It seemed like there was only one explanation left.
Pulling a stunt like this was entirely within Kaido's character.
After all, if he had already stooped to ambushing Whitebeard, what was stopping him from resorting to even more disgraceful tactics?
Still, the idea of a Four Emperor running away like this—it was almost embarrassing.
But did he really think he could escape after provoking her?
Kaguya scoffed, raising her arm. In an instant, a jet-black longbow materialized in the air—it was Liuli, transformed into its bow form.
Nocking an arrow onto the bowstring, Kaguya pulled back gently. The bowstring stretched into a perfect arc as an overwhelming, soul-shaking energy began to radiate from the weapon. Even Kaido's Conqueror's Haki paled in comparison.
It wasn't just power.
It was pure, unadulterated killing intent.
A suffocating aura condensed into something almost tangible, intertwining with the arrow, which pulsed with an immense concentration of chakra.
Admiral Akainu and Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately sensed the change. Both turned sharply toward Kaguya, their expressions hardening with disbelief.
Veterans like them could recognize it instantly—this was a force that could kill even the strongest of beings.
The surrounding Marines, though unable to fully grasp the energy at play, instinctively felt an oppressive weight settle over them. Even those who couldn't see the arrow's power directly felt its terrifying presence deep in their souls.
Then, under countless watchful eyes, Kaguya's autumn-like gaze sharpened. With a mere flick of her delicate fingers, the jet-black arrow shot forth, slicing through the sky like a meteor, illuminating the dusk with its eerie glow.
Silence fell over the battlefield. The only sounds left were the rustling of leaves and the gentle lapping of waves against the shore.
Moments later, Kaguya coughed lightly and muttered, "I think I missed."
Everyone collapsed in disbelief.
Wait, wait, if you missed, then why did you look so confident?!
Kaguya scratched her head, feeling slightly perplexed.
That shouldn't have happened…
Liuli's bow form had an automatic tracking function. As long as Kaguya had fought an enemy before, the weapon would lock onto them automatically. No matter where they tried to run, the arrow would relentlessly pursue them—almost like Vander Decken IX's Mark-Mark Fruit ability.
However, unlike the Mark-Mark Fruit, which could be obstructed by physical barriers, the Liuli Bow had an additional ability—it could pierce through space itself, ensuring that the arrow always reached its target.
Strange…
Well, even the best archers occasionally miss.
Kaguya simply shrugged and put the thought aside. She had more important things to do—like finding something to eat.
She turned and left, deciding to pay Sengoku a visit to see if she could mooch a meal.
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away, on a remote, unfamiliar island—
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted, sending a massive mushroom cloud into the sky. The once-tranquil island instantly descended into chaos, with birds fleeing and beasts scattering in terror.
...
"Damn it! That bastard Kaido actually got away!" Sengoku slammed his desk in frustration.
"It couldn't be helped," Vice Admiral Momonga said calmly. "With the Admirals absent and Vice Admiral Garp missing as well…"
Sengoku growled, "Garp! That idiot—where the hell did he run off to this time?!"
Momonga hesitated before answering, "Vice Admiral Garp mentioned he was heading out… but he never said where. He still hasn't returned."
"Forget it. It doesn't matter anymore," Sengoku sighed, suppressing his frustration. "Since Kaido has escaped, our strategy needs to be adjusted."
"But… if we just ignore Kaido, will that really be okay?" Vice Admiral Momonga hesitated.
"With Kaido's personality, he won't resurface anytime soon," Sengoku said gravely. "For now, there's a more pressing issue at hand."
"A more pressing issue?" Momonga frowned.
Sengoku's expression darkened. "It's about Flevance."
"What?!" Momonga's eyes widened in shock. "That city has a population of hundreds of thousands—how could this happen?!"
Sengoku's face remained grim. "The World Government has already issued a directive. This matter must be kept strictly confidential. If word gets out, it could cause widespread panic. Under no circumstances can—"
"Hey, where's my Devil Fruit?"
A clear, melodious voice interrupted him. The office door swung open with a sudden bang.
Sengoku's expression changed drastically. "Why are you here?!"
A silver-haired beauty waltzed in, casually eating a piece of cake.
"Why wouldn't I be here?" she replied nonchalantly, her words slightly muffled by the food in her mouth. "I'm the Inspector, after all. It's my job to keep an eye on corrupt officials like you. What's with all the sneaky whispers?"
"This is my office!" Sengoku fumed. "And this isn't a place you should be wandering into. If you have nothing important to say, get out."
Ignoring him completely, Kaguya walked up to Sengoku and extended her hand.
The gesture made Sengoku pause. "What are you doing?"
"My Devil Fruits," Kaguya stated matter-of-factly. "You're not trying to weasel out of the deal, are you?"
Sengoku adjusted his glasses and replied, "The agreement was to deliver Kaido to Impel Down. Since he escaped, the contract is nullified. Naturally, we won't be handing over any Devil Fruits."
"So you are trying to skip the bill?" Kaguya narrowed her eyes in disdain.
"It's not skipping the bill!" Sengoku roared in frustration.
"Don't be so stingy," Kaguya said, counting on her fingers. "Think about it—I came all the way from Mary Geoise, fought Kaido, and now you're telling me I get nothing? That's just unfair."
"Mary Geoise isn't that far from here…" Momonga muttered under his breath.
But the moment Kaguya's sharp gaze sliced toward him like a blade, he immediately swallowed the rest of his sentence.
"Besides," Sengoku continued, picking up where Momonga left off, "if you hadn't knocked Kaido into the ocean, he wouldn't have gotten away in the first place."
That… wasn't entirely wrong.
Kaguya coughed lightly and retorted, "That's not my fault. Who told your Navy warships to be so flimsy? Don't tell me you're going to make me pay for the damages now? If you try that, I swear I'll expose your corruption and bribery scandals to the world!"
Sengoku slammed his hands on the desk, veins bulging in fury. "I've told you a hundred times—I am not corrupt!"
Watching Sengoku nearly explode with rage, Kaguya smirked and rolled her eyes. "Tsk, so stingy. Fine, I'll let you off the hook this time."
As she turned to leave, her hand mysteriously swiped the unopened bag of rice crackers from Sengoku's desk.
But just as she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned back, flashing a radiant smile. "Oh, by the way… what's Flevance?"
Sengoku's expression stiffened. He had assumed Kaguya hadn't overheard their conversation, but the amused smile on her face told him otherwise.
With a deep sigh, Sengoku said, "Since you already know, there's no point in hiding it. However, I must ask that you keep this information confidential. If word gets out, it could cause widespread panic."
Flevance was a nation located within the Grand Line, known as the "White City." Its citizens lived in great prosperity, and its landscapes—gleaming white soil and snow-like trees—gave it the appearance of an ethereal paradise.
The secret behind its wealth lay beneath its lands: a rare mineral called Amber Lead.
Amber Lead had countless applications—it was used in tableware, paint, sweeteners, cosmetics, and even weapons. The high quality of Flevance's Amber Lead products made them highly sought after worldwide, turning the Amber Lead industry into the nation's primary source of wealth.
However, this prosperity came at a terrible cost.
Amber Lead was highly toxic. Long-term exposure led to poisoning, initially causing whitening of the skin and hair, followed by the gradual failure of internal organs, ultimately leading to a slow and agonizing death.
The World Government had discovered this fact long ago through their investigations. However, blinded by greed, both the government and the Flevance royal family chose to suppress the truth rather than warn the people.
In modern terms, this was a severe case of heavy metal poisoning.
Rather than acting as the protectors of justice, the World Government sought only to cover up the truth. They had no intention of saving Flevance—only of ensuring that the crisis never became public knowledge. If word got out, it would deal a catastrophic blow to the government's image and authority.
After all, what could be more terrifying than law enforcers conspiring with criminals instead of bringing them to justice?
"I'll keep quiet about it," Kaguya said, rubbing her fingers together, "but you know what that means."
Sengoku blinked. "What?"
"I'm talking about hush money, obviously," Kaguya rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you expect me to do this for free?"
When Kaguya finally stepped out of the office, she had received her payment—a few Devil Fruits.
"Stingy old man," she muttered.
Unsurprisingly, the fruits she received weren't particularly valuable—just a few Zoan types and some lackluster Paramecia types. None of the really good ones.
But that was to be expected. Any rare and powerful fruits had likely already been distributed among the Navy. She wouldn't get her hands on those so easily.
Still, it didn't really matter to her.
What did surprise her, however, was how deeply the truth about Flevance had been buried. Even Sengoku had been fed a false narrative.
According to him, Flevance was suffering from a severe contagious disease, and immediate quarantine measures were required to contain the outbreak.
Clearly, the World Government intended to bury the entire incident, even keeping the Navy's highest-ranking officers in the dark.
This also explained why Flevance's neighboring nations had suddenly turned against it—and why the World Government allowed them to carry out the massacre unchecked.
Flevance… Kaguya smiled faintly. If she recalled correctly, Trafalgar Law was from this nation.
Since she had already promised Sengoku to investigate, slacking off wasn't an option. She might as well take a look—after all, she had nothing better to do at the moment.
Besides, Flevance's immense wealth had drawn even the World Government's greed, which meant it was far richer than most places. There was a good chance she could find Devil Fruits there. And even if she didn't, a little looting could still be quite profitable.
Although, as a Celestial Dragon, she received a generous monthly stipend, it wasn't nearly enough to support her large-scale Devil Fruit acquisitions.
This trip might just be the perfect opportunity.
After making a quick call to Shirley and explaining the situation, Kaguya set sail aboard a Marine warship.
She was certain that the fall of Flevance wasn't just an unfortunate accident. The World Government had a hand in it—otherwise, its neighboring countries wouldn't have launched their attacks so suspiciously in unison. This was clearly a premeditated event.
With Kaguya personally pushing for haste, a voyage that would normally take over a month was completed in just two weeks. However, as they approached the harbor, Kaguya's expression darkened.
In the distance, Flevance was already engulfed in flames.
Thick black smoke choked the skies as towering infernos raged across the city. The thunderous roar of cannon fire shook the air, accompanied by the relentless crackle of gunshots. Even from miles away, the agonized cries of the people could be heard, echoing through the burning ruins.
It was hell on earth.
"Inspector!" A Marine soldier rushed over, shouting urgently. "We've spotted over ten warships belonging to neighboring nations along the coastline! I've sent orders for them to cease fire, but we've received no response."
Kaguya watched the flames consume the city, her lips curling into a cold smirk. "And why would they stop?"
She had already noticed something peculiar—
These so-called 'neighboring warships' were, in fact, disguised World Government vessels.
As for the soldiers massacring civilians within the city? Many were indeed from neighboring nations, but a significant number were actually World Government agents in disguise.
This was no random war. This was a conspiracy.
No wonder the Marine fleet that was supposedly dispatched weeks ago had never arrived. Clearly, they had been ordered to stand down.
"Inspector," the Marine soldier hesitated. "Should I try hailing them again? Maybe there's a communication issue, and they never received our message."
"Don't bother." Kaguya's smirk deepened. "You can't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep."
The Marine hesitated, confused by her words.
Just then, the lookout rushed over, shouting, "Inspector! Several of the warships nearby are advancing toward us without any prior communication!"
The Marine soldier's face paled as he realized what was happening. "They've formed an attack formation… Don't tell me they're actually going to fire on a Marine vessel?!"
Kaguya sneered. "And why wouldn't they?"
Her gaze turned ice-cold. "They dared to challenge me? Fine. Then they can all go die."
With those words, she launched herself forward like a streaking arrow, surging toward the incoming warships at terrifying speed.
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