Repelling the Enemy

"Stop!"

Oven shouted and charged at Kane, who was pursuing and beating Opera.

But just as he took a step forward, someone suddenly darted out from the side and threw a lightning-fast punch at him!

Oven instinctively swung his fist to meet it. His massive fist carried blistering heat as it collided violently with the other man's!

A huge yet muffled boom rang out. Oven grunted and staggered back several steps, unable to withstand the tremendous force behind his opponent's fist.

The hot-tempered Oven roared and lunged at his opponent the instant he regained his footing. Only then did he clearly see his face.

Kane!

A third Kane!

Damn it, this guy was a Devil Fruit user!

Oven pushed his Devil Fruit power to its limit. Flames erupted from his eyes, and the terrifying heat scorched the ground beneath his feet black!

"I'll burn you to ashes!"

He roared and shot toward Kane like a cannonball, setting grass and trees ablaze wherever he passed without a single flame touching them.

"What a short-tempered brute."

Kane sneered. Armament Haki wrapped around his fist, followed by a layer of white ice and snow, before he charged at Oven like a phantom.

The next second, their fists collided again. Then they hammered punch after punch at each other, whipping up gusts of wind!

They punched, collided, punched again, and collided again.

The high heat melted the ice and snow, while the ice and snow suppressed the heat.

They appeared evenly matched, but Kane was pressing forward step by step while Oven's feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground.

"Oven, calm down!"

Amid the chaos, Opera, who had been taking a beating the whole time, quickly grasped the situation.

He gritted his teeth and took one of Kane's punches, using the force to retreat to Oven's side. Scalding cream surged like a tide, separating Oven and Kane.

Oven's eyes were bloodshot as he roared and prepared to pounce again.

"Opera, let go of me! I want to..."

"Counter and the others are still in his hands!"

Opera clutched the enraged Oven tightly and shouted in his ear:

"Do you want to get them killed?! Big Mom will skin you alive!"

"I..."

Oven immediately deflated. What he cared about most was his mother, Big Mom, and his siblings. Though rage had clouded his mind, he still forcibly suppressed his anger.

He glared at Kane, only to discover that four Kanes had formed an encirclement around them. Each wore the exact same lazy smile as they calmly watched him and Opera.

We're being surrounded by one person?

One was already enough to suppress me. Four of them...

Oven's heart sank. His eyes cleared considerably as he asked in a low voice:

"Who exactly are you? Why have I never heard of someone like you in the Navy?"

"I told you already. Who I am isn't important."

Kane shrugged and pointed at Counter and the others, who were severely wounded on the ground.

"What matters is that the reason I didn't beat them to death is because Big Mom is your mother."

Kane was very interested in Big Mom's talent and Devil Fruit ability, so once he learned that the enemy was Charlotte Oven, he had no intention of killing him.

But not killing them and not punishing them were two different matters. So although Kane had avoided vital areas when he attacked, his blows had still been vicious.

"I told you, let them go and we'll leave!"

Anger flashed across Oven's face. Kane's arrogant attitude made him deeply uncomfortable.

"I also told you, that isn't enough."

Kane stood there leisurely with his hands in his pockets, but his tone was somewhat chilling.

"Perospero took it upon himself to send you here to provoke me. That made me very unhappy.

"I don't care what deal he has with Doflamingo, but the fact remains that Big Mom's sons attacked Navy personnel outside Mary Geoise.

"I can report this attack as a declaration of war against the Navy, or I can pretend nothing happened.

"So what sort of attitude he ought to show me, he should understand that better than I do.

"Also, tell him when you return that one day, I will personally go to the Totto Land Kingdom to settle accounts with him.

"Before that day comes, he'd better think carefully about how he intends to deal with me."

After saying that, Kane quietly watched Oven, waiting for his response.

Oven's face darkened as he swallowed a bellyful of rage, his fists clenched tightly.

Opera, on the other hand, kept a firm grip on Oven while quickly replying:

"We understand, hula! I will relay every word you said to Perospero, and I believe he will make the right decision."

After speaking, Opera looked at Kane somewhat nervously.

Kane's heavy fists had rained down on him just moments ago. He had struggled desperately to block them, yet it had made no difference at all.

If his body had not been sturdy enough, he would probably be lying miserably on the ground like Counter. He had truly been beaten into fear.

Besides, his quintuplet younger brothers were still sprawled on the ground. They needed treatment immediately.

Finally, under Opera's expectant gaze, Kane nodded.

Opera immediately breathed a sigh of relief and asked cautiously:

"So... can we leave now? Hula?"

Before he could finish, all four Kanes vanished at once, leaving only drifting flower petals that gradually faded away.

Opera hurriedly created a massive monster out of cream, grabbed Counter and the others, and quickly departed.

Oven gritted his teeth and glanced toward the Navy camp before turning to leave with Opera.

Inside the Navy camp, Kane, who had been holding Cuckoo in his arms, opened his eyes and met her gem-like gaze.

"Finished?"

"Yeah."

The corners of Cuckoo's lips curled up, and the radiant smile on her pretty face carried a meaningful hint.

"That fast? I thought you'd take a long time."

"I feel like you're provoking me."

"You can provoke me too~"

"No. I have great respect for instructors who keep fighting despite repeated defeats."

"Then what are you doing now? Breaking into a private residence?"

"Yes, breaking into a private residence."

Before dawn arrived, at the darkest hour of the night, Cuckoo quietly left Kane's tent and prepared to return to her own.

But before she had taken two steps, she saw Kane sitting beside the campfire drinking coffee. A strange feeling immediately welled up inside her.

She turned and walked toward Kane. Kane looked up and smiled at her, allowing her to bend down and kiss him fiercely.

A moment later, Cuckoo straightened up. Her tongue deftly licked away the coffee residue at the corner of her lips, and she shot Kane a proud sideways glance before giving a pleased hum and leaving with light steps.

Kane watched her disappear into her tent, then shook his head with a helpless laugh.

After sending Oven away, Kane no longer sensed anyone watching him along the way, and the journey went much more smoothly.

After reporting last night's repulsion of Oven to Tsuru, she specifically praised him a few times and promised that if Perospero dared retaliate, she would handle it.

"You don't need to worry about that."

Kane held a tray and dug into his meal, pointing at Doflamingo in the cage.

"This guy is connected to two Emperors of the Sea. Don't you find that rather intriguing?"

Tsuru said nothing, merely glancing at Doflamingo.

This was the first time she had brought Kane into the prison carriage, and it was also Kane's second meeting with him since Minion Island.

Doflamingo ignored Tsuru's gaze. An amused smile hung on his face as he examined Kane as though he were seeing him for the first time.

"Arrogant brat, it seems I really underestimated you..."

"Insolence! You still dare act so arrogantly before Vice Admiral Tsuru? You're absolutely deranged!"

Kane barked sharply. Bits of rice sprayed from his mouth onto the prison bars, with the farthest landing barely a dozen centimeters from Doflamingo's clothes.

Doflamingo's smile froze, while Tsuru could not help laughing.

This was the first time she had laughed so easily while watching over Doflamingo. She even rarely felt some of the pressure on her lighten.

Kane, borrowing Tsuru's authority, chewed his breakfast noisily and rose to stand before the cage.

Doflamingo warily watched his constantly moving cheeks. He subtly leaned back and frowned.

"Can you swallow your food before you speak?"

"Is that any of your business?"

Kane finished the last mouthful from his tray, gave Doflamingo a disdainful glance, and arrogantly suggested to Tsuru:

"Ma'am, this guy clearly has no intention of repenting. I suggest reducing his food and water rations so he can reflect properly!"

"Enough. Go outside. You don't need to concern yourself with his affairs."

Tsuru smiled and waved Kane away, signaling that he could leave.

Kane glared at Doflamingo and strode out of the carriage with his head held high.

Doflamingo frowned as he watched Kane, only letting out a faint breath once Kane had completely disappeared.

"Damn bastard. He really is arrogant..."

Tsuru watched Doflamingo, who had clearly been angered by Kane, and the smile on her face grew even more relaxed.