Doflamingo, who had already flown away, stopped in the sky.
He was on a call with Kaido of the Beasts in the New World.
Kaido, upon learning the situation, grumbled a few curses in frustration.
"What a pity, such a good fruit," Kaido of the Beasts lamented the loss of the fruit.
"There's still a chance. Gyon was encircled by Sakazuki and is likely dead. After her death, the Mythical Zoan-Phoenix Form will appear," Doflamingo soothed the agitated Kaido.
He only heard the sound of gulping alcohol from the other end of the telephone.
"Clown, as soon as this fruit appears, find it for me immediately, otherwise... this time, you've disappointed me greatly."
Doflamingo, famous across the seas, was as quiet as a cicada before Kaido of the Beasts.
The call ended.
The frustrated Kaido continued to drink.
He looked at the bounty posters laid out before him.
Seeing Kevin, a hint of disdain appeared at the corner of his mouth: "No power, yet daring to act recklessly—seeking death."
He then looked at Gyon's photo: "If she could have escaped, that would have been great. I would have had a chance to recruit her as my subordinate."
...
Sabaody Archipelago.
Due to its location, it was able to get first-hand news from the sea immediately.
Various Newspaper Companies published intelligence about Kevin's appearance, snatching the Devil Fruit, and Akainu's emergence.
Shaki, looking at the newspaper, was stunned.
"Why? Kevin clearly sensed it was a Marine conspiracy, so why did he still go?"
Rayleigh's brows furrowed slightly: "Kevin is in trouble."
Akainu's strength was well-known.
However, the distance was too far, making support impossible.
"He must escape." Shaki prayed for her captain.
Rayleigh couldn't help but shake his head.
Escaping from Akainu's hands, how easy was that? The possibility was too low.
Most people who received this news assumed Kevin was already dead.
Such whispers began to spread.
Several hours later.
The latest newspaper once again published intelligence of a major reversal.
"He actually ran away?" The drunken Governor Kaido suddenly opened his eyes wide.
He stood up excitedly: "Good run."
He didn't care about Kevin's life or death.
He only cared about the Mythical Zoan-Phoenix Form ability.
"He's lucky, to actually escape from that mad dog Akainu." Governor Kaido immediately called his subordinates in: "Immediately spread the word, tell Gyon that the Beast Pirates will always welcome her. Instead of following that brat Kevin, she should join the Beast Pirates."
Queen the Plague looked at Governor Kaido in surprise: "Governor Kaido, will she come? The newspaper clearly stated that Kevin defeated Akainu and is currently riding high. By releasing such news, we are offending the Sun and Moon Pirates."
Governor Kaido laughed: "A brat defeated Akainu? What a joke, am I not better than a brat?"
Governor Kaido wasn't afraid of offending anyone.
"If they don't come, as long as they enter the New World, we'll catch them and force them to join."
Governor Kaido was in a great mood.
...
...
The news that Kevin was going to die had just spread across the sea.
Some admirers had already begun to mourn Kevin at home.
Suddenly, cheers erupted from various islands.
"He's not dead?"
The people mourning Kevin were dumbfounded.
They quickly extinguished the bonfires and put away the paper money.
"Hahaha, the Marines and the World Government have completely disgraced themselves, losing both the Devil Fruit and the person."
"The Marines are truly great philanthropists, actively delivering a Mythical Zoan to Kevin."
"I'm very curious about Akainu's expression right now."
"Tsk tsk tsk, in decades, the Marines and the World Government haven't made as many fools of themselves as they have in these two months, right?"
When it came to mocking the World Government, no one showed mercy.
Especially the Pirates, who were laughing joyfully.
Time passed.
Akainu and Tokikake both returned to the Holy Land dejectedly.
The Five Elders and Sengoku, who already knew everything.
The moment they saw the two of them.
A desire to tear them apart still flickered in their eyes.
"Useless!" The Five Elders angrily rebuked Akainu: "Is this what you called 100% success? Where is the person? Where is the Devil Fruit? How do you still have the face to come back?"
Tokikake was like an ostrich, burying his head tightly.
Akainu's face turned from pale to red.
He stepped forward, taking responsibility: "I failed, I am willing to be punished, I am willing to be demoted."
"You don't need to remind me, you are already a Rear Admiral."
If it weren't for the fact that the Marines and the World Government both needed Akainu's combat power, the Five Elders would really want to send him to Impel Down.
"Rear Admiral?"
Akainu's lips trembled.
He couldn't speak.
He had become an Admiral for less than a year, and decades of effort had gone to waste.
Sengoku dared not speak, nor dared to plead for Akainu. These days, he had also been reprimanded countless times by the Five Elders.
The Marines had all become ostriches.
This matter was handled too disgracefully by the Marines; they couldn't hold their heads up.
The Five Elders roared: "Speak, are you all mute? What do we do now? The World Government has become a joke again, and that damned Kevin, how do we catch him!"
Sengoku stiffened his neck: "Kevin is already hard to catch. Gyon has obtained a Mythical Zoan, and Kevin's strength has improved significantly. There's also his mysterious and unknown defensive ability. The Sun and Moon Pirates have already formed a strong presence, and it's almost impossible to quickly eliminate them in a short time."
Even if the Five Elders' expressions were ugly, Sengoku could only speak the truth.
There was only one chance; once lost, the difficulty of regaining it doubled.
"We can't let them grow. If they grow any more, they will be more terrifying than any Pirate Crew on the sea." The Five Elders had a splitting headache thinking of Kevin.
He, plus Gyon, either one of them would definitely grow to become a Sea Emperor in the future. Two Emperors on one ship.
Sengoku fell silent.
There was no other way.
"Let's wait and see if Kevin reveals any weaknesses." Sengoku felt it was better to remain inactive. The Marines and the World Government had already lost enough face; without a foolproof plan, it was better not to act.
The Five Elders couldn't wait.
"We have a solution."
Sengoku felt a chill in his heart: Again? All brawn and no brains.