Kane frowned slightly.
"I don't remember asking that question."
Buggy trembled all over.
"My treasure… it's on a small island ahead!"
"That's where everything I have is!"
"How much?"
"…About five hundred million Beli."
Kane's expression turned cold.
"Trash."
"If it's only five hundred million…"
"Then there's no need for you to keep living."
Buggy froze in terror.
"N-no! I remembered wrong!"
"It's about eight hundred million Beli!"
"Oh?"
Kane's tone dropped further.
"So you were lying to me just now?"
"And it's still only eight hundred million?"
The killing intent radiating from Kane made Buggy feel like he was about to die.
"I remember now! I remember everything!"
"It's a total of 1.135 billion Beli!"
"That's all I have! I swear!"
Kane stared at him for a moment—
Then nodded slightly.
That sounded about right.
The killing intent vanished instantly.
In its place—
A warm, almost grandfatherly smile appeared.
"Little Buggy~"
"It's been decades since we last met."
"And the first thing you do is give me so much money…"
"I'm truly touched."
"Oh, right—your nose is still as red as ever."
"Very cute."
Buggy: "..."
"Bogey."
"Untie our little friend Buggy."
"But Vice Admiral—he's a pirate!"
"Oh. Right."
Kane nodded.
Then looked back at Buggy.
"Then just keep the seastone cuffs on."
Buggy was stunned.
Completely stunned.
Was this really the same "Death Marine" from his memories?!
This sudden change—
He couldn't process it at all.
He even subconsciously ignored being called "red-nosed."
Kane didn't bother with him anymore.
"Follow the location he gave."
"I'm going to rest."
"Wake me when we arrive."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
Bogey happily dragged Buggy away.
He had heard it clearly—
That island held over a billion Beli.
According to Kane's rules—
They'd get a share.
At least a hundred million.
How could he not be excited?
"…That really was Vice Admiral Kane?" Buggy suddenly asked.
"Yeah. What about it?"
"…Nothing."
Inside the office—
Kane was in a great mood.
He hadn't expected Buggy to have that much money.
As expected of someone with "Conqueror-level luck."
Of course—
Kane had already checked Buggy's strength earlier.
And found nothing special.
So he stopped thinking about it.
After all—
It didn't affect him.
And judging by how things would develop—
Buggy would only grow stronger in influence later.
A perfect "leek" to harvest.
But soon—
They would enter the Grand Line.
East Blue?
Just an appetizer.
Even so—
Kane had already earned three billion Beli.
Not bad.
And in the Grand Line—
Pirates were everywhere.
That meant—
Money everywhere.
Kane could already picture himself—
spending freely.
"Report!"
"Vice Admiral Kane—Fleet Admiral Sengoku is calling!"
Kane frowned.
Normally—
No one contacted him for ages.
But recently—
It had been constant.
He quickly understood why.
His strength.
Honestly—
The fact it took this long to reach him was already surprising.
The call connected.
"Moshi moshi! Is that Kane?"
The voice of Sengoku came through.
"Just say it."
"What is it this time?"
"The battle in East Blue—was that you?"
"You already confirmed it, didn't you?"
"Why ask like that?"
"…It really was you?!"
Sengoku sounded genuinely shocked.
"Sounds like you weren't sure?"
"Kane… what exactly is going on?"
"I just happened to find a Devil Fruit."
"Ate it."
"And that's it."
"Kane, do you think I'm an idiot?!"
"How could a newly eaten Devil Fruit be that strong?!"
"I'm a genius."
Sengoku fell silent.
It sounded like he was trying to calm himself down.
After a long pause—
He spoke again:
"Kane."
"I don't know what's really going on with you."
"And I won't dig into it."
"But remember your identity."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
"Why are you so naggy?"
"I just got a bit stronger."
"A bit stronger?!"
Sengoku nearly lost it.
Was the World's Strongest Swordsman a joke to him?!
"When are you coming back?" Sengoku asked.
"No idea."
"You know I haven't gone back in a long time."
"…Come back as soon as possible."
"The Five Elders want to see you."
Kane narrowed his eyes.
"Them?"
"What do those old geezers want with me?"
"They looking for trouble?"
"Kane!"
"You attacked a Celestial Dragon back then!"
"The fact you're still fine is already a miracle!"
"Hmph."
"Thinking back on it…"
"I should've killed that trash."
"KANE!"
"Watch your mouth!"
"Remember who you are!"
Sengoku roared in anger.
"…Thanks."
Kane's tone suddenly softened.
"You've had it rough all these years."
Sengoku paused.
His anger eased slightly.
"They just want to understand your situation."
"There shouldn't be a problem."
"Don't be so sensitive."
"Fine."
"I got it."
"I'll deal with it when I get back."
Click.
The call ended.
Kane sneered.
"So…"
"They want to see if I've become a threat?"
"Decide whether to eliminate me…"
"Or recruit me?"
Thirty years ago—
Kane had stood at the true peak.
Just one step away from the highest level.
Even if that step was enormous.
Using his knowledge of major pirate events—
He had repeatedly seized opportunities—
Leading the Marines to victory after victory.
Even the God Valley Incident—
Had his shadow behind it.
With his strength and achievements—
His prestige in the Marines was second only to Monkey D. Garp.
Even Sengoku and Zephyr couldn't compare back then.
At his peak—
Kane became the Marine's Chief of Staff.
The position now held by Tsuru.
Back then—
Tsuru had even been his admirer.
He had thought—
Even without any cheats—
He could control the world.
Until—
He encountered a Celestial Dragon.
From the moment he arrived in this world—
Kane had deliberately avoided them.
Because he knew—
If he saw them—
Something would happen.
And he was right.
During a pirate suppression mission—
He struck a Celestial Dragon—
Who had been casually killing children.
If his subordinates hadn't stopped him—
He would've killed him on the spot.
That incident—
Became the turning point of his life.
Originally—
The Celestial Dragon wanted him executed.
But Kane's influence in the Marines—
Was too great.
With support from:
Kong
Monkey D. Garp
Zephyr
—and many others—
Plus his achievements—
Punishing him would have caused massive upheaval.
Even the Five Elders had a headache over it.
In the end—
Kane was stripped of his core Marine positions.
His records sealed.
And reassigned—
To a mere branch officer.
Officially—
It was said he had "health issues."
Only then—
Did the matter settle.
Thirty years passed.
The Marines had long since changed generations.
Aside from a few top figures—
Almost no one knew the truth anymore.
That's why—
Tashigi recognized the sword—
But not the man.
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