"Bang!"
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford Headquarters, Sengoku slammed his fist onto the desk. His beard bristled, veins standing out as his eyes widened with barely restrained fury.
The sudden wave of news had completely caught him off guard.
The newspaper exposé revealing the true identities of Straw Hat Luffy and Fire Fist Ace was brutal, bloody, and merciless.
This was no longer just an issue involving Marine Hero Garp. It was a direct slap to the face of the entire Marine institution.
After all, Garp was the symbol of Marine justice. Yet now, the most dangerous bloodlines in the world were almost entirely connected to him by blood or upbringing.
The irony was suffocating.
Sengoku did not even dare imagine how many people across the seas were laughing at the Marines right now.
This was not a minor blow. It was a devastating one.
"Who did this?" Sengoku demanded.
"We've confirmed it. Doflamingo," Tsuru said as she pushed open the door and walked in, her expression grave.
"What does that bastard want?" Sengoku asked calmly, sitting back down. His anger vanished as abruptly as it had erupted, his composure returning with chilling speed.
"You would have to ask him yourself," Tsuru replied. "First, he captured Fire Fist Ace. Then he spread the news, pushing the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates toward war. Now he has exposed Straw Hat and Fire Fist's identities. It's clear he has no intention of letting the Marines breathe easily."
Her voice was heavy.
She had read every report from the past few days. That was precisely why she had come.
The storm had been deliberately fueled, leaving the Marines with no room to retreat. One wrong step now could lead them straight into ruin.
"Buru buru."
A Den Den Mushi rang inside the desk drawer.
Sengoku opened it, his brow furrowing ever so slightly.
"Hello."
"This is the Holy Land. Come to Mary Geoise immediately."
"Yes."
He hung up and rubbed his forehead, his expression troubled.
"The Gorosei?" Tsuru asked.
"I'm heading to Mary Geoise," Sengoku replied, already standing. He put on his Fleet Admiral's coat and walked out without another word.
At the same time, across the world, countless factions stared at the newspapers in their hands with wary expressions.
Those with insight could all sense it.
Behind everything unfolding, there was an invisible hand manipulating events.
Especially Emma.
Things had strayed far beyond her expectations.
Ace, who she suspected was Darkness, had not only been defeated but had also been sent directly to Marineford. That alone would have been shocking enough.
But the real problem was that Ace and Luffy's hidden identities were now fully exposed, and every detail matched what she knew.
And this information was not whispered in the shadows.
It was printed in newspapers and spread across the entire world.
Emma's unease deepened.
Was the mastermind behind this Silver Dragon?
Or the man who had ambushed her before?
Or someone even more deeply hidden, watching everything unfold from the darkness without ever revealing himself?
While the outside world descended into chaos, none of it concerned Lucien.
At this moment, he was riding his Demon Mask Harley motorcycle as it roared across the sea, arriving at Cake Island.
The moment he arrived, he summoned Katakuri.
Inside the central castle, Lucien stood on the steps with his back to the hall entrance. The sound of heavy boots echoed as Katakuri walked in, knelt on one knee, and lowered his head toward Lucien's back.
Lucien was no longer wearing Big Mom's form.
This was his true appearance.
From the moment Katakuri had been turned into a Demon by Lucien, everything had already been set in stone.
What was more, Lucien had subtly modified Katakuri's memories through the Soul Fruit.
Among all the Demons Lucien had created so far, Katakuri was undeniably the strongest.
With Demon cell regeneration, Three Color Haki, and his own overwhelming physical strength, Katakuri now possessed power firmly at the level of a Yonko.
To kill him would be extraordinarily difficult.
In some ways, the current Katakuri was nearly unkillable.
"Katakuri," Lucien said calmly as he turned around, his amethyst eyes gazing down at the kneeling man. "What is your wish?"
Katakuri paused.
Clearly, he had not expected Lucien's first words to be this.
Lucien waited patiently. He was prepared for Katakuri to ask to be restored to humanity, or to demand the release of the Charlotte Family.
Becoming a Demon and having his memories altered did not strip Katakuri of his will or intellect. He was still largely the same man.
Cold on the surface, warm at heart. Intelligent, resolute, and fiercely protective of his family.
"I want a fair fight with you," Katakuri finally said, raising his head. His gaze was steady, his voice calm. "If I win, spare all my brothers and sisters."
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And if you lose?"
Katakuri did not hesitate. "If I lose, I will serve you forever."
His expression did not change. His eyes were as still as deep water.
Lucien's heart sank.
This would not be an easy battle, especially with Katakuri's Future Sight.
"If this is to be fair," Lucien said slowly, "I will temporarily seal your Demon body."
Katakuri nodded. "That is only right."
Lucien felt a surge of admiration.
This man was truly formidable.
"Good," Lucien said. "Sign this contract. I will make you lose with conviction."
A Wish Contract materialized in his hand.
As long as Katakuri signed it, the outcome of their battle, win or lose, would fulfill his wish.
Lucien was determined to obtain Future Sight.
Katakuri examined the contract. At the top were the words: Wish Contract.
The contents were simple and clear.
Do you wish to make a request to Lucien for a fair duel?
If you win, all Charlotte Family members will be spared.
If you lose, you will serve Lucien forever.
Sign or press your blood imprint willingly. If not done of your own will, the contract will not take effect.
Wisher:
Katakuri did not hesitate.
He pricked his finger and pressed his blood-stained thumb beneath the word "Wisher."
The contract shimmered, rose into the air, then shattered into countless motes of light.
It was complete.
"Cake Island isn't suitable," Lucien said. "We'll go to the Calm Belt."
He had no intention of destroying Cake Island.
Three hours later, deep within the Calm Belt.
On an isolated island wracked by thunder and lightning, Lucien and Katakuri stood facing each other from a distance.
Centered on Katakuri, the ground rapidly transformed into mochi. His right arm twisted as a trident formed in his grasp. At the same time, his Haoshoku Haki surged outward, stirring the wind and clouds as it pressed toward Lucien.
From the very start, Katakuri held nothing back.
Lucien activated weight removal. White flames erupted from his body as his Haki surged to its peak.
Their auras alone collided violently, generating a furious storm that flattened the surrounding terrain.
The ground cracked and collapsed, massive fissures tearing through the island.
From afar, Cracker, Smoothie, Perospero, and the others watched in silence, their expressions heavy.
They all knew.
This battle was on an entirely different level.
Prometheus, Zeus, and Napoleon were present as well, but Lucien did not use them.
He would not rely on the Soul Fruit or any external abilities.
He wanted Katakuri to lose with absolute conviction.
For Future Sight, he was going all out.
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