The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Sanji and Jinbe are locked in a fierce battle to prevent the Seraph from being stolen.

They will face not only CP0 remnants (led by Kaku and Stussy) attempting to seize control.

And then there are the Seraphim who don't distinguish between friend and foe because of their authority commands (such as S-Eagle, S-Serpent, etc.)!

Laser, slashing, fishman karate, kicking techniques, finger pistol, storm kick...

Various attacks crisscrossed the huge laboratory, with explosions and the sound of metal clashing constantly filling the air.

Kaku used his awakened Ox-Ox Fruit ability to maneuver, while Stussy relied on his agility and technological equipment to roam and launch sneak attacks, resulting in an extremely chaotic and stalemate situation.

Upper-level confidential data repository area.

Robin, Franky, and Brook accidentally stumbled into a laboratory with relatively weak defenses.

Here, they discovered a large number of sealed ancient rubbings of texts, video materials, and historical models that cover a gap of one hundred years in history!

Robin was overjoyed and immediately began to decipher it, while Franky was captivated by the ancient technological blueprints that might be contained within.

Brooke simply accompanied him.

The lower coastal area, near where the Thousand Sunny is moored.

Zoro unleashed three sword strikes simultaneously, the cyan-green sword energy sweeping across the battlefield, cutting down the CP0 agents and automated defense machines that attempted to approach the Sunny.

His main opponent was none other than Rob Lucci, who was supposed to be seriously injured and unconscious, but for some reason appeared here with even greater killing intent!

Blood seeped through Lucci's bandages, but his ferocious aura in awakened leopard form remained undiminished.

He stared at Zoro, licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, and spoke in an icy voice.

"The Straw Hat Pirates' 'first mate'... Ah, perfect."

The second-in-command of the Four Emperors...this head is worth taking!

"Hmph, Leopard Man, don't embarrass yourself like this with your injuries!" Zoro bit down on the Wado Ichimonji.

"Want to touch our ship? You'll have to get past my knife first!"

Chapter 653 Naval Deployment

Meanwhile, in the waters of the New World, a large warship with most of its markings removed and sleek lines...

It was cutting through the waves, speeding away from New Marineford at an astonishing pace, heading towards Egherd.

The atmosphere on deck was... somewhat strange.

Enel sat cross-legged on the highest lookout post of the ship's mast, shirtless.

With one hand supporting his chin and the other casually tossing an apple to catch, Kong nonchalantly surveyed the azure yet turbulent sea below.

They are either searching for a target worthy of divine punishment, or simply feeling bored.

Occasionally, a sea king would peek out from the distance, and a barely perceptible spark of electricity would flicker at his fingertips.

Then he curled his lip, as if he thought those guys weren't "god-like" enough.

Midway down the deck, at a makeshift table, Kizaru Borsalino was sprawled unceremoniously in a deckchair.

He was even wearing that somewhat comical striped hospital gown (obviously he had been "dragged" directly from the ward).

Right now, he's holding a steaming bowl of fragrant ramen, slurping it down happily, but his face is full of resentment at being "forced to work."

"Oh dear... Marshal Gern, I'm seriously injured~" Kizaru drawled, pointing with his chopsticks to the bandages on his body.

"My bones hadn't even fully healed yet, and you dragged me out of bed to eat dust in the sea breeze..."

"Isn't this mistreatment of a meritorious official? I'm going to complain to the Great Inspector of the Warring States Period!"

That being said, the person slurped the noodles at an incredible speed, even directing the naval cook next to him.

"More chili oil! Double the chopped green onions and cilantro! Make the noodles a little firmer!"

At the very front of the deck, next to the figurehead, Gern and Hawkeye Mihawk stood side by side.

Gern had changed out of his usual marshal's uniform, replacing it with a dark shirt that allowed for more freedom of movement, with a belt around his waist.

He casually draped his signature marshal's cloak over his shoulders and held a bowl of noodles in his hand, which had been cooked in the same pot as Kizaru's.

Hawkeye, meanwhile, was still dressed in a classic aristocratic style: a black trench coat, a top hat, and a small cross-shaped knife hanging from his chest.

His posture was as upright as a pine tree, carrying the supreme grade sword "Night" on his back, his sharp golden eyes calmly gazing at the horizon where the sea met the sky.

He seemed oblivious to Kizaru's complaints behind him and Enel's listless behavior.

"Me, along with Kizaru and Enel..." Hawkeye spoke first, his voice calm and even, yet carrying the weight of stating a fact.

"The forces you've mobilized this time are on a large scale, Gern."

He didn't use a question; he pointed it out directly.

These three include one of the world's greatest swordsmen.

One is a peak-level admiral, the highest combat power in the Navy, and a Logia-type Pika Pika no Mi (Glint-Glint Fruit) user.

There is also a proud and arrogant "god" who is at the peak of the general level and has even mastered Conqueror's Haki Entanglement.

Such a combination is enough to easily wipe out the core combat force of a top-tier Four Emperors' group, and even wage a war of national annihilation.

"There's nothing I can do, Mihawk."

Gern was slurping up a big mouthful of noodles when he heard this. He puffed out his cheeks, chewed, swallowed, and then replied with a smile.

"The situation on Egherd Island... I'm thinking that I might not be able to 'handle' it by myself alone."

Hawkeye tilted his head slightly, a faint hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

He looked at Gern, who was now widely recognized as standing at the pinnacle of the world's combat power and possessed "King-level" strength.

He captured Shanks and Dragon single-handedly, and the Marshal could easily outmaneuver any Yonko crew.

"Is there a situation that you can't 'handle' even with your current strength?" Hawkeye's voice remained calm, but the question was clearly identifiable.

In his view, Gern's strength had reached an unbelievable level, and in a direct confrontation, probably no one in the world could reliably defeat him.

Even top-tier experts like him and Barrett need to team up for regular sparring.

Occasionally, the Warring States period must be added to make Gern "satisfied" (although usually at the cost of destroying an uninhabited island).

Who on Eghead would Gern, given his background?

Blackbeard? Straw Hat? Or a hidden force of the World Government?

In response to Hawkeye's question, Gern took another slurp of noodles.

“Fighting head-on, of course I’m fine.” Gern’s tone was relaxed, but with a hint of deeper meaning. “But I’m just ‘one person’ after all, Mihawk.”

"And what's needed on Egherd now isn't 'one person' to sweep through..."

He paused, then gently tapped the rim of the bowl with his chopsticks.

"Instead, we need... a safety net."

"Guaranteed minimum?" Hawkeye chewed on the word.

“Yes, a minimum guarantee.” Gern nodded, but did not elaborate on the more complex meaning behind the word.

To maximize the interests of the Navy and prevent any party (the World Government, Blackbeard, the Straw Hats, or even the Revolutionary Army) from interfering.

Possess or destroy key technologies; maintain basic order amidst extreme chaos.

And... to deal with possible "unexpected" events that exceed conventional expectations.

He didn't continue, as the topic clearly involved deeper strategic considerations.

Then Gern suddenly turned around and shouted at Kizaru, who was still slurping noodles.

"Hey! Borsalino-senpai!"

I've told you so many times, don't throw all those strong-flavored seasonings into the noodle pot!

It's so salty! Are you a salt shaker that has come to life?!

Kizaru looked up and slowly adjusted his sunglasses: "Oh dear, Fleet Admiral, your taste is too bland~"

"The Navy's food standards need to keep up with the Admirals' needs! *slurp*" After saying that, Kizaru took another big gulp of noodle soup, looking completely satisfied.

Gern rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue with him, and instead asked, "By the way, can you still contact Sentomaru and Vegapunk now?"

"I need the latest inside information before I go to the island."

Upon hearing these two names, Kizaru's nonchalant expression softened slightly.

He put down his bowl and looked at the exquisitely designed Den Den Mushi beside him, bearing the Vegapunk symbol.

The Den Den Mushi lay there quietly, eyes closed, unresponsive.

Kizaru tried tapping the shell with a specific rhythm.

Unfortunately, the Den Den Mushi remained asleep, making no sound.

It did not simulate any face, nor did it make any sound.

The ease on Kizaru's face gradually disappeared, and his brows slowly furrowed deeply.

Behind the dark sunglasses, a rare hint of seriousness and worry was revealed in the eyes that were always half-closed, as if they had no interest in anything.

Sentomaru, the subordinate he always regarded as a nephew, with a straightforward and forthright personality.

Vegapunk, one of the few "old friends" with whom he could communicate on an equal footing and understand his genius and loneliness...

What exactly happened to them on the island? Even emergency communications were completely cut off?

Kizaru silently put away the Den Den Mushi and looked towards the horizon in the direction of Egergeed.

His previous complaints about being "forced to work overtime" seemed to have faded, leaving only a sense of heaviness brought by the sea breeze blowing the corner of his hospital gown.

Gern noticed the change in Kizaru's expression but didn't ask any further questions.

He quickly finished the remaining noodles in a few bites, handed the empty bowl to the soldier next to him, and wiped his mouth.

"Full speed ahead!" He turned and commanded the helmsman, his voice regaining the marshal's coldness.

"Pass down the order: once we enter the waters surrounding Aeghed, we are on Level 1 combat readiness!"

"The warships must not approach Egherd; simply await my orders!"

Chapter 654 Safety Bolt

Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, deep within the city of Pangaea, lies the family mansion of Jaigollucia Satan.

The heavy velvet curtains blocked out the outside light, and only a few dim crystal wall lamps were lit in the study.

After communication with Huang Mu was forcibly cut off, Satan Saint sat alone behind the huge desk carved from a single piece of wood, his face solemn.

Instead of summoning the other four members of the same star, he secretly met with a "guest" of extremely special status through special channels.

The side door of the study slid open silently, and a tall, slender figure quietly entered.

She wore an elegant long dress similar to those worn by female officials in ancient courts, with intricate and obscure dark patterns embroidered on the hem.

Her face was veiled by a thin, misty white gauze, obscuring most of her features, leaving only her eyes visible.

"Saint Satan." Junzi's voice was soft and pleasant. He stopped a few steps away from the desk, bowed slightly, and his posture was impeccable.

However, unlike the deep-seated subservience shown when facing the other Five Elders or members of the Divine Knights, after bowing...

Without waiting for Satan's signal, she walked directly to the soft sofa on one side of the study and sat down.

Satan was not surprised at all, nor did he show the slightest dissatisfaction.

Because he knew the identity of the woman in front of him.

She was not only Lord Im's most trusted servant, but also someone who had signed the most prestigious "Abyss Contract."

An existence that has gained the eternal characteristics of being immortal, indestructible, and ageless!

Especially given her youthful appearance, it is clear that she obtained this supreme contract much earlier than the ancient history of many Celestial Dragon families!

This is a gift that even Figarand Gringu, the supreme commander of the Knights of God, has never received, a gift that is closest to that of "God".

To some extent, she represents the extension of Lord Im's will, and her status and foundation even subtly surpass those of the Five Elders.

“Junzi,” Satan Saint’s voice was deep, “I apologize for disturbing you.”