Ronan's objective was never to overthrow the World Government in one go. That wasn't realistic, and it was beyond what he was capable of right now.
By launching this direct strike at the World Government's heart, he wanted to send a message to the entire world—especially to those lofty rulers seated high above everyone else.
The Lulusia Kingdom was no longer something they could squeeze at will, slaughter as they pleased!
They had the power to directly threaten the core regions of the World Government's rule!
He was going to make them hurt—hurt so badly that from now on, whenever they wanted to move against him, they'd have to weigh the consequences first.
He was going to brand the two names "Ronan" and "Lulusia" into the very center of this era in the most domineering way possible!
"Pass the order!" Ronan's voice carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "All core personnel—assemble at the 'Flying Sky Island' immediately."
This time, aside from everyone in the room, Ronan also brought along Kuina, Gasparde, and Kuro, who hadn't appeared here. Ronan had said before that as long as Gasparde and Kuro survived the previous harbor incident, he would give them more opportunities—and this time was the first time the two of them were participating as part of Ronan's core members.
Even though both of them were still weak, Ronan wasn't worried. As long as they were given enough time—and with Beth's guidance—he believed their futures wouldn't end up as nothing more than background wall dressing for the "main character."
After hearing Ronan's order, everyone responded in agreement.
Just as Ronan's group rode the floating island—controlled by Neferpitou using the Float-Float Fruit's power—toward the Holy Land Mary Geoise atop the Red Line, far away in the Grand Line's first half, the Sabaody Archipelago, a storm erupted without warning!
In the Lawless zone's GR Area 1, where the human auction houses were concentrated, several unknown individuals wearing eerie masks instantly crushed the Celestial Dragons' guard unit and directly abducted the Celestial Dragons who had come here to bid on slaves.
The news spread as if it had grown wings, racing across the entire archipelago. Then, through Den Den Mushi, it was urgently reported to Marineford, Marine Headquarters!
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku frowned as he looked at the emergency report that had just arrived. His first reaction wasn't rage—but deep confusion.
"Celestial Dragons kidnapped… at a moment like this?" Sengoku's expression turned thoughtful. The Lulusia incident had drawn most of the world's attention—and most of the World Government's attention—with the Navy's main forces also restrained or redeployed. And yet, at exactly this time, Sabaody had an incident this big? A coincidence? He absolutely didn't believe it!
There had to be some connection behind this!
Was it a feint to draw the tiger away from the mountain? Or someone trying to fish in troubled waters?
But no matter what kind of scheme lay behind it, the attack on the Celestial Dragons was an undeniable fact! Especially now, when the World Government's authority was being heavily questioned because of the Lulusia incident—if this wasn't handled properly, it would be like slapping the already-ugly face of the World Government even harder! And the Gorosei's fury would definitely pour straight onto his head as Fleet Admiral!
Sengoku said to the messenger at his side, "Contact Admiral Borsalino immediately via Den Den Mushi!"
"Sengoku-san, what is it this time?" The unwilling voice of Kizaru soon came through the Den Den Mushi. "This old man is gathering soldiers over here—I'm busy!"
"Sabaody is in trouble! A Celestial Dragon has been kidnapped!" Sengoku kept it brief. "The Marines stationed on the island can't handle it. You've got soldiers assembled already—make a trip!"
"Me again?!" Kizaru's voice jumped an octave, full of complaints. "Sengoku-san, it's not like Headquarters only has this one old man! Kuzan and Sakazuki are both at HQ—can't you send them?"
He really didn't want more running around. He was already supposed to head to Lulusia next, and lately, for him, it had been nonstop overwork.
Sengoku's tone turned hard, shutting down Kizaru's grumbling. "Borsalino, your speed is the fastest! I need you to get to Sabaody at the fastest possible speed, find out what's going on, rescue the Celestial Dragons, and minimize the impact! Then return to Headquarters immediately! This is an extraordinary time—there can be no mistakes!"
Sengoku deliberately emphasized "speed" and "return immediately," clearly also worried this was a draw-the-tiger-away scheme. He didn't want Kizaru tied down at Sabaody for long—after all, Aokiji and Akainu didn't have his speed.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it." Kizaru finally agreed with a helpless sigh. "You really know how to order people around. This old man's going."
After hanging up, Kizaru glanced at the busy Marineford harbor outside the window. A trace of doubt crossed his face as he clicked his tongue.
"Sabaody… kidnapping Celestial Dragons… at this timing, it just feels like a bad omen."
Even with a head full of suspicion, an order was still an order.
Kizaru's figure turned into a streak of golden light and vanished from the office in an instant, racing toward Sabaody at a speed the naked eye could barely catch.
He didn't take a battleship. Even though soldiers had already been assembled, Sengoku's tone made it clear he wanted him there as fast as possible—and Kizaru also wanted to resolve it quickly and return to HQ.
Relying on his Devil Fruit power, Kizaru arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago in an extremely short time. Sabaody wasn't far from Marine Headquarters to begin with.
He ignored the Marines searching all over and directly spread a powerful Observation Haki—immediately noticing an aura hidden deep within the island that hadn't been completely concealed on purpose.
"Found you." Kizaru muttered, then his body turned into a beam of light and appeared inside that hidden base.
However, when he saw who was waiting for him inside, the expression on his usually lazy face froze instantly.
Inside the base wasn't some crazy pirate crew or mysterious organization like he'd expected.
Standing before him were three people.
Ivankov!
Kuma!
Dragon—the leader of the Revolutionary Army!
He wasn't unfamiliar with any of them. For all these years, the Navy and the World Government had been hunting for them.
The Revolutionary Army?! And all three at the very top were here at the same time?!
Kizaru's pupils shrank violently, his brain spinning at high speed as he immediately understood many things.
No wonder the stationed Marines couldn't deal with it. No wonder the kidnappers' methods were so bizarre. The mastermind behind all of this was the Revolutionary Army!
But… why?
The Revolutionary Army always hid in the shadows, building strength. They rarely acted this loudly—and their target was the Celestial Dragons!
This was basically a direct declaration of war on the World Government! It completely didn't fit their usual style!
And after kidnapping the Celestial Dragons, not only had they not fled—they looked like they were waiting right here for him.
Waiting for a Marine Admiral to arrive?
From any angle, this looked like a carefully laid trap.
But from what his Observation Haki was telling him, Kizaru could confirm there were only these three here—no one else…
"So scary." Kizaru spoke slowly. His voice was still drawn-out as ever, but there was unmistakable heaviness in his words. "Revolutionary Army… such a big welcome at Sabaody. Kidnapping the Celestial Dragons must've just been a smokescreen, right?"
His gaze locked tightly onto Dragon. Facing the top-tier strength of these three, even he felt pressure like never before.
Dragon raised his head. Beneath the hood, his eyes met Kizaru's calmly.
"Admiral Borsalino," Dragon's voice was low. "From beginning to end, our target here has always been you."
Hearing that, all sorts of possibilities flashed through Kizaru's mind—but none of them seemed to hold up.
With the three of them together, they might be able to suppress him, even injure him. But to truly keep a Logia user with the Glint-Glint Fruit pinned down?
That was almost impossible.
They went to such lengths to lure him into this remote place—there was no way it was just to pick a fight that was guaranteed to have no result.
Stall him? That thought also crossed Kizaru's mind.
Hold down a Marine Admiral, then have the Revolutionary Army attack Marine Headquarters?
Impossible. Headquarters still had Sakazuki and Kuzan holding the fort. Its defenses were as solid as a fortress.
Attack Mary Geoise instead?
Even more impossible. That place was an even bigger dragon's den, with the Gorosei and CP Agency.
And based on Marine intelligence, while the Revolutionary Army was expanding rapidly, high-end combat power had always been their short board. Aside from these few, they didn't have many truly top-tier fighters.
So what exactly did they want?
"Admiral Borsalino," Dragon spoke again. "We simply want to invite you to rest here for a little while."
"Rest?" Kizaru tilted his head. "I'm very busy, you know. How about you hand over the kidnapped Celestial Dragons to this old man—then I won't report that you showed up here."
He tried to probe for more information with words, but Dragon clearly wasn't planning to give him any more time.
"Cut the crap! Take this—Death Wink!"
Ivankov attacked first, fiercely blinking the eye painted with heavy eyeshadow!
"Hmmm—!"
An invisible, powerful shockwave of energy immediately shot toward Kizaru!
"What a dangerous way to say hello." Kizaru smacked his lips. His body instantly elementalized, leaving an afterimage where he stood—his true body already appearing dozens of meters away.
But the moment he reappeared, a mountain-heavy sense of pressure slammed down from above!
Kuma!
At some point, Kuma had already appeared overhead. A massive palm came down on Kizaru's head!
The air before that palm was compressed to an extreme, giving off a humming roar!
"Ursus Shock!"
Kizaru's eyes sharpened. He could feel the terrifying power contained in that strike. Without hesitation, he crossed both arms in front of his chest—dazzling golden light condensed instantly!
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless brilliant light bullets poured out, surging to meet that gigantic paw.
(End of Chapter)
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