"You little brats from the Sword Gang—how bold of you to march into our territory with such fanfare. What's the matter? Tired of living and looking to die?"
After blocking Kaito Arisawa and his men, a burly man in a black suit stepped forward from the ranks. A cigar hung from the corner of his mouth, and a heavy machine gun rested in his right hand. His expression was arrogant as he glared at Kaito.
The development of firearms in this world was strangely uneven. Flintlock guns were common, yet submachine guns and machine guns—comparable to modern weapons—also existed.
With the wealth and influence of the Iron Fist, obtaining automatic weapons was hardly difficult.
Iron Fist lieutenant… Bunier.
Robin's eyes flickered as she instantly recalled the man's identity.
Step. Step.
Unlike the tension among the War Pirates and Robin's vigilance, Kaito showed no change in expression at all. He did not even slow down.
He continued walking forward calmly.
At his side, Mangu followed in silence, a massive mace resting across his shoulder. From beginning to end, he said nothing and waited for no instructions.
Of course Bunier recognized Kaito.
The words he had just spoken were directed squarely at him.
Seeing Kaito ignore him entirely—and continue walking forward as though he were invisible—rage flared in Bunier's eyes.
"Men! Kill them!"
Bunier took the silence as provocation. Having already received orders from his superior, he had no intention of showing restraint.
With a shout, he raised the machine gun and aimed directly at Kaito.
"Kneel."
Kaito finally stopped walking.
His voice was calm. Flat.
Boom—!
In the next instant, the air rippled visibly.
A violent surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Kaito's body like a sweeping gale, crashing across the ranks of the Iron Fist.
Plop—
It was as if an invisible hammer had struck them.
Pupils dilated.
Faces drained of color.
Then, just as Kaito had commanded—
They fell to their knees.
Every single one of them.
Even Bunier.
Behind Kaito, Robin's eyes widened in shock.
Although she had experienced the awakening of his Conqueror's Haki before, that event had been uncontrolled. At the time, she—like everyone else in the manor—had simply lost consciousness and knew nothing of the details.
Now, however, she witnessed it fully.
The members of the Iron Fist had not fainted.
That was not because they were stronger than she had been.
It was because Kaito now controlled his Conqueror's Haki.
He had deliberately reduced its crushing force.
The purpose was clear—
Incorporation.
Before releasing it, Kaito had already shifted his talent allocation into Conqueror's concentration.
Under that state, his Conqueror's Haki carried a secondary effect:
Submission.
As in the natural law of beasts—
The weak submit to the strong.
The pressure of his will not only crushed their resistance, but also altered the way they perceived him.
It stirred something primal.
An instinct to obey.
Even Bunier, moments ago arrogant and murderous, now found himself trembling. Awe filled his gaze as he looked up at Kaito.
"After today," Kaito said calmly, his eyes indifferent as he surveyed the kneeling crowd, "there will be no more Iron Fist."
"I'll give you a choice."
"Join me. From this moment forward, you work under my command."
Though the raw pressure had been lowered, the submission effect remained potent.
With Conqueror's talent fully concentrated, Kaito's will bore down like a sovereign's decree.
The Iron Fist members could not resist.
Bunier's expression wavered.
His loyalty to his gang clashed against a growing instinct to kneel willingly.
As for the others—
"I… I'm willing to serve you, sir!"
"Please accept me!"
"It would be an honor to work for you!"
Voices broke out one after another.
Almost immediately, dozens declared allegiance.
Hesitation crumbled under the tide of surrender.
Even Bunier finally bowed his head.
"Bunier… is willing to serve you."
The arrogance that had once defined him vanished completely.
Behind Kaito, Robin covered her parted lips with her hand, disbelief written across her face.
How…?
What exactly is happening?
Her mind filled with questions.
She understood power.
She understood intimidation.
But this—
This was something else entirely.
…
Elsewhere, in a luxuriously decorated office, a fat man sat leisurely on a leather sofa. Diamond rings glittered on his fingers. A mink coat draped over his shoulders. A cigar smoldered between his lips.
He exhaled slowly, watching smoke curl into the air.
By now, Bunier should be dealing with those Sword Gang brats.
A sneer tugged at his face.
Kaito… you're courting death.
You hid in Rumtown and I couldn't touch you. But now you've walked straight into my territory.
Don't blame me when I swallow what's left of your Sword Gang whole.
This man was Andrew—
The true boss of the Iron Fist.
Greed flickered in his eyes through the haze of smoke.
He had no idea—
That outside his office—
His entire force had already bent the knee.
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