"Shameless bastard."
Saint Nashoulang slammed his fist down in fury.
"Is that bird-brained Morgans openly rebelling against the World Government now?"
Saint Vauchuuli looked equally livid, his clenched jaw twitching with rage. Especially now—with Morgans' latest paper—it had gone too far. The article had already gone viral. His newspaper was the best-selling in the world. And now, with one reckless story, he had painted the World Government as the villain—branding them as tyrants who turned good people into pirates.
Usually, the solution was simple: unleash the Buster Call, reduce all resistance to ash, and call it justice.
But this time?
This wasn't about just one rogue nation or one mad pirate. This article had gone global. The message had reached every corner of the world. How were they supposed to clean this up?
They couldn't just wipe out the entire inhabited world with a Buster Call.
If they acted carelessly, the balance they'd so carefully maintained would shatter completely.
"Send agents from CP to warn him. If Morgans crosses another line... we'll erase him and anyone he supports," Saint Peter growled.
"Agreed," murmured Mazsheng.
"Move quickly. Both the Navy and CP. No delays."
"That Kairos Flint… His very existence threatens the global balance. He must be eliminated. For the sake of world order."
That was Satan Saint's cold decree.
The others didn't argue.
In their minds, anyone who endangered the World Government's rule needed to be wiped off the map.
Daughter's Island – Kuja Palace
"Hancock! If you keep rejecting the World Government's summons, you'll drag Numera Island into a full-blown crisis!"
Granny Nyon stormed into the palace and confronted Boa Hancock, her voice sharp with frustration.
BAM!
A long, elegant leg lashed out—and kicked Granny Nyon straight out of the throne room.
"The Navy dares ask me to fight Lord Kairos Flint?!" Hancock spat, furious. "Absolutely not!"
"Mother-in-law, you should calm down," Sanda Sonia said quickly, helping her up. "Sister won't change her mind. Not about this."
Granny Nyon groaned, holding her back. "Do you not know how to respect your elders?!"
"You understand what it means to lose your position as a Shichibukai, right? Numera Island could be targeted. You'd lose the protections the title provides!" Granny Nyon's tone turned serious.
"I don't care," Hancock snapped. "I will never raise a hand against Lord Kairos Flint."
Granny Nyon frowned.
What's gotten into her?
She was acting like a lovestruck teen. All this over a man she had never even met. Just some pictures and headlines from a newspaper… Could it really be his act of defying the Celestial Dragons that got her heart racing?
Was she really in love?
"Snake Princess, just consider it. If you accept the summons, you might end up… close to Kairos—"
WHAM!
Another high kick. Granny Nyon dodged just in time.
"Still fast for your age…" she muttered—just before landing awkwardly.
CRACK!
"Agh—my back!"
Granny Nyon collapsed, groaning in pain. Hancock huffed and walked over.
"You better show respect to Lord Kairos Flint," she declared. "Don't call him by name so casually. You'll refer to him as Sir Kairos."
Granny Nyon blinked.
Why had she ever brought this girl back to the island and let her become Empress?
"Sir Kairos is already being targeted by the World Government and Navy," Granny Nyon explained slowly. "If you stay here and reject the call, you won't be able to help him. But if you go, you might be there—right when he needs you most."
She leaned closer.
"You could save him."
The angle worked. Hancock's eyes softened.
"You're right... If Lord Kairos were ambushed and injured, that would be unbearable... If I go, I might actually get to see him…"
Her voice grew dreamy.
"And if I save him… will he repay me? With… marriage?"
Hancock clutched her cheeks, utterly lost in a fantasy where she was walking down the aisle in a flowing white dress, hand in hand with Kairos Flint.
Her sisters—Sanda Sonia and Marigold—exchanged a look.
Granny Nyon rubbed her temples.
This woman had completely lost herself to love.
But at least she'd agreed to go. That was enough—for now.
Granny Nyon exhaled. Her only hope now was that Kairos Flint really was as powerful as the rumors suggested. If he could cause serious damage to the World Government and Navy, they'd be too busy recovering to focus on attacking Daughter's Island.
A few days later – Dressrosa
Kairos Flint and his crew arrived at the Kingdom of Dressrosa. Along the way, he had thoroughly enjoyed teasing Nami and Vivi, dragging them into all kinds of playful—and suggestive—poses.
Though they protested and tried to "fight back," his overwhelming power meant they could only surrender and whimper for mercy in the end.
"Too weak," Kairos had teased. "You're not even worth a warm-up."
When they arrived in Dressrosa, the first person to greet them was none other than Morgans, carrying a suitcase filled with 1 billion beli.
"Kairos," Morgans said in a hush, "the World Government and Navy are mobilizing. They've started summoning the Shichibukai. Jinbe already refused them. Fish-Man Island is isolated—he's on his own."
Kairos didn't even flinch.
"And Doflamingo? Is he still here in Dressrosa?"
Morgans smirked. "Planning to knock him off next?"
"Maybe," Kairos replied coolly.
"According to my sources, he hasn't left the island yet."
Morgans was thrilled. A fight between the infamous Godslayer Kairos Flint and the underworld emperor Doflamingo would be headline gold. The last article had made him a fortune. Another showdown could be even bigger.
"Thanks for the info," Kairos said. Then, turning to Nami and Vivi:
"Come on. Let's see what kind of fun we can find in this place."
There was no rush.
Doflamingo could wait.
Kairos wasn't stupid. If he showed up this blatantly, Doflamingo would've gotten word immediately. If he hadn't fled yet, he likely wouldn't. Dressrosa was his kingdom, his empire. He wouldn't abandon it easily.
Kairos had time.
First, a bit of shopping. Some fun. Some laughs.
After all, once Doflamingo was gone and the truth got out, Dressrosa might collapse into chaos. Shops closed, streets locked down.
So before the war came—he'd indulge in the calm.