Sabaody Archipelago.
Aokiji and Kizaru, who had rushed over in a hurry, came up empty-handed and had no choice but to order their subordinates to thoroughly investigate Sabaody Archipelago. They practically turned the place upside down, yet they failed to find even a single hair of Yake's, instead finding Kizaru floating unconscious on the sea.
Slap! "What an absolute disgrace! Leaving Kizaru injured is one thing, but how dare he murder a Celestial Dragon? We're in big trouble now!" Sengoku the Buddha roared in his office, flying into a rage and chewing Akainu and Aokiji out until they didn't know which way was up.
Kizaru: I gave you my all for nothing in the end...
Akainu kept his head down so his expression was obscured, but the heavy pressure radiating from his entire body kept people at a bay, while Aokiji wore a completely indifferent expression beneath his sleep mask and looked half-asleep.
"Hahahahaha, Sengoku, this kid is truly troublesome. He actually dares to kill trash like the Celestial Dragons, what incredible courage... Ah, did I say something wrong? Then pretend I didn't say anything just now." Garp, having retracted his Devil Fruit User powers, held a rice cracker while looking at Sengoku's distorted, angry expression, and immediately activated his Devil Fruit User ability to recall a message.
"Kizaru, why failed to stop this kid? Did you slack off again?" Sengoku shifted the target of his anger onto Kizaru.
"Marshal, you can't blame me. He's a Rumble-Rumble Fruit User, extremely fast and elusive. It was simply too terrifying. At the very least, I need to take six months of sick leave this time." Even though Kizaru was wrapped up like a mummy, he still couldn't help pursing his lips into a chrysanthemum shape.
"Shut your trap! Until you catch this Yake, you can forget about sick leave! And you, bastard Garp, you still have the nerve to eat! Hand those over to me!!" Sengoku snatched Garp's rice crackers in one go, dumping all of them into his mouth.
"Ah, Sengoku, you old bastard! Those are my rice crackers, I was about to break my record!!" The two old mischief-makers started wrestling.
Akainu walked out without saying a word, while Aokiji was already fast asleep like a baby.
"Bulu, bulu-bulu-bulu!" The Telephone Snail rang.
Sengoku answered the Telephone Snail, and a scolding voice instantly poured out: "Sengoku, how are you running things? Do you even want to keep being marshal? Catch that Yake for me at all costs! Saint Rosward has been hounding us nonstop. No matter what, you must capture him for me. Remember, at all costs!!!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I've already dispatched admirals to track his movements." Sengoku felt utterly exhausted. The position of marshal was just too difficult—he had to clean up the Celestial Dragons' messes every single day. As for this Yake, who had obviously targeted the Celestial Dragons, it was one thing that he possessed formidable strength, but he also had incredible mobility. Perhaps that was precisely why the Celestial Dragons wanted to make him vanish from this world as quickly as possible.
"What a terrifying young man. What kind of waves will he stir up on the sea this time around? Why can't someone like this be a marine?" Sengoku sighed and hung up the phone. For someone like this to stand in direct opposition to the marines the moment he appeared was entirely the World Government's fault, and there was no way he was going to take the blame for this.
The next day.
A massive flock of News Coo swarmed out, and nearly every page featured news about Yake, accompanied by one and only one wanted poster. Furthermore, today's newspaper cost four Chopper, a steep price increase of severalfold.
The Moby Dick.
"Gurarara! What a bold, lightning-discharging brat!!!" Whitebeard, with needles stuck all over his body, couldn't help laughing out loud upon seeing the image of Yake summoning heavenly lightning in the newspaper. He was known as the strongest man in the world—Edward Newgate, and his white crescent mustache was his signature feature.
"Pops, what happened?" Marco the Pineapple Head asked, seeing Pops in such high spirits.
"Gurarara, nothing, just an interesting brat. If the marines are hunting him down, give him a hand! It's been a long time since I've met a rookie with this much backbone." Whitebeard finished his liquor in one gulp, his bold laughter shattering the firmament.
Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.
"Mamamama! Katakuri, find him for me and invite him to my tea party." A tall man turned and walked away.
Meanwhile, Yake had already put Sabaody Archipelago far behind him, making his way via detours to Amazon Lily. This was the place Rayleigh frequently brought him to train, and furthermore, there were old acquaintances on the island.
The area was covered in jungle and appeared exceptionally quiet, yet Yake was completely familiar with the terrain, heading straight for the central region of the Amazon Kingdom.
"Lord Yake is back! Look, it's Lord Yake, so handsome!"
Yake smiled and exchanged greetings with various Kuja Tribe women, slowly making his way toward the palace. Sandersonia spotted Yake and hurried over: "Yake, you're here. Sister has been waiting for you for a long time, come with me."
"Sandersonia, didn't any of you read the newspaper?" Yake felt somewhat odd seeing Sandersonia's usual attitude; that shouldn't have been the case.
"Newspaper? What newspaper?" Sandersonia looked completely bewildered.
"Ahem, never mind..." Yake said, feeling stifled internally as he thought that the government's publication speed was far too slow. How could anyone still not know about such a massive event?
Staring at Sandersonia with a face full of lingering resentment, Yake walked into the Empress's bedchamber.
"Yake, you've finally come to see me. I've missed you so much..." Boa Hancock rushed over in agitation the moment she saw Yake arrive, hugging him tightly with a face full of blushes.
"Hancock, sorry for the wait. Let me tell you, yesterday I—" Yake was glowing with triumph, getting ready to recount his exploits and brag about them, only to be interrupted once again.
"Yake, don't talk about such boring things. This time, you haven't done that yet!" Hancock closed her eyes and puckered her lips, looking like an alluring red apple.
"No... I really... Oh, sigh—" Yake sighed, wrapping his arms around Hancock's wasp waist and slender back, lightly kissing her alluring lips before preparing to continue boasting about his heroic feat.
However, how could Hancock, who had been pining away with lovesickness for so long, possibly be satisfied with a mere light kiss? She coiled around Yake like a snake...
After a long while, Hancock finally calmed down, leaving Yake's face and neck covered in lipstick prints.
"Oh right, Yake, what was it you wanted to say just now?" Hancock suddenly remembered that Yake seemed to have something on his mind.
"It's nothing, I just killed a Celestial Dragon and destroyed an island..." Yake's urge to brag had already faded, and he had entered a state of utter serenity.
"Oh, it really wasn't—wait, you killed a Celestial Dragon?!" Hancock gasped in shock, covering her mouth with both hands. Her childhood experiences as a slave were something she would never forget, and her hatred for the Celestial Dragons was beyond a doubt. She truly hadn't expected Yake to kill a Celestial Dragon for her sake, and two lines of clear tears welled up in the corners of Hancock's eyes.
"That's right, Hancock. This is our promise: one day, I'm going to make the Celestial Dragons vanish from this world!" Yake declared with absolute conviction.
Wiping the tears from the corners of Hancock's eyes, he pulled her into his embrace. Hancock was already sobbing uncontrollably, and Yake could only gently pat her delicate shoulders to comfort her.
"Snake Princess! Today's newspaper is here. Take a look, Lord Yake—oh, sorry to interrupt." Boa Marigold hurried in only to witness such a steamy scene. As Hancock's younger sister, she knew her sister's personality all too well, so she quietly dropped the newspaper and left.
A bounty poster fluttered slowly downward, bearing Yake's face printed upon it.
The image captured the exact moment after Yake ascended into the sky, showing his indifferent gaze and a calm, handsome face that revealed nothing of what lay beneath.
Wanted Criminal: God Yake
Extreme Danger: DEAD OR ALIVE
Bounty: 1.5 Billion Beli
"Ding. Killed a Celestial Dragon and made it known to 50% of the sentient beings in this world, meeting the system activation requirements."
"The Super Lottery System has been activated!"
"Nani? There's such a trick to this?" Yake froze in place...