Marine Headquarters – Marineford.
Urgent calls from Water 7 rang continuously through the headquarters' communication lines. A communications officer, clutching the latest report, rushed anxiously toward the Fleet Admiral's office at the top floor.
"Report! Fleet Admiral, Souta Kiryuu has led his crew of criminals to invade Water 7! Mayor Iceburg is requesting immediate naval support!"
The officer read off the crisis details quickly, though his own face betrayed unease.
Ever since Iceburg consolidated the seven greatest shipbuilding companies of Water 7 and became mayor, he had struck a partnership with the World Government, establishing Water 7's Carrera Company as the official shipwrights for the Government and the Navy. Many of the Government's warships and battleships were produced by Carrera's craftsmen.
If Water 7 were to fall, both the World Government and the Navy would be severely affected.
It was precisely because of Iceburg's importance that even the Government's CP agents hadn't dared to openly target him. Instead, in their efforts to uncover the location of the Pluton blueprints, they had only planted spies around him to quietly investigate.
"Immediately order all naval officers stationed near the waters around Water 7 to provide support!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face darkened. Souta Kiryuu had only been quiet for a few months—why was he causing trouble again?
"Send Kizaru as well!"
After a brief moment of thought, Sengoku made his decision. Akainu was currently stationed in the New World after the incident in Dressrosa, working to reassure the allied nations there. Kizaru, due to his speed, typically remained at headquarters, keeping an eye on Sabaody Archipelago, where the Celestial Dragons often descended to play. Aokiji, meanwhile, was patrolling the Grand Line, serving as a deterrent to pirates while also investigating the location of Souta Kiryuu's main base. Fortunately, Aokiji was currently not too far from Water 7, wandering near the Sea Train line between St. Poplar and Enies Lobby. Hopefully, he could make it in time.
"Saint Mamaye Voss of the God's Knights has already descended from Mary Geoise with three CP0 teams. They're demanding that Kizaru accompany them in the suppression of Souta Kiryuu."
Vice Admiral Tsuru hurried into the office with a Den Den Mushi still in her hand. She had just received word from the Celestial Dragons themselves. Clearly, the World Government had already gotten an emergency intelligence report from their CP agents—even faster than Iceburg's warning.
"Then have Kizaru accompany them."
Sengoku's voice was grave. The God's Knights rarely descended from Mary Geoise for such matters. The fact they were moving personally meant that Souta Kiryuu's slaying of Saint Chalmarco had enraged the Celestial Dragons deeply.
The God's Knights were a special order—Celestial Dragon elites granted the highest authority to judge and punish even their own kind, standing above the common nobility. For them, executing a criminal Celestial Dragon was no different than slaughtering a peasant.
Their leader, Saint Figarland Garling, wielded authority nearly equal to the Five Elders themselves.
Though the world saw most Celestial Dragons as weak, decadent pigs, the truth was that among the nineteen royal families, many powerful individuals still remained. The Five Elders themselves, all Mythical Zoan users, rivaled Navy Admirals in strength, perhaps even capable of challenging the Yonko. The collective might of the God's Knights was feared even by the Revolutionary Army.
If the God's Knights were to mobilize in full, it would likely plunge the world into all-out war. The World Government's eight centuries of dominance was not maintained by spoiled nobles, but by these elites.
The Celestial Dragons' triennial "Purge of the Natives" was more than sadistic sport—it was a way for their elites to preserve their bloodline's edge and maintain their killing instinct.
Though many Celestial Dragons were useless, the powerful ones were anything but. Their bloodline's potential was undeniable. Consider the strength of those descended from the twenty kings: Shanks, the Yonko with red hair, and Donquixote Doflamingo, a former Warlord, were both Conqueror's Haki users at the pinnacle of the sea.
···
In Water 7.
Souta Kiryuu had already regrouped with his crew. Bruno, the Door-Door Fruit user, was bound in seastone shackles and locked within the special prison inside Capone Bege's fortress body. Rob Lucci, gravely wounded and captured by Enel, was thrown in as well.
Before long, Trafalgar Law and Lafitte returned from the Exchange House, carrying sacks overflowing with golden treasure. Meanwhile, with Bartholomew Kuma's help, Capone Bege's mafia subordinates stormed the Government's Water 7 Central Bank, hauling away mountains of cash and beri.
"Captain! If I burn the World Government's flag like you, I'll be famous across the seas!"
Jewelry Bonney, now in her adult form, stood proudly atop the central bank, tearing down the sacred flag of the World Government. She raced toward Souta, her face alight with excitement, eager for praise.
Kuma's mouth twitched. His daughter was truly a handful…
"Do as you like. Burn it! Tomorrow, you'll be hailed as one of the sea's rising stars."
Souta Kiryuu smiled faintly, ignoring Kuma's dark expression. Without freedom of will, how could Bonney ever awaken into the next incarnation of Nika? Kuma, as a Buccaneer, still clung too tightly.
"Then I'll burn it! Where are the reporters? Are there any reporters around?!"
Bonney laughed wildly, emboldened by Souta's approval. Her eyes darted around, searching eagerly for journalists to immortalize her grand moment.
As she ignited the sacred flag, Kuma, Law, and Bege all winced. Citizens and pirates alike stared in shock. The scene was madness. The Kiryuu Pirates were all lunatics!
Even Lafitte, shivering with excitement, couldn't hide the twitch in his fingers. His eyes gleamed with desire—he, too, longed to taste such defiance. To openly declare war against the World Government—few in history had dared such a thing.
"Woohoo! This feels amazing! I can't wait to see my new bounty poster tomorrow—hopefully worth over a hundred million!"
Bonney leapt from the rooftop, laughing. Kuma reached out instinctively to catch her, but instead she landed right in Souta Kiryuu's arms, giggling with joy. Kuma's raised hands clenched slowly into fists.
Sensing Kuma's frustration, Bege quietly shuffled several paces away, wary of the doting father's potential wrath.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
The rapid stomp of heavy boots echoed as a Marine detachment stormed onto the scene. At their head was a stern officer wearing the cloak of justice.
"Open fire!!"
Vice Admiral Dalmatian, a renowned iron-blooded officer of Headquarters and user of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Dalmatian Model, led over a hundred Marines in a fearless charge.
"That's Dalmatian! One of Headquarters' famous Vice Admirals, a Zoan user with a ruthless reputation!"
Demon Sheriff Lafitte spread his white wings and soared above the hail of gunfire, his eyes scanning the battlefield to gauge the Marines' numbers.
...
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