Outside the auction house.
A figure clad in fiery red clashed continuously with a figure radiating lightning.
The immense sounds were clearly audible to the Marines stationed at a considerable distance.
Kiman stood atop a rooftop, his gaze fixed on the red and blue figures locked in combat in the distance, the explosions, smoke, and the screams of pirates erupting from the auction house, his eyes filled with anxiety.
“Why haven’t the Admirals arrived yet?”
He knew without a doubt that there wouldn't be many survivors left in the auction house. Once Silver Hair and his crew finished clearing it out, it might be their turn.
It was impossible not to feel nervous. After all, Kōta and the others were no ordinary pirates; they were truly lawless individuals who had ruthlessly slain Celestial Dragons without hesitation.
Though he detested Celestial Dragons, it was merely a dislike.
Moreover, the red figure clashing with the blue one, if he wasn't mistaken, was the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' second division, Fire Fist Ace.
“Why is that guy here too!”
Even though Fire Fist Ace was fighting Blue Hair Guina, who knew what their true intentions were? They were both pirates, and they might join forces at any moment to eliminate them, the Marines.
Just then.
A golden light streaked rapidly from outside the Sabaody Archipelago, leaving a golden line across the sky. With a "buzz," it landed directly beside Kiman.
Gazing at the tall figure that materialized from the golden light, Kiman’s rapidly beating heart instantly calmed.
“Whew~”
He let out a deep sigh of relief, then turned and respectfully saluted the golden figure. “Admiral Borsalino.”
“Mm!”
Kizaru nodded, his gaze shifting to the red and blue figures fighting in the distance, and he paused slightly.
“Why did they start fighting?”
“I don’t know.”
Kiman lowered his hand, turned back to the battlefield, and said sternly, “They started fighting as soon as I arrived here.”
He shifted his gaze back to Kizaru and asked, “Admiral Borsalino, what should we do next?”
After a slight pause, he continued, “Should we go over there?”
“No need.”
Kizaru waved his hand. “You and the Marines go and evacuate the civilians from Island 1, keep them as far away from here as possible, and then keep an eye on the pirates, preventing them from causing trouble amidst the chaos.”
“Vice Admiral Garp will be bringing reinforcements shortly.”
“Understood.”
Kiman saluted Kizaru again, then, with an excited expression, turned and leaped off the roof.
When he first heard Kizaru tell him to watch the pirates on the island, he had hesitated.
This was because the Marines present on the island could only maintain order; it was fine during peacetime, but in this chaos, their troop strength was clearly insufficient.
Furthermore, the general strength of the pirates on the island actually surpassed that of the Marines.
In the midst of the confusion, if the pirates were to band together, the casualties for the Marines would be immeasurable.
But he was a Marine, and even if it meant death, he had to suppress the chaos, so he wasn't afraid, only worried about his subordinates.
However, upon learning that Vice Admiral Garp would be bringing in Navy Headquarters’ elite forces for support, his worries vanished instantly.
After all, the Marines accompanying Vice Admiral Garp were all elites from Navy Headquarters!
And there was also Vice Admiral Garp, the hero of the Marines.
As soon as Vice Admiral Garp arrived, the pirates might not dare to cause any unrest, and might even flee the Sabaody Archipelago in a hurry, without needing to lift a finger.
After all, not only was Vice Admiral Garp on the island, but there was also an Admiral.
Kizaru stood on the rooftop, his gaze fixed on the auction house in the distance. His usual laid-back demeanor was replaced by a look of solemnity.
Regarding Silver Hair.
During their first encounter, he had approached it with a playful attitude, never intending to arrest him, and therefore hadn’t exerted much effort.
During their second encounter, he had indeed used his full strength, but it hadn’t escalated to a life-or-death battle.
However, for their upcoming third encounter, he found himself unsure how to proceed.
For ordinary pirates, even the Four Emperors, he would have directly engaged them upon arrival.
But now, standing here, he hesitated.
That guy was a monster, leaving him completely bewildered about how to fight him.
“Sigh!”
He sighed inwardly, finding the situation increasingly troublesome the more he thought about it.
He could sense that there were very few living presences left in the auction house, and outside the back door of the auction house, a large number of raggedly dressed people were fleeing into the distance.
He presumed these were the slaves from the auction house.
Judging by this, Silver Hair would be emerging soon.
And…
There was also that old fellow Rayleigh.
He could feel an immensely powerful aura, not inferior to his own.
Even though he was old and his stamina might not last, his instantaneous burst of power was not to be underestimated.
“Why aren’t those two fighting each other?”
He mused, fantasizing that Silver Hair and Rayleigh would fight, just like the red and blue figures outside the auction house. This would certainly lessen his own pressure.
“Hmm… are they here?”
As if sensing something, Kizaru turned his head and looked to the left, in the direction of the Holy Land Marie Geoise.
Marie Geoise was closer, and both the World Government and the Marines had received the news simultaneously. If not for his speed, the CP0 agents would have arrived first.
Upon seeing several tall figures in suits, wearing masks, approaching rapidly from afar, a hint of disappointment flickered across Kizaru’s face.
“As expected, it’s just ordinary CP0 agents.”
He could not sense any strong presences from these CP0 agents. Based on his observation, there wasn't even a member of their leader’s rank among them.
“Do they have to be so perfunctory? After all, a Celestial Dragon was killed here!”
Kizaru’s lips twitched, and he couldn't help but grumble internally.
“Sigh!”
He sighed again, withdrawing his gaze and looking back at the auction house.
It seemed the World Government feared Silver Hair more than he had imagined.
Even with the death of a Celestial Dragon, they only dispatched ordinary CP0 agents. Rather than saying those agents were here to assist him in capturing Silver Hair, it was more accurate to say they were here to collect the Celestial Dragon’s corpse.
Based on his understanding of the World Government, such restraint implied that their next move against Silver Hair and his crew would be earth-shattering.
He didn’t know what means the World Government possessed to eliminate Silver Hair, but he knew that the World Government would never let this matter rest.
Their current patience was undoubtedly a prelude to a larger strike.
Never mind, none of this concerned him. His gaze, fixed on the auction house, held an unprecedented seriousness.
He could sense that Silver Hair would be emerging soon.
Whether they were perfunctory or slacking, a Celestial Dragon had died. Regardless, he had to make an appearance and confront Silver Hair.
Swish, swish, swish!!
Several tall, dark figures materialized around Kizaru.
Dorcura, the captain of this CP0 unit, looked at Kizaru and asked, “Admiral Borsalino, what’s the situation?”
To be honest, they truly didn’t want to come. Although they didn't know why Silver Hair's bounty had suddenly surged, as core members of CP0, he had a general idea.
Some time ago, Cartless had issued an order within the CP organization to search for Silver Hair and his crew. After this long period, Cartless and the CP0 leader who accompanied him had not reappeared.
Instead, the bounties of Silver Hair and his crew had significantly increased.
Only a fool wouldn't easily connect Cartless's disappearance with Silver Hair's skyrocketing bounty.
He didn’t know Cartless’s exact strength, but he knew the CP0 leader well.
And Cartless himself was already a legend.
From what he knew, his strength was completely on par with an Admiral.
Such a powerful individual as Cartless had vanished without a trace, without any news.
How was he supposed to face Silver Hair?
From the attitude of the Five Elders, he could tell that the death of the Celestial Dragon had not caused them much anger.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have dispatched just a few of them.
While it was said they were here to assist the Admiral in capturing Silver Hair, frankly speaking, it was as Kizaru had guessed: they were merely here to collect the corpse of Cosmot Saint.
Their objective was clear.
Therefore, as soon as they arrived, they had positioned themselves beside Kizaru, acting in accordance with his lead.
He recalled that in the past,
Whenever CP0 was dispatched, even if they didn't make the Admirals obey them, they would act independently rather than follow an Admiral's orders.
This demonstrated the immense pressure Silver Hair had put on them this time.