Pirate: I'm an admiral now, what's wrong with taking a little extra money?

"No, no need."

Kane waved his hand and, in high spirits, pinched Gion's delicate cheek.

"I'm going to the South China Sea to relax and, while I'm at it, check on Roger's whereabouts. I'll also tell headquarters that my bonus for this year is due and they shouldn't delay it."

Sakazuki and the other two also came over, looking at Kane with complicated expressions. The source of the terrifying aura they had just sensed was this man.

“Kane…” Sakazuki’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he finally couldn’t hold back, uttering two words, “Just now…”

"What? Want to give it a try?" Kane glanced at him, a playful smirk on his lips.

Sakazuki fell silent instantly.

He was a battle maniac, but not an idiot. That power just now was beyond his comprehension.

"Take good care of the house."

Kane patted him on the shoulder and left with a meaningful remark.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, his feet slowly left the ground, and the air around his body surged, forming two solid storm wings.

Whoosh-!

There was no sonic boom, no loud noise.

His figure seemed to blend into the wind, disappearing from the spot in an instant.

Only a ring of white sonic boom cloud, visible to the naked eye, remains as proof that it once existed.

Gion and the group of naval soldiers were already dumbfounded.

Only the three general candidates stared silently in the direction where Kane had disappeared.

Kuzan murmured in a voice only he could hear.

"That guy... has turned into a monster we can't understand again."

Chapter 90: The Prelude to the End: Challenging the King of the Sea!

South China Sea.

This is a sea known for its peace, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the Grand Line.

On the vast sea, Kane transformed into a phantom of a storm, speeding at speeds far exceeding the speed of sound.

Just one day.

Kane then arrived at the area where Roger might be hiding, according to the intelligence.

He hovered at an altitude of 10,000 meters, looking down at the numerous uninhabited islands scattered below.

"Roger... Ha."

Kane's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Hiding in a place like this won't change your identity as the 'Pirate King'."

The awakening of the Storm-Storm Fruit greatly enhanced his mental strength. He unleashed his full Observation Haki, instantly covering an area of ​​hundreds of nautical miles.

A few seconds later.

His gaze settled on a small, yet vibrant, unnamed island.

There, two powerful life forces burned quietly beside the campfire.

"It really was here..."

Kane murmured softly, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

He slowly lowered his body.

The tremors of Stormwing became even more violent.

……

The campfire crackled and popped.

The aroma of roasted meat filled the air.

Two men were sitting cross-legged by the campfire, drinking heavily.

One of them, tall and imposing, with an exaggerated mustache and a captain's hat, was none other than the man who made the whole world tremble—the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!

At this moment, his face showed no trace of kingly majesty; he smiled like a child.

"Glug glug... Ha! Rayleigh, the wine from the South China Sea is still the best!"

Sitting opposite him was his second-in-command, Hades Silvers Rayleigh.

Rayleigh looked at his captain's magnanimous appearance and shook his head helplessly.

"Can't you drink less of what you're used to?"

"Hahaha! That's precisely why we should drink to our hearts' content!"

Roger took another big gulp of wine, but his gaze was fixed on the distant sea, tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"Speaking of which, I really want to see the world twenty years from now... Will the person Joy Boy is waiting for appear? And who will find Laugh Tale's treasure?"

"These are not things we should worry about."

Rayleigh also took a sip of his drink.

"We have completed our voyage."

"yes……"

Roger smiled, preparing to say something more.

next moment.

His smile suddenly vanished.

At the same time, Rayleigh's eyes also became incredibly sharp.

The two of them looked up at the sky at the same time.

The once clear sky has somehow turned into an ominous dark purple.

The sea began to churn, and the calm waves turned into roaring, raging torrents.

A heavy, suffocating pressure poured down from the sky.

It was as if the entire sky was teetering on the brink of collapse amidst the roar!

"Oh?"

A glint of excitement flashed in Roger's eyes. He slowly stood up and placed his hand on the sword Ace at his waist.

"Looks like we won't be able to finish this drink in peace."

Rayleigh also stood up, his expression solemn.

The aura of the newcomer is too strong.

He was so strong that even he felt threatened.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning ripped across the sky.

In the midst of electric light.

A tall, slender figure, flapping wings formed by a storm, descended slowly like a god descending to earth.

The newcomer wore a pure white naval justice cloak, which fluttered in the strong wind.

A businesslike smile graced his impossibly handsome face.

Good afternoon, Mr. Roger.

Kane hovered in mid-air, looking down at the two below, his tone relaxed and composed.

"Let me introduce myself, I am Kane, the commander of the Navy's G-5 branch base."

"Oh, a kid from the Navy."

Roger grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. His fighting spirit, however, grew even stronger.

“I know you. You made a deep impression on me three years ago in Edelweiss.”

"Really? That would be my honor."

Kane smiled and slowly gripped the hilt of Tensa Zangetsu with his right hand.

"Then, as a return gift..."

There was no unnecessary chatter.

laugh--!

The jet-black blade was drawn from its sheath.

next second.

An extremely solid black crescent-shaped slash came crashing down on Roger's head!

Crescent Moon Sky Slash!

"Then you shall pay for this 'meeting gift' with your life!"

Faced with that terrifying slash that could split the entire island in two, Roger not only did not dodge, but instead burst into a deafening laugh.

"Hahahaha! Great!"

"That's more like it!"

His aura exploded at that moment!

No longer is he that down-on-his-luck middle-aged man sitting by the campfire drinking, but the sole king reigning over the sea!

Clang!

The famous sword "Ace" is drawn.

The jet-black Conqueror's Haki instantly wrapped around the blade like ink, bursting forth with countless dazzling black arcs of electricity.