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

They felt that this blind rear admiral, despite wearing a naval uniform, acted in a way that seemed... more like a cold-blooded bounty hunter walking in the shadows?

The mission completion report, along with a detailed record of Kai's performance during the operation, was quickly delivered to the Navy Headquarters through encrypted channels and placed on the desk of the newly appointed Fleet Admiral Akainu.

Akainu carefully read the report, a complex and unreadable expression appearing on his face.

Chapter 101: The Straw Hats are wiped out! Nami is turned into an idiot after receiving a divine intervention!

Akainu was undoubtedly very satisfied with Kai's ghostly infiltration ability, superb perception, and thunderous decapitation efficiency!

"Hmph! Well done!" Akainu might mutter in approval. "Clean and efficient! No dragging things out! This is the proper way to deal with those pirate trash!" Kai's efficient, ruthless, and results-oriented style perfectly matches Akainu's standard of "complete justice"!

The Navy needs a knife like this... sharp, efficient, and capable of cutting through all "evil" without hesitation!

However... the report also mentioned Kaina's "zero communication" and "absolute dominance" combat methods, as well as... the practice of killing almost all targets on the spot (leaving no survivors for interrogation).

This caused Akainu to furrow his brow slightly.

Having great strength is a good thing. (Reserve skirt 8. 9san964 (4) Lu Lin)

Being ruthless isn't necessarily a bad thing.

However... if this knife is too sharp, too opinionated, or even... doesn't completely obey commands, then that won't work!

What Akainu needs is a "tool" that is absolutely loyal, absolutely obedient, and can perfectly execute his will! Not a "dangerous object" that is unruly and may turn against him at any time!

In particular… Kaina’s sensitive background (his connection to the Straw Hat Pirates and Fujitora’s potential influence) forces Akainu to remain highly vigilant!

So, after giving Kai a verbal commendation (acknowledging his "achievements" and efficiency), Akainu also gave Kai a... meaningful "reprimand" and "warning" in some way (perhaps by summoning him in person, or perhaps by conveying it through his direct superior).

"Major General Jingxin, you have done an excellent job on this mission."

It's very efficient, which is commendable.

"Akainu's tone might start strong and then soften, 'But remember this! You are now a Marine! A guardian of the World Government's order! Not some lone bounty hunter!'"

"Naval operations require strategy and consideration of the overall situation! Sometimes, capturing an important pirate leader alive and obtaining information from him is more valuable than simply killing him! Sometimes, we also need to consider the potential political impact and public reaction of the operation (although Akainu himself may not care about this, we still have to put on a show)!"

"Most importantly! The Navy is a unified whole! It's a highly disciplined organization! You need to learn to cooperate with your colleagues and obey the commands of your superiors! Not... like a lone wolf, acting on your own!"

"Your strength is great, that's good."

But power must be placed under the control of 'order'! Otherwise, it will only bring greater chaos and destruction! What I need is a... sharp, but absolutely obedient knife! Do you understand what I mean?!

Akainu's reprimand can be described as a combination of kindness and severity.

It affirmed Kai's value while clearly drawing red lines, warning him that he must abide by the Navy's rules (at least superficially) and must obey orders absolutely.

Despite Akainu's reprimand, Kai maintained a calm and respectful demeanor, replying, "Yes, Marshal, I will remember your teachings."

"

But deep down, his heart was as clear as a mirror.

He knew that Akainu had his eye on his strength and wanted to use him as a "quick blade".

At the same time, they were also full of suspicion and wariness towards him, wanting to keep him firmly under their control.

To gain genuine trust and greater autonomy, outstanding performance in a single mission is far from sufficient.

He must... achieve even greater merit! Climb to a higher position! Possess even greater power and influence, enough that even Akainu cannot easily ignore!

Kai silently accepted Akainu's "reprimand," but his resolve to quickly elevate his status and gain greater autonomy only strengthened.

From this moment on, the delicate relationship between him and Akainu—one of mutual exploitation and mutual distrust—was formally established.

Although the Marineford War ended, the tide of the Great Pirate Era did not subside. Instead, it became even more turbulent and chaotic due to Whitebeard's death and Blackbeard's rise.

In order to maintain the rule of the World Government and consolidate its own authority, the Navy devoted its main efforts to eliminating various pirate forces that were severely weakened in the Marineford War or that rose to prominence amidst the chaos.

One of the most important targets is naturally the scattered but still powerful and influential remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates!

The Navy's top brass believed that these remaining forces must be completely eliminated as soon as possible in order to truly declare the end of the Whitebeard era and deter other restless pirates!

Kai, because of his amazing tracking ability (Observation Haki) and efficient and ruthless combat power that he showed in his first mission, was naturally and frequently assigned to participate in these kinds of extremely dangerous and sensitive cleanup missions!

Akainu seems to want to use Kai's special abilities to increase the efficiency of eliminating the remnants of Whitebeard's crew. On the other hand, he also wants to test Kai's loyalty by having him deal with these pirates who "may have connections in the past" (although Kai has never admitted it), and make him... completely sever ties with the past, with more "comrades"' blood on his hands, making it even harder for him to turn back.

Kai did not object to the Navy's arrangement.

Although deep down he held a certain respect for the legendary pirate Whitebeard, and also greatly admired the strength and charisma of Marco and other captains, he still held a deep respect for them.

However, in his gradually forming, cold and pragmatic "view of order," the Whitebeard Pirates, as a symbol of the old era and as an unstable factor that could continue to cause chaos, are themselves... objects that need to be eliminated!

No matter how glorious their past was, no matter what kind of bond they had with Ace and Luffy... in order to establish the "new order" he desired, all of that... must be erased!

As a result, Kai began to appear frequently on the battlefields where he was pursuing the remnants of Whitebeard's crew.

Sometimes he serves as the "spearhead" of the main force, using Observation Haki to lock onto the location and movement of targets in advance, guiding the naval fleet to carry out precision strikes.

Sometimes they act as "ghosts" of the assassination squad, infiltrating enemy strongholds and silently eliminating those captains or important officers who stubbornly resist.

Sometimes they would even act alone, accepting extremely dangerous missions to conduct reconnaissance or sabotage deep behind enemy lines.

In the course of their missions, Kai's hands inevitably became stained with the blood of many more Whitebeard Pirates members.

He once again "witnessed" the pirates' unwavering loyalty to Whitebeard, a loyalty akin to faith! Even after Whitebeard's death, they continued to raise his banner high, fighting a fierce and tragic resistance against a marine force many times their size to protect Whitebeard's honor and the remaining "family"!

He also witnessed once again the deep bond between the captains and between the captains and ordinary crew members, a bond as strong as that of real family! They covered for each other, supported each other, and even risked their own lives to create an opportunity for their comrades to escape!

These scenes form an extremely ironic contrast to what he experienced on the Straw Hat Ship...

Each "witnessing" would cause a barely perceptible ripple in Kai's heart.

But he quickly suppressed that fluctuation! And he told himself with even colder logic:

It is precisely because of this so-called "loyalty" and "bond" that these pirates are so difficult to eradicate! That this great pirate era is so chaotic! That countless innocent people suffer because of it!

Therefore, for the sake of "order" and "the future," all of these... must be destroyed! Eradicated!

This constant self-persuasion and self-numbing made Kai's heart grow colder and colder.

But at the same time... it made the barrier hidden deep in his heart even thicker and... harder to overcome.

He seems to be heading further and further in a direction that even he himself didn't fully anticipate...

During a raid targeting a key subsidiary pirate crew of the Whitebeard Pirates, Kai, as a member of the main assault team, was responsible for using his sensory abilities to locate and eliminate the enemy commander.

Just as he was about to complete his mission and prepare to leave, his "Mind Network" suddenly detected an extremely powerful, resilient, and somewhat familiar blue flame aura! It was hurtling past at high speed from a certain direction on the outskirts of the battlefield!

Is it Marco, the "Phoenix"?!

Kai's heart skipped a beat! He immediately heightened his senses to the limit and "looked" in that direction!

Despite the great distance and the opponent's extremely high speed, Kai was still able to clearly "see" (perceive) it!

Marco does not appear to have been directly involved in the battle.

He seemed more like... conducting reconnaissance? Or... covering the retreat of some more important comrades? His aura was still powerful, but it also carried a hint of... undisguised exhaustion and... deep sorrow and hatred!

Just as Kai cast his perception toward Mar, he seemed to sense that gaze (perception) was filled with inquiry and... a hint of cold killing intent!

Marco, who was flying at high speed, suddenly stopped! Then... he slowly turned his head, and his sharp gaze (perception) filled with blue flames crossed the vast distance and precisely... collided with Kai's "Mind's Eye"!

boom! ! !

Although there was no actual collision, Kai felt as if his brain had been hit hard!

That was... such intense anger! Such deep-seated hatred! Such... overwhelming killing intent to tear him to pieces!

Marco clearly "recognized" him too! He recognized this...the culprit who delivered the final blow to Ace during the Marineford War!

Their gazes (perceptions) met briefly and intensely across this vast distance! No words were spoken, yet they spoke volumes!

Kai could clearly feel the message conveyed in Marco's eyes: I'll remember you! No matter where you run to! I, Marco, the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, and all my surviving brothers, will never let you go! Our hatred is irreconcilable!

·0 requests for flowers········

Kai, in turn, responded with a cold and indifferent "gaze" (perception).

He felt neither fear nor...remorse.

His eyes seemed to say: Bring it on.

I'm waiting.

Whoever dares to block my path, I will... eliminate them without hesitation.

This brief, silent gaze seemed to plant a seed between the two of them... a seed of hatred filled with blood and fire!

Kai knew that a more direct and brutal conflict was inevitable between him, Marco, and the remaining forces of the Whitebeard Pirates!

Marco, this respectable opponent, has become, in Kai's mind, another target after the Straw Hat crew... someone he must be wary of and... perhaps one day in the future, someone he must personally eliminate...

This distant gaze, like a prelude to destiny, foreshadows the even heavier and bloodier enemy that Kai will face on his future path!

Before the smoke of the Marineford War had completely cleared, a new era was already surging in.

In order to consolidate its gains, eliminate the remaining forces, and maintain the rule of the World Government, the Navy began to devote more of its power and attention to the vast and chaotic sea area—the New World!

Kai, as a newly promoted rear admiral in the navy and an important member of that mysterious "special operations force," is increasingly being dispatched into this legendary "world's strongest sea" to carry out various extremely dangerous and challenging missions.

................

When Kai first truly stepped into the waters of the new world, even his perception, which was already accustomed to all kinds of extreme environments, couldn't help but feel a... palpitation!

The climate here is completely different from the relatively "mild" magnetic field disturbances of the first half of the Grand Line! It can only be described as "violent" and "unpredictable"!

One second the sky might be clear and blue, the next it could be raining down hail like knives without warning! Or a terrifying hurricane might rip sails apart! You might even encounter... fire rain falling from the sky, huge whirlpools appearing out of nowhere on the sea, islands melting like candy, and other extreme weather phenomena that defy all reason and seem like myths!