Playing the Ape

Up ahead, the Straw Hat Kid was displaying an unrivaled bearing.

Hawkeye's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing his interest.

"Straw Hat Kid, you truly are different."

"Hawkeye, do you remember us?!"

The black blade on his back left its sheath and casually sent two chattering okama swordsmen flying.

"No recollection whatsoever."

Doflamingo laughed wantonly, as though he had seen something amusing. "A super troublesome rookie. Interesting, interesting!"

"Stop right there~~, Straw Hat Kid~."

As everyone's emotions varied, the one standing in Luffy's way was Admiral Kizaru.

Kizaru pursed his lips. His tone was languid, but his gaze remained fixed firmly on Luffy. "The Celestial Dragons have been coming to make a fuss at me every day because of you. I never expected you to grow to this extent in just a few days."

"I can't let you continue like this."

His right foot rose, gleaming with dazzling light.

Admiral Kizaru made his move!

"The undercover agent has made his move. We're safe now."

In the distance, Su Lin watched from the sidelines while browsing the system shop.

According to his previous plans, 100 points could already be exchanged for internal cultivation manuals, while the best martial arts that could be cultivated to the peak of the Innate Realm cost no more than 500 points.

But now was clearly not the time to exchange for those.

Purchase-to-learn series.

[Basic Introduction to Elements] Price: 190 Saint Manifestation Points.

[Close Combat of Humanoid Creatures] Price: 100 Saint Manifestation Points.

[Becoming a Phoenix from Scratch] Price: 170 Manifestation Points.

These could be somewhat useful. Combined with the elemental abilities of a Logia and the abilities of a Phantasmal Species, they could produce decent results, but in the long run, they were somewhat lackluster.

Since he could not afford the high-value options for now, he might as well watch the battle. There was no need to rush down there and start fighting.

He was not a pirate of this world. At the end of the day, aside from the Celestial Dragons and Five Elders behind the Marines being unpleasant, it was better for him not to interfere in the conflict between the Marines and the Pirates.

There were good people and evil people among the Pirates, and the same was true of the Marines.

As a passerby from another world, both sides operated by different standards of morality. His willingness to help Luffy and the others return to two years ago and make up for their regrets did not mean he had to enter the fray and side with the Pirates.

Life was precious. He had no reason to rely on the power he had only just obtained to casually take the lives of others.

Ultimately, it still depended on Luffy himself. Besides, his goal was to use this opportunity to get through the novice phase in one go and make a huge profit in this world!

He had gone all-in with two one-time novice benefit items that would be extremely valuable later on.

Straw Hat Luffy leaped into the air, soaring more than ten meters high.

"How foolish~." Borsalino slowly raised his foot as well. "Now you can't escape."

Kizaru watched Luffy jump into midair and make himself a target, thinking that Vice Admiral Garp's grandson really was a reckless fool.

Capturing Pirates was the Marines' duty, and attacking Luffy was only natural.

But Kizaru understood that if he killed the Straw Hat Kid here, Garp might very well rebel on the spot.

His adopted grandson was crouching on the execution platform, and if his biological grandson fell here too, not even Fleet Admiral Sengoku could protect him.

Perhaps then all three Admirals would have to stop an enraged Garp, while Whitebeard, who was eyeing them hungrily, would have no one left to restrain him.

Therefore, nothing could happen to the Straw Hat Kid.

The surrounding Marine soldiers were invigorated.

"The Admiral has made his move!"

"The Straw Hat Kid can't escape this time!"

"Take him down!"

You're still too young, lads~, Kizaru thought. Of course, you'd best not know the inside story behind this.

Whitebeard may know something, which is why he let the Straw Hat Kid take the lead, but I can't simply ignore this either.

Kizaru decided to first render the Straw Hat Kid incapable of fighting, then casually knock him into a safe area.

Don't say this old man hasn't been considerate, Mr. Garp~.

Seeing Kizaru about to attack, the commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates all wanted to lend their support.

Even Ivankov could not help feeling worried.

"It's fine. Let them see it." Jinbe crossed his arms over his chest, brimming with confidence. "Our captain's strength!"

"Huh?" Ivankov's huge head made a startled sound. "Did you just say captain?!"

"Get out of my way, Kizaru!"

"I refuse."

Unlike the techniques he had used against Momonga and Smoker.

"Gum-Gum..."

A giant-like fist, wrapped in flames and coated in Conqueror's Haki, descended from the sky.

It shot forth with accelerating force like a meteor!

"Inferno Pistol!"

In the blink of an eye, amid everyone's stunned expressions,

it had already arrived before Kizaru.

"Oh my~." Kizaru pursed his lips, and his languid gaze froze as he sensed something was wrong.

BOOM—

BOOM—

After the violent explosions came another silence.

Kizaru was sent flying by that strike, smashing through the stone wall behind the execution platform. He still had not stopped, and rumbling continued in the distance.

Beneath the rubble,

Kizaru pulled a black Den Den Mushi from his waistband with his left hand. Although he had turned into light the instant he was hit,

a trickle of blood ran down from his head.

"Straw Hat Kid, how terrifying."

"Mr. Sengoku, can you hear me~, moshi moshi."

"Ah, it seems I picked up the wrong Den Den Mushi."

"Then there's nothing I can do."

Kizaru stood up and dusted himself off.

He might as well slowly walk back.

He was completely different from when they had met at the Sabaody Archipelago.

Could someone really grow so quickly?!

His use of Haki, his Conqueror's Haki coating...

The languid expression had vanished from Kizaru's face as he slowly emerged from the rubble, seemingly recalling Luffy from moments ago.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Sakazuki, how would you deal with this variable?

Once he got back, he should work a little more seriously.

"Supernovas truly are terrifying~~."

"Kizaru was...?"

Not just the Marines—everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief. They had already lost count of how many times this had happened today.

No, this time, their shock was far greater than before.

"Gurararara!"

Whitebeard's unrestrained laughter was the first to break the brief silence on the battlefield.

He was surprised, but at this moment, he was incomparably delighted.

"That was an Admiral!" Koby, watching from outside the wall, was so shocked that tears and snot were nearly streaming down his face. "Helmeppo, I'm not hallucinating, am I?"

Koby spoke with a trembling voice from behind the wall.

"Helmeppo?"

Koby turned to look. His friend beside him had already fainted, staring up at the sky.

"Admiral Kizaru!!!"

"Mr. Borsalino!"

"Admiral! Admiral! The Admiral was sent flying by the Straw Hat Kid!"

In contrast to Whitebeard, the Marines' fervor from moments ago had been doused with cold water by the Straw Hat Kid's strike.

The Marines' previously soaring morale had been obstructed!

(End of Chapter)