A piercing alarm tore through the night sky as red warning lights flashed urgently along corridors and streets.
"Attention all Marines! Celestial Dragon assassination confirmed! Immediately enter highest alert status! Seal all Red Port areas and intensify patrols!"
"Apprehend any suspicious personnel on sight without requiring authorization!"
The broadcast echoed through the roaring sea winds, making everyone who heard it realize...
The balance of the world seemed to have cracked open at this moment.
...
...
Half a month earlier, Marine Fleet Admiral Kong had been officially promoted to Commander-in-Chief, with Sengoku succeeding him as the new Marine Fleet Admiral.
Having just taken office before even warming his seat, such a severe incident occurring made Sengoku furrow his brow deeply.
BAM—
The office door was violently kicked open.
There was only one person in Marine Headquarters who would do such a thing.
Garp, wearing spotted dog pajamas and looking drowsy, held a large body pillow in his arms: "So damn noisy!"
"It's just some Celestial Dragon trash getting attacked, why all this fuss over such a small matter! I just fell asleep!"
...
"Sengoku must have his reasons for doing this. Wake up, Garp."
Vice Admiral Tsuru, already in her military uniform, pushed past Garp and entered the office.
Sengoku looked solemn as he spoke in a deep voice: "It's not as simple as just an attack... The Holy Land has confirmed that Saint Shepherd Luo has been killed."
"What we know for sure is that the incident occurred in the non-magnetic sea area of the South Blue. I've already sent Borsalino ahead."
"Garp, get ready to go too."
Garp became somewhat more awake but still shook his head: "It's not that I don't want to go, but if Borsalino is already going, there's not much point in me going too."
As he spoke, he lowered his voice and curled his lip.
"Tch, not bad work, unknown kid."
THUD!!
Sengoku slammed the desk heavily, shouting: "Don't say your inner thoughts out loud!!"
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku stared at Garp: "Do you know why I called you here..."
"According to current intelligence, the Holy Land suspects it was the work of the Revolutionary Army—the Revolutionary Army led by that bastard son of yours!!"
...
...
Garp was completely awake now.
"Sengoku... explain clearly."
Sengoku sighed helplessly and explained the situation of Luo pursuing Ginny to the lower world, combined with intelligence sent back by World Government spies within the Revolutionary Army.
The Holy Land now almost certainly believed it was Bartholomew Kuma of the Revolutionary Army who had acted.
Rarely do powerful individuals appear without reason.
Bartholomew was a CP0 member with a team of CP agents. Being able to kill Luo under such protection narrowed down the possible suspects considerably.
"That kid's organization... actually has World Government spies?"
Garp focused on this particular point.
BAM!!
Sengoku angrily slammed the table: "Watch your language! They're called informants! Undercover agents!"
"With an organization that large, it's impossible to completely prevent infiltration." Vice Admiral Tsuru said calmly: "There are definitely Revolutionary Army and Pirate spies within our Marines or the World Government too."
...
"The Five Elders are deeply concerned about this matter and have ordered us to eliminate the impact of this incident within three days." Sengoku didn't continue the topic about undercover operations.
Garp furrowed his brow, sensing something was amiss.
"Given how those people usually operate, their first move when something like this happens should be to suppress the information. How did it become known to everyone, and why did they have you report directly to Marine Headquarters?"
He knew the Celestial Dragons all too well. Whenever a Celestial Dragon was attacked before, they would launch indiscriminate destructive attacks on the affected area to eliminate any threats to the World Government.
This was the so-called... Buster Call!
Sengoku shook his head: "Because... it's already impossible to cover up."
He moved his seat to reveal an image projected by a Den Den Mushi.
The screen showed a magnificently burning ship flying the flag of the Celestial Dragons.
Sengoku said through gritted teeth: "The guy who attacked the Celestial Dragons... activated a synchronized Den Den Mushi broadcast!"
"That bastard actually dared to stay at the scene!!!"
——
——
——
South Blue, the burning ship illuminated the night sky.
This was absolutely a journalist's carnival.
One of the Underground Emperors, Morgans, president of the World Economic Journal, a Zoan-type Bird-Bird Fruit: Albatross Form user.
He always appeared in his albatross hybrid form. Though a Bird-Bird Fruit user, he couldn't fly, squatting on the mast with his subordinates while the live broadcast Den Den Mushi in his hand kept flashing.
"President... is it really okay to report on something like this?"
"The World Government will definitely retaliate against us, this is too..."
"Big news! This is huge news!!"
Morgans' beak opened and closed rapidly, emitting a raspy voice: "If we journalists retreat in the face of big news... then what's the meaning of our existence!!!"
...
Kuma had contacted him through Revolutionary Army channels, saying he wanted to broadcast news that could shake the world.
After learning the cause and general process of the incident, Morgans accepted the invitation without hesitation.
Before setting out, considering the threat from the World Government, he had already dispersed the headquarters.
"The World Economic Journal isn't the mouthpiece of the World Government! We act to report major events!!"
"Can mere threats to our lives make us stop!!!"
"President!!!"
"So cool!! President!!!"
"I'll follow you for life, President!!"
——
——
Whoosh————
A brilliant golden light cut through the night sky.
Borsalino, who had been promoted to Admiral following Sengoku's promotion to Marine Fleet Admiral after resolving the Sun Pirates incident, had arrived.
Navy Headquarters Admiral, the World Government's highest combat power, Kizaru!
...
"Troublesome matters really keep coming one after another..."
Kizaru paused mid-air, the dancing flames reflecting in his sunglasses.
"I wonder what the madman who dares to kill Celestial Dragons looks like."
When he clearly saw the scene on the deck, he gasped sharply.
CP members' corpses were scattered about, dark red bloodstains glowing under the flames.
The headless body wearing Celestial Dragon exclusive clothing was painful to behold, while a white-haired youth with blood-red eyes held the head in his hand.
The flames spreading from his palm deliberately waited until Kizaru appeared before igniting the head.
He looked up, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"You finally came, Kizaru... or should I call you Admiral now."
Zzzz——
Kizaru raised his hand, light flickering between his fingers: "What a terrifying fellow... To commit such a grave crime and not flee, but actually wait for me?"
Flinging away the charred head, the white-haired young man spoke calmly: "I have something to say to you, or more precisely, something to convey to the World Government."
"Such matters... you can tell me after you survive."
...
Regardless of Kizaru's stance, he knew everything happening now was being broadcast live. How could he engage in lengthy conversation with a madman who killed Celestial Dragons?
Yasakani no Magatama!!
Countless shining light bullets poured down like a torrential rain, emitting ear-piercing shrieks as they tore through the air!
The sea surface was illuminated as bright as daylight. The sturdy ship hull offered no more resistance than thin paper against the light bullet assault, being repeatedly pierced through. Wood splinters and metal fragments scattered in all directions amid the shockwaves.
The terrifying attack triggered tsunamis, causing even Morgans' ship to rock violently!
"Is this the power of the World Government's ultimate combat force... the strength of a monster Admiral!!"
The white-haired young man still wore a faint, elusive smile, even as his body was gradually consumed by this rain of destruction.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!!
When the light bullets ceased, the shattered wreckage burned as it floated on the sea surface, a scene of complete devastation.
...
"Still too naive... Facing the World Government head-on is indeed impressive, but that's an Admiral we're talking about..."
"An anticlimactic news story." Morgans shook his head helplessly, about to order his crew to return and schedule the news coverage...
"Wait, Chief! Look there!!"
Above the sea surface.
As if drawn by some invisible force, colorless fragments and unknown black liquid intertwined and merged together like tentacles.
The next moment.
The white-haired young man who had clearly been pulverized stood perfectly intact upon a broken mast.
His crimson eyes fixed on Kizaru as the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.
"This is the power obtained through Sacrifice Wings. I cannot be killed."
"Kizaru, tell those people in the heavens that my vengeance against them has begun..."
"My name is Kari."
"Hunter of Celestial Dragons!"
WHOOSH!!!!
Blazing flames erupted from his body, converging into a dragon that charged toward Kizaru hovering in mid-air.
...
Not particularly strong, but better to dodge anyway.
Kizaru transformed his body into elements as the fire dragon passed through him. Just as he was about to take his next action...
He saw the guy who had just made his bold declaration turn and plunge into the ocean, disappearing without a trace.
A cold sweat dripped from Kizaru's forehead.
What's going on...
Coming back from death is one thing - it's not like such Devil Fruit abilities don't exist. Being able to create fire is also explainable - a composite ability, perhaps...
But...
That dive into the ocean - was he serious?!
And he instantly vanished from my Observation Haki range!!!
This guy...
Is he some kind of ghost?!