Chapter 500: No Battle Without Orders
Chapter 500: No Battle Without Orders
"Bururururu."
In the Admiral's office at Navy Headquarters, as the Telebeetle rang, a hand picked up the receiver, and immediately the Telebeetle began to speak.
"I need ten warships."
The shapeshifting Telebeetle transformed into a face with a small mustache, looking cold and indifferent.
Kurohige, dressed in a white suit with a flower pinned to his chest, puffed out a cloud of smoke, the cigar in his mouth dropping some ash as he tilted his head.
"You've grown a lot recently, Lucci. Starting to give orders to your elders now, are you?"
"Orders from above."
The Telebeetle said coldly, "Gran Tazoro has been invaded by the Calamity Pirates. There are Dragon People there. They require at least ten warships, and they need to be dispatched as soon as possible."
"Oh~ Sage, how terrifying."
Beside him, Haki scratched his head and chuckled, "But since it involves Dragon People, I suppose I should make a trip."
"Hold it, Haki."
The Telebeetle continued, "You are to remain as a mobile force to ensure the security of this World Summit. As for Gran Tazoro, other arrangements have been made."
Click.
The Telebeetle's eyes, which had opened, now closed.
"Annoying brat."
Kurohige's temple bulged with a vein, but he didn't slam the table twice. Instead, he simply put the receiver back down.
"Other arrangements, huh."
Haki lifted his head slightly, the sunglasses he wore hiding his eyes. He seemed to sigh lightly, a bit reluctantly, and finally smiled, "How terrifying."
Kurohige lowered his gaze and looked at his hand, puffing out another cloud of smoke, "Why are the Dragon People running around at such a critical moment? And to encounter Sage of all people."
Compared to his hot-headed and extreme nature two years ago, he now had a noticeable softness in his expression.
A change in status can alter a person.
"Dispatch ten warships from the nearest location."
...
"Yo-ho!"
On the road of Gran Tazoro, Renetia stood up from her seat. The car's roof had long been torn off, and the wind from the high-speed driving blew her pink hair and her exceptionally excited face.
Renetia propped one foot on the rear of the car and the other on the seat, extending a mechanical hammer. The hammer's surface extended into a machine gun, sparking and firing a series of fireworks into the sky.
High-speed driving, machine gun fire—humans are definitely exhilarated when they indulge in violence.
After the gunfire, Renetia moved the mechanical hammer horizontally and slammed it into the opposite lane, clearing out a batch of vehicles.
Inside the cars were a group of Navy personnel. Since they entered the road, a batch of cars had been following them. Some were in Navy uniforms, others in formal attire. They didn't dare enter this lane, just following parallel on another lane, not daring to speak, just following.
But not speaking didn't mean they wouldn't get hit.
"Annoying!"
Renetia bared her small fangs and shouted at the Navy personnel in the opposite lane, who had reassembled after a panic and were still following at a distance, "Not fighting, not speaking, like a bunch of creepy stalkers! Just die already, damn it!"
Marike held her left hair and glanced back, smiling, "There are a lot of government personnel in this direction. Is there anything they're concerned about?"
They hadn't seen any civilians on their high-speed drive, probably because they had all evacuated upon hearing the news. According to Navy protocol, they would either try to protect the civilians or evacuate them.
Following so closely and being surrounded by a large number of government officials was a matter worth investigating.
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't provoke this kind of situation.
The Four Emperors' presence means that the Navy, without orders, dares not engage in battle.
"It seems they're trying to force us to turn right, not left."
Lily, in the passenger seat, her eyes glowing with a red light, looked to the left and said, "Sage, at ten o'clock, the second road from left to right, there's a group of people. Hmm, a few of them are... arrogant?"
Although it was impossible to encompass the entire ten-thousand-meter-long ship with Perception Aura, Lily's Perception Aura range wasn't short.
Under her Perception Aura, she could sense the frantic escape of people in the buildings lining the road, but a large group of people gathered in the left front. Most of their auras were panicked, but among these panicked auras, a few were not only fearless but exuded an air of arrogance.
No, it wasn't quite that. It was more like...
"Ignorance and arrogance?"
Lily furrowed her brow, "The world's largest entertainment city, the Navy and government officials are forcing us to change direction without regard for damage, and that arrogant aura... Dragon People?"
Some things can be deduced.
This place is well-known, and Guild Tazlo has a relationship with the World Government, or rather, he pays Sky Gold to gain power.
So, he must have connections with the Sky God.
There's no way the Navy and government officials would be this tense because of Tazoro himself. He might be able to mobilize these people, but there's no way they'd be this nervous.
It must be the Sky God!
"The Sky God?"
Sage's sinister smile surfaced, and he turned the steering wheel to the left, "Then let's go take a look!"
There was no need to use Perception Aura to confirm; Loli's Perception Aura also had its unique aspects.
While a person's Tyrannical Will is an innate power, it isn't as common and widespread as it is on the vast seas.
Not only does Tyrant Aura require talent, but Armed Color and Perception Aura also have subtle differences due to individual variations.
In terms of Armed Color, some people lean towards impact, some possess explosive power, and others have penetrating abilities.
As for Perception Aura, aside from the 'foretelling the future' ability that comes with advanced training in the regular version and the more special VIP versions of Perception Aura, there are also some variations of Perception Aura that manifest in the regular version.
Some have a wider range, some can lock onto people, and these are all aspects that can be refined by each individual.
Loli's Perception Aura is one of them. She hasn't reached the level of 'foretelling the future', but her unique 'Will Severance' ability also grants her Perception Aura the power to sense others' emotions.
Unlike Fujitora's ability to perceive emotions and inner thoughts, it's more like a duel between swordsmen where you can discern your opponent's character through combat, or like a person with heightened senses who can easily tell if an enemy is nervous or excited when facing them.
Loli's Perception Aura can confirm everyone's state.
"Not good!"
Sage's convoy veered off the road, turning onto the second road, while the government officials trailing far behind immediately took out their Telebeetles and shouted,
"Quickly evacuate Kamael Saint, the Calamity Pirates have passed by!"
...
The second road was a bustling avenue lined with vibrant shops. However, the usually bustling shopping district was now deserted.
There were two reasons for this.
The first was the arrival of the Sky God, causing those who didn't want trouble or didn't want to be targeted to leave early or simply close their shops.
The second reason was the news of the Calamity Pirates' attack, which caused those who should have been kneeling and waiting for the Sky God to pass by to flee in panic.
In the center of the street stood a group of government officials and Navy personnel, accompanying a man riding a slave, his head encased in a bubble, and on either side of him were two young women dressed identically.
It was Kamael Saint and his two daughters.
"You despicable fools! How dare you show such disrespect to me!"
Kamael, sitting cross-legged on the giant slave's back, trembled as if he had been electrocuted, waving his cane and shrieking in a shrill voice, "Execution! They all deserve to be executed!"
It was too humiliating! He was just casually strolling, in a rare good mood without any intention to kill, but those kneeling folks dared to run away right in front of him upon hearing about a pirate invasion! Even if he shot a few, it didn't stop the panic among those lowly commoners.
"A mere pirate, do they dare to disrespect a noble Sky God?!" Kamael roared in anger.
"Kamael Saint,"
A black-clad servant by his side pursed his lips and advised, "Please, temporarily take shelter. That terrifying pirate, the Calamity Pirates, are about to reach this place. Once they become aware of your presence, the situation might not turn out well."
"Yes, Kamael Saint, it's the Calamity Pirates. You witnessed the Summit War two years ago, and they showed no reverence for you or the two princesses. For your safety, please retreat to a safer location!" a Navy officer also tried to persuade him.
Bang!
But before he could finish his sentence, Kamael drew a Golden Pistol and shot the officer in the heart, causing him to fall.
"Vice Admiral Smike!"
The nearby Navy personnel cried out in surprise, wanting to take action but were quickly restrained by another Navy officer to keep them out of the Sky God's line of sight.
In this situation, if they rushed forward, they might get shot again.
"You bastards! How dare you give me orders! What's so special about the Calamity Pirates? They're just lowly commoners. If I get injured, it'll be because of your incompetence, and you'll all face the death penalty!"
Kamael's head trembled even more violently, "I am a noble Sky God!"
"Yes, Father, those commoners, how dare they," the daughter on the left said disdainfully.
"Pirates? So what?" the daughter on the right was even more direct.
This attitude silenced those who wanted to continue persuading him.
If they didn't persuade him, when the Calamity Pirates arrived, and if something happened to the Sky God, they probably wouldn't be able to escape.
But if they went to persuade him now, they would be in the line of fire of the Sky God.
Some Navy personnel were already regretting taking on this task.
"Damn it! Bring those commoners back here!"
Kamael shouted, "Let them continue their worship of me, and after they're done, execute them. This is the price they'll pay for disrespecting a Sky God!"
"Yes!"
The Navy personnel responded faster than anyone, and two of them lifted the fallen Vice Admiral and fled with him.
The black-clad servant, about to speak and detain the person, suddenly noticed a bright light in the street ahead, rapidly magnifying in their field of view.
Bang!
With a deafening sound, the black-clad servant was sent flying, like a discarded rag doll, landing several dozen meters away.
A car came to a stop in front of Kamael Saint, its entire front gradually emerging from the darkness, restoring its original color.
Behind this car, a large number of sports cars drove into the street, surrounding the Dragon People from all sides, while turning on their headlights, illuminating the central figure.
A group of ferocious-looking pirates, with their tongues hanging out and licking their blades or playing with firearms, emerged from the cars, all grinning maliciously at the Dragon People in the center, as if gazing at a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Or perhaps, a monkey about to be toyed with.
"Too dazzling, you bastards!"
Kamael Saint instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes and shouted, "You dare to make me feel dazzled, I'll sentence you to death!"
No one responded. The servants, who should have obeyed orders and taken action, stood frozen, whether the armored soldiers holding spears or the other black-clad servants, all trembling, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads.
The front car's door opened, and out stepped the man whose very sight, even in a wanted poster, inspired fear—the apex figure among pirates, a terrifying legend of the sea.
Cataclysm!
Norton Sage!
"Oh, it's really a Dragon Person."
Sage bared his teeth, and under the car's headlights, his teeth shone with a chilling white light, sending shivers down spines.
"That's a Dragon Person."
In the car beside him, Sifer leaned against the door, sizing up the three Dragon People, "They don't seem that impressive or strong. Why do they hold such high status?"
"Indeed."
Misty, stepping out from the passenger seat, agreed, "They look so weak. Would such a person really attract a Navy Admiral?"
"Plebeians! Why aren't you kneeling!"
The first thing Kamael Saint saw after adjusting to the dazzling light was Sage standing before him. Instinctively, he raised his hand and fired a shot.
Clink!
But before he could pull the trigger, a cold glint flashed, splitting his pistol in two and, at the same time, severing Kamael Saint's arm from the center, causing it to fall in two halves.
"Ahhhh!"
Kamael Saint screamed in pain, falling from the slave's back, rolling on the ground.
Lili flicked her blade, coldly looking down at the man on the ground, "Should I finish him off?"
"Let's keep him for ransom!"
Sage laughed, "Three Dragon People, one hundred billion Belli each. Three of them would be three hundred billion, and there might be other conditions too, right?"
He looked in one direction and said, "Don't you even have the courage to face me? Or have you turned traitor?"
Whoosh!
As soon as he finished speaking, a white figure darted through the light, darting behind the Dragon People, instantly knocking all three of them unconscious. The remaining soldiers and servants also had their necks burst open with a spray of blood, falling silent.
The person, dressed in white and wearing a tall top hat, lowered a bloodied finger and spoke, "I'm an agent of the World Government. How can this be considered 'treason,' Sage?"
"You're on my payroll too!"
Sage burst into laughter, "Long time no see, Lucci! Come join me for a banquet later!"
...
"Vice Admiral Jigen! Vice Admiral Kakei! Kamael Saint is surrounded. Should we launch a rescue?"
In the street not far away, two Navy officers who had just led civilians to safety encountered Navy personnel fleeing from the Dragon People.
Jigen rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking in one direction, silent.
Kakei shrugged, hands in his pockets, and chuckled, "Don't be ridiculous. We don't have orders to wage war against the Four Emperors. Hey, Jigen, drop that idea. Over there are the Three Amazons, and even Cataclysm himself. We can't beat them."
Jigen released his hand from his sword hilt and sighed, "It'll be troublesome if we pursue this afterward."
"Trouble is better than courting death. I didn't receive any orders from Sakazuki. Our task is to escort the Sky Gold, no, I mean that's your task. I'm just here on vacation, following you."
"Let's prioritize the civilians' evacuation first," Kakei said.
They were Admiral Cadets, not Admirals. Two years ago, they didn't make the cut, not due to insufficient experience, but purely because of their inadequate strength.
At least, they were far inferior to Fujitora and Ryokugyu.
Ryokugyu was easily defeated by Sage last time, and he didn't want to tempt fate.
Moreover,
He didn't want to get involved with the Dragon People.
After all, they had no orders.
(End of Chapter)
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