"What became of the Marine Admiral? A slave?"
Kaito's voice cut through the air like a blade, dripping with disdain. His words made Ghost Spider's expression twist into anger, and the other Vice Admirals around him grew tense, their faces darkening.
"What did you say?" Ghost Spider barked.
Kaito's smirk deepened. "Akainu is my trophy now. You think you can just take him back with a few words? Why should I hand him over—because you ask nicely?"
His tone dripped with mockery.
"Enough talk. I'll bring Akainu to Sabaody Archipelago in a few days. If your Marines want him back, tell Sengoku to come to me himself."
As he spoke, Kaito raised his hand lazily, palm glowing faintly. "Goodbye."
Momousagi's eyes widened in alarm. "Not good! Everyone, move!" she shouted.
But before they could react, a wave of violent repulsion exploded outward from Kaito's body, tearing through the battlefield like an invisible storm. The ground roared as if the world itself were being ripped apart.
The Marines were thrown into the distance, their bodies battered by the shockwave. Soil, debris, and seawater erupted in every direction. When the dust cleared, the once-solid island was split open by a massive crater—deep and dark like a wound in the earth.
Seawater began to flood the hole, filling it until it resembled a vast pool.
Kaito floated above the devastation, his eyes calm. With a small motion, he summoned Akainu's unconscious body, still encased in a black sphere of sealing energy.
He studied the Marine Admiral, muttering to himself. "I'll have to limit your strength a bit."
He tapped his hand against the water's surface. Tendrils of hardened chakra-like energy emerged, twisting together like branches, and wrapped tightly around Akainu's body.
A moment later, Akainu's eyes snapped open, blazing with fury. "You damn pirate!"
He struggled violently, molten heat flickering around him—but no matter how much power he poured out, the living restraints only tightened, draining his energy away.
"What—what is this? It's stealing my strength!" Akainu growled, disbelief etched on his face.
"Just a little restraint technique," Kaito replied with a faint smile. "Relax. I'm not going to kill you. You're too useful alive. After all, I still need you to squeeze some ransom money out of Marine."
He sighed, looking almost embarrassed. "Can you believe this? A man like me, reduced to extorting the Marines for money."
A familiar, teasing voice echoed in his mind—Kaguya's.
Kaito winced. "Kaguya, come on. Of course you can buy whatever you want," he said quickly, rubbing his forehead.
"Sure, sure. Whatever you say," he muttered, forcing a smile.
He lifted Akainu's restrained body into the air and began to rise.
"Where are you taking me?" Akainu demanded, his pride boiling under humiliation. The thought of being dragged like a prisoner by a pirate was unbearable. If word spread, it would be a crushing blow to Marine's reputation.
"To Sabaody Archipelago," Kaito replied casually, vanishing into the sky.
——
A few minutes later, several Vice Admirals led by Momousagi arrived at the devastated battlefield. They stopped at the edge of the massive crater, staring down into the seawater that now filled it. Kaito was gone.
"Tell Marshal Sengoku what happened," said one Vice Admiral grimly.
Momousagi nodded, pulling out her transponder snail.
——
Marine Headquarters, Marshal's Office
The air was heavy. Sengoku sat behind his desk, fingers steepled beneath his chin. Tsuru stood beside him, calm but alert.
Buru buru buru!
The transponder snail buzzed, breaking the silence. Sengoku exhaled. "Finally."
He picked up the receiver. "This is Marine Headquarters. Sengoku speaking."
"Marshal Sengoku, it's Momousagi."
"Ah, good! You sound alright. I take it Kaito has been captured and is being brought in?"
There was only silence.
Sengoku's brow furrowed. "Momousagi?"
A long pause followed before her voice returned—tired and defeated. "No, sir. We failed. Admiral Akainu has been captured… by Kaito."
The room fell silent. Sengoku's face went pale, then hardened. "What?"
Momousagi quickly explained everything—the overwhelming repulsion, the impossible power, the capture.
Sengoku gritted his teeth. "So he's planning to use Akainu to blackmail us… for money?"
"Yes, sir. He said he'll be waiting at Sabaody Archipelago."
Sengoku's knuckles tightened. "Fine. I understand. Return to base immediately." He hung up, his expression stormy.
"You heard her," he said coldly.
Tsuru nodded, sipping her tea. "I didn't think even Akainu and Momousagi together would lose so easily."
"From what she described, Kaito's power changes each time—gravity, repulsion, control over seawater…" Sengoku rubbed his temple. "He's a nightmare."
"So what now?"
"We'll prepare a response team at Sabaody Archipelago," Sengoku said darkly. "Give the commanding officer there a transponder snail linked directly to me. If Kaito's demands are reasonable, we'll negotiate. If not…"
His tone turned sharp.
"…then we'll crush him."
Outside, the Marine forces began to mobilize—ships arming, soldiers assembling, orders flying.
——
Back in the City of Seven Waters, Kaito landed quietly in a narrow street. He dismissed his flying aura and flicked his wrist, sealing Akainu back into a contained space of energy.
"Now then," he muttered, glancing at his reflection in a shop window. "Food first. War later."
He found a small restaurant nearby and sat down. After hours of dealing with Kaguya's endless shopping interests.
_____
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