Kizaru's strength was unquestionable. If he really wanted to, Enel and Kaku wouldn't have had a chance to even get close to the Celestial Dragon.
It was obvious that Kizaru had deliberately allowed the Celestial Dragon to be captured.
The reason for this? Half of it was likely due to Kizaru's own disdain for the Celestial Dragons, while the other half—well, those who understood, understood.
Takumi had precisely calculated this, which is why he let Enel and Kaku capture the Celestial Dragon.
Of course, the Celestial Dragon was just a bargaining chip for now. Killing him outright would be problematic, especially if Kizaru were forced to take action.
Takumi glanced back at Hancock, who was also watching him.
He knew Hancock hated the Celestial Dragons to her core. So, to complete the progress on Hancock's side, he had to deal with this Celestial Dragon who was trying to take her back to Mary Geoise.
Hancock had no idea what Takumi was thinking.
But when she saw him glance at her, she couldn't help but feel a little moved.
Then, in front of everyone, Takumi walked up to the Celestial Dragon, his expression cold as he stared at the man.
Kizaru took half a step forward.
"Don't move, or I'll kill him," Takumi said flatly.
Kizaru stopped in his tracks, standing obediently in place.
"Hey! I'm a World Noble! If you lay a hand on me, you'll suffer terribly!" the Celestial Dragon shouted at Takumi in defiance.
Takumi sneered and, without a word, slapped the Celestial Dragon hard, causing him to spit out blood.
"Bastard! How dare you hit me!" the Celestial Dragon yelled in rage.
Takumi slapped him again.
This time, the Celestial Dragon's face swelled up, and two of his teeth fell out.
"You… you… stop hitting me! I'm sorry!" the Celestial Dragon stammered, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Sorry for what?" Takumi asked coldly, slapping him again, this time on the other side of his face, swelling it up as well.
The Celestial Dragon couldn't hold back anymore and began to cry loudly. "I was wrong! I shouldn't have insulted you! I promise, with me here, no one will arrest you! Just let me go, and you can leave here safely."
"Tch, what a useless man," Enel said mockingly. "I really can't see what's so 'noble' about these World Nobles."
As he spoke, Enel smacked the Celestial Dragon on the head again.
The surrounding marines didn't dare to move, fearing that Takumi's group would kill the Celestial Dragon if they made any rash moves.
They had no choice—after all, the Celestial Dragons had such a high status. If one of them died here, none of the marines would escape responsibility. The World Government might even order their execution, and Amazon Lily would be doomed as well.
Kizaru, watching the Celestial Dragon get beaten, raised his hands in mock surrender and said in his usual laid-back tone, "Young man with the strong Haki, you've already killed one Celestial Dragon. If you kill another, it won't just be one admiral sent after you next time."
Before Takumi could respond, Enel, in his usual arrogant manner, retorted, "Do you really think we're the type to fear trouble?"
"Oh my, young people these days sure are fiery," Kizaru chuckled. "If the Celestial Dragon dies here, based on my knowledge of the World Government, all the marines here could be relieved of duty, or worse, executed. And this island? It could be targeted by a Buster Call, wiping it off the map."
Upon hearing the words "Buster Call," Hancock and her sisters, who were already pale, grew even more frightened.
This wasn't a joke!
"What's a Buster Call?" Enel asked, confused.
Kaku, taking the opportunity to explain, answered, "It's a large-scale military operation authorized by the World Government, carried out by the Navy Headquarters. It involves an indiscriminate, destructive attack on a designated area, meant to completely wipe out any threats to the World Government."
"Oh." Enel chuckled lightly. "Then let them come. It has nothing to do with us."
"No!" Hancock couldn't help but interject. "If the government really orders a Buster Call on Amazon Lily, many people will die!"
"So what?" Enel replied indifferently. "It's not like we'll be the ones dying."
"You…" Hancock gritted her teeth and turned her gaze to Takumi. She knew that the fate of Amazon Lily now rested in his hands. "Takumi, I apologize for everything I did to you before. Please, save this island. I beg you."
With that, the proud Pirate Empress, gritting her teeth, slightly bowed to Takumi.
Behind her, the members of the Kuja Pirates remained silent, lowering their heads as well.
Takumi's goal was to complete the final progress for this mission.
Clearly, now was the perfect opportunity.
Without hesitation, he turned to Kizaru and said calmly, "If you want us to release this Celestial Pig, I have three conditions."
Kizaru, smirking slightly, asked, "Let's hear them."
Takumi smiled faintly. "First, you let us leave safely."
Kizaru shrugged. "Alright."
"Second, you leave this island alone," Takumi continued.
Kizaru, unconcerned, replied, "That's fine."
Hancock and the others let out a collective sigh of relief.
"And third," Takumi said, his smile widening, "you allow Boa Hancock to retain her title as a Shichibukai and don't force her to leave this island."
"Hmmm." Kizaru scratched his head, looking a bit troubled. "I don't mind, but that guy over there is dead set on marrying Boa Hancock. There's not much I can do about that."
Takumi turned to the battered and bruised Celestial Dragon.
The Celestial Dragon immediately shouted, "I don't want to marry her anymore! I swear, I won't marry her!"
"Your word means nothing," Takumi said coldly, then glanced at Enel. "Neuter him."
Enel grimaced in disgust. "What? Why don't you let Long-Nose do it instead?"
Kaku chuckled awkwardly. "Your ability is more suited to this. If I do it, it'll be gross."
"No! No, please don't!" The Celestial Dragon's face turned pale. "I swear I won't tell anyone about today. Please, don't do this! I'm begging you!"
Takumi gave Enel a subtle nod.
Without hesitation, Enel struck the Celestial Dragon with a bolt of lightning.
The Celestial Dragon's screams echoed across the island.
Most of those present stared in shock, their mouths agape.
Boa Hancock looked at Takumi, her expression complex. She couldn't help but ask, "Why? Why would you go this far? After everything I did to you before…"
Takumi replied casually, "I'm in a good mood."
"In… a good mood?" Hancock found that hard to believe, but at that moment, Takumi's image in her mind suddenly grew larger, more impressive.
Meanwhile, in Takumi's mind, the long-awaited system notification finally sounded.
[Ding! Boa Hancock's acknowledgment obtained. Sign-in progress +30%.]
[Ding! Amazon Lily sign-in mission complete. Congratulations, Host, on increasing your Conqueror's Haki by 1 level. Current Conqueror's Haki level: 9.]
As the system notification finished, a terrifying aura surged from Takumi, spreading outward in all directions.
Though it only lasted for a brief moment, everyone present, except for Kizaru, Enel, Kaku, Boa Hancock, and her two sisters, immediately fainted.
Only Kizaru and Enel remained standing.
Hancock, her two sisters, and Kaku were knocked to the ground by the pressure.
Though Enel wasn't knocked down, for that brief instant, his body froze, and an overwhelming feeling of suffocating fear took hold of him.
Compared to Enel, Kizaru seemed relatively unaffected.
"What a scary kid you are, always recklessly throwing out Haki like that," Kizaru remarked, his expression odd. "But this time, it's clear your Haki has improved since Shabondy. You've got a pretty high mastery of it, so why can't you control it properly? You even knocked out your own allies. Weird."
Takumi couldn't be bothered to explain. "You made a promise. Make sure you keep it, or next time we meet, I'll kill you first."
"Oh my, I've been threatened," Kizaru said, glancing around at Takumi's crew. By now, Kaku, Hancock, and her sisters were back on their feet. Though they didn't look great, it was clear they were on Takumi's side. "So many against little old me. I'm really, really scared," he said sarcastically.
"This guy sure has a mouth on him…" Enel muttered. He wasn't exactly happy that Takumi had used Haki on everyone indiscriminately, but no matter what, he was still on Takumi's side. "Can we really trust the Navy?"
"Well, I am an Admiral," Kizaru said with a smirk. "And there's a Warlord of the Sea here too. I gave you my word, so I'll keep it. You're free to go."
In truth, Kizaru didn't want to fight.
Initially, he had come to wipe out Takumi and his crew, but the Celestial Dragon had made it clear: no killing. And when it came to the Celestial Dragons, Kizaru had to follow orders.
Enel and Kaku both turned to Takumi, waiting for his decision.
With a wave of his hand, Takumi said, "Retreat."
Without another word, he used Shave, disappearing in the direction of their ship.
Enel and Kaku exchanged glances, then quickly followed.
Hancock, watching them leave with a complicated expression, was about to follow when Kizaru called out to her.
"Hey now, I can't carry all these people by myself," Kizaru said with his usual drawl. "How about you three help load these guys onto the ship?"
Sandersonia turned to Hancock and said, "Sister, you go ahead. I'll handle things here with Marigold."
Hancock nodded and, without another word, sprinted toward the eastern coast of Amazon Lily.
Kizaru didn't bother to stop her, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Such a young guy... but already such a womanizer."
"Womanizer?" Marigold echoed, confused. "Admiral Kizaru, are you talking about Takumi?"
Kizaru waved a hand dismissively. "Of course. Back in Shabondy, he let loose his Haki all because of a mermaid. And now, he did it again here for Boa Hancock. Always for a woman. If that's not being a womanizer, I don't know what is."
"Huh?" Sandersonia's mouth twitched in embarrassment. "But sister's powers don't work on him. I thought he was… well, emotionless."
Meanwhile, back on the ship…
As soon as Takumi, Enel, and Kaku were aboard, Enel swung his golden staff to give the ship a burst of power.
Just as the ship started to take off, Hancock landed on the deck, staring at Takumi with a complicated look on her face. "Thank you for what you did earlier."
Takumi waved dismissively. "You can go now."
Hancock bit her lip, her cheeks flushing slightly as she turned away, clearly embarrassed. "You helped me so much… Is it because you like me?"
Takumi looked at her, completely deadpan. "No. I don't."
It was like a bolt of lightning struck Hancock. She stumbled back in shock. "That can't be true! If you didn't like me, why would you go so far as to offend the Celestial Dragons for me?"
"Yahaha!" Enel burst out laughing. "That's hilarious! You've got it all wrong! If he liked you, do you think he would've knocked you out with his Haki?"
"That's not fair! He also knocked you out with his Haki!" Hancock shot back, not giving up.
Enel rolled his eyes at her, as if she were stupid. "That's because he's an impulsive, violent maniac. Kaku and I get beaten up all the time. You get used to it."
Kaku let out an awkward chuckle. You're the one who hits me all the time, you know...
"No, this can't be!" Hancock still couldn't accept it. She turned back to Takumi, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Takumi, I refuse to believe you don't have any feelings for me!"
"Not a single one," Takumi replied coolly. "I don't like women who are way older than me."
"Huh?" Hancock looked devastated. "But I'm only twenty-six…"
"I'm fifteen, thanks," Takumi said, clearly done with the conversation. "Enel, show her out."
"Roger that." Enel's mouth curled into a mischievous grin as lightning crackled from his fingertips. "So, are you going to leave on your own, or do I have to help you?"
"Oh, one more thing," Takumi added, turning back to Hancock.
She looked at him expectantly.
"If you ever lay a hand on my crew again, I'll kill you," he said coldly.
For the third time, Hancock looked utterly crushed, nearly collapsing on the spot.
By the time she made it back to the shore, her mind was in a complete haze. Takumi's words kept echoing in her head: "I don't like you," "I don't like older women," "I'll kill you." Coupled with the fact that he'd used Haki on her without hesitation, her initial feelings for him dropped from 80% to about 10%...
As Enel piloted the ship away from Amazon Lily, he turned to Takumi and asked, "So, where to next?"
Takumi opened his personal stats panel and glanced at the next sign-in location. "Kuraigana Island," he said.
"Kuraigana Island? Where's that?" Kaku asked curiously. "Is it on the Grand Line?"
Takumi nodded slightly, pointing in the direction of Kuraigana Island.
Kaku scratched his head, thinking hard. "I feel like I've heard of it before, but I can't quite place it…"
"Tch, who cares where it is," Enel said dismissively. "As long as we're following the captain, we'll be fine."
Takumi ignored the banter between the two. His gaze was fixed in the direction of Kuraigana Island—the current residence of the man considered to be the world's greatest swordsman...