"Protect the Fleet Admiral!"
The Navy troops on the warships, led by a few Vice-Admirals, charged forward, throwing their lives on the line.
"You don't have the right to disturb our Captain," Hancock declared, blocking the Navy's advance with her long strides. Her proud gaze swept across them, and a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from her.
Most of the Navy soldiers' eyes went blank, falling to the ground in droves.
"Conqueror's Haki?"
Once again, the world was shaken.
"Another woman with Conqueror's Haki?" Big Mom's wide, toothy grin faltered in shock.
Up until now, she'd been the only known woman on the seas with that power. It was a unique mark of her strength. And now there was a second.
"How many more strong fighters are hiding within the Sun and Moon Pirates?" Big Mom's bloodshot eyes filled with envy as she shot a disdainful glance at her own children. They were nothing but disappointments to her.
"Quick, get Katakuri and the others back here. Get them back now!"
...
Everyone else had gone numb to the shock. There had been too many surprises today.
"Kuke, anything I can help with?" Jinbe asked respectfully, bowing his head slightly alongside Bartholomew Kuma.
"If you're interested, go hold off the Navy and keep them off the island. For now, I don't need your help with Sengoku," Kuke replied.
Though Hancock was formidable, it would still be difficult for her to handle the Navy alone, given that there were close to ten Vice-Admirals, along with many other officers.
"Understood."
With that, Jinbe and Bartholomew Kuma dashed toward the shore. With three of them holding the line, the Navy stood no chance of getting close enough to assist Sengoku. He was completely isolated, stranded on an island with no backup.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo, who was stuck on the island, felt utterly awkward. He couldn't decide whether to stay or leave, casting a wary glance in Kuke's direction.
What did Kuke mean by "it involves you"? Was it something good? Or something bad? A wave of unease washed over him, leaving him drenched in a nervous sweat, feeling like prey caught on a chopping block. He hadn't felt this kind of fear since he was a child.
"Buru-buru-buru—" The Den Den Mushi rang, and Kuke picked up the call.
"Is it done?" Kuke asked.
"All set," came the reply.
Satisfied, Kuke turned to face the live camera Den Den Mushi in Betty's hand and addressed the entire world, "The Seven Warlords have no right to exist."
"Ridiculous! Even if I die here, the Seven Warlords will still be established!" Sengoku roared, unable to contain his anger.
Despite his fury toward the Seven Warlords today, a part of him wanted nothing more than to see them all punished. But this was a decision of the World Government—it had to happen. And now, with Kuke openly declaring it, he was even more determined to make sure the Seven Warlords became a reality, even if it meant changing members or granting them more privileges.
Kuke ignored him.
"Switch to channel A1623," he instructed.
Those with more than one screen quickly switched, eager to see what Kuke was about to show them.
The image shifted to reveal an elderly face.
"King Riku?" gasped many watching rulers. "Isn't he supposed to be dead?"
"That's Dressrosa…"
In the background, viewers immediately recognized the setting as Dressrosa. The former king, King Riku, was still alive and in his homeland. No words were needed to know that something monumental was unfolding.
Doflamingo's eyes widened, his pupils constricting. This wasn't just bad; it was catastrophic.
"I am King Riku. Many of you may remember me," the king announced solemnly to the live camera Den Den Mushi. "I am a sinner, for I failed to protect the Kingdom of Dressrosa. I was wrong."
Then he knelt before his citizens, offering them his apologies.
"No, King Riku, it was us who were deceived by that scoundrel Doflamingo!" someone shouted, a wave of voices joining in as the crowd's righteous anger reverberated throughout the world.
"King Riku wasn't cast out by his people? Why does everyone still love him? What really happened in Dressrosa?"
"What secrets are buried in this?"
Everyone's attention was firmly on the broadcast.
King Riku addressed the world, recounting every detail of how Doflamingo had once arrived in Dressrosa, using his Seven Warlords status and his claim of descent from Dressrosa's ancient royal family to extort ten billion Berries from King Riku.
With no other choice, King Riku had tried to gather the funds by seeking temporary help from his people. But Doflamingo, using his Devil Fruit powers, had forced King Riku to massacre his own citizens.
"Yeah, that's right! Doflamingo can control people like that. He just did it to the Navy!"
The crowd, having witnessed Doflamingo's powers firsthand, found the story all too believable.
Doflamingo's face was like thunder, wishing he could take back that flashy display. He'd never felt so betrayed by his own theatrics.
As the story continued, the most horrifying revelation came with the exposure of Sugar's abilities. Those who had been turned into toys, robbed of their lives and humanity, voiced their outrage, unveiling all of Doflamingo's darkest deeds to the world.
Doflamingo was terrified. It was over.
"All of this," King Riku said, "happened because of Doflamingo's status as a Warlord of the Sea. The World Government and Navy sheltered him, becoming his shield. This protection allowed him to invade Dressrosa as he pleased. He was not the first, and he won't be the last. The Seven Warlords bring nothing but harm. They're a threat to our countries and our people."
King Riku's words echoed across the seas, striking a chord with other allied nations.
Everything that happened in Dressrosa could easily happen to them.
"We must not allow the Seven Warlords to exist!"
"From what I've just seen, the Seven Warlords are useless against powerful threats like Kuke and his crew. They won't aid the Navy and might even become a threat to us."
"Let's unite and protest against the World Government! They can't ignore the voices of all their allied nations!"
Faced with the reality of their own vulnerability, the allied nations' kings couldn't stay silent. A complaint from one or two nations could be brushed aside, but a united front of ten, dozens, even all of them? Not even the Gorosei would risk that.
The allied nations were the backbone of the World Government's control over the world. Shaking that foundation would mean a crisis of catastrophic proportions.
"That idiot Doflamingo," the Gorosei cursed. He was an utter failure.
"This can't be real." Sengoku was dazed, taking a few more punches as he stood there in shock. A chill filled his heart. It was over. The Seven Warlords were dead on arrival—the fastest collapse of any force in history.
As for the backlash and the blame that the World Government and Navy would face, the loss in credibility—it was too much for Sengoku to even contemplate.
"Kuke," he finally managed, but Kuke only smirked at him.
"So, Sengoku, do you think the Seven Warlords will still be established?"
Sengoku had no words. The Seven Warlords' reputation was ruined. Even if they were somehow reinstated, they would do more harm than good, threatening the foundation of the World Government itself.
"Oh, by the way, Captain," Robin's voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "Earlier, Sengoku said you were ungrateful, with a vile character, and that all of this was just your way of getting back at the Navy."
Kuke and his crew had been on the move and had missed Sengoku's earlier statements.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 144+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
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