One Piece : From Slave to Fleet Admiral

For Morgans, whether the Marines won or the pirates triumphed didn't matter—as long as it didn't affect tomorrow's newspaper sales, he couldn't care less who died.

This report was something Sakazuki had personally asked him to cover.

The man hadn't said much, just one sentence.

"The Marines 'future' direct confrontation with a Yonko commander!"

Upon hearing those words, Morgans had immediately grasped the deeper implications.

'Marines future?'

What did that mean?

It was already an open secret that the Marines lacked representatives of the new generation.

The newly appointed three Admirals candidates were anything but fresh faces—they were all middle-aged men who couldn't be considered the "new generation."

But Akainu's statement clearly hinted that he might witness the birth of a future super-genius within the Marines.

That alone made this trip worth his personal attention.

And a direct clash with a Yonko crew?

That was practically cause for celebration!

Morgans couldn't care less how many people would die.

All he knew was that a battle between the Marines and any of the four currently recognized Emperors of the Sea would shake the world with its sheer magnitude.

Sakazuki hadn't specified which Yonko, but the location—Gourmet Town—gave Morgans a strong hunch: it would likely be the Big Mom Pirates.

After all, the Whitebeard Pirates had just been clashing with the Beast Pirates over territory a few days ago.

Red Hair Shanks, as the newest Yonko, was still making his mark in the New World and wouldn't unreasonable venture to the first half of the Grand Line.

The thought of the Marines battling Big Mom Pirates was exhilarating!

When he heard Jake declare his intention to arrest every single member of the Big Mom Pirates, Morgans could barely contain his excitement.

Yes!

More ferocity!

More bloodshed!

Violence was always the most eye-catching spectacle!

He frantically signaled his subordinates to start snapping photos, the blinding white flashes illuminating every corner of the scene.

****

Meanwhile, inside the Marine warship, Kizaru nearly choked on his tea as he watched the scene unfold through the projection Den Den Mushi.

Without bothering to wipe his mouth, he shot to his feet, muttering complaints.

"That damn brat! Is this the 'surprise' he was talking about?! At this distance, even I might not be able to save you in time!"

Golden light began radiating from his body as he activated his Devil Fruit powers—only to abruptly deactivate them moments later.

Katakuri's reaction had defied his expectations.

Instead of the expected outburst of rage or an immediate attempt to impale Jake with his trident, Katakuri simply stared coldly at the Marine and asked.

"Is this the answer you've chosen to give, Marines?"

"Seven o'clock tonight, the ship behind the reef 700 meters north of the town. That's your people, isn't it? How dare you burn down the island's granary yesterday! You vile pirates, using such despicable means to harm villagers—if we don't arrest scum like you, civilians across the seas will never sleep peacefully again!"

As Jake spoke these words, a radiant, pure white light emanated from his body, dazzlingly bright and seemingly capable of cleansing the soul.

Golden-orange feathers drifted down from the sky around him, creating a scene as awe-inspiring as an angel descending from the heavens in a church.

Everyone was stunned by the sight.

No one had ever witnessed such a Devil Fruit ability—it was like a divine miracle, utterly unbelievable.

Katakuri remained silent, watching Jake.

The next moment, he inwardly let out a long sigh of relief.

Connecting yesterday's letter with Jake's slightly peculiar phrasing, he understood the other's true meaning.

If this were truly meant to be a fight to the death, there would be no need to specify exact times and locations while accusing them of something they clearly couldn't have done.

Such obvious false accusations completely contradicted the intelligence displayed in yesterday's letter.

There was only one possibility: the other party was secretly hinting at something.

Translated, it meant:

"Tonight at seven, behind the reef 700 meters north of town on the small boat—there's black truffle cake and the truth about the arson incident. But right now, with reporters watching, the Marines need to save face. You'll pretend to retreat, losing some pride but gaining the real advantage."

Faced with this proposal, Katakuri had no choice.

Refusal would mean losing both face and the cake.

If he didn't accept, they'd truly have to fight the Marines—and that warship definitely had powerful fighters aboard.

He'd sensed it earlier.

When Jake first spoke, Katakuri had momentarily considered attacking him, but an overwhelming sense of danger had instantly coursed through his body—his Observation Haki's give him a warning.

And Katakuri trusted that warning completely.

It seemed that no matter how unwilling they were to let Big Mom pirates lose face, this time they'd have to swallow their pride.

He glanced irritably at Jake before him.

Though frustrated, he could only sigh—the Marines' preparations had completely outmatched theirs this time.

A direct confrontation clearly wasn't wise.

So he looked at Jake and chose the option that benefited both sides.

But remembering the words from yesterday's letter, a smile crept across Katakuri's scarf-covered lips.

You asked me to unleash Conqueror's Haki.

Well, if you can't handle that power and faint, don't blame anyone.

Want face? I can give it.

But do you have what it takes to receive it?

With this thought, Katakuri's eyes sharpened and a terrifying pressure erupted from his body, surging outward in all directions.

"Even if we burned down the granary, so what? Do you trash really think you can catch us? If you think you can, then come and try!"

The next moment, as Katakuri's voice faded, an overwhelming force emanated from his body—like an unending tsunami.

Each impact seemed capable of crushing both spirit and will, as towering as a collapsing mountain and as scorching as a wildfire sweeping across the land.

Under the assault of that power, no one even had the right to remain standing.

Of course, Katakuri adhered to the letter's instructions—the range of his Conqueror's Haki also enveloped the pirates behind him.

Yet, as Jake's lips curled slightly, an equally terrifying aura erupted from him in an instant!

Kizaru spat out the water he had just drunk all over the Den Den Mushi, his face twisted in shock as he stared at the scene before him.