Andrew was the true leader of the Iron Fist.
While he was still fantasizing about expanding his territory and absorbing the Sword Gang's manpower after devouring them, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed outside his office door.
"Boss, this is bad! That bastard Bunier betrayed us!"
The door burst open. A panicked subordinate rushed in, shouting urgently.
Andrew froze for a second, then his expression darkened.
"What nonsense are you spouting? How could Bunier betray me?"
"It's true, boss! Word just came in—Bunier didn't fight the Sword Gang at all after meeting them. He knelt before Kaito Arisawa! He's even leading our men to attack us together with them!"
The subordinate explained in a rush.
Andrew unconsciously clenched his fist. The cigar in his hand crumbled under the sudden pressure.
Shock and fury twisted across his face.
As absurd as it sounded, he knew his subordinate wouldn't dare lie about something like this.
Which meant—
Bunier, the man he had trusted as his right hand, had truly defected.
"Damn it!"
Andrew's obesity did nothing to dull the savagery that flashed across his face. He shot to his feet and smashed the coffee table in front of him with a single punch.
"Send up the signal! Gather everyone! I'll personally kill Kaito—and that traitor Bunier!"
"Yes, boss!"
The subordinate didn't dare hesitate and immediately rushed out to carry out the order.
…
Boom—!
A signal flare shot high into the sky above Lovisa.
Moments later, it exploded into a bright red firework that lingered in the air.
"Captain, that's the Iron Fist's signal flare. It must be that Andrew learned about what happened and is summoning his men in a hurry."
After successfully recruiting thousands of Iron Fist members, Kaito Arisawa had continued leading the combined forces toward Iron Fist headquarters.
When the red flare blossomed overhead, everyone looked up. Bunier, now standing among them—his loyalty redirected but not diminished—hurried forward to report.
"Yes," Kaito replied casually after glancing at the sky. "If Andrew wants to gather his men, let him. It saves me the trouble of finding them."
His tone was relaxed.
The power of Conqueror's Haki had already proven itself. The more people Andrew summoned, the better.
"So Haki has a third type—Conqueror's—besides Armament and Observation?"
Robin, walking at his side, cast a glance at Bunier before continuing the conversation they had started earlier.
"Yes," Kaito nodded. "I didn't mention it before because Conqueror's Haki is different. It cannot be cultivated. It can only be awakened."
"In common understanding, Conqueror's Haki represents kingly potential. They say only one in a million possesses the qualification to awaken it."
"Typically, its visible effect is intimidation—overpowering enemies or even knocking them unconscious."
He paused briefly.
"But as far as I know, Conqueror's Haki can also be infused—like Armament Haki—to further enhance attack power."
Robin listened intently.
"So powerful… No wonder those Iron Fist members collapsed to their knees. Even without the 'infusion' you mentioned, it already has immense strategic value."
She looked thoughtful.
"But according to what you said, Conqueror's Haki should only intimidate others. Then why did they surrender so easily?"
Her sharp mind had noticed the discrepancy.
Kaito glanced at her.
"The same power produces different effects in different hands," he said simply. "My Conqueror's Haki works this way."
He turned his gaze forward again and offered no further explanation.
For now, that was enough.
Though Robin was his most trusted confidant, he would not casually reveal the full truth of the "Submission" ability.
"Hmm… I suppose that makes sense."
Robin smiled faintly and did not press further. She was intelligent enough to know when to stop.
Still, the idea of kingly qualification lingered in her thoughts.
Could she awaken Conqueror's Haki as well?
…
While the signal flare summoned Iron Fist forces, Andrew was not relying solely on numbers.
Gunfire cracked through the air.
From the rooftop of a distant building, a sniper had taken aim.
A bullet burst from the chamber and tore through the air at supersonic speed, flying hundreds of meters toward Kaito's head as he walked at the front of the formation.
His right hand moved.
So fast it was almost invisible.
Between his index and middle fingers—
The bullet stopped.
A faint wisp of blue smoke rose from the metal as friction burned against his grip.
Kaito's expression didn't change.
He glanced toward the rooftop from which it had come.
Then, with a casual flick—
He sent the bullet flying back.
Under the concentration of Constitution talent, even a simple flick carried terrifying force.
The bullet shot backward at even greater speed.
Hundreds of meters vanished in an instant.
Boom—!
The sniper's head exploded.
The impact force shattered bone and flesh on contact. The Iron Fist gunman died instantly on the rooftop, his body collapsing lifelessly.
On the street below, not a single step of Kaito's stride faltered.
The advance continued.
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