The order from the Five Elders was swiftly delivered to Navy Headquarters.
Soon, Fleet Admiral Sengoku received it as well.
Launch an operation against Kairos Flint.
They were determined to capture him—this criminal, deemed dangerously powerful—at all costs.
Without delay, the Navy Headquarters mobilized. A large-scale operation was initiated to encircle and subdue Kairos Flint and his crew, who were now classified as a high-level threat.
According to the intelligence provided by Admiral Kizaru, it was confirmed that Flint's crew contained at least two combatants of emperor-level strength. This alone ensured that Sengoku did not take Flint lightly.
After all, the devastation of both the Buster Call fleet and the G-1 base had made it painfully clear that Flint wasn't someone to underestimate.
Recognizing the threat, Sengoku personally deployed the Navy's three admirals, along with several vice admirals and rear admirals. Even Garp was brought into the operation. Despite Garp often raising Sengoku's blood pressure with his attitude, there was no denying his overwhelming strength. His presence guaranteed that things wouldn't spiral completely out of control.
Beyond the Navy, the CP (Cipher Pol) organizations of the World Government were also activated, each agency working in unison to locate and intercept Kairos Flint.
A few days later.
Kairos Flint's ship was steadily heading toward Dressrosa.
He had already taken control of the G-1 branch.
And more provocatively, he had sent a threat letter to the Navy Headquarters via one of their own soldiers.
Flint didn't care how Sengoku or the Five Elders would react to it.
It was a threat letter—it was meant to provoke.
If they refused to back off?
Then he'd simply beat them into listening.
Now, he had his eyes on Dressrosa. More specifically, on Doflamingo.
Doflamingo had once claimed that he welcomed Flint to come visit. Flint had taken that personally—he wasn't the type to ignore an invitation like that.
What, was he supposed to back down?
Did he look like someone who'd just turn the other cheek?
"Morgans, why are you still trailing our ship?"
Kairos glanced back at the ship following them and raised his Den Den Mushi, dialing it.
"Well, it's because I sense there's going to be huge news about you," came the enthusiastic voice of Morgans. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Morgans, do you know what it means when one ship follows another?" Flint asked, his tone flat.
"An enemy?"
There was a pause as Morgans suddenly realized the gravity of the question.
"Exactly," Kairos said, smiling. "So, Morgans... are you sure you want me to attack your ship?"
Silence fell on the other end.
"Let's talk this through, Flint! We've worked together many times—I wouldn't go that far!" Morgans stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.
He hadn't fully realized just how powerful Flint had become until now. After witnessing the destruction of the G-1 base—accomplished in just a few attacks—he was no longer under any illusions.
A single energy blast from one of Flint's women had blown the naval fortress sky-high. The other woman had followed with another energy attack that left the G-1 base in ruins. Nearly everyone stationed there had been wiped out.
Those two? Definitely at admiral-level combat strength.
If Kairos Flint truly attacked Morgans' ship, there'd be no escape.
"Our partnership was temporary," Flint said coldly. "And it's over now. If you keep following me, I'll treat you as an enemy."
No one likes a nosy dog following the Sky Sovereign's ship.
"Kairos, I actually consider you a friend," Morgans offered weakly.
"A friend?" Flint scoffed. "A friend who'd stab you in the back for a juicy headline?"
He wasn't wrong. Morgans was the king of journalism. If someone like him claimed to be your friend, it was 99% a lie.
Still, even Morgans couldn't help but feel it stung.
Was he really that bad?
Okay... maybe.
But he wasn't going to admit it.
"Kairos, that's unfair. If I were that type of person, I'd jump into the sea and drown myself right now," Morgans protested.
That line made Flint think of a boy named Wang somewhere saying, "Really, huh?"
"Morgans, don't you have enough material to publish already?"
"You've got the scoop. You can go back now."
"Actually, I've already sent the draft back through Newsbird. The next issue will hit shelves in two days. I don't even need to be there. I can just call them."
That smug answer made Flint clench his jaw. The guy really was asking for a beating.
Still, he resisted—for now.
He might need Morgans' newspaper later.
"One billion Beli," Kairos said at last. "Pay me that, and I'll tell you my next destination. You can go ahead and wait there. But if I catch you tailing my ship again, I will attack."
Morgans agreed immediately.
He'd already guessed where Kairos was headed—after all, he'd spent years navigating the New World—but this formal "deal" meant their relationship was still intact. Without an agreement, he risked getting on Kairos's bad side, which was dangerous.
Kairos, on the other hand, regretted not asking for two billion.
"Dressrosa. I'm going there to stir up some trouble for Doflamingo."
"Got it. I'll have the money ready and hand it to you in person when you arrive."
Morgans hung up.
From his perspective, one billion Beli for such monumental news was a bargain.
Soon, his ship turned and left under Kairos's watchful gaze.
"Yeah… that guy only moves when he sees the rabbit. Typical."
Kairos curled his lip.
Waiting until Dressrosa to pay was clearly Morgans's way of ensuring Flint wasn't feeding him a fake destination.
Still, Morgans knew Kairos wouldn't turn down a billion Beli.
"Now that the nuisance is gone… Nami, Vivi, we haven't had a proper workout in days. Let's go."
Kairos lifted both women into his arms and carried them off to his quarters, leaving Robin and the others to manage the ship.
Uta and Robin, both of whom had reached general-level combat strength, saw the three disappearing and flushed with mild embarrassment.
Moments later, muffled sounds drifted from the room. They weren't loud, but given their strength and senses, Uta and Robin picked them up easily.
They both cursed Kairos silently: "Damn pervert."
Two days later.
The World Economic News released its latest issue.
Fish-Man Island had a new ruler.
The Godslayer had declared war on the World Government.
The destruction of the G-1 branch was printed in full color.
Photographs of the vice admiral's death and the ruins of the base flooded the pages.
The world was in uproar.
No one expected the Godslayer to be this fearless.
Slaying a Celestial Dragon.
Crushing the Buster Call.
Killing several renowned vice admirals.
And now, flattening an entire naval fortress?
It was a direct slap to the face of the World Government.
What made it even more infuriating?
The paper reported that Kairos Flint had only become a pirate because the World Government treated him unjustly. According to the article, his original goal was just to work as a bounty hunter. His actions—the murder of a Celestial Dragon, the destruction of the G-1 base—were all meant to force the World Government to revoke his bounty and restore his status.
One quote printed in the article especially outraged officials:
"All I ever wanted was to remain a bounty hunter. But the World Government forced my hand. They should reflect on their tyranny and compensate me for the damage they've done to my name."
When Sengoku read that, he snapped.
"Then why the hell are you going after the Navy?! Are we that easy to bully?!"
The Five Elders were livid.
"This bastard! You call killing 7,000 sailors during the Buster Call 'a mistake'? You just wiped out G-1 and now you want us to APOLOGIZE?"
"You want COMPENSATION?!"
They were so angry they nearly choked on their own spit.
"If he's a 'good guy'... then we must be Buddhists!"