"Us? Dangerous?" Ada chuckled, her gaze fixed on Admiral Kizaru, who hovered high above. "You're the truly dangerous one here, Admiral. 'Pay him enough, and Kizaru will take down a Yonko.' Compared to you, we're far behind."
Kizaru, standing casually in the air, had been observing Esdeath and the others. Hearing Ada's remark, he froze momentarily, then sighed, his expression helpless. "That's a dangerous thing to say."
Ada's words weren't just playful banter—they carried weight. Statements like "pay him enough, and Kizaru will take down a Yonko" might sound amusing to most, but to figures like Kaido or Big Mom, they could easily be interpreted as provocation. Kizaru might not fear the Yonko, but his laid-back nature meant he preferred avoiding unnecessary trouble.
If an ordinary person had said this, it would have been dismissed as idle talk. But coming from someone who had just confronted the Whitebeard Pirates head-on, the context was entirely different. When someone with strength comparable to a Yonko spoke, it couldn't simply be ignored.
"Come now, Admiral. I'm not making baseless claims," Ada said with a sly smile, leaving her next words unsaid. The follow-up phrase, "Pay me enough, and I'll take down the Five Elders," remained unspoken. After all, now wasn't the time to openly oppose the World Government. Ada had only heard this joke from Daniel once and decided to save it for later.
As for her remarks about Kizaru, they weren't entirely groundless. In truth, the Navy had a history of extraordinary individuals. The previous generation of Admirals, including Sengoku and Zephyr, had been stalwarts of justice and hard work. Even Garp, though technically not an Admiral, had made contributions surpassing that rank—defeating the Rocks Pirates, chasing Roger across the seas, and fighting Whitebeard. These accomplishments were legendary.
However, the current generation of Admirals was a different story. Out of the three, two were known for their blatant laziness. It wasn't just slacking off anymore—it was closer to "drifting on the ocean without a paddle." Compared to their predecessors, the difference was staggering.
Ada's cryptic smile caused Kizaru to furrow his brow. His intuition told him that her unspoken words were far more troubling than what she'd just said aloud. For once, his instincts were spot on—had Ada completed her statement about "paying enough to topple the Five Elders," it would have caused a significant uproar, even if many didn't fully understand the implications of "insurance and benefits."
"Ha! Borsalino, is Sengoku short-changing you on your paycheck again?" Whitebeard's hearty laugh boomed across the air, breaking Kizaru's train of thought.
Kizaru's face darkened as a black vein throbbed on his forehead. Thanks to Whitebeard's comment, the line about "pay him enough, and Kizaru will take down a Yonko" was almost guaranteed to spread.
Esdeath and Whitebeard's battle might not have had immediate spectators nearby, but from a distance, numerous spies and informants had been monitoring the scene through telescopes. As one of the Four Emperors, Whitebeard was constantly under observation, not just by external forces but also by internal spies. Within hours, the events unfolding here would spread across the world.
Kizaru glanced at Whitebeard's crew before turning his gaze back to Ada. Sengoku had dispatched him to observe the situation, and if Esdeath and Ada's group had launched a full-scale war against the Whitebeard Pirates, Kizaru would likely have intervened.
From the Navy's perspective, if the Whitebeard Pirates were to fall, it had to be at their hands, not at the hands of another pirate group. Allowing a rival Yonko to rise to prominence by defeating Whitebeard would only create a bigger headache for the Navy. For all his power, Whitebeard was relatively stable, content to protect his territories and his sons. A new Yonko, especially one with grand ambitions, could destabilize the entire balance of power.
In contrast, if the Navy defeated Whitebeard, it would bolster their reputation and secure their dominance.
"What exactly is your goal?" Kizaru finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Since when does the Navy dictate how the Warlords conduct their affairs?" Leone snapped coldly before Ada could respond. The tone of disdain in her voice was palpable. While Daniel Davis held a somewhat neutral view of the Navy, Leone and the others, hailing from the world of Akame ga Kill, had no such sentiment.
To them, the Navy bore too strong a resemblance to the corrupt Empire they had fought against. No matter how loudly the Navy proclaimed their "justice," their association with the World Government and the Celestial Dragons rendered their actions complicit in tyranny.
Ada raised a hand, signaling Leone to calm down. "We don't have any particular goal, Admiral. We're simply wandering and enjoying the sights. Or does the Navy regulate sightseeing now too?"
Kizaru tilted his head slightly, his face inscrutable as he nodded lightly. "I see. Well then, enjoy your tour."
With that, his body began to shimmer as he prepared to leave. However, just as his figure started to dissolve into beams of light, a surge of electricity erupted around him, covering a radius of several dozen meters.
"What's the meaning of this?" Kizaru asked as he re-materialized outside the range of the lightning, his gaze sharp.
"Nothing much," Ada replied nonchalantly, her body sparking with electricity. "It's just rare to encounter someone like you. I thought I'd ask for some advice."
With that, Ada transformed into pure lightning and shot toward Kizaru, initiating the fight.
Kizaru didn't back down. Just as Ada was curious about his Glint-Glint Fruit, Kizaru was equally intrigued by her Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Both Logia fruits were known for their unparalleled speed, and the question of which was faster had been a topic of speculation even among Daniel's crew.
The clash between the two began, and the sky was soon filled with dazzling flashes of light and thunderous booms of electricity. Their high-speed battle left streaks of light and lightning across the heavens, drawing the attention of everyone below.
For several minutes, neither combatant could land a decisive blow. Lightning could not overpower light, and light could not penetrate electricity. The fight seemed destined to remain a stalemate.
"Scary stuff," Kizaru said with his usual drawl, though his tone carried a rare hint of respect. As he spoke, he conjured a golden lightsaber from his hands. "Looks like we'll have to settle this with something more… physical."
Ada smirked. "You don't look scared in the slightest." A crackling sword of lightning materialized between her hands.
With their new weapons, the two clashed again, this time relying on swordsmanship and physical techniques. Their movements were so fast that most observers could only track them by the sound of their weapons colliding and the occasional burst of sparks.
Despite Zephyr's criticisms of Kizaru's over-reliance on his Devil Fruit, his skill in swordsmanship and physical combat was far from weak. His battles against figures like Rayleigh had proven that much. Similarly, Ada, though reliant on her Rumble-Rumble Fruit, was no slouch in close combat either. Her pragmatic approach to battle ensured she was well-rounded in all aspects of combat.
After about twenty minutes, the intense duel came to an abrupt halt. Ada reappeared near her crew, her body covered in minor injuries. Kizaru hovered in the air, similarly battered but far from defeated. Both had utilized Armament Haki during their physical exchange, ensuring that even their Logia powers couldn't fully protect them from harm.
"Let's go," Ada said, her tone casual as she glanced at Kizaru one last time before heading back to the ship.
Their fight had been more of a test than a life-or-death confrontation. Unlike Esdeath's battle with Whitebeard, neither Ada nor Kizaru had been willing to go all out.
Kizaru watched silently as Ada's group departed. Then, after briefly scanning the Whitebeard Pirates below, he transformed into light and vanished.
"Whitebeard seems to be in worse shape than expected," Kizaru reported after reappearing at Marineford, speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
"I understand. Return immediately," Sengoku replied.
Elsewhere, on the Red-Haired Pirates' ship, Shanks furrowed his brow as he read a report detailing Esdeath's clash with Whitebeard. "So she's made it into the New World…" he muttered, his previously carefree demeanor replaced by solemnity.
Despite the World Government's attempts to suppress the news, Morgan's relentless pursuit of headlines ensured the story spread far and wide. While the coverage wasn't as exaggerated as Luffy's ascension to "Fifth Emperor" in the original timeline, Esdeath's reputation as the "Ice Queen" now overshadowed even Boa Hancock's.
Her strength and beauty made her an instant legend, and her challenge to Whitebeard was enough to solidify her status. This was why so many sought to challenge the Yonko—to gain recognition.
Meanwhile, in Dressrosa, Doflamingo nearly leapt out of his chair upon hearing news that Esdeath's crew had been spotted near Punk Hazard.
"What?! They've reached Punk Hazard? Keep an eye
on them and don't let them notice you!" he barked into a Den Den Mushi.
"Understood. I'll handle it," the voice on the other end replied.
At Punk Hazard, as Esdeath's crew prepared to rest near the island's toxic shores, they were suddenly ambushed.
"Did you steal that black blade, Shusui?!" a voice shouted, and a fiery slash tore through the air toward Akame.
Akame swiftly drew her own black blade, Shusui, and deflected the attack. Standing before her was none other than Foxfire Kin'emon, one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano.
Seeing the blade he believed stolen, Kin'emon wasted no time launching another attack. Akame, sensing his killing intent, raised her blade without hesitation. Their clash began, while the rest of Esdeath's crew stepped back to let Akame handle the fight.
Kin'emon's misunderstanding stemmed from his belief that Shusui, a national treasure of Wano, had been stolen by thieves. If Daniel were present, he would have recognized Kin'emon immediately, but the current situation left Akame to face him alone.
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Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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