As Enel appeared without warning and incinerated the World Government's flag in a single strike, the expressions of the CP agents on the dock instantly turned ugly.
They recognized that face. More than that, they knew exactly what kind of force stood behind this man—and just how terrifying his personal strength was.
Almost reflexively, every agent shifted their gaze toward the true leader of this operation: the towering member of the God's Knights wearing the ram-skull mask.
On the other side, the old king and the ministers collapsed on the ground nearly at the same time let out a long breath of relief. Some were so overwhelmed they were close to tears.
Only one thought echoed in their hearts:
The money really wasn't paid for nothing!!!
From the World Government's side, the God's Knight withdrew his gaze from Enel and slightly turned his head, letting his eyes fall on the lead CP agent beside him.
He didn't speak. He didn't even give a clear look of instruction.
Yet the CP agent—clearly of high rank—seemed to instantly understand his intent. He stepped forward at once, bowed respectfully, and explained in a low voice:
"Enel. Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral. A Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. He likes to call himself 'God.'
"He currently serves directly under Marine Headquarters Admiral 'White Qilin' and is stationed long-term at G-10 Base.
"This Yakuro Kingdom is indeed within G-10's declared protection zone, and the flag it flies belongs to 'Heavenly Disaster.'
"So his appearance here… will be extremely troublesome."
The agent originally wanted to add something like 'Those who provoke Gern rarely end well.'
But the words died in his throat.
The moment he felt the cold, emotionless gaze of the God's Knight beside him, he swallowed everything back down.
After all, every single member of the God's Knights came from the very top strata of the Celestial Dragons' families—people who wielded unimaginable authority and power.
Their way of seeing the world was fundamentally different from that of mere CP agents.
At that moment, the ram-skull-masked God's Knight—silent until now—finally spoke.
His voice was low, rough, carrying a faint metallic resonance, as if he hadn't spoken aloud in a very long time.
"Marine Headquarters Admiral… 'White Qilin'?"
"Yes," the CP agent replied quickly. "Gern Reginald Sigmar. Though he's better known by another name…"
"'Heaven-Shaker.'"
"Gern Reginald Sigmar…"The God's Knight slowly repeated the name.
"…So it's that man. The one who once gave even Figarland trouble—and embarrassment."
His tone was flat, devoid of emotion.
Yet the CP agent beside him felt his heart clench violently.
Figarland Garling Saint!
That was the Commander of the God's Knights—one of the highest combat powers among the Celestial Dragons themselves!
Even that man had once suffered at Gern's hands?!
For CP agents of their level, this was information classified at the very highest tier.
The God's Knight, however, seemed to be merely stating a fact. He showed no interest in the agent's shock.
His gaze shifted back to the top of the tower—to the lazy figure wrapped in crackling lightning, and to the "Heavenly Disaster" flag snapping in the wind behind him.
The atmosphere grew even heavier.
On one side stood a God's Knight, representing the World Government's supreme military authority.
On the other, a powerful Logia user under the banner of "Heavenly Disaster."
Enel looked down at the suddenly silent crowd and frowned impatiently.
"Huh? What, no one's talking now?" he drawled."Since you already know the name of 'God,' hurry up and get lost! Don't ruin my sunbathing!"
At those words, the God's Knight finally moved.
He slowly raised one hand, signaling the agents behind him to stand down for the moment.
Then, through the hollow eye sockets of his mask, he took one more deep look at Enel—and at the flag behind him.
In the end, he did not attack.
He merely left behind a single sentence in that low voice.
"Tell him—"
With that, he turned to leave.
The CP agent immediately understood. Suppressing his fear of Enel, he lifted his head and shouted toward the tower:
"Rear Admiral Enel! Our lord says that this visit is not meant to provoke Admiral 'White Qilin'! The World Government respects G-10's jurisdiction!"
He paused, his tone hardening.
"However, the person personally named by a World Noble must be taken away! We will only take her alone! This is our bottom line! We hope you will not interfere—otherwise, things will become ugly for everyone!"
The words sounded like a concession.
Yet beneath them lay the unmistakable arrogance of command.
Atop the tower, Enel's laziness and irritation vanished the moment he finished listening.
"Heh-heh…"
He let out an exaggerated chuckle, dripping with mockery.
The next instant—
BOOM—KRAAAACK!!!
A blinding bolt of lightning slammed down from the sky!
It wasn't an attack—but it struck the ground at terrifying speed, landing directly in front of the ram-skull-masked God's Knight, blocking his path back to the ship.
As the lightning dispersed, Enel's figure stood there on the dock, blue arcs of electricity coiling around his body with an ominous zzzt-zzzt.
He had cut off their retreat.
The laziness was gone from his eyes. In its place burned the majesty of a god.
Enel raised his golden staff, pointing first at the God's Knight, then sweeping it across the CP agents. His voice dropped to a frigid tone that seemed to freeze the air itself.
"So… what you're saying is—"
He tilted his head, his face twisting into a grotesquely mocking expression.
"You intend to forcibly take God's people… right in front of God?"
The ram-skull-masked Knight replied calmly, "The will of the World Government cannot be defied."
"Ha?!"Enel let out a short, scornful laugh, as though he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"The will of the World Government? What the hell is that supposed to be?"
He spread his arms wide. Lightning erupted violently around him, illuminating him like a true Thunder God descending from the heavens.
"Under this sky! Upon this sea! Only God's will is absolute!"
"That pathetic excuse for a 'World Government' of yours—before God, it's not even worth as much as a Sky Island seashell! And you dare talk to me about will? About demands?!"
His arrogance knew no bounds. He ground the authority of the World Government beneath his feet without the slightest hesitation.
To Enel, the World Government and the Celestial Dragons were nothing more than self-important fools squatting on the Blue Sea.
Only power mattered. Power was truth.
And as the wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he was God.
As for Gern? That man was an even more troublesome being—a "manager above God."
But these small fry before him? They weren't even worthy of comparison.
Enel's declaration and blatant contempt turned every CP agent's face ashen. Furious yet terrified, none of them dared speak, their eyes locked on the God's Knight.
At last, faced with Enel's naked provocation, the ram-skull-masked Knight took another step forward.
He did not explode in rage.
Instead, he advanced slowly, one step at a time.
An invisible pressure, heavy as a mountain, spread outward from him as he muttered:
"Out of respect for 'Heaven-Shaker' Gern, I will give you one last chance… the only chance… to withdraw unscathed."
As he spoke, the hand long hidden beneath his dark cloak slowly emerged.
It was pale and slender, its joints sharply defined—yet it radiated terrifying strength.
With that motion, he drew forth a massive, grotesque scythe from beneath his cloak.
The shaft was pitch-black, as if it devoured light itself. The enormous crescent blade gleamed with icy metallic luster, dark red patterns faintly flowing along its edge.
The God's Knight hefted the scythe onto his shoulder, the hollow gaze behind the ram-skull mask locking onto Enel.
"I do not wish to kill you."
The words were plain. No threat. No anger. No emotion at all.
As if he were merely stating a fact.
Killing you is not my goal. But if you continue to obstruct me, it will simply be a matter of convenience.
Fear?
What was fear?
In Enel's dictionary, those words had never existed.
To him, this masked fool waving around an oversized scythe was nothing more than a pitiful, laughable mortal.
"Yehahahaha!!!"
Enel burst into mocking laughter.
He didn't even bother to assume a defensive stance. Instead, he casually extended his golden staff—
—and jabbed its tip directly against the cold ram-skull mask.
Tap.
A soft, almost playful sound.
"Sorry~" Enel drawled deliberately.
"God… cannot be killed."
His smile vanished in an instant.
"Especially when facing an ignorant, pathetic, lowly mortal."