For someone like Rokuya, who is now blessed with the power of a true vampire, ordinary sleep is entirely optional. His vitality far surpassed that of ordinary humans.
As for Kalifa, beyond the mission tasks he had entrusted to her, Rokuya had considered leaving her behind as a double agent inside the World Government. However, after considering the Five Elders' paranoid temperament, he dismissed the idea. It was too risky. She would leave with him.
Moreover, Rokuya intended to use Kalifa to locate her sister, Kalifa.
Both sisters were government-trained agents, skilled and sharp. If he cultivated them properly, they could become powerful assets in his eventual war against the World Government and the Navy.
Enhanced by the vampiric physique, Rokuya believed that both women had the potential to reach the level of elite Marine Vice Admirals — or higher.
Of course, having a pair of special agent sisters for other kinds of 'teamwork' was also something to look forward to.
---
The next morning:
Red Line Continent.
Sacred Land — Mariejois.
In the hushed marble chamber known as the Room of Authority, tensions were already running high, even at this early hour.
'This is absurd!'
'That bastard Rokuya... this is an outright provocation to the government's authority!'
"Does the food on the table think it can become the hunter?!"
A voice roared, shaking the opulent hall. The speaker was the bald Five Elder Izambaron V. Nasujō, his fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt of a cursed blade.
The five old men of the world — those who held ultimate power under the mysterious Im — had just finished watching the video Kalifa had sent them.
And what were Rokuya's parting words? A final spit in their face.
They were furious.
If CP9 had simply been defeated, no one would have cared. To the Elders, those agents were expendable insects.
But Rokuya had humiliated them with a recorded video, and then deliberately delivered it not just to Mariejoa, but to Marineford too... and worst of all—
to Morgans, the incorrigible president of the World Economic News Service.
That made their blood boil.
That damned bird always prioritised profits over loyalty, which made controlling information for the World Government a nightmare.
Now, the entire world was laughing at them.
—
'If those CP9 agents crumbled that easily, maybe we should have recycled them into "noble hunting hounds" for the Celestial Dragons long ago!'
grumbled Topman Vochuli, the Legal Affairs Elder.
'Clearly, we must accelerate the replacement of outdated human operatives with the new SSG Seraphim units,'
added Jaygarcia Saturn, the Scientific Affairs Elder, trying to steer the conversation.
His mind drifted back to a recent proposal by Vegapunk — something about an 'Artificial Personality Chip'.
"Seraphim Project, huh?"
Izambaron rubbed his chin. 'Sounds promising. But we must ensure absolute control permissions."
'Our commands must override everything else.'
'But what if Vegapunk's deceiving us?'
worried Shepherd Ju Peter, the Agricultural Affairs Elder. 'He is the world's top scientific mind... we can't afford to be outmanoeuvred.'
"Don't worry," Saturn replied coldly.
'Vegapunk is under constant surveillance. He won't dare outwit me.'
Unbeknownst to him, fate had other plans.
---
At the same time, in Marineford...
Inside a fortified conference room at Navy HQ, the admirals and vice admirals had gathered in full force.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at the head of the table.
Behind him, projected on the Den Den Mushi, was the now infamous video.
Although Sengoku hadn't originally planned to show it, Morgans' decision to go public forced his hand.
Everyone had seen it.
It was time to confront reality.
---
"Rokuya."
'In less than a week, this man has escaped Impel Down, eliminated Warlord Gecko Moria and his entire crew, and completely wiped out the elite CP9 task force.'
'There has never been anyone like him in the history of the seas.'
And now he's challenging the Government's rule directly."
Sengoku's tone was heavy.
The air in the room was so thick it felt like it could be cut with a knife.
Even the Vice Admirals, hardened by countless battles, were visibly shaken.
One fugitive had changed the global tide.
And that wasn't all.
'The footage confirms the presence of Negative Soul Entities — a power previously linked to Perona of Moria's crew,' Sengoku continued.
'This means Rokuya is recruiting. He's building a faction of powerful subordinates. You don't need me to explain what that means."
'Our only options now are to either capture him or kill him before he reaches critical mass.'
Sengoku's words echoed beneath the great inscription above the room:
'Justice Reigns Supreme.'
And yet—
For the first time, visible cracks had appeared in the massive plaque.
The old order was starting to tremble.
—
'Admiral Sengoku,'
Vice Admiral Onigumo spoke up.
'Does this mean we proceed with the Buster Call, as directed by Commander-in-Chief Kong?'
Sengoku hesitated.
'We'll await final confirmation.'
'Unless we pinpoint Rokuya's exact location, deploying a Buster Call is meaningless. We must strike when it counts — fast, clean and lethal."
—
Meanwhile — across the world:
At the World Economic News Service, Morgan had done what he did best.
The video of CP9's humiliation was now everywhere.
Playback rates? Exploding.
Public perception? Glorious chaos.
Even the dark underworld — the Yonko, the Supernovas and the Warlords — were watching.
—
On Onigashima in Wano Country:
The Yonko Kaido, already drunk, burst into laughter.
"GUHAHAHAHA! That kid made 'em weep harder than my Thunder Bagua ever did!'
In the corner, Queen stroked his chin.
'Negative ghosts plus Ice Oni technology... If I combine those, I might just create the world's ultimate psychological warfare weapon!'
---
On a remote Grand Line island
"Zehahahaha! This Rokuya fella... he's fun!'
Blackbeard slapped his thigh.
From the shadows, Lafitte added,
'They say he's still somewhere in Paradise... Maybe we'll bump into him, Captain.'
—
On Elbaf — Land of Giants
Shanks sipped his drink calmly while his crew watched the footage.
"Hey, boss,"
Lucky Roo laughed.
'If you got hit by one of those ghosts, would you cry: 'Boo hoo, I only lost my arm because I thought it looked cool…'?"
The room exploded with laughter.
The world was watching.
The seas were boiling.
—