and set him down.
"Enel, don't scare him."
Enel smirked mischievously.
Bending down, he tugged at Law's cheek as the boy hid behind Rosinante.
---
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