Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

Kai gained a deeper and more... awe-inspiring understanding of the overall strength and unfathomable depth of the Four Emperors' forces!

Compared to the Big Mom Pirates, a massive force with a stable structure, numerous members, complementary abilities, and an absolute core (Big Mom herself), the Navy, while possessing advantages in numbers and weaponry, doesn't seem to have an absolute advantage in the quantity and quality of top-tier fighters. (After all, there are only three Navy Admirals, and they need to be stationed in various locations.)

To maintain so-called "order" in the New World, a sea area firmly controlled by the Four Emperors, or even to attempt to challenge and replace them, is simply... unimaginably difficult!

Can Fleet Admiral Akainu's "completely righteous" iron-fisted policies really work in this more cruel and powerful new world?

A hint of doubt rose in Kai's mind once again.

While keeping an eye on the movements of the Big Mom Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates, Kai didn't overlook another force... that played a crucial role in this chaos—Germa 66, the Vinsmoke Family.

He was filled with curiosity about this "scientific combat force" that was known worldwide for its terrifying technological power and was even capable of mass-producing clone armies.

He "saw" (perceived) that at the wedding, when Big Mom's conspiracy was fully exposed and Judge and his sons (except Sanji) were about to be executed by the Charlotte Family, Sanji... ultimately chose to step in to save them (although his heart was still filled with hatred and pain for the family).

Then, Germa 66 demonstrated their amazing technological prowess!

A "combat suit" that allows for instant transformation and can significantly enhance combat effectiveness!

Each possesses powerful technological weapons with different attributes (fire, electricity, poison, winch)!

And...those fearless, completely obedient clone soldiers!

Thanks to these powerful technological capabilities, the Vinsmoke family, who were originally in dire straits, actually... fought their way out! And... at a crucial moment, they formed... an extremely subtle, temporary... cooperative relationship with the Straw Hat crew, who were also in dire straits?!

From mortal enemies (at least in Sanji's eyes), to (temporary) allies who had to join forces to fight a common foe for their survival...

Kai watched (sensed) this dramatic turn of events, a playful smile curving his lips.

In the world of pirates, as expected... there are no eternal enemies, only... eternal interests (or rather, a common threat?).

He developed a strong interest in Germa 66's... fighting style that relied entirely on technological power.

This power, unlike Devil Fruits and Haki, seems... to be more "controllable"? More "stable"? And... easier to "mass-produce"?

If... the Navy could also master similar technology... it would undoubtedly be a huge boost to improving the Navy's overall strength and fighting against those powerful ability users and masters of Haki?

Kai suppressed this thought for the time being.

He knew that the technology of Germa 66 was a core secret of the Vinsmoke family and could never be easily leaked.

But... in the future, perhaps... there will be an opportunity?

The farcical wedding of the world and the ensuing chaos ultimately came to an end in a way that no one could have fully predicted.

After experiencing a series of thrilling and perilous events, including intrusion, a failed assassination attempt, being hunted down, forming a temporary alliance, and being hunted down again, the Straw Hat crew actually... miraculously... escaped from the core territory of the Yonko Big Mom!!!

Although... the process was extremely brutal!

Kai could clearly sense the enormous price they had paid to escape!

To cover their retreat, Jinbe chose to stay behind and face the main force of the Big Mom Pirates alone, resolutely announcing his departure from Big Mom's command and officially joining the Straw Hat Pirates! (Another powerful Shichibukai-level fighter joins the crew?! Kai is even more troubled by this!)

The Sun Pirates, in order to keep their promise to Jinbe, sacrificed themselves to hold off the Big Mom fleet's pursuit for the Thousand Sunny!

Germa 66 also suffered heavy losses while fighting and retreating, and eventually parted ways with the Straw Hat crew, disappearing without a trace.

Even Capone Bege, who seemed to only want to use Luffy, apparently stepped in at the last moment to help them draw the fire for some reason (perhaps he was moved by some quality of Luffy?).

As for Luffy himself, in that battle that pushed him to his limits, although he seemed to "win" in some way (Kai sensed Katakuri's presence and withdrew from the battle, but he didn't seem to suffer any fatal injuries?), he also... exhausted all his strength and was practically dragged onto the ship!

It's fair to say that the Straw Hat crew's trip to Whole Cake Island was a near-death experience! A near-death experience! It could even be described as... a devastating loss!

but……

They succeeded in the end!

They successfully snatched their comrade back from the mouth of the Four Emperors (Sanji ultimately chose to return)!

They successfully wreaked havoc in the territory of the Four Emperors and... escaped unscathed (although the process was extremely embarrassing)!

They even... unexpectedly gained the addition of Jinbe, a former Shichibukai, and... a possible... subtle future connection with Germa 66?

Kai witnessed (perceived) the entire thrilling escape.

His heart was filled with...unprecedentedly complex emotions!

Shock? Disbelief? Or... a deep sense of dread?

The Straw Hat crew… their incredible “luck”! That… ability to always find a benefactor to help them in dire straits! And… that… damnable cohesion that can turn enemies (even villains and tyrants like Bege and Germa) into (even temporary) allies!!!

All of this... made Kai feel... a deep sense of powerlessness and... an even stronger sense of crisis!

He knew what it meant that this time... he had failed to stop the Straw Hat crew from leaving Whole Cake Island, and that he had failed to witness their complete annihilation here.

That means... Straw Hat Luffy, the guy who always manages to create miracles, is one step closer to his seemingly unattainable goal of becoming the "Pirate King"!

That means... the Straw Hat crew, this "jinx," will continue to stir up trouble on the New World's high seas with even greater strength, higher prestige, and... more uncertainty! They'll bring even more trouble to the Navy... and to Kai...!!!

We must...find a way as soon as possible! We must...find an opportunity to...completely crush them!!!

Kai withdrew his perception from the distant horizon.

The presence of the Thousand Sunny has completely vanished.

His face was cold and expressionless.

But deep within those empty eyes (as perceived), it seemed as if a flame was burning... an even more intense and crueler one!

He knew he... had to become stronger! Strong enough... to crush all miracles! Strong enough... to utterly shatter that damned "protagonist halo"!!!

He felt that he was getting closer and closer to that highest position (General? Or even higher?) where he could truly control and shape everything.

If only... a little more merit... a little more... power...

He slowly raised his hand and gave the order:

"Order the fleet to turn..."

"

"Leave the waters of the world."

"

“We…have more important things to do.”

"

His voice was cold and calm, like ice that had never melted.

A new plan was already quietly brewing in his mind.

The World of Nations arc has come to an end.

But Kai's darker and crueler journey has only just begun...

Just as Kai predicted, the news that Straw Hat Luffy and his crew had successfully escaped from Big Mom's core territory, Whole Cake Island, was like another bombshell dropped on the world, instantly igniting global public opinion!

When the latest issue of the World Economic News published a striking front-page headline featuring a picture of Luffy grinning (perhaps with scars), against the backdrop of the chaotic Whole Cake Island, with the headline "Shocking the World! Straw Hat Luffy Takes on One of the Four Emperors, Big Mom, and Escapes Unscathed! The Fifth Emperor of the Sea is Born?!" the entire world was in an uproar!

Kai sat in the captain's cabin of his returning naval warship, holding a newspaper that his subordinates had "read" to him.

When he heard the glaring title—"The Fifth Sea Emperor"—his usually icy expression twitched slightly.

The fifth... Sea Emperor?

How utterly absurd!

A surge of uncontrollable anger and...deep disdain welled up inside Kai!

He knew better than anyone how wretched and lucky Luffy's so-called "escape unscathed" was! What a heavy price he paid! It could even be said that if it weren't for Jinbe's joining, the sacrifice of the Sun Pirates, Germa's defection, Bege's cover... and Big Mom's perfectly timed food craving attack! The Straw Hat crew would have been completely wiped out in Whole Cake Island long ago!

This can be called "going head-to-head with the Four Emperors"?! This can be hailed as the "Fifth Emperor of the Sea"?!

This is the greatest insult to the word "emperor"! It is also a blasphemy against those monsters who truly reign supreme in the new world (including the goals he himself aspires to achieve in the future)!

Kai knew that Morgans, the news agency president who loved to stir up trouble and thrived on chaos, must have been behind this! This guy always managed to report the facts (or rather, the "facts" he wanted the world to see) in the most exaggerated and eye-catching way, thereby maximizing his influence and selling his newspaper!

but……

Kai had to admit... even though the title of "Fifth Emperor" was full of hype and exaggeration, its actual influence was real! And... extremely huge!

He could clearly sense that with the publication of this newspaper, the emotions of people all over the world who were already curious about, interested in, or even admired the Straw Hat crew (especially the younger generation of pirates and adventurers) were instantly ignited!

"Wow! Luffy-senpai is amazing! He actually dared to challenge Big Mom!"

"A fifth emperor! Is a new era truly dawning?!"

"Straw Hat Boy! He might... really become the next Pirate King?!"

……

Countless similar voices, filled with excitement and admiration, resounded like sparks in every corner of the world!

Luffy's influence... his reputation... his damn, virus-like "protagonist halo"... reached an unprecedented peak at this moment!!!

He's no longer just a supernova with a high bounty and immense power! He's become... a truly significant figure, capable of shaking the balance of the world and regarded by countless people as a "symbol of the new era"!

This realization made Kai feel an even stronger sense of urgency and crisis!

No! This can't go on! We can't let this guy... continue to "create miracles" and expand his influence like this!

He's like a poisonous weed growing at an alarming rate! If he's not uprooted soon, one day he'll grow into a towering tree that can blot out the entire sky and even completely devour Kai himself!

We must... find an opportunity as soon as possible! We must... nip him in the bud before he fully matures!

Kai slowly, forcefully, crumpled the newspaper in his hand into a ball (though he couldn't see the contents, he could feel the paper)... making a crunching sound.