[send power stones please]
On the raft, Romu spat out the toothpick and stood up.
The twelve-deck luxury liner was charging straight at him at full speed.
"So it's coming for me."
His tone was calm — almost cheerful.
He'd already spotted the crimson hoof emblem on the mast. A Celestial Dragon tribute ship. A floating monument to arrogance and rot.
Perfect.
He'd been half-tempted to fly over and intercept it himself.
Instead…
It was delivering itself.
"Now this is convenient."
"Let's hope there's an actual Celestial Dragon aboard."
"Killing one of those pigs might raise my bounty more than beating Shiki… and that means more hunters… more Marines… more strong opponents…"
He rubbed his chin, smiling faintly, letting the ship bear down on him.
On the liner…
Saint Charlos had grown tired of standing.
Now he lounged in his grotesque "dog carriage," chains rattling as the enslaved girls dragged him forward.
"Stop."
He jerked the chains.
They froze instantly.
He leaned back, expression blank, eyes fixed on the approaching raft.
He wanted to watch the impact.
Beside him, three masked agents stood motionless.
Then—
All three stiffened.
"Romu."
They recognized him instantly.
The Celestial Dragons' intelligence files marked him:
Extremely dangerous.
Defeated Shiki. Potential Rocks recruit.
Charlos sneered.
"Romu? What's that supposed to be?"
One agent bowed slightly.
"My lord… he is a high-threat combatant. Please withdraw. We will contact Mariejois—"
"Trash!"
"You're all useless trash like the Marines!"
He fumbled for his revolver, rage swelling. His bulk slowed him, fingers slipping on the grip.
The agents exchanged a glance.
Decision made.
One would evacuate Charlos.
Two would hold the line.
They weren't confident they could beat Romu.
But CP0 didn't question orders.
They obeyed.
Unfortunately for them…
They had already been marked.
Romu's Observation Haki had locked onto every soul aboard.
Escape?
Impossible.
Everyone dies.
Then—
BOOM.
The charging liner stopped.
Dead.
The entire ship shuddered violently — then began to rise.
A twelve-deck floating palace lifted by invisible force.
Marines were hurled into the air, crashing onto the deck. Training saved some — barely.
Charlos flipped headfirst into the planks.
"Pain! Pain! Pain!"
"What's happening?!"
A CP0 agent rushed to lift him—
BANG.
A smoking hole appeared in the agent's forehead.
He collapsed.
"Filthy lowborn!"
"Don't touch me!"
Charlos screamed, revolver still smoking.
The Marines stared in horror.
The remaining CP0 agents didn't flinch.
"My lord," one said calmly, "we must evacuate—"
Charlos raised the gun again—
And the sky exploded.
Conqueror's Haki descended.
Conqueror's Haki
A tidal wave of black-red willpower flooded downward.
So dense it looked liquid.
Lightning crawled through the pressure.
The world held its breath.
Then—
WHAM.
Charlos collapsed instantly.
The Marines followed.
Eyes rolled back.
Bodies dropped.
Silence.
The last two CP0 agents staggered.
"How… is this Haki this strong—"
"This power isn't six hundred million— report to Mary—"
They fell.
Unconscious.
All of them.
If anyone could witness the scene from afar, they would see a surreal tableau:
A colossal tree rising from the sea, trunk thicker than a fortress tower.
Balanced atop it—
the twelve-deck golden liner.
And beside it…
a floating crimson blossom.
Reclining lazily on the petals—
a young man picking his teeth.
Romu.