A harsh, splintering crash echoed through Pangaea Castle.
This time, the Five Elders didn't merely shatter a teacup—
They hurled an entire table straight out the window.
Five ancient men, their combined age unknowable, stood red-faced with rage, veins bulging as if smoke might pour from their ears.
"They've lost their minds! Using our noble gods as tools to strengthen their spirit?!"
"If they continue roaming freely, what becomes of the World Government's authority?!"
"This is a declaration of war! A declaration of war!"
"Deploy the Holy Knights!"
"Agreed. Roldyand his crew must be eradicated!"
If Roldi's execution of the Celestial Dragons had sent a dangerous signal to the common people—
Then revealing a potential method to strengthen Conqueror's Haki was bait thrown directly to the monsters of the sea.
The stronger one was, the more one understood the importance of Conqueror's Haki.
It was the quality of kings.
You could become powerful without it—
But those who truly stood at the summit of the world?
None lacked it.
The message would spread like wildfire.
And somewhere out there—
Someone unhinged enough would try it.
Enraged, the Five Elders mobilized the Holy Knights.
Though their Commander nominally stood on equal footing with them, this crisis directly endangered the Celestial Dragons themselves.
The Commander of the Holy Knights, Saint Figarland Garling, did not refuse.
He departed the Red Line with twelve elite Holy Knights, heading straight for Sabaody.
The Marines moved as well.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku said little—he simply added ten more large warships to the deployment.
The remaining four Sea Emperors also watched the broadcast.
Big Mom and Whitebeard merely reacted with solemn contemplation.
Kaido sensed the brewing of a grand war and nearly rushed to join—only to be stopped by his two All-Stars.
And then—
"Shihahaha! Move out, boys!"
"Destination—Sabaody Archipelago!"
More than fifty pirate ships rose into the sky.
The Sky Ruler, Golden Lion Shiki, stood atop his flagship, laughing wildly.
Everyone knew Roldyhad once served as vice-captain of the Golden Lion Pirates. The World Government certainly knew the two were cut from the same cloth.
And if there was a chance to cause the Government trouble—
Why would Shiki refuse?
Curiously, however, Roldi's own forces in the Kingdom of Tia remained still.
Back at Sabaody
"He really awakened Conqueror's Haki…"
Crocodile's pupils shrank.
He had assumed Roldywas bluffing.
Moria swallowed hard.
Neither moved.
But Mihawk did.
The black blade Yoru slowly slid from its sheath.
"Oh? Mihawk—you want to try?"
Roldywasn't surprised.
In his estimation, only Sheen and Mihawk possessed that kind of nerve.
It wasn't that Crocodile or Moria were cowards.
Crocodile dreamed of building a military nation.
Moria still fantasized about becoming Pirate King.
For both of them, killing Celestial Dragons brought no strategic advantage—certainly not enough to justify the full wrath of the World Government.
Mihawk, however, was different.
Under Roldi's training, Mihawk's Conqueror's Haki had grown, but it still lagged behind the world's apex.
If there was a way to accelerate its growth—
The future World's Greatest Swordsman would not hesitate.
A true sword fanatic had only one focus.
"My blade has tasted the blood of many strong men," Mihawk said calmly. "But never that of a god."
The polished surface of Yoru reflected the final Celestial Dragon's face—twisted in ultimate terror.
Mihawk raised the blade with both hands.
One downward strike.
The body split cleanly in two.
"…My Haki has indeed grown."
Even Mihawk had been raised on the myth of divine Celestial Dragons.
Now—
That myth shattered.
The psychological barrier weakened.
And his Conqueror's Haki strengthened.
If all Celestial Dragons were slain…
Would my Haki become peerless?
Fortunately, he kept that thought to himself.
Roldywould've applauded.
The auction hall fell silent.
No one remained alive except Roldi's crew—
And the slaves.
Thick blood coated the floor. Yet none of the liberated captives felt revulsion. Hatred outweighed nausea.
Roldyapproached the slaves and casually crushed their shackles with Armament Haki.
They were victims.
Useful? Perhaps—Giants could be formidable fighters.
But Roldyknew better.
In top-tier wars, cannon fodder meant nothing.
The freed captives wept with gratitude.
Several Giants vowed that if Roldyever reached Elbaf, he would be welcomed with the highest honors.
They did not realize—
He carried Giant blood within him.
"Boss," Crocodile said, "there are fifty-two targets left on the island. Shall we proceed?"
Roldysat on a relatively clean patch of floor and remained motionless.
"I would love to. But we have a guest."
He smiled faintly.
"Isn't that right, Marine Admiral—'Kizaru' Borsalino?"
He casually hurled a chair toward a shadowed corner.
A streak of golden light flashed.
A man in a yellow-striped suit, draped in a Marine Justice Coat, stepped forward. Sunglasses hid his eyes; his expression carried that familiar lazy smirk.
"Oooh, scary~ Long time no see, Roldi."
Kizaru kept his hands in his pockets.
He glanced at the three Celestial Dragon corpses and rubbed his temple.
"I really didn't want to fight you. But this time, I'm afraid I don't have a choice. Couldn't you just stay in the New World and enjoy being an Emperor?"
Black blade.
Fists.
Golden hook.
Scissors.
Mihawk, Sheen, Crocodile, and Moria formed a semicircle around him.
Roldyremained seated, fingers interlocked.
"I'd love to," he replied. "But their stench kept me from sleeping peacefully."
He bared sharp teeth in a grin.
"And besides… the sea has gotten boring, hasn't it?"
Kizaru's posture remained casual.
But behind those tinted lenses—
His eyes were deadly serious.
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