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Pop!
The bubble floating at the highest point burst in a shower of shimmering colors.
Towering trees rose from the ground like giant pillars.
A brisk rhythm of footsteps echoed. A squad of Marines marched quickly toward Area 65.
The layout of the Sabaody Archipelago was clear. Areas 60 to 69 were mainly Marine zones and government access points. The sector under Major Calen's authority was exactly Area 65.
Walking at the front, Kyle lowered his head, glancing over the arrest order issued directly from Marine Headquarters. His expression was calm.
Docking at Sabaody this time was for one purpose: the task Garp had handed him a few days earlier. Calen was under suspicion for embezzlement, bribery, murdering civilians, and a long list of other crimes.
The arrest order listed not only Major Calen but also dozens of officers and soldiers under his command.
From the way the mission was phrased, everything was to be handled by Kyle alone. At the bottom, a single line was highlighted.
"As the executor of this mission, Rear Admiral Kyle, you are granted full authority. If they resist, you have permission to eliminate them without mercy."
The order was signed by Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Beside it was the seal of Commander-in-Chief Kong. This was unanimous approval from the highest ranks of the Marines.
Kyle understood the intention almost instantly.
This was goodwill from the top. Sengoku and Kong clearly knew everything about his past before joining the Marines.
"Maybe they also want to tie up loose ends," Kyle thought.
After all, the only people who truly knew what he had done here on Sabaody were Calen and his subordinates.
Whether intentional or not, the meaning was obvious. Headquarters wanted him to be the one to "send off" Calen and his entire faction.
A few moments later, Kyle and the Marines behind him arrived at the entrance of the Area 65 base.
He glanced up at the familiar yet distant gate and let out a quiet laugh.
The last time he was here, he had been escorted in as a prisoner. This time, he carried the authority of the highest Marine command, coming to arrest a criminal.
From prisoner to executioner. The shift could not have been faster.
"The target is inside, right, Kyle?"Saul's deep voice rumbled behind him. His huge frame drew immediate attention from the gate guards, fear spreading across their faces.
"Yeah." Kyle nodded.
"Let's finish this quickly. Garp is still waiting for us," Shimo said.
Ever since Rear Admiral Jerry had died, the officers who had sailed with Kyle held absolute respect for him. Naturally they followed him into this mission.
About twenty or thirty field officers remained in their group. Standing together, their presence alone was intimidating.
Kyle narrowed his eyes and stepped toward the gate.
"Who are you people?"The guard stammered, running forward to block them.
"Move."
A major shot forward and kicked him aside.
"Rear Admiral Kyle from Headquarters is here on official duty. Clear out!" another officer shouted.
A force like this faced no meaningful resistance. Within moments Kyle stepped into the office where Calen sat over a pile of documents.
"You are…?" Calen looked up, paused, then his expression tightened."Kyle?!"
"Long time no see, Major Calen." Kyle smiled lightly.
"You… you're a field officer now?" Calen's eyes widened when he saw the rank on Kyle's shoulder.
Noise erupted outside. A huge shadow filled the office window as Saul leaned in, almost shaking the room.
"Kyle, excluding Calen, the remaining officers and thirty-two soldiers have all been detained."
Calen froze."What… what does that mean?"
Kyle nodded toward Saul. "I'll be done here soon."
Then he turned back to Calen.
"By the order of Commander-in-Chief Kong and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I hereby inform you."
"Since taking the position of Area 65 branch chief of the Sabaody Archipelago, you have committed multiple serious crimes."
"You are under arrest."
"And let me make this clear. If you resist, I have the right to kill you on the spot."
Calen stared blankly, unable to process it.
"I… I haven't received any notice!"
Kyle unfolded the arrest order and held it up for him to see.
Calen, panicking, stepped forward, trying to get a closer look.
"Oh?"
"So the stubborn criminal, the traitor within the Marines, still dares to move?"
"You intend to resist?"
Kyle's gaze turned icy, killing intent spilling out openly.
Cold sweat broke across Calen's back. He opened his mouth in a rush."No, I—"
He never finished.
Kyle vanished in front of him. A violent gust slammed into the right side of his face the next moment, too fast for him to comprehend. A blurred figure came into focus only after the strike landed.
Calen's pupils shrank in shock.
"He… he's gotten this strong?!"
Smack!
The slap cracked like thunder. Calen felt as if a metal bar had smashed across his face. Pain exploded a heartbeat later as half his face twisted grotesquely, flesh torn, bone shattered. His body shot through the office wall and flew into the corridor.
Kyle stepped out of the ruined office, expression as cold as ice.
"Saul, spread the report. These criminals resisted arrest. They attacked us."
"We were forced to kill them."
Saul blinked. "Huh?"
But Shimo and the others already understood. Their eyes filled with killing intent as they drew their blades.
Shhk.
Confused and terrified, the officers and soldiers barely had time to react before darkness swallowed them.
Calen jolted awake from the shock and screamed.
"Kyle, this is revenge!""Listen to me, it was the Celestial—"
Again, he never finished.
A cold, shadowed face filled his vision. Kyle's hand clamped around his skull, lifting him effortlessly into the air.
"S-spare me…"Calen trembled violently, terror drowning him completely.
He met Kyle's eyes. They were pitch black, bottomless, impossible to read.
"You go first.""He'll join you soon."
Kyle spoke quietly.
His hand suddenly drove downward.
Boom.
The impact thundered through the ground. Calen's eyes rolled white as his skull smashed into the floor, cracking it open. Blood gushed forth, pooling quickly. Within a few breaths, he fell silent.
Kyle exhaled softly and turned to the others.
"Mission accomplished. We're leaving."
The officers nodded. Saul scratched his head, then casually snapped the neck of the Marine he was restraining.
He had seen the list of crimes. These were Marines who had abandoned their oath. Their guilt was beyond question.
The group came quickly and left just as fast.
Soon they passed through Area 24.
Ahead, the busy street suddenly fell into silence. People dropped to their knees.
"It's a Celestial Dragon," Shimo said quietly.
"We should avoid them," Saul muttered."If we face them head on, it'll get troublesome."
Kyle stopped walking and stared toward the figure drifting through the crowd, wrapped inside a bubble. His eyes grew cold.
After a moment, he chuckled softly.
"You all go ahead. I'm going to take a look."
"..."
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