On the waters of the North Blue, the massive World Government inspection ship, the 'North Blue Cross', lay anchored.
The newly appointed Deputy Commander of the Holy Land Guard, 'Klein Miller', stood frozen, his eyes locked on the battleship before him. Compared to the 'North Blue Cross', it was tiny, shaped like a cola bottle, sitting directly in its path and blocking the way forward.
Naturally, Klein Miller recognized it.
"The Black Kirin..."
He knew it belonged to Marine Headquarters' Admiral Candidate, 'Black Kirin Roy Amos'. In fact, the main reason he had been promoted to Deputy Commander was that his predecessor, 'Venom Tongue Soras', had died at Roy's hands during the Three Forces Military Exercise.
Precisely because he knew who Roy was, he couldn't understand it.
"Has this guy gone insane?" he muttered to himself. Why would a man with such a promising future dare stand in the way of a Celestial Dragon?
Just then,
'Cough, cough.'
Klein Miller watched as a burly man took a bite of a hamburger and casually stepped onto the deck from the cabin below.
"Full-Full Fruit: Voice Amplification."
His voice cut through the sea wind, ringing clearly in Klein Miller's ears.
"I am Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Hans. Under orders, I am delivering our first official notice: Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral 'Black Kirin Roy' is currently carrying out a classified mission in these waters. This area is designated a temporary restricted zone. No vessels are permitted to enter or leave. After three warnings, any ship that continues forward will be subject to enforcement by our vessel."
The announcement echoed across the water.
For a moment, Klein Miller wondered if he had misheard.
"You bastards!" The next second, his face twisted with rage. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?!"
Realizing they were actually serious, he grabbed the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi, his voice trembling with fury. "Open your eyes, you idiots! This is the 'World Government Inspection Ship'! It carries the great Saint Thatcher M. Peel on his inspection tour of the kingdoms!"
He pointed toward the enormous Cross-Star flag flying overhead. "Move aside immediately! Marines... are you trying to defy the World Government?!"
To his surprise, not a single Marine on the opposing ship reacted.
Hans casually dug a finger into his ear and flicked it away. "What government? Are you deaf or something?"
Without missing a beat, Hans continued, "This is the second warning. As I said, we are carrying out a classified mission that requires these waters to be sealed off. It's true you're on a World Government inspection ship and have temporary authority to mobilize local Marine branches in member nations... but we are the direct force under Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral 'Black Kirin'. We are not under your command."
Klein Miller's eyes widened, left completely speechless, until a voice spoke up from behind him.
"Shut up."
'Thud.' 'Thud.'
Heavy footsteps echoed across the deck as a figure emerged from the cabin of the 'North Blue Cross'.
A Celestial Dragon. The iconic bubble helmet made that unmistakably clear. But unlike ordinary World Nobles, this one wore a suit of jet-black armor. The suit was clearly extraordinary, covered in countless vents emitting constant 'click-click' grinding noises as internal gears turned. Red smoke poured continuously from the openings, enveloping his entire body.
"Too noisy... Too noisy!" The Celestial Dragon ground his teeth, his voice thick with barely restrained irritation. "Why is it so damn noisy?"
"Saint Peel! We've arrived at Mont Blanc Island," Klein Miller said, turning to bow deeply. His tone was profoundly respectful, knowing exactly who stood before him. Even among the World Nobles he was sworn to protect, this man held extraordinary status.
He was one of the legendary 'God's Knights'.
"Zephyr and Edward Weevil are both on the island," Klein Miller hurried to explain, "but Marine Headquarters' Black Kirin has blocked our path. He is, "
"I'll have them move aside immediately! I'll send men to drive them away. Please return to your rest, Saint, "
Klein Miller never finished his sentence, not because he stopped speaking, but because he no longer could.
'Boom!'
Nobody standing near him even saw what happened. All they saw was the deck where Klein Miller had just stood, the hull beneath it, and the ocean below, all pierced straight through in an instant by an invisible strike. The sea itself was left with a pitch-black crater, as if punched clear through to the seabed.
Klein Miller's entire body exploded into a mist of blood, leaving behind not a single trace.
"Idiot... Just as I thought. Nothing more than a lowly creature from the Lower World," Saint Peel growled. "Rest? I never rest. Rest is a sign of weakness. And besides... why would I ask someone standing in my way to move aside?"
His gaze fell upon the black battleship below. "A Marine? The Black Kirin?"
To a God's Knight, those names meant nothing. He slowly raised his black-armored hand, a hint of dark pleasure entering his voice.
"Crush it. Sink that ship. I want those pieces of trash who dared stand in my way to suffer... immediately."
The order was given, and acknowledgments immediately roared back from the 'North Blue Cross' and every escort warship surrounding it.
Klein Miller was dead, but no one cared. To the Holy Land Guard and the Celestial Dragon Guard, the great God's Knight, the embodiment of the World Government's will, had merely crushed an insect.
'Click.' 'Click.'
As engines roared and gun batteries rotated into position, every cannon aboard the escort fleet locked onto the 'Black Loyalty'. The colossal 'North Blue Cross' surged forward, its massive hull bearing down to crush the small black battleship beneath it.
Then,
"I already said... this area is off-limits."
A voice rang across the water. In an instant, the entire ocean and every warship poised to attack seemed to freeze in place.
"Are you people... deaf?!"
'Boom!'
Black-and-red Haoshoku Haki erupted outward. Centered on the 'Black Loyalty', the sea itself sank inward as if crushed by an invisible weight, the overwhelming pressure sweeping over every escort ship in range.
'Thud!' 'Thud!' 'Thud!'
Across the escort fleet and the 'North Blue Cross', it made no difference whether they were gunners preparing to fire or officers shouting commands. One moment they were at their posts; the next, their eyes rolled back, foam dribbled from their mouths, and they collapsed unconscious.
In the blink of an eye, the bloodthirsty battleground fell completely silent. Across the entire 'North Blue Cross', only Saint Peel remained standing.
He gritted his teeth, staring wide-eyed at the vessel below.
'Click.'
The cabin door of the black battleship slid open silently, and a lone figure stepped out. The stars embroidered on the sleeves of his pitch-black Marine coat fluttered in the breeze, faint tendrils of black-and-red Haki still clinging to his hair.
"Once I'm done here, take the ship to the island," Roy said, casually tossing his coat to Fal beside him. "Help Ain and the others evacuate the civilians, and handle media control while you're at it."
"Yes, Boss."
Fal nodded and stepped back into the cabin. Roy walked slowly to the edge of the deck.
"Oh, sorry," Roy said, looking up at the World Noble, his voice deceptively calm. "Looks like your crew fell asleep. So, Your Celestial Dragon Highness, I'll personally deliver our third and final warning."
He paused, his eyes settling on the God's Knight and then shifting to the massive Cross-Star flag flying behind him.
"My ship is carrying out a classified mission in these waters, and this area is under temporary lockdown. So... I'd appreciate your cooperation."
(End of Chapter)
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