BAM—!
Kizaru's kick slammed into White Ghost's blade.
After fighting for so long, White Ghost's Observation Haki had become unreliable—sometimes razor-sharp, sometimes blank.
He didn't notice the strike in time.
That single heavy kick sent him flying sideways.
BOOM—!
White Ghost smashed into a mound of earth.
A beat later—
whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
Kuro, Kuina, and Bai Hezi arrived a fraction slower than Kizaru, instantly surrounding him. Every one of their blades was coated in Haki.
Kizaru raised both hands in surrender.
"Oi oi oi~ don't get reckless. White Ghost isn't dead, right?"
"I'm just doing my job. It's a mission~"
Down below—
click—click—
Container lifted his 98K and aimed straight at the bird-mask CP0.
He hadn't forgotten what that guy said.
Franky's hands reshaped; the muzzle of an electromagnetic cannon locked onto the other CP0.
Everyone else drew weapons.
A-Da and A-Er, along with the Zoans, transformed without hesitation.
Smoker twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"…These people really do throw hands the moment they feel like it."
At that moment—
ZZZT—!
Nami appeared beside the place where White Ghost fell, trying to check on him—
when an ominous pressure suddenly seeped out.
Ain arrived and immediately scooped Nami up, retreating fast.
This aura was… wrong.
Evil.
And it was coming from White Ghost.
Ain couldn't tell if White Ghost would lose control.
Even Kizaru felt it. His brows tightened.
"Ghost aura…?"
From inside the smoke—
ROAR—!
A beastly roar thundered out.
Then a pair of eyes lit up—blood-red and terrifying.
The pressure that followed was pure predator.
Kuro, Kuina, and Bai Hezi didn't move—
but Kizaru's expression turned ugly.
His entire body went on alert, ready for the next second to explode into battle.
ROAR—!
A dragon emerged—
a golden dragon with golden wings.
But its once-gold pupils were now crimson.
The hundred-meter dragon stepped toward Kizaru, slowly, deliberately—
and its killing intent locked onto him like a chain.
Kizaru didn't dare move.
He didn't understand White Ghost's condition.
"White Ghost… are you still conscious?"
"I can explain—"
Kizaru held his hands up. He truly didn't want to fight White Ghost in this state.
Sparring was one thing.
This?
This looked like a monster on the edge of going berserk.
Black lightning crackled around the golden dragon's claws.
BOOM—!
Rocks exploded.
A violent wind rolled off the dragon's body like a storm front.
Kizaru sensed danger and immediately pulled a Den Den Mushi from his coat.
"Uhh… maybe you should talk to that person first?"
The Den Den Mushi opened its eyes.
Kuro narrowed his gaze.
A projection Den Den Mushi—a video call.
A heavy, authoritative voice came through:
"Enough, boy."
"We will give you an explanation."
Above them, Morgans snapped photos like a madman.
"Is this the Navy breaking with White Ghost?!"
"If White Ghost gets hunted, that's huge—"
"I can hype a new Yonko out of this!"
"This trip was worth it. Twist after twist—this is a monster headline!"
White Ghost pulled back his Conqueror's coating.
Kizaru had just exhaled—
when the golden dragon charged and coiled around him, pinning him in place from above.
Then it lowered its head and stared down at the projection Den Den Mushi.
"You people know he was my prey."
"And you also know what happens when you try to steal prey from a beast's mouth."
"If your answer doesn't satisfy me…"
"I don't mind causing the World Government a little trouble."
"I'm waiting, Saint Topman Warcury."
Warcury's voice remained calm—no anger, no emotion.
"I can take that as a threat?"
White Ghost's dragon head dipped closer to Kizaru.
"You can."
Kizaru awkwardly scratched his head.
"Um… could you not lean so close?"
"Your aura is really scary~"
Warcury's voice sharpened slightly.
"Boy, your condition is unstable."
"If we fight… how confident are you that you win?"
"Think carefully before you keep talking."
White Ghost's eyes narrowed.
Instead of exploding his Conqueror's Haki—
he let it spread slowly, wave by wave, pressing outward like a rising tide.
Kizaru's tone turned more urgent.
"Saint Warcury—don't provoke him."
"He's about to snap."
"You know what Mythical Zoan berserk looks like."
"I'm not confident I can take him down—especially since he's not alone here."
Kizaru sounded genuinely annoyed now.
"And… could you stop holding me like this?"
"I can move, but I won't—because his Observation is locked on me."
"And the people beside him are looking at me like they're ready to carve me up."
Then—
BAM! BAM!
Two heavy impacts.
Kizaru saw the two CP0 agents spit blood and collapse, twitching on the ground.
click—click— a rifle.
ROAR— a dinosaur.
CRACK—! a net of lightning formed overhead, sealing the zone like a cage.
Kizaru cursed internally.
I'm surrounded.
If negotiations failed…
were they really about to jump an Admiral?
Warcury's voice turned colder.
"You think we fear you, boy?"
The golden dragon spoke steadily.
"I know you're used to being above everyone."
"One small incident doesn't matter to you."
"But don't forget—I can fly."
"My ship can fly."
"So tell me…"
"What happens if I rob your Heavenly Tribute and vanish?"
"Or if I ambush and execute a Celestial Dragon in public?"
"You've preached 'Celestial Dragons are gods' for centuries."
"If the world suddenly sees one die…"
"Do you think the seas will stay quiet?"
Kizaru made a "scary" face—but his eyes looked amused.
"Oooh~ terrifying plan~"
Warcury went silent for a moment.
He understood perfectly.
Money could be replaced.
But the myth of "gods above humans" collapsing?
That would ignite the world.
Warcury inhaled slowly.
"You've made your point."
"Say your price."
"What do you need for Kizaru to take that person?"
White Ghost answered cleanly:
"Five Devil Fruits."
"Two Ancient Zoans."
"Three Paramecia—only power and speed types."
"He's worth that much, right… Saint?"
Warcury didn't hesitate long.
"It will be delivered."
"And I don't want to hear you make that kind of sound again."
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