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

What's even more troublesome is 620's background.

He defected to the crew of a future "supernova" captain, which means that if you fight him, you're likely to face the supernova pirate crew's furious retaliation! None of those who make a name for themselves in the New World are easy to deal with!

Meanwhile, the Navy is also hunting him, which makes the entire mission full of variables and potential conflicts.

Moreover, the identity of the person who issued the task is unknown, and their true purpose is difficult to guess.

Accepting this mission could very well draw you into a much larger and more dangerous conspiracy.

But after carefully assessing the risks and rewards, Kai accepted the task!

A bounty of 150 million Berries would be enough to solve his financial problems for a long time.

Fighting a speed-type powerhouse like "Razor" Zeke is a perfect opportunity to test his Observation Haki's predictive abilities and the practical effectiveness of his newly mastered Armament Haki.

While being associated with "supernovae" is dangerous, it also means having the opportunity to access higher levels of power and information.

As for the mission issuer's conspiracy... Kai doesn't care.

He has his own goals and bottom lines.

His job is simply to complete the task and collect the reward.

As for the rest, it has nothing to do with him.

If the publisher wants to exploit him, it depends on whether the other party has the ability, and... whether he himself is willing to be exploited.

After accepting the mission, Kai immediately began to take action.

He used his increasingly sophisticated intelligence network to gather information about "Razor" Zeke—his abilities, fighting style, possible escape routes, and what exactly he stole.

Intelligence indicates that Zeke was last seen in a chaotic place called "Hive Island," near the entrance to the New World.

It is a famous pirate paradise and a hub for many underground transactions.

Zeke likely intended to sell the stolen goods there or seek protection from some powerful force.

Kai immediately set off for Beehive Island.

The chaos on Beehive Island is even greater than that in Magic Valley Town.

There is almost no law or order here; it's a primitive jungle where the strong prey on the weak.

Powerful pirates, outlaws, black market merchants, and information brokers gather here, where violent clashes and secret transactions take place daily.

Kai cautiously lurked in the shadows of this island of sin, like a patient hunter, searching for any clues about Zeke.

This process did not go smoothly.

Zeke is very cunning and seems to have realized that he is being hunted by many parties, so he is keeping his whereabouts extremely secret.

It took Kai several days, and he even had to make some limited, risky deals with some local dark forces, before he finally managed to catch a crucial clue about Zeke's hiding place.

To obtain this lead, Kai had to pay a considerable amount of Berries and agree to a "small" request from a powerful underground middleman on Beehive Island—to help him deal with an assassin sent by a business rival.

Kai did not refuse.

He knew that to get what he needed in this dark world, he sometimes had to abide by the "rules of the game" and make an equivalent exchange, even if that exchange wasn't exactly "clean."

Without hesitation, he took action and swiftly eliminated the assassin (he sensed that the assassin was also stained with the blood of innocents and was not a good person), and then obtained crucial information from the middleman that Zeke might be hiding in an abandoned slave market.

This "deal in the dark" made Kai realize the dark side of the world even more deeply.

He found that he seemed to be gradually adapting to this environment, and was even able to skillfully use the rules here to achieve his goals.

His style of doing things also became more ruthless and pragmatic.

He no longer conducts strict moral judgments on every move as he did before, but instead focuses more on efficiency and results.

As long as he doesn't violate his vague bottom line of "not harming innocent civilians," he can take any necessary measures.

This change made him feel a subtle sense of unfamiliarity and wariness.

He recalled Fujitora's advice to "stay true to yourself".

He knew he had to stay alert at all times and not lose himself in the darkness in the pursuit of power and to achieve his goals.

But in any case, he was getting closer and closer to his prey.

Based on the intelligence provided by the underground intermediary, Kai finally focused his attention on the ruins of a long-abandoned slave trading market on the edge of Beehive Island, a place that exuded an aura of decay and despair.

It is said that "Razor" Zeke is hiding in one of the secluded underground warehouses, seemingly conducting a secret transaction with a buyer.

Kai did not act immediately.

He knew this place was bound to be dangerous; Zeke himself was quite capable, and he likely had accomplices or bodyguards.

Rushing in would only alert the enemy.

He lurked around the perimeter of the ruins like a ghost, maximizing his Observation Haki and carefully sensing the situation inside.

He quickly confirmed that Zeke's presence was in one of the largest underground warehouses.

Besides Zeke, there were several other auras in the warehouse. One of them was exceptionally powerful and strange, seemingly belonging to the mysterious buyer. The others belonged to Zeke's subordinates or bodyguards.

At the same time, Kai also keenly sensed that several other auras were hidden around the warehouse! One of them carried the iron-bloodedness and discipline unique to the Navy, clearly a Navy pursuit team! The other was filled with violence and a bloodlust, and had some similarity to Zeke's aura, probably the pursuers sent by the Supernova Pirates!

Good heavens! Like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, with hunters and venomous snakes lurking in the background! This place is practically a den of dragons and tigers!

Kai's heart sank.

The situation was more complicated and dangerous than he had anticipated! Capturing (or killing) Zeke and collecting the bounty under the noses of so many different factions was virtually an impossible task!

Just as Kai was hesitating about whether to give up temporarily and look for another opportunity, he suddenly sensed a drastic change in the atmosphere inside the warehouse! It seemed that a fierce conflict had broken out between Zeke and the mysterious buyer because of a problem in some part of the transaction!

Immediately afterwards, the Navy pursuit team hidden outside and the Supernova Pirates' pursuers, like sharks smelling blood, launched a surprise attack at the same time!

boom! boom! boom!

Explosions, gunshots, roars, and screams instantly echoed throughout the abandoned market! The warehouse, both inside and out, immediately descended into chaos!

An opportunity has arrived! A glint of light flashed in Kai's eyes! This was the perfect moment to fish in troubled waters!

Without further hesitation, he burst out of his hiding place like a cheetah, using the chaos and dust of the battlefield as cover, and stealthily made his way to the underground warehouse where the conflict had broken out at top speed!

He must complete his mission before Zeke is killed or captured by the others!

However, just as he was about to reach the warehouse entrance, a strong sense of crisis suddenly struck! He sensed an extremely powerful aura, filled with destructive force, moving at an astonishing speed from the distant horizon towards Beehive Island... no, towards the even more distant end of the first half of the Grand Line!

That aura… Kai suddenly stopped in his tracks and focused his senses in that direction!

Although the distance was extremely far, with countless islands and seas in between, he could still vaguely sense the outline and characteristics of that aura!

Majestic! Sacred! Inviolable! But it also carries a... nauseating arrogance and sense of privilege!

Are they Celestial Dragons?! And...it seems there's more than one! They're traveling in some special, extremely fast mode of transportation (perhaps escorted by a naval warship?), heading towards a specific destination!

And that destination… Kai’s heart sank as he combined the intelligence and flight path he had gathered before!

Shampoo Islands!

The end of the first half of the Grand Line, a necessary passage to the New World! It's also... right under the nose of Marineford, the Marine Headquarters! And even more so... a place where, according to legend, the Celestial Dragons, the world's nobles, occasionally "descend" to patrol!

Countless thoughts flashed through Kai's mind in an instant! The Celestial Dragons are going to the Sabaody Archipelago? What does this mean? What major event is going to happen there recently? What big move will the Marine Headquarters make? Those lawless Supernovas are said to mostly choose to resupply and prepare in the Sabaody Archipelago. What kind of conflict will their encounter with the Celestial Dragons trigger?

Kai suddenly sensed that a massive, unprecedented storm was brewing over the seemingly calm archipelago! Its scale and danger probably far exceeded anything he had ever experienced before!

He glanced at the still chaotic and desolate abandoned warehouse behind him, filled with shouts of killing, and then "looked" towards the distant Sabaody Archipelago, a place fraught with unknowns and dangers.

An even bolder, even more insane idea emerged in his mind.

Perhaps... Zeke's mission is no longer important?

Compared to being caught up in the chaotic local conflict on Beehive Island, going to the Sabaody Archipelago to witness firsthand the massive storm that could change the world order, and to come into contact with higher-level forces and secrets, seems... more appealing? And more in line with his desire to become stronger and to understand the truth of the world?

Although the danger there was probably a hundred times greater than that of Beehive Island, his adventurous (or rather, obsessive) impulse was reignited!

Kai took a deep breath and made a decision.

He ignored the chaotic battlefield behind him and no longer cared about the life or death of "Razor" Zeke.

He turned and sped off toward the port of Beehive Island!

He needed to find a ship as soon as possible to reach the Sabaody Archipelago! He was going to that lawless land, where storms were about to break, to face an unprecedented challenge!

Sabaody Archipelago... Kai's gaze (Mind's Eye) drifted into the distance, his eyes flashing with a cold and sharp light.

He sensed that there he might encounter unprecedented danger, but he might also... find an opportunity to truly transform himself! Perhaps... his fate would once again intersect with that of some "acquaintances" in a way he couldn't foresee!

He tidied his simple belongings, gripped the "Tranquility" cane-knife in his hand, and his figure quickly disappeared into the chaotic and sinful shadows of Beehive Island.

His next target has been set—the sun-drenched, yet turbulent, soap bubble islands!

Having abandoned the chaotic situation and readily available (or perhaps not so) prey on Beehive Island, Kai turned his attention to the more distant and dangerous Sabaody Archipelago.

But he did not set off for there immediately.

He knew very well that Sabaody Archipelago was the end of the first half of the Grand Line, the gateway to the New World, and right under the nose of Marineford, the Marine Headquarters.

There must be many powerful figures there, and all sorts of strange and dangerous people. The level of danger there is incomparable to any place he has experienced before.

With his current strength, if he rashly rushes in there, he will probably not gain any advantage, and may even fall into an uncontrollable vortex again.

Before heading to Sabaody Archipelago, he needs to become stronger! He needs more funding to support his operations and intelligence gathering! He needs a sufficiently significant "achievement" to further enhance his reputation and deterrent power, so that he can gain more initiative and influence in a place like Sabaody Archipelago!

So he turned his attention back to those high-value bounty posters.

This time, his goal was even clearer—to hunt down a true powerhouse with a bounty of over 100 million!