Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of victory and the subtle atmosphere—right at what should have been the victory celebration scene—the shadows inside Luffy's body also ran out of him. But he wasn't smiling. Instead, his face was tense, his eyes locked onto a ship's wheel shaped like a Ferris wheel, perched atop the only tall building still standing in the distance.
Up there, a silent, towering figure had somehow appeared, as if merging with the shadows.
He was exceptionally burly, carrying a thick book in his arms. He stood quietly, looking down at the celebrating crowd below, radiating an invisible sense of oppression.
"Luffy?"
Nami was the first to notice Luffy's unusual behavior. She followed his gaze and also saw that blurry figure. Her heart tightened. "Who is that? An enemy?"
"Yeah. This presence is exactly the same as the one that appeared back then with Golden Lion. This must be the guy who took Golden Lion away." Luffy said.
Robin's expression also grew serious. Her knowledge was extensive, and her understanding of the World Government far surpassed that of ordinary people.
"To be able to send a legendary pirate like Golden Lion to Impel Down, this person is likely closely connected to the World Government. If that's the case, he's probably an enemy."
"So the fight isn't over yet?"
Chopper and Usopp clung to each other.
They had just defeated a Warlord of the Sea—why was someone possibly even more terrifying than a Warlord showing up now?
Meanwhile, that towering figure was none other than Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
He had watched most of the fight between Luffy and Moria from start to finish. He had also done some minor cleanup of Moria's underlings.
Slowly, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi that was ringing with a buru buru sound.
The moment the Den Den Mushi connected, it simulated the face of an authoritative, cold old man.
"Bartholomew Kuma."
The voice from the other end of the Den Den Mushi belonged to Jaygarcia Saturn of the Five Elders, carrying an unquestionable authority. "What is the situation? Is Moria still alive?"
Kuma's gaze swept over Moria, half-buried under rubble in the ruins below. He looked like he had more breath going out than coming in.
"He's barely alive." Kuma replied calmly.
"Hmph. That's good."
Jaygarcia Saturn's voice seemed to relax slightly.
"We only just decided on Crocodile's successor. If another Warlord vacancy appeared, that would be terrible. As long as he's still breathing, let him recover. We expect him to continue serving as a Warlord of the Sea.
Regarding the aftermath of his defeat, we'll deal with it once he's recovered somewhat. If the Warlords of the Sea are taken down one after another by Straw Hat, the The prestige of the Seven Warlords will be completely destroyed."
This was something the World Government did not want to see.
What the World Government wanted to maintain was the balance of this sea.
The Navy, the Warlords, and the Four Emperors—all were merely tools needed to maintain that balance.
But for now, they needed a functional tool. So Moria still had his uses—especially with that great event approaching.
Jaygarcia Saturn's tone turned cold, carrying a hint of killing intent. "This news must absolutely not leak out. Straw Hat and his crew are truly a troublesome bunch. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Please be specific."
"There must be no witnesses to the news of Moria's defeat. I am now issuing you a special mission in the name of the World Government—using your renowned ability, eliminate all witnesses on this island, including the Straw Hat crew. Even if they're sent to Impel Down, they can be received there."
Jaygarcia Saturn's voice carried a commanding, condescending tone. "You're not a useless waste like Moria. You should have plenty of experience with this kind of thing, shouldn't you? Think back to God Valley. Your ability once gave us quite a headache."
God Valley—the place Jaygarcia Saturn mentioned—was something Kuma did not particularly want to recall.
He had indeed saved many people with those hands. But...
Kuma fell silent. On his usually expressionless face, a wave so faint it was almost imperceptible seemed to pass by.
After a moment, he spoke in a low voice. "Your mission may be somewhat difficult right now."
"Oh? Why is that?"
Jaygarcia Saturn's voice carried a hint of surprise and displeasure.
Kuma's gaze dropped downward, meeting Luffy's eyes—Luffy, who had him completely locked in his sights. "Right now, I've been fully locked onto by Straw Hat. Being able to safely take Moria away is probably the best possible outcome."
The Den Den Mushi fell into a brief silence, as if assessing the weight of this information.
After a few seconds, Jaygarcia Saturn's voice sounded again, carrying a hint of something elusive. "That Straw Hat brat has already grown to this extent?"
The Five Elders recognized that Kuma's strength was considerable. They understood very well how tricky Kuma was.
To some extent, defeating Crocodile and Gecko Moria wasn't a big deal. Defeating CP9's so-called strongest in centuries, Rob Lucci, also wasn't a big deal. Even Aokiji—the Five Elders suspected there were many special reasons involved.
But Kuma's current assessment of Luffy made Jaygarcia Saturn raise his assessment of Luffy by a level.
Just then, a figure appeared atop the wreckage where Kuma was standing, silently and at astonishing speed. It was Luffy.
His speed was like teleportation. His eyes blazed as he stared at Kuma and the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
"Is your goal the same as that old man's on the other end of that Den Den Mushi?" Luffy asked directly.
He had heard it.
The order to eliminate everyone on this island.
Kuma did not answer immediately. He simply looked at Luffy in silence.
After a moment of silence, Jaygarcia Saturn spoke again through the Den Den Mushi:
"Straw Hat Luffy, Monkey D. Luffy. If you are willing, you can replace Moria as a new Warlord of the Sea."
At these words, Kuma's expression finally changed slightly.
Invite Straw Hat and his crew to become Warlords of the Sea? How many things had they done to give the World Government headaches?
The Alabasta incident could perhaps be overlooked—Crocodile, a legally recognized pirate by the World Government, had plotted against a World Government member nation, and that scandal had been quickly covered up.
But the Enies Lobby incident had already spread far and wide, becoming a household headline in the newspapers over the past few days.
Clearly, Straw Hat and his crew were now seen by the World Government as major criminals. Logically speaking, it was highly unlikely that Luffy would receive a Warlord invitation.
What's more...
Luffy's identity was also the son of the Revolutionary Army's leader. That made it even more impossible for him to receive a Warlord invitation.
***
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