The Struggle for the Initiative!

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's Conqueror's Haki burst forth. With a clear target, the Haki swiftly crossed half the island and bore down on Dragon, who was working inside the base.

"Buzz—"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's control over Conqueror's Haki was extraordinarily refined. While the other companions sharing Dragon's office noticed nothing at all, Dragon's expression tightened, and even his breathing grew somewhat heavy.

Dragon, who had been bent over his paperwork, slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with astonishment.

He could not remember how many years it had been since he had felt Conqueror's Haki this powerful. Moreover, the aura of this Haki felt somewhat familiar.

But in my memory, the owner of this aura should have vanished alongside the Alabasta Kingdom years ago.

Yet now, that aura had appeared in this world once more.

"Tsugikuni Yoriichi?!"

Dragon swept his gaze over the companions working around him. Seeing that their expressions remained unchanged, he realized just how formidable the owner of this Conqueror's Haki was at controlling it.

That only deepened his suspicion.

"Is the New Marines' negotiation fleet arriving today?"

"Who did we arrange to receive them?"

After pondering for a long while, Dragon could not immediately figure out why the other party had suddenly released such an aura. Was it merely to intimidate them? Did Tsugikuni Yoriichi intend to notify him of his return in this manner?

If that was all, then wouldn't the purpose be accomplished just as well when the leaders of both sides met?

As for intimidation?

Dragon had not sensed any threatening intent from that Haki.

When powerful people reached their level, they often did not need to communicate. A mere exchange of intent was enough to roughly grasp the other party's meaning.

Dragon had not felt any overly forceful pressure from Tsugikuni Yoriichi's aura. It felt