"Contradictions lead to a dead alley brimming with swords, where dominion is perfectly buried; the corners of the land that mock order lift in a sneer!"
Sage opened his hands wide, his head held high, lifting both hands upward, taking the music to an eerie height. His own chanting also reached a strange harmony amidst the flames and blades, as if critiquing it.
"If evil is a lavishly cruel symphony, I will personally pen its opening. The flourishing light burns the final revelry, black ink brings serenity."
The flames burning outside, along with those elusive deeds and contracts, and the aristocrats and tycoons who held the real estate, were completely turned into black ash, drifting on the streets, as if ink-stained.
It also brought total silence to those lively, bustling places.
Simultaneously quieted was the bizarre music orchestrated under Sage's command. As he clenched his opened hands into fists, the musicians fell to the ground one after another as if drained, including those manipulating the lighting, all of them foaming at the mouth, with lights shining upwards.
"Hum hum hum... Haha hahaha, hoh hahaha!"
The dazzling neon lights in the nightclub hall shined on Sage's figure with arms wide open, continually moving upwards, extending his shadow behind him indefinitely, resembling a ferocious ghost or demon, enveloping the entire hall with his wild laughter.
Hawkins regarded the figure bursting with laughter, then glanced at the staff stunned by the Supreme King's Haki, unable to help but break into a cold sweat despite his indifferent face.
This fellow clearly claimed earlier that his Supreme Haki couldn't be accurately controlled, yet now it seems to have reached the point where he can target whomever he desires.
He's grown stronger...
Whoosh!
Just as this thought arose in him, a breaking sound suddenly echoed from the door, and as he began to move his head, he heard a 'hiss,' with a deep cut opening on his neck.
A sharp blade emanating black light circled behind Hawkins briefly, then swiftly slashed back, cleaving Hawkins's head, before returning to the doorway.
"Mm..."
Two straw dolls emitting smoke appeared on Hawkins's arm, one with its neck cut and the other with its forehead split, while on the stage, two staff members displayed identical wounds.
He turned his head toward the door, calmly stating, "Turns out it's the Navy."
At the door stood a group of Navy soldiers, led by two individuals draped in Navy cloaks. One was tall with black hair, a white stripe on the right side of his head, and a long black beard curled at the end, extending to his abdomen, with a white line on the right side of the beard.
Above his head was a crescent-shaped blade, held by both hands, his eyes beneath the sunglasses capable of coldly staring at Hawkins.
The sudden attack earlier was executed by that blade.
"'Magician' Basil Hawkins!"
The other person stepped forward two paces, angrily glaring at Hawkins, then looking toward the center stage at the wildly displaying Sage, "And you, disaster, Norton Sage! I am Red King, Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral. You are under arrest!"
The speaking Navy man was also tall, but bald, with a massive mouth and long neck, six chins under the cheeks, looking very irritable.
On that enormous body, his right arm held a mechanical gauntlet, resembling Zephyr's mechanical arm.
Hawkins shook his head, clutching his long sword, its blade starting to coil straw, "Sorry, the probability of me being captured is 0.01%. You can't arrest me this time."
"We didn't think you would be captured willingly either."
The man with the blade atop his head stepped forward, saying, "It's by me, Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral 'Gallows,' that you will be personally apprehended."
Buzz!
As his words fell, silence suddenly engulfed the surroundings, with Navy soldiers behind them falling one after another, eyes rolling white, mouths agape.
Beads of sweat instantly flowed down the foreheads of the two as they looked toward the stage center in disbelief, as if witnessing a monstrous flood.
"Don't kill my vibe..."
Sage bared his teeth, grimly saying, "I'm enjoying my spontaneous performance here; you come ruining it."
"Sage, they can't be left alive!"
Link realized, saying, "Otherwise, the transaction will be caught by the Navy!"
The black market occupying the shadows naturally can't be exposed; everything they do must avoid Navy interference. If captured, all plans are ruined.
Sage might not care, but he must remain here.
For this...
Link gritted his teeth, "I can pay more!"
"What do you take me for, Link?"
Sage laughed, "A deal's a deal. Our transaction is me delivering this city into your hands, and it's not completed yet; I'm not the type who greedily pursues money. Promise and contract, I greatly respect them..."
He looked at the two Vice Admirals, moved his feet, and vanished from the stage.
Red King's pupils contracted, instinctively retreating half a step, mechanical gauntlet emitting steam as he was about to raise it.
Meanwhile, Gallows swiftly drew out his blade, throwing it forward.
Clang!
A spark appeared within three paces of them, showing Sage with legs bent, blocking the Haki-charged blade with his calf, allowing sparks to erupt from it. With force of legs, he kicked the blade away, lunging toward them, hands reaching straight for their heads, giving them no time to respond, clutching their heads.