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"Match?"
Carina couldn't help but laugh at the word.
"Rolchart, did you truly think the Soul King-sama sent me back just to help me restore the kingdom, and that's it?"
Rolchart was immediately startled.
"Your Majesty, are you planning to...?"
"That's right! I have only one goal for this return: to plant the flag of the Ether Kingdom all over the West Blue!"
Rolchart was stunned. To plant the flag of the Ether Kingdom all over the West Blue?
It sounded exciting. But where would they get the power?
"Enough. You don't need to worry about these mere clowns. Just focus on your own duties!"
Unfortunately, Carina didn't seem interested in discussing the matter further with him. Although Rolchart was filled with doubts, he could only bow and retreat under Carina's imposing presence.
Within the capital, Bege's subordinates had already made contact with the men of the Five Families. Due to the disparity in numbers and strength, Bege's men were suffering more losses than victories. To minimize damage, he ordered his men to converge and hold out in a few key strategic areas.
This act of tactical retreat completely convinced Luno, who was in charge of the operation, that the Ether Kingdom was currently weak!
"If that's the case, let's finish the job in one blow! Tonight, the Ether Kingdom will disappear completely!"
After all, it was better to be safe than sorry!
As night fell, three large groups of men marched toward the Royal Palace from three different directions. Luno quickly noticed that the residents around the palace seemed to have been evacuated in advance. The entire palace and the nearby streets were completely deserted!
"Heh! They even prepared the battlefield for us!" Luno sneered, leading his men through the main palace gate. The gate was unguarded!
Luno started to feel uneasy. Did Carina run away? Was she planning to find another place to build up strength and then retake the Ether Kingdom?
Thinking this, Luno immediately commanded, "Hurry! Find Carina! Don't let her escape!"
Just then, an authoritative yet intensely cold voice reached them.
"Run? This is my Royal Palace. Why should I run?"
From the palace emerged Carina, dressed in opulent royal attire, walking slowly. Behind her were Victor and his Shadow Dragon Guard Reservists, along with a contingent of loyal Imperial Guards.
"Haha! You have some courage! But sadly, you're a fool!" The moment he saw Carina, Luno relaxed and his face twisted into a look of derision.
"You can't possibly think that these few hundred people can defeat the elites of our Five Families, can you?"
Behind Luno was a massive, black mass of people, virtually filling the entire courtyard! There were at least two thousand men!
Given the absolute disparity in numbers, even if the Shadow Dragon Guard Reservists could win the battle through their extraordinary individual skill, very few would survive in the end.
And this was only the first wave sent by the Five Families!
At that moment, Luno also saw Bege standing on the side. He smiled.
"What's wrong, Bege? Aren't you going to say hello?"
"I told you, why didn't you stay put in the Grand Line? Why run back here to seek death?"
"Now look! The Capone Family lost three islands' worth of business because of you, and I hear your uncle, the Godfather, has already disowned you!"
"Too bad. It's too late for regrets now! Those who cross the Five Families have only one path: death!"
After watching Luno's impassioned display, Bege took a deep drag from his cigar and uttered just two words:
"Idiot!"
This simplest sentence instantly broke through Luno's composure.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!"
BANG!
Luno raised his hand and fired a gun. Bege didn't even flinch, immediately using his Devil Fruit power to turn his body into a fortress.
Pfft!
However, to Bege's surprise, the bullet directly penetrated his fortress body and lodged into his true body!
"Sea Prism Stone bullet?" Bege looked at his bleeding shoulder, his face sinking.
"Hahaha! Bege, did you think we would be unprepared for a Devil Fruit user like you?" Luno roared with triumphant laughter.
"How does it feel? We specifically bought these Sea Prism Stone bullets from the Grand Line. Isn't the taste excellent?"
The Five Families had prepared thoroughly to win this battle! Bege, the Devil Fruit user, was one of their main targets of focus!
"Kill! Bring the Ether Kingdom completely under the control of the Five Families! The one who kills Carina or Bege will be promoted three ranks immediately!"
Luno waved his hands, and two thousand of the Five Families' best men immediately rushed toward Carina and her people, their eyes bloodshot. Luno was fighting so aggressively because, after this battle, the Five Families planned to stop using a proxy.
He would be the highest authority here! With such immense power at stake, he certainly wanted to execute the task flawlessly!
Facing the terrifying charge of two thousand men, Carina's expression remained completely unfazed. She looked at the thugs, driven by profit, charging up the steps, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
"When did I allow you to move?"
Ooom!
An invisible wave instantly swept forward like a tide. The crowd, which had been rushing forward enthusiastically, suddenly stalled. Then, they fell like dominoes, dropping row after row!
In the blink of an eye, fewer than ten men among the two thousand thugs were still standing!
Clatter!
The gun in Luno's hand slipped to the ground unnoticed. He stared blankly, shouting in disbelief, "T-this... how is this possible?"
Bege scoffed at the sight.
"A frog in a well. You've simply seen too little!"
Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku Haki)!
Realizing that Carina might have awakened Conqueror's Haki, Victor had reported it that very day. Auguro even personally contacted Carina and taught her some insights into using Conqueror's Haki.
This world's Conqueror's Haki could not be trained to become stronger; it could only grow through the enhancement of one's personal spirit.
To control this power required unwavering will!
Carina's will was certainly beyond question. After these few days of practice, though she couldn't fully control it yet, she could at least release it autonomously!
Victor and the others stood behind Carina, careful not to be affected. This was why Carina had been so confident when she learned the Five Families were coming.
Because the human sea tactic of the Five Families had, in that very moment, become completely useless!
"Genovese Luno, is it?" Carina stood on the steps, gazing down authoritatively at the new-generation core figure of the underworld, and said flatly,
"Is this all the Five Families are capable of?"
In that moment, the Carina in Luno's eyes was no longer the Queen of a small country like the Ether Kingdom. She was a Goddess standing above the heavens!
Escape!
Luno spun around and ran. He had to escape and tell everyone in the Five Families.
The Ether Kingdom was untouchable!