Sengoku frowned slightly.
What happened at Hannabal kept replaying in his mind.
A massacre on that scale…
Was another monster about to rise on the seas?
"You're still worrying about that kid?"
Monkey D. Garp glanced up from his bowl, grinning.
"Of course."
Sengoku set down his chopsticks and rubbed his temples.
"I didn't expect him to turn Hannabal into a slaughterhouse. With that kind of temperament…"
He trailed off.
Garp cut him off.
"You're overthinking it."
His tone was calm. Certain.
"I know what kind of person Kairos is. Even if no one keeps an eye on him, he won't go around harming civilians or dirtying justice."
Sengoku didn't reply immediately. He picked up his cup and took a slow sip of water.
"He only killed pirates," Garp added with a grin. "If anything, he saved us some work."
Silence lingered.
Then—
Sengoku finally let out a faint smile.
"I don't trust Kairos… but I trust your judgment."
Garp burst into loud laughter.
The tension in the room eased.
Sengoku finished his noodles, wiped his mouth, then paused as something crossed his mind.
"Garp… about the CP organization placing a bounty on him."
He glanced over.
"Are you… bothered by it?"
He knew Garp thought highly of Kairos.
Knew he had even considered bringing him into the Marines.
But now—
that bounty had pushed Kairos to the opposite side.
Garp didn't look bothered in the slightest.
"That's the path he chose."
He chuckled.
"With his personality, it was only a matter of time before he pissed off someone big."
He paused, then added casually—
"Besides… this might actually be a good thing for him."
"A good thing?"
Sengoku raised an eyebrow.
Garp laughed again, carefree as ever.
"With a billion bounty over his head, how many people do you think will come after him?"
"That kid loves fighting strong opponents."
"This just makes his life more interesting."
Sengoku shook his head, half amused, half exasperated.
"You really have a lot of faith in him."
He paused, then his tone shifted.
"By the way… do you know where he is right now?"
Garp's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Where?"
"Fire Country."
That made Garp pause.
Fire Country… what was special about it?
Before he could connect the dots—
Sengoku spoke again, pushing up his glasses.
"Kuzan… happens to be there."
Meanwhile—
High above the endless sea, clouds stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Whoosh—"
A massive shadow drifted across the sky.
Not a creature.
An island.
A floating island glided through the air like a silent giant.
At its center stood a grand palace shaped like a roaring lion, its jaws raised toward the heavens.
Inside—
a man sat lazily upon a stone throne.
Golden hair flowed down his shoulders like a lion's mane.
One arm supported his head. His eyes were closed.
As if asleep.
"Lord Shiki—there's new information about Kairos."
A subordinate rushed in and knelt.
No response.
The man didn't move.
The subordinate continued cautiously.
"Kairos fought alone at Hannabal… against ten thousand pirates. He killed over three thousand, including Bear King—"
Before he could finish—
Shiki's eyes snapped open.
A flash of crimson flickered within them.
An invisible pressure spread across the hall.
Even the air seemed to freeze.
"Kairos…"
The name rolled slowly off his tongue.
Then—
a faint smile formed.
"Interesting…"
Grand Line — Fire Country Port
A small wooden boat drifted gently into the harbor.
Kairos stood up, stretching lazily.
"Mm…"
He rolled his shoulders, loosening the stiffness from the journey.
Then glanced at Robin.
"Let's grab something to eat first?"
Robin nodded lightly and followed him onto the dock.
The moment—
his foot touched land—
something changed.
Kairos stopped.
A gaze had locked onto him.
Cold.
Sharp.
Almost… tangible.
Normally, a gaze shouldn't have weight.
But this one—
felt like standing beneath frozen steel.
Kairos slowly turned his head.
Out on the sea—
a man stood.
Not on a ship.
Not on water.
But on ice.
The ocean beneath his feet had frozen solid, spreading outward in silent layers.
He was tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Wearing a white vest over a dark blue shirt.
A green sleep mask rested on his forehead.
The air around him…
was freezing.
Bitingly cold.
He looked at Kairos.
And said nothing.
Kairos' eyes narrowed slightly.
Because he already knew—
who this was.
Kuzan.
One of the three Marine Admirals.
Also known as—
Aokiji.
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