"No, Kaito hasn't arrived yet! Just deal with her alone," Aokiji said through gritted teeth, frustration etched across his face.
"Stop talking nonsense. When will you pay me my Ten billion Berries?" Kaguya replied flatly, her tone as calm as ever.
Marine Division, Sabaody Archipelago
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's entire body trembled as the transponder snail relayed Kaguya's voice. His face turned crimson with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, his beard almost standing on end.
First Akainu… now Aokiji?
Akainu had barely been ransomed earlier that same day. He'd only just regained consciousness after being held hostage. And now, Aokiji had been captured as well. Sengoku wanted to scream, What's wrong with you people?! If you can't win, just run!
He forced himself to calm down, exhaling deeply. "You killed a Celestial Dragon — the entire World Government and the Marines are after you! I suggest you release Aokiji, or you'll face the harshest punishment imaginable!"
"When will the ten billion be ready? If you don't pay," Kaguya said coldly, "I'll just get rid of him."
Sengoku slammed his palm on the desk. "If you kill Aokiji, you'll never set foot on the sea again! But if you release him now, I'll make sure you're only sent to Impel Down!"
"Three days. If I don't get the money, he dies," Kaguya said simply before hanging up.
The room fell silent. Sengoku stood frozen for a moment, then his fury erupted like a volcano. His eyes narrowed sharply as murderous intent surged from him.
"You all heard that," he said to Momousagi and the nearby officers.
They nodded quickly.
"Momousagi, report this to Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately! The rest of you, gather troops from Marine Headquarters. This time, the Kaito couple will learn what happens when they humiliate the Marines twice in a row!"
"Understood!" they shouted in unison.
After hanging up, Kaguya tossed the transponder snail back into her pocket dimension. She hoisted the half-conscious Aokiji and made her way toward Shakky's bar.
"You really don't hold back," a familiar voice said as a figure appeared in front of her.
It was Ayanami Kaito, smiling faintly.
"What's wrong? He's worth ten billion Berries," Kaguya said with a small pout. "That's plenty of pocket money for a while."
Kaito sighed, rubbing his temple. "We can't keep milking the same cow, Kaguya. The Marines are probably broke already after the Akainu ransom. This guy's not worth much anymore."
"So… he's useless?" she asked innocently.
"Pretty much. But since you've already caught him, might as well keep him for now. Ten billion should last you for a bit."
Kaito groaned inwardly. He really regretted taking Kaguya shopping that one time — ever since then, she'd developed an unhealthy love for money.
"But I already made a deal with that old man, Sengoku," Kaguya said seriously. "If they don't pay in three days, I'll kill him. Just like I did that other man."
"That man?" Kaito asked, raising a brow.
"The Celestial Dragon," she said casually. "You told me to deal with him, remember?"
Kaito scratched his head. "Ah… right. Then kill him."
Kaguya smiled. "So, what now? Shopping or dinner?"
"Shopping, of course. There's nothing more important than buying things. You can handle this guy," she said, pointing at the trussed-up Aokiji beside her.
Kaito sighed. "Fine, go ahead."
He looked down at the bound admiral with mild pity.
"Hey, don't look at me like that!" Aokiji grumbled from the floor. "I'm just being held captive here!"
Kaito chuckled. "Heh, a Marine Admiral losing to a woman — that's kind of embarrassing, don't you think?"
Aokiji scowled. "Easy for you to say. She's your wife."
Ignoring him, Kaito waved his hand and sent the frozen admiral into a pocket dimension.
Not far away, Kaito kicked a severed head — that of Saint Charlos — across the ground like a ball. It rolled to a stop just as five masked figures in white suits appeared before him, one of them holding another Celestial Dragon's body.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "CP0?"
The leader's voice was cold. "You dared to disrespect a Celestial Dragon's body. Kill him."
One of the agents vanished instantly, reappearing right in front of Kaito, his hand reaching for Kaito's throat.
"You really think I'm an easy target?" Kaito muttered, amused.
In a flash, his figure blurred and vanished — lightning crackled through the air, and a blinding thunder spear pierced straight through the CP0 agent's chest.
"Lightning?!" the man gasped, his body instantly tensing. His skin hardened like steel as he activated the Marine Six Styles' Tekkai: Steel Body and reinforced it with Armament Haki.
The air exploded with a violent crackle-crackle! as light engulfed them both. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air.
"Thunder Fruit…?" murmured another masked agent, Karnos, his eyes narrowing. He had clearly underestimated his opponent. Judging from his ally's lifeless body, the attack had been fatal.
"Don't think your Logia powers make you invincible," Karnos said coldly. "All of you — attack together! Kill him!"
The four remaining agents vanished, their movements ghost-like, surrounding Kaito in an instant.
Kaito smirked. "You guys really don't know who I am, huh? Then let me remind you."
He extended both hands, and a powerful repulsive force burst outward from his body. The air cracked like glass as the four CP0 agents were hurled back with overwhelming power.
The impact was catastrophic — the ground split open as shockwaves tore through the area. The agents screamed as their bodies were shredded by the invisible force, blood spraying into the air before they crashed to the ground, broken and bleeding.
When the dust settled, Kaito stepped forward, appearing beside the wrecked bodies in an instant.
Three were unconscious. Only Karnos remained awake, staring up at him with trembling eyes.
"That repulsive force…" he gasped weakly. "You're Kaito! The one who extorted ten billion Berries from Sengoku!"
Kaito looked down at him, his expression calm, almost bored.
"Good. At least one of you knows who you're dealing with."
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