When Kizaru focused his gaze across the giant pit of magma—
What he saw struck him like a bolt of lightning, shaking him to his core.
The Five Elders—who they'd always known as the rulers behind the world's power.
The commander of the Holy Knights, Saint Garling Figarland.
And the supreme military leader of land, sea, and air—Kong.
These seven figures, the highest powers across all the seas, were all kneeling in the same direction.
In that moment—
He felt like his mind was tangled in a mess of threads, and his thoughts were moving slowly, like rusted gears struggling to turn. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make sense of anything.
The questions in his heart surged like crashing waves. He couldn't hold them back anymore—they exploded all at once, turning into endless ripples of doubt spreading through his mind.
What kind of power could make the seven most powerful figures of the sea willingly bow down and act in such a way that went against all logic?
What secrets and dangers were hidden in the direction they were kneeling?
Countless thoughts clashed in his head like sparks flying everywhere, leaving him in deep shock that he couldn't shake off…
But those seven old men completely ignored Kizaru, treating him like he didn't even exist.
Only Ryuen in the sky glanced at him briefly.
But Ryuen didn't have the time to pay much attention to Kizaru either—his focus was entirely on Im, who stood in the middle of the flowers!
At that moment, the seven elders slowly stood up.
They still ignored Kizaru and instead looked up at Ryuen in the sky. The look on their faces was filled with shock, as if they were looking at some kind of monster.
"Young man, what you've done today has completely disgraced the World Government. Do you even realize the terrible price you're going to pay?" A voice came again from within the flowers, rumbling like thunder in the ears.
"I don't know. Why don't you come out and show me what kind of price you can make me pay?" Ryuen replied casually from above, but inside, he was on full alert, treating this like a life-or-death situation.
The truth was, he was incredibly curious about what Im looked like.
Meanwhile, the shock on Kizaru's face grew even stronger, as if a crack had split open in his heart that could never be healed.
All these years of trying to stay calm and collected were now useless—like a paper dam instantly washed away.
There was actually someone in Mary Geoise even more respected than the Five Elders!
He had worked for the World Government for so many years and had never even heard of such a person. Just what kind of monsters were still hiding among the Celestial Dragons?
"Hehehe~"
"Leave now…?"
"It's not time yet, young man. Hopefully, when the time comes, we'll meet again…" Im's voice faded at the end, like a kite with its string cut, drifting farther and farther away until it disappeared into the endless void.
Right then, Saint Garling glanced up at Ryuen in the sky, then looked long and hard at the Five Elders, before walking straight toward the flowers.
The God Knights—just from the name, you can tell—they are the protectors of God.
And who in Mary Geoise is considered a god?
Who has the right to be called that?
It could only be the king of this world.
Im!
~~~~~~
At that moment, a flood of thoughts surged through Ryuen's mind.
Why did someone like Im refuse to appear in public? What kind of secret plots or unspeakable burdens kept him trapped in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise?
One question after another hovered over Ryuen's heart like dark clouds.
"Commander Kong~"
Kizaru drifted like a ghost to Kong's side, but there was something strange in his expression.
The Supreme Commander of all the military forces, the man at the top of the Marines, the respected senior they all looked up to—he had just knelt like a lowly slave before that mysterious person!
It made Kizaru feel uncomfortable deep inside.
But Kong didn't seem to notice Kizaru's look at all. He stayed silent for a moment, lost in thought, then slowly said, "Borsalino, go tell Sakazuki to cancel the Buster Call on the Magiatska Kingdom."
Even though his heart was full of doubt, Kizaru still responded respectfully, "Understood, Commander Kong."
After replying to Kong, Kizaru looked up again, staring deeply at Ryuen in the sky. Then, like a streak of light, he turned into a beam and vanished in front of everyone.
"Ryuen, some things are like stars that are forever out of reach—you'll never be able to touch them."
"This time, Lord Im didn't hold it against you only because, in his eyes, you're nothing more than a weak little ant. If it happens again, I doubt you'll get off so easily!" Saint Warcury gave Ryuen in the sky a stern warning.
"Hehehe~"
"Old man, that pathetic scene of you trembling on your knees just now—I'll remember it for the rest of my life!"
"Hahahaha!"
With that, Ryuen turned and shot off in the direction of the Magiatsuka Kingdom, leaving the skies above Mariejois behind.
And in all of Mariejois, only Ryuen's mocking laughter lingered in the air for a long time.
"Argh!"
"Bastard!"
Saint Warcury's rage erupted like a volcano. His roar was deafening, as if it could swallow the whole world.
The other four Elders wore expressions as dark as storm clouds.
In front of others, they had always appeared powerful and unshakable, like immovable mountains. But this time, they had completely lost face—like getting slapped hard in public.
Off to the side, Kong quietly slipped away without a word.
Even though he was the Supreme Commander of the military, his direct superiors were these five old men standing right here. He had no desire to stick around and become their punching bag.
After Kong left, only the five Elders remained.
Their usual calmness was gone. Now their faces were filled with thick, heavy anxiety—an anxiety caused by a single sharp sentence from Im just moments ago: they were becoming useless.
"Get someone to clean this place up and rebuild Pangaea Castle and the Hall of Power. They are the ultimate symbols of the World Government's authority," Saint Warcury said in a low voice.
The other four Elders nodded slowly, their faces grim. Their movements were heavy and reluctant, like stalks of rice bent by weight.
~~~~~~
Back at Marine Headquarters, when Sengoku and the others saw Kizaru return so quickly, they were all visibly surprised.
"Borsalino."
"What's going on in Mariejois now? And why are you back so soon?" Vice Admiral Tsuru asked right away.
Kizaru was silent for a few seconds before he spoke:
"Commander Kong ordered the Buster Call on the Magiatsuka Kingdom to be canceled immediately."
"The rest... let's talk about it in the meeting room~"
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