Chapter 38: The Speed of Light! Judgment Descends!
"Hey, Nami!"
Suzaku's voice rang out across the deck, filled with a mixture of genuine amusement and utter exasperation.
He pointed toward the hull of the magnificent, doomed ship. There, clinging to the side of the Saint Noros like a possessed squirrel, was his Navigator. Nami had somehow procured a crowbar and was hanging precariously over the open ocean, her legs wrapped around a decorative railing.
She was intently prying off the flashy, impractical golden filigree that lined the ship's exterior. Her eyes were gone, replaced by spinning Berry symbols. She was muttering calculations under her breath at a speed that would put a supercomputer to shame.
"Are you really not going to spare even the paint?!" Suzaku shouted. "We have enough gold in the hold to buy a small island!"
"Shut up!" Nami shouted back, not stopping her work. Creak. Snap. A large piece of gold plating came loose, and she deftly caught it before it fell into the sea.
"Every gram counts! This is pure 24-karat gold leaf, you idiot! Do you know what the exchange rate is right now?!"
She looked at him with the ferocity of a demon protecting its hoard.
"We need supplies! We need maintenance costs! We need food! And most importantly... I NEED IT!"
Suzaku sighed, face-palming. He gained a completely new appreciation—and fear—for his Navigator's unparalleled avarice. At least she was consistent. Even in the face of an impending Admiral attack, money came first.
Just as he turned away from the bow, shaking his head, a shadow fell over him.
"Lord Suzaku."
Albedo approached him. Her demeanor was the polar opposite of Nami's frantic greed. She was calm, professional, and radiating an aura of competence. In her hands, she held a velvet-lined tray she had salvaged from the ship's dining hall.
"I have prepared the tools you requested," Albedo spoke, her tone carrying the satisfaction of a loyal servant who had anticipated her master's needs perfectly. "Fortunately, the ship's kitchen was well-stocked with high-quality cutlery intended for royal banquets."
On the tray, several cold, gleaming knives of various sizes were neatly arranged. From small paring knives to serrated carving blades, each one was polished to a mirror sheen. They reflected the sunlight with a predatory glint.
"Very good, Albedo." Suzaku nodded, picking up a small, sharp fruit knife. He tested the edge with his thumb. It drew a thin line of blood instantly. Sharp.
"Now, please keep an eye on Nami," Suzaku instructed, gesturing to the thief hanging off the ship. "That girl only has treasure in her eyes right now; she is extremely reckless. Don't forget, Vice Admiral Ferguson—the one Rem knocked into the sea—is not confirmed dead. He might be lurking in some corner, waiting to take a hostage."
"Understood," Albedo bowed gracefully. "I shall ensure no harm comes to our... financial officer. If anyone touches her, I will remove their hands."
At this moment, Rem walked over from the port side. Her maid outfit was spotless, despite the earlier battle. Her single visible blue eye was scanning the horizon with the intensity of a radar system.
"Lord Suzaku," Rem whispered, her voice low. "Status report."
She pointed a slender finger toward the remaining Marine escort ships in the distance.
"The enemy warships have not retreated. They are maintaining a safe distance of three kilometers, just out of cannon range. However, their transponder snails have been active for the last fifteen minutes. The signal frequency is high."
Rem looked up at Suzaku.
"It is very likely... they are coordinating with incoming support. A Buster Call, perhaps?"
Suzaku heard this, and far from being nervous, a calm, predatory smile spread across his face. The thrill of the gamble was setting in.
"Of course," Suzaku chuckled. "For a 'major incident' like attacking a Celestial Dragon, it would be strange if Marineford didn't send their highest combat power—an Admiral—to deal with it. Anything less would be an insult."
His gaze swept over his crewmates—Rem, Albedo, and even the distant Nami. His eyes were sharp, filled with a burning ambition that made the air around him hum.
"The reason I chose to wait here instead of fleeing immediately is precisely for this opportunity."
He clenched his fist, Conqueror's Haki flaring invisibly around him for a split second.
"Having an Admiral come personally will allow us to gauge the true ceiling of this world's power. We need to know where we stand. Are we ants? Or are we gods?"
"Furthermore..." Suzaku continued, his grin widening. "After the confrontation, we must find a way to spread the news. 'The Suzaku Pirates fought fiercely with an Admiral upon entering the Grand Line.' This headline will shake the world! It is the loudest declaration of our arrival! We won't just be rookies; we'll be legends."
"Rem understands!" Rem nodded seriously, the light of understanding flashing in her eyes. She pulled out a small Den Den Mushi equipped with a camera lens from her apron pocket.
"I will find the most suitable position and angle. I will capture Lord Suzaku's heroic posture perfectly! I will make sure the world sees your greatness!"
"Very good," Suzaku laughed, ruffling her hair. "But your mission is more than just recording, Rem."
He placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression turning serious.
"According to the plan, Albedo and I will face the Admiral head-on. But the conclusion of the battle is crucial. We cannot be tied down here forever. If we get surrounded by a fleet, even we will have trouble."
"Regardless of the outcome," Suzaku continued, looking her in the eye. "We will need to rely on your ability to evacuate everyone. Your Float-Float Fruit is our ace in the hole. When I give the signal, you must lift the Vermillion Wing and fly us out of here. Can you do it?"
"With my life," Rem vowed, clutching her morningstar.
Satisfied, Suzaku turned back to the tray of knives. He picked it up.
He walked toward the main mast, where a young girl was standing silently.
Kiyo was staring at the tied-up Celestial Dragon. Her eyes were hollow, devoid of the light of childhood. She was vibrating with a mixture of fear and hatred.
"Kiyo," Suzaku said softly.
She flinched, looking up at him.
"You said you wanted revenge," Suzaku's voice was calm yet powerful. "You said you wanted to make him pay."
He presented the tray to her. The knives glittered.
"These are for you. You will personally deal with that fat pig. With your strength, one cut will not be fatal. So you can take your time. Recover this blood debt one cut at a time. Make him feel every second of pain he caused your parents."
He paused, gazing at her pale face.
"Of course, if you are not ready... if it's too much... I can have Albedo handle it. You don't have to force yourself to become a killer today."
"No!"
Kiyo spoke almost immediately. Her voice cracked, but the word was firm.
"No... please."
She looked at the knives, then at the sobbing man who had murdered her family.
"Lord... please leave it to me!"
She bowed deeply to Suzaku, then grabbed the tray with both hands. Her knuckles were white.
"Thank you... Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. If I back down now, I will never forgive myself! I will never be able to sleep again!"
She turned and walked step by step toward the main mast. Each step was heavy, as if she were walking through mud.
Saint Jalmack watched Kiyo approach.
Through his tears and snot, he saw the gleam of the knives. He saw the hatred in her eyes—the hatred of a child who had watched her world burn for his amusement.
For the first time in his pampered, god-like existence, Saint Jalmack felt true, primal terror.
"Wretch! What do you want to do?!" Jalmack screamed, struggling against the ropes. "Release me immediately! You filth! If you ants dare to touch me, the World Government will crush you! An Admiral is coming! Kizaru is coming! You will all die screaming!"
Kiyo was deaf to his threats. She stood before him, her small hand selecting a sharp paring knife. It looked like a toy in her hand, but the edge was razor-sharp.
"For Papa," she whispered.
SHING!
She slashed his arm.
"AAAAAHHH!"
The first shrill scream broke the silence of the deck. It was high-pitched, pathetic. Blood sprayed onto the white wood.
"For Mama."
SHING!
She stabbed his thigh.
"M-Mercy! Stop! IT HURTS! STOP IT!"
"For everyone you killed. For everyone you stole."
SHING! SHING! SHING!
The wails of the Celestial Dragon grew louder and louder, a desperate, pathetic contrast to his previous arrogance. He begged. He bargained. He offered money, islands, slaves.
Kiyo didn't stop. She carved her grief into his flesh, letting his blood wash away her helplessness. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the blood splatter.
Suzaku watched silently, his arms crossed. He felt no pity. This was justice.
But just as the screams reached a crescendo, the atmosphere changed abruptly.
The hair on Suzaku's arms stood up.
ZZZZZT!
A sound like tearing fabric echoed from the horizon.
A blinding golden light suddenly flared in the distance!
It wasn't the sun. It was brighter, sharper, and colder. It was a star born on the surface of the sea.
The light, initially distant like a spark, rapidly expanded within a millisecond. It transformed into a beam of golden lightning that tore through the sky, connecting the horizon to their ship in the blink of an eye.
WHOOSH!
The speed surpassed the limits of visual capture. One moment it was miles away; the next, it was upon them.
Wherever the light passed, the sea surface was plowed open into a deep trench by an invisible force. The waves roared as they rolled up on both sides, creating a tunnel of water that followed the beam.
A suffocating sense of pressure—a massive, overwhelming Haki—slammed down over the bloodied deck before the figure even fully materialized. It felt like the sky itself was falling.
"Oh dear... that's truly terrifying..."
A slow, drawling voice with a unique, lazy inflection seemed to sound right next to everyone's ears.
Flash!
Countless dazzling golden particles rapidly converged in front of the mast, blocking Kiyo's next strike. The knife hit a wall of light and bounced off.
The particles solidified into a tall, slender figure.
He wore a yellow striped suit that clashed with everything, and a white Marine coat draped over his shoulders like a cape. The word "JUSTICE" was emblazoned on the back in bold kanji.
Marine Headquarters Admiral—Kizaru (Borsalino)—had arrived!
He stood with his hands in his pockets, his head tilted slightly to the side. His face was set in his usual, inscrutable expression behind amber-tinted sunglasses.
But the laziness was a mask.
His gaze swept across the scene like a precise searchlight.
He saw the tortured Celestial Dragon, bleeding and weeping. He saw the blood staining the gold deck. He saw the dead CP0 agents in the corner. He saw the corpse of Vice Admiral Momonga embedded in the wall.
And finally, he looked at Suzaku.
"...To injure a World Noble like this," Kizaru drawled, his voice slow but heavy with menace. "You really have no fear of death, do you... Suzaku-kun?"
The air temperature dropped. The pressure radiating from the Admiral was heavy enough to crack the deck boards beneath his feet.
Suzaku smiled, his eyes locking with the Admiral's. He didn't flinch. He stepped forward, placing himself between the Admiral and his crew.
"You're finally here," Suzaku said, his voice steady and mocking. "I was beginning to think the Navy didn't care about its pet pigs. Took you long enough."
Kizaru tilted his head. A finger rose from his pocket, pointing at Suzaku.
Light gathered at the tip, brighter than a star. The hum of energy was deafening.
"Speed is weight," Kizaru whispered.
"Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
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