"Such things are useless to me, for I am magma!"
Akainu growled fiercely, "Just floating illusions, not as powerful as your fists, you evil brat!"
"Whether it's useful or not, why don't you check it yourself?"
He shook his arm, ready to break the golden bracelet in his hand, but at this moment, a ball of yellow light suddenly descended.
"Oh~ how scary, really punched through."
Kizaru appeared floating in the air, with his hands in his pockets and his mouth pouting, staring amazed at the justice gate-sized rock hole beneath the Red Earth Continent.
A bandage was still wrapped around his head...
How long has it been?
"Monkey, what are you doing here?"
Sage sneered, "Ready for a two-on-one? Forget it, come on! Only a death battle can make me stronger!"
As he spoke, his air changed again, and the white steam rising from him vaguely formed the shape of a cocoon.
"Borsalino, no need to intervene, I can solve this myself." Akainu frowned and shouted.
They were friends, but he also knew that if this one followed orders from above, there was no negotiation, especially dealing with a pirate like Sage who had no relatives.
"No need, I'm still in a wounded state, haven't healed yet?"
Kizaru laughed and pointed to the bandage on his head.
Sage chuckled disdainfully.
Not healed?
More like not planning to exert effort.
This guy is like an older version of Kuzan.
Kuzan was confused due to his beliefs; he seems to just abandon them.
Kuma and Vegapunk both dealt with him; the battle at Egghead probably made him ready to rest for a while.
"Can't fight anymore."
Kizaru said, "Sakazuki, they're asking you to handle naval affairs, a lot of things need your presence..."
Then, he glanced at Sage, with a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes, "As for you, Sage, now that the path is open, the agreement naturally takes effect. Besides... you probably don't want to fight either; your O'hara is in trouble."
Sage's expression changed, but quickly reverted to normal, laughing boldly, "O'hara? I'm not dead yet! Wherever I am, that's O'hara!"
In an instant, he realized it wasn't a bluff, and no need to do so, as the old monkey said, O'hara really was in trouble.
But given O'hara's defensive strength, besides the Four Emperors, no one at sea could break through, and if the Four Emperors could reach there, he'd be demolished even if he were present personally.
So from the start, Sage didn't see O'hara being destroyed as a concern.
If it's damaged, he rebuilds; if flattened, he simply finds another place.
As long as he's here, as long as his foundation is intact, he can always create a new O'hara!
He's very familiar with the principle of preserving people over land.
"Hehehe, I guessed you'd say that."
Kizaru chuckled, "But now, reducing loss is a good thing, since the agreement is signed, we have no reason to fight; Navy and pirates will always exist, and this period might be more peaceful."
He's perceptive.
After things happened, he keenly sensed the wind was about to change.
Navy and pirates are opposites but not enemies.
Just like they don't pursue retired pirates, letting them hide and live anonymously on an island; sometimes, some things change.
Like now...
"Really?"
Sage took a deep look at Kizaru, then a focused gaze at Akainu, before lowering his raised hand, letting the storm clouds dissipate; he withdrew the clouds and projected into the rock cave.
"I'll send someone to collect the design and control of the Gate of Justice; we'll discuss the rest later."
After saying this, he quickly disappeared within the rock cave.
"Why?"
Akainu watched him leave, confirming his aura was gradually fading before asking in a deep voice, "With you here, we could detain him, eliminating the threat!"
"Then we'd be creating a scene where Blackbeard or Red Hair controls Pluton; compared to them, natural disasters seem more manageable."
Kizaru flew next to Akainu and said, "Also, you have too many matters; the chain reaction from the Cross Guild and Revolutionary Army has some newspapers exposing some Navy's wrongdoings against non-adhering countries. Even inside adhering countries, they don't want to send troops anymore."
"Tensei wants to see you; there are some criminal investigations needing your approval. Plus, outside, the Revolutionary Army's actions need us to curb them. These are orders from above; compared to battles with Sage, it's better to hold off for now. Even with frequent clashes, they've determined..."
Kizaru smirked with possibly a mocking smile, "...no threat."
"How could it be! How can such an evil person be non-threatening!"
Akainu fumed, "I've never seen someone enter the New World for two years and completely rule the first half! He's about to become the world's largest kingdom!"
"You know..."
Kizaru looked up at the top of the Red Earth Continent, his eyes seemingly penetrating the giant red rock wall to look at the topmost Pangu Palace.
"They're not like us, they don't care about these things..."
If they did, how would there be the Four Emperors' emergence?
"Also, fighting is too troublesome; achieving agreement is a hard work, temporarily promoting stability is more practical than setting up a mad enemy, we can't hold onto him."
Two equal-level forces together are undoubtedly invincible, as the saying goes, none can defeat two Navy Admirals.
But the man isn't without escape routes, can't win but can run?
Escaping is all too easy.
Unlike with Whitebeard back then, they could confirm Whitebeard would definitely come and certainly stay behind, thus making a plan to eliminate a Four Emperor.
Would Sage stay behind?
That guy could achieve absolute control; he's a self-centered person, in that situation, others staying behind for him seems more likely.
Consequently, what's met would be frenzied retaliation.
Even without Pluton, someone who could destroy a kingdom just by raising a hand without territorial constraints, no one can withstand it.
Given the current situation, definitely unsuitable for this fight.
Akainu remained silent, his clenched fist gradually loosening, as magma faded from his hand, "I get it... Contact the warship, have Tensei come over, see what he wants to discuss."
Tensei, Navy Vice Admiral, codenamed 'Black Horse,' one of the colors of the twelve zodiac signs, chief of the Navy Criminal Investigation Bureau, specializing in inspecting internal and external naval crimes. Pirate crimes are generally determined by them, proposing bounties.
This Navy generation's true elite, codenames are all derived from twelve zodiac signs plus a color, though differing slightly, generally similar to zodiac.
Like Golden Lion...
Represents sheep.
Hmm... But who is the Golden Lion?
Unlike Kizaru and Akainu's temporary confusion and defeat, Sage, powering through the tunnel, swiftly stomped the obsidian within with explosive force, expanding the tunnel and shattering the red soil melted by magma.
"Alright!"
Blood even started to gather in his eyes.
"Fantastic! I also have a day of being robbed!"
Previously entrusting Crocodile for O'hara's guard due to chaotic warfare, precaution against Kaido was vital.
Now obviously no defense needed; he wasn't bothered by these things while embarking, considering the Beast Pirates and Big Mom Pirates' status to support swiftly—once noticing an issue, O'hara's local defenses can hold until he gets there, even if delayed.
And those two pirate groups can aid during this period; worst scenario, prolong resistance until he arrives at O'hara.
But now, being robbed signifies someone was watching early on, arriving as soon as he left!
Thieves lurking, there's no evading this being unprepared... Pure oversight!
"Moriah and Weevil are present, besides Marika and Gin from the Seven Stars, who can break through such defense and even inform the Navy..."
He leaped, unleashing sonic waves faster, almost disappearing as he crossed the opposite Red Earth Continent rock cave, landing on the Death Star with a thud, shaking the ship.
"Sage..."
Lily's eyes lit up, though she couldn't clearly see Sage's figure; as she was about to speak, Sage's voice echoed.
"Is it Red Hair or Teach!"
"Both are present!"