Sabaody Archipelago, Marine Headquarters.
In what was once Ox's office, Sengoku now sat in the main seat, with Tsuru, Borsalino, Momonga, and others on the sofas below.
Sengoku had come directly here after leaving the New World, without even returning to Marineford.
As for Ox, he had been demoted from Vice Admiral to Colonel and transferred to the New World. Regardless of the circumstances, it was a fact that the Golden Emperor had learned Life Return because of him. Not being completely stripped of his rank, or even imprisoned, was already considered a lenient punishment.
It could be said that both Tobit and Ox had been utterly ruined by Kaos.
"Have you found any trace of the Golden Emperor?"
Sengoku held a newspaper in his hand, which contained information about Kaos. Almost everything that could be known, the Marine had investigated.
"He disappeared an hour ago after plundering the celestial tribute offered by the Kakateya Kingdom."
Tsuru took a sip of coffee without raising her head, also looking at the documents in her hand.
"Borsalino, you've fought the Golden Emperor. What's his strength like?"
Sengoku looked at Borsalino on the sofa.
"I took a loss!"
Borsalino spread his hands, very candidly. He didn't feel embarrassed in the slightest.
Sengoku furrowed his brow, his expression clearly more serious.
"Even you took a loss?"
Sengoku seemed to be talking to himself, once again fixing his gaze on the documents. They contained various attack moves described by Borsalino, as well as information previously known by Tobit and Ox.
All of them were abilities and moves Kaos had used. Even some unnamed moves were described in meticulous detail.
This investigation was remarkably thorough. What effects each move would cause, what dangers they posed, and how to counter them were all analyzed in detail. Very professional!
"The Golden Emperor's personality is arrogant, presumptuous, and conceited?"
"He keeps his word?"
Sengoku tapped the table with one hand. The other information was fine. Whether arrogant, presumptuous, or conceited, such people were relatively easy to deal with.
But this 'keeping his word' part was a bit...
"Although the Golden Emperor appears arrogant and presumptuous, a closer look reveals that he is actually a smart person. He threatened Tobit to learn the Six Styles, and threatened Ox to learn Life Return. The key is that he succeeded in cultivating them in just two or three months. This is what's truly terrifying."
"His talent is very high. I don't think he'll be that easy to deal with."
"As for the point about keeping his word, that's just a reference!"
Tsuru spoke. The more she looked at the documents, the more she felt that the Golden Emperor was a guy with a sharp mind, who knew when to advance and retreat, had a bottom line, and understood the law of the jungle. On the surface, he appeared arrogant and conceited, but these might all be a facade.
After all, an arrogant and presumptuous person wouldn't attach such importance to cultivation. He even specifically threatened the Marine to obtain the Six Styles. He probably spent those few months he disappeared cultivating.
She was quite looking forward to meeting this guy, but unfortunately, he ran a bit too fast last time.
Poster Island, one of the seven routes in the first half of the Grand Line. Passing through Poster Island leads to the Sabaody Archipelago. It did not appear in the original work.
The town on this island is very prosperous! Of course, it's also somewhat chaotic.
Slave markets, Red-Light Districts, taverns, bathhouses, and acts of killing and robbery frequently occur! Or rather, the fundamental nature of all islands in the world, except for those remote islands not on shipping routes, is like this. After all, this is a world where pirates are the mainstream.
"Boss, is it really okay for us to be so ostentatious?"
On the bustling street, Crocodile looked around. He always felt that many people's gazes were on them. That wasn't an illusion.
In front, Kaos, with a cigar in his mouth, a cold expression, and a look of regal disdain that seemed to look down on everything, and a flamboyant golden feather cloak flowing in the wind as he walked, exuded the aura of a big shot (nouveau riche).
It was the same style as Doflamingo's, just made of gold.
"Lao Sha, you're my man. From now on, be more flamboyant in everything you do. Look at you, walking like a woman. Can't you be more imposing? Bring out that domineering aura of yours. I believe you have that potential."
Kaos held the cigar, exhaled a smoke ring, then frowned at Crocodile, showing a hint of dissatisfaction.
"I wouldn't be surprised if someone came out right now and started yelling to fight and kill us."
Crocodile twitched his mouth. He now understood this man's flamboyance even better. This was practically courting death. Just a walk or an expression could attract trouble. He would create trouble even when there was none!
Crocodile felt even more lost about the future. He always felt his head was only temporarily on his shoulders and might fall off any day.
No sooner had Crocodile spoken than their path was blocked by more than a dozen pirates. All of them looked at Kaos with cruel, sinister smiles, or more accurately, at his golden feather cloak.
Each one was fierce and menacing, some showing their centipede scars, and combined with their tall and robust physiques, they possessed a strong deterrent. One look was enough to know they were not to be trifled with.
"Captain, I'm certain that's gold, and it has no impurities!"
A pirate, holding a magnifying glass-like telescope, carefully observed the golden feather cloak. His lewd face was full of greed.
"Puhahaha, I'm a great pirate with a bounty of 44 million Berries! Hand over your cloak, and I can spare your life."
The buck-toothed pirate Captain, whose large face was like a basin, threatened Kaos menacingly.
"These two are finished. They've been targeted by the Buck-Toothed Pirate Crew."
"Is that really gold?"
"Why do I feel like I've seen that person somewhere before?"
"Serves him right. For some reason, that guy just looks irritating."
"Does he seem very arrogant? Like he's the king of the world?"
"The more I look, the more something feels off. I'm sure I've seen that man somewhere, but I can't quite remember."
"I think I've seen him there too."
Many pirates and thugs watching the show around them were all pointing and discussing.
But Kaos in the center of the scene was very angry. His face was visibly falling, even turning ashen.
His dark eyes were filled with a cold light. "You don't recognize me?"
His throat felt as if a piece of ice was stuck in it, making his voice as cold and sharp as a knife, laced with disbelief and fury.
"Who are you?! Throw over the cloak, or I'll cut you down!"
The buck-toothed Captain drew his gear-bladed saber, his eyes wide with impatience.
"He actually doesn't recognize me? He actually doesn't recognize me? How dare you not recognize me!"
Kaos almost gnashed his teeth as he roared.
The newspaper announcing his bounty of 1,098,000,000 Berries had just come out fresh. In addition, there were rumors across the sea that obtaining the Golden Emperor meant obtaining the whole world, and that the Golden Emperor plundered celestial tribute.
The Golden Emperor possessed gold worth over 50 billion Berries.
The Marine dispatched Admiral Sengoku himself to capture the Golden Emperor.
Any one of these news items was a big deal.
Yet now, someone didn't recognize him? And their profession was a pirate.
Was this a slap in the face?
Wasn't Kaos so arrogant, high-profile, and overbearing precisely so that his name would be known throughout the world?
This island was so prosperous, and there was a newspaper about him posted on a distant wall, yet this pirate in front of him was lying through his teeth, saying he didn't recognize him?
Crocodile beside him shivered, subconsciously stepping back, then looked at the Buck-Toothed Pirate Crew with some pity.
He knew how strong this man's vanity was.
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