The Little Show Monkey, Easily Crushed with One Hand!

"That's a question I'd also like to ask you!"

Kizaru observed Storm ahead, using Geppo to stay away from Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Why do I feel like we keep running into each other lately?

Kizaru has almost lost count of how many times he has encountered Storm this year, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

What bothered him most was that every time he encountered Storm, nothing good seemed to happen.

Just like last time.

The Buster Call failed, and the Admiral are almost completely disgraced by Kizaru and Sakazuki!

But this time...

Kizaru came to contact Storm specifically because of the "attack on Vegapunk".

Anyway, none of these are good things!

But.

Kizaru glanced at Golden Lion II was standing next to Storm, out of the corner of his eye.

Could the "Vongola Storm" in front of him really be "White Dragon"?

Isn't Golden Lion II a member of the Dawn Pirates, and a subordinate of the Red Dragon Emperor "Dawn Draig"?

Or perhaps...

Was the information the Gorosei provided earlier accurate?

Is the White Dragon the same as the red dragon?

Is Vongola Storm the same as Dawn Draig?

A storm raged within Kizaru, but he showed little outward expression.

'If the White Dragon is the Red Dragon Emperor, Golden Lion II is here... are the other members of the Dawn Pirates also on this Punk Hazard Island?'

Thinking of this, Kizaru's lips suddenly felt a little bitter.

Among the known members of the Dawn Pirates.

Kizaru doesn't really care about being called the "Red Dragon Emperor," "Golden Lion II," or "Flame Man"...

However, there is also a "Whitebeard the Second." in the Dawn Pirates!

Edward Teach, the Whitebeard the Second, possesses the power of the Rumble- Rumble-Rumble Fruit!

Kizaru rushed from Marine Headquarters to the New World at the speed of light, originally intending only to save his close friend Vegapunk.

But what if Edward Teach was also on Punk Hazard Island...?

Kizaru is no longer worried about Vegapunk.

He began to worry about his safety.

Storm calmly looked at Kizaru and bluntly told him to leave.

"Kizaru, Punk Hazard Island is now my territory! You are not welcome here!"

Storm's eyes narrowed slightly, and an astonishing aura erupted from his body, with black and red arcs of electricity, symbolizing [Conqueror's Haki], crisscrossing the sky.

"Of course, if you're willing to 'abandon darkness and embrace light,' I can accept you as my 'subordinate'!"

Abandon darkness and embrace light?

Kizaru wasn't shocked by Storm's [Conqueror's Haki], but rather by what Strom said.

Who is in the "dark" and who is in the "light"?

It's unbelievable that a pirate would say something like that to the Navy.

Kizaru was extremely puzzled.

As for Storm's "recruitment," Kizaru didn't take it to heart at all.

After all, the other party has brought up similar topics more than once...

"My salary is very high!"

Two red lights shone in Kizaru's eyes behind his sunglasses as he silently activated his Observation Haki, sensing the Punk Hazard Island ahead and trying to find Vegapunk's presence.

It only takes the time it takes to breathe.

Kizaru's Observation Haki detected Vegapunk's presence.

He also sensed Sentomaru's presence.

However, what Kizaru found somewhat strange was that there seemed to be another unfamiliar presence following Vegapunk and Sentomaru.

It's shaped like a dog.

However, the aura emanating from that "dog-like creature" seemed to be not much weaker than that of the Navy's "Red Dog"...

'How is this possible!?'

Kizaru almost instinctively rejected this hypothesis.

He still highly regards Sakazuki's skill level.

How could a "dog-like creature" comparable to Sakazuki suddenly appear on Punk Hazard Island?

Illusion!

It must be an illusion!

Kizaru adjusted his glasses, and a dazzling golden light suddenly burst forth from his body.

Before Storm could respond to his question about "salary,"

Kizaru then wanted to unleash his maximum speed and immediately rush towards Vegapunk.

But the "Flash Man" had only managed to move a short distance.

Storm, who was already wary of Kizaru, keenly detected the opponent's movements and unhesitatingly increased the intensity of his [Conqueror's Haki].

Nine-Star Conqueror's Haki, unleashing its full power!

Boom!

A thunderous roar echoed high in the sky.

Storm unleashed his full power of [Conqueror's Haki], transforming it into visible black and red arcs of electricity that formed an impenetrable "Haki shield" in the outer space of Punk Hazard Island.

Kizaru plunged headfirst into Storm's [Conqueror's Haki] and instantly felt an extremely unnatural sensation.

The exhilarating feeling of speed that I used to experience vanished without a trace in that instant.

Kizaru felt as if he were stuck in a quagmire, and his prized [Glint-Glint Fruit] instantly lost its original extreme speed.

'This level of [Conqueror's Haki]...'

Kizaru was utterly terrified.

Even though the last time he fought Storm, Storm's [Conqueror's Haki] wasn't strong enough to suppress his [Glint-Glint Fruit].

Why is the opponent's [Conqueror's Haki] so strong this time?

Could it be that Storm deliberately concealed his strength in the last battle?

Or perhaps his skills have improved recently?

A series of thoughts flashed through Kizaru's mind.

Before he could even figure out the answer to the question...

Storm quickly approached.

His Conqueror's Haki locked onto and restricted Kizaru's "Flash Speed".

However, he himself was not affected in the slightest.

One rises as the other falls.

Kizaru's speed was limited.

Storm's speed can be fully unleashed.

In the blink of an eye.

Storm approached Kizaru's location and stretched out his right hand. His palm immediately expanded and grew to a gigantic size, with deep black Armament Haki wrapping around its surface, transforming it into a "black hand that blots out the sky."

When Kizaru saw Storm attacking, he initially wanted to dodge and escape.

However, Storm's [Conqueror's Haki] still kept him firmly locked in place, greatly reducing the speed of the flashes that the [Glint-Glint Fruit] could unleash.

And Storm's offensive speed is simply too fast.

Before Kizaru could escape very far, he was grabbed by Storm's right hand.

Little Kizaru, easily crushed with one hand!

"This feeling is so familiar..."

If Kizaru remembers correctly...

Last time on Ruschired Island, he was also grabbed by Storm and forced to admit defeat...

This moment is just like that moment back then.

"Admit defeat."

Kizaru raised his hands high and shouted.

"I give up!"

As long as I surrender quickly enough, Storm's fist won't land on me!

The moment Kizaru finished speaking...

A gleaming six-star trophy appeared before Storm's eyes.

[Diamond Trophy: Kizaru Borsalino]

[Trophy Star Rating: ★★★★: ★★★★★★]

Six stars? What kind of ape-like performance is this?!

Storm witnessed firsthand how Kizaru gradually reduced his own "value" from Eight-Star to six stars.

This guy's morals are even lower than I imagined!

"You..."

Storm withdrew his [Conqueror's Haki], grabbed Kizaru and brought him in front of him, speechlessly looking at this "acting monkey".

"What are they here for? Are they here to be funny?"

Upon hearing Storm's words, Kizaru's lips twitched.

Doesn't Admiral like him have any pride?

But...

Storm's hands were big and strong...

Kizaru tried to struggle, but this only provoked Storm to suppress him.

Squeak, squeak, squeak--

A sound of bones grinding together followed.

Kizaru felt as if Storm was about to crush all his old bones.

"It's broken! Be gentle!"

Kizaru, unusually revealing his true feelings, shouted impatiently.

"You idiot, don't you have even the slightest bit of the virtue of respecting the elderly and caring for the young?"

"Respecting the elderly and caring for the young also depends on the individual!"

Storm eased his grip slightly, but still spoke with great sarcasm.

"I don't think we need to 'respect the elderly and cherish the young' when dealing with an old man like you who can ruthlessly kill his colleagues."

Kizaru paused for a moment, but had nothing to say in rebuttal.

Although the previous Buster Call mission failed.

However, he and Sakazuki did indeed betray Storm.

"Well..."

Kizaru sighed, deliberately adopting an old and weak demeanor, attempting to appeal to emotions.

"Storm, I can forgive you for treating me like this, but Vegapunk... he's an old man too."

"So... your goal in coming to Punk Hazard Island is Vegapunk?"

Storm flew back to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon with Kizaru in tow.

A figure then appeared on the back of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. He raised his hands and released a giant bubble as tall as a person.

Sea Bubble!

Just as Kizaru was about to say something, Storm slapped him into a Sea Bubble, and a feeling of weakness and powerlessness instantly overwhelmed him.

This feeling was not unfamiliar to Kizaru.

The ocean, Seastone, and anything else that can have a restraining effect on Devil Fruit User...

What's with this bubble?

Kizaru lay weakly and helplessly inside the Sea Bubble, temporarily unable to move.

Storm looked at Kizaru, who was trapped in the Sea Bubble, and explained calmly.

"Don't worry about what I'm going to do to Vegapunk. I just want to 'recruit' him, just like I 'recruit' you."

"Recruit Vegapunk?"

Kizaru smirked. He was the highest-ranking officer of the Marine Science Unit and a close friend of Vegapunk.

He knew very well just how much money Vegapunk could "spend."

Let me put it this way.

Even the Celestial Dragons are known for their extravagance and debauchery.

In terms of "spending money," he is nowhere near comparable to Vegapunk.

Kizaru earnestly advised him.

"Storm, you can't afford to support Vegapunk."

"It's okay, I'll get money if I sell you."

"... Um?"

Six o'clock, good morning!

There will be more tonight.