Facing Bonney's confident attack, a trace of pity flashed through Peter's eyes. He didn't even bother to dodge, simply continuing to slowly reach out his hand toward her.
"He's looking down on me way too much, that idiot!" Bonney thought smugly. Since Peter did not attempt to evade, her leg struck his left leg solidly.
Suddenly, a layer of purplish-red energy quickly surfaced around Peter's body...
Then... nothing happened.
"Huh???"
Even after Peter grabbed the back of her collar and carried her onto the Ark, Bonney still couldn't figure out why her ability had failed against him.
The reason, however, was very simple.
Even Armament Haki, once it reaches a certain level of strength, can negate the effects of Devil Fruit abilities.
Not to mention that what Peter used was Ki, an energy even purer than Haki, combined with a combat power exceeding 12,000.
If he hadn't deliberately wanted to give Bonney a "surprise," she wouldn't have even seen that brief flash of purplish-red energy when the Age-Age Fruit activated.
Peter took out the Seastone bracelet he had previously removed from Stussy, fastened it around Bonney's wrist, and arranged for her to stay in the cell right next to Charlia's.
He said calmly, "Stay here quietly, and don't even think about escaping. My perception is excellent. If you try to run away and I catch you again... I'm sure you won't want to experience the consequences."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Bonney immediately rushed to the bars of the cell and shouted after him,
"You bastard! I was just careless! If you've got the guts, let me out and let's fight again!"
Peter waved his hand without turning around.
"Not now... but tonight, if you come to my room, I don't mind fighting you all night."
"You scumbag! Get back here! Monkey-tail man! Stupid monkey! Are you listening?!"
No matter how much she tried to provoke him with her words, Peter continued walking as though he hadn't heard a thing, leaving the dungeon with light footsteps.
Once she realized he was truly gone, Bonney knew there was no hope of escaping. She sighed in frustration and sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Damn it... what kind of nonsense is that lunatic talking about? After provoking the World Government like this, does he seriously think he'll still be alive tonight? Dream on!"
Only then did Bonney realize Peter had been teasing her.
Perhaps it was because her father had protected her ever since she was little.
Although she was already an adult, deep down she still possessed the innocence and simplicity of a child... at least in that regard.
After leaving the dungeon, Peter returned to the Ark's deck.
The newly acquired female slaves had already found mops and cleaning cloths and were diligently scrubbing the deck.
Although Peter might do certain things with them in the future, their status would never even reach Konis's level. They would merely serve as his personal maids, ranking below Robin and the other girls.
He spoke loudly,
"Work hard and don't slack off. Whoever performs the best tonight will have her slave collar removed."
As soon as he finished speaking, waves of gratitude and thanks erupted behind him while he rose into the sky and departed from the Ark.
Meanwhile...
The Marine branch stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago finally received a report from a "concerned citizen" informing them that Peter had kidnapped Charlia and Deloris.
The Marine Rear Admiral in charge of Sabaody reacted as though the sky itself had collapsed.
Why him...?
Why did something have to happen to the Celestial Dragons while he happened to be the highest-ranking officer stationed at Sabaody?
His vision immediately went dark.
He wasn't even thinking about his future anymore.
If he could avoid a court-martial and being thrown into Impel Down, he'd already consider himself fortunate.
Praying that Peter hadn't harmed the two Celestial Dragon ladies, he immediately sent urgent reports to Mary Geoise and Marine Headquarters.
As for himself, he personally gathered his forces and prepared to move out.
Whether he could rescue them or not...
At the very least, he had to show the attitude the Marines were expected to have.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford...
The moment Sengoku received the report, his face darkened with rage.
He slammed his fist onto the desk and roared,
"Damn it! That brat Peter! Why did he have to stir up trouble at a time like this?!"
He then looked toward those who had been urgently summoned.
Chief Staff Officer Tsuru.
Marine Hero Garp.
And the three Admirals:
Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu.
With a worried expression, he said,
"Our war with the Whitebeard Pirates is right around the corner. Newgate disappeared from our surveillance ships three days ago, and we still haven't found any trace of him. If we start a war against Peter now, a man whose strength rivals one of the Four Emperors, even if we manage to defeat him, Newgate could seize the opportunity to launch an assault on Impel Down."
After explaining his concerns, Sengoku looked around at the Marine leadership, waiting for their opinions.
But...
Garp continued munching on his rice crackers in silence.
Aokiji lay on the sofa wearing his eye mask, looking as though he were already asleep.
Akainu kept his head lowered without saying a word.
Meanwhile, Kizaru casually trimmed his fingernails as though the kidnapping of the Celestial Dragons had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Tsuru glanced at the troublemakers beside her, sighed inwardly, and finally spoke.
"We have to fight.
Government officials have been killed, and two Celestial Dragons have been captured.
If we do nothing, we won't even be able to answer the World Government."
Kizaru slowly raised his head and replied indifferently,
"But Grandma Tsuru... even Mihawk couldn't defeat that man.
To capture him, we'd need at least two Admirals... maybe even three.
If all of us leave, who will defend Marine Headquarters?"
Tsuru took a sip of tea before replying calmly,
"Don't overestimate yourself, brat. We, old folks, are more than enough to defend Headquarters. But all of you can't go after him. One of you still has to escort Fire Fist Ace from Impel Down."
Sengoku carefully studied the three Admirals before making his decision.
"Akainu. Go to Impel Down and escort Fire Fist Ace here.
Kizaru and Aokiji head to Sabaody.
Garp, Tsuru... you'll stay here with me to defend Marineford.
Remember... rescuing Charlia and Deloris is the top priority.
If possible, avoid a confrontation with Peter.
We'll settle everything after our battle with Whitebeard is over."
"Understood!" Akainu answered firmly.
"Yeah..." Kizaru replied lazily.
"Snore... Snore..." Aokiji had already fallen asleep again.
"Crunch... Crunch..." Garp continued eating his rice crackers.
Tsuru sighed in exhaustion.
Meanwhile, veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead as he roared,
"Since you've received your orders... get moving already, you bunch of idiots!"
Akainu immediately departed.
Kizaru and Aokiji, on the other hand, reluctantly walked out.
Before they had even gone far, Sengoku overheard their conversation.
"Hey, Aokiji... how about we find somewhere to grab a drink after we get to Sabaody?"
"I'm fine with that... It's just a formality anyway."
Sengoku's temper instantly exploded. He grabbed his teacup and hurled it toward them.
"You little brats! Take this seriously!"
The teacup shattered against the closed door while the two continued walking away, leaving it unclear whether they had even heard him.
Among everyone, however, the ones who cared most about this incident after the Marines...
Were the World Government.
Inside the Hall of Authority, the Five Elders gathered once again.
Saturn spoke through clenched teeth.
"Unforgivable!
That brat... does he take the authority of the World Government as a joke?
He actually dared to kidnap Celestial Dragons!"
Back when Peter had first begun to make a name for himself, Saturn had already proposed eliminating him.
But the others had always postponed the decision with various excuses.
Now...
Peter had truly crossed the ultimate red line.
Without even holding a vote, the Five Elders unanimously decided to dispatch the God's Knights to rescue Charlia and Deloris.
Even if the two would later be punished for disgracing the Celestial Dragons, that would only happen after they had been returned to the Holy Land.
But...
Just as the order was about to be issued...
A Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
Warcury immediately picked it up and answered respectfully,
"Lord Imu... what are your orders?"
The guard who had just entered raised his head in shock.
There was actually someone in this world whom even the Five Elders addressed with such respect?
Then a mysterious voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Peter... the God of Destruction...
Do not make a move against him.
I still need to observe him."
Warcury hesitated.
"But... Lord Imu... he has kidnapped two Celestial Dragons..."
The reply came without hesitation.
"Do as I said."
The call ended immediately afterward.
The guard swallowed nervously.
He had the distinct feeling he had just overheard a secret he was never meant to know.
Before he could lower his head any further...
Warcury drew his pistol and shot him dead on the spot.
Guard: I died so unjustly!!!
As though nothing had happened, the Five Elders began discussing Imu's orders.
"What do you think? Does Lord Imu have another plan?"
"Who knows? But since it's Lord Imu's command, all we need to do is obey."
"Even so, whether we act or not, we absolutely can't let news of this spread."
"Contact Morgans.
Tell him to keep his mouth shut.
This scandal must never reach the public."
Thus...
Because of a few words from Imu, the Five Elders completely changed their plans and focused on cleaning up the aftermath.
As for whether the Marines would dispatch Admirals...
They decided not to interfere.
If the Celestial Dragons could be rescued, all the better.
If not...
There was nothing they could do, since Lord Imu had already given his orders.
Deep within Pangaea Castle...
Inside the Room of Flowers...
Imu, whose entire body was shrouded in darkness, silently stared at Peter's bounty poster.
After a long period of contemplation, he muttered, as though speaking to himself...
Or perhaps to someone else.
"I can sense it... He does not belong to our world.
If he continues to grow, he will bring nothing but disaster."
His voice echoed throughout the silent Room of Flowers.
A few seconds later, he turned to leave.
But then...
A sharp male voice suddenly echoed through the room, even though no one else should have been there.
"This has nothing to do with you. I've discovered an unimaginably powerful energy within him.
He will become the finest gift I can present to Her Majesty... and my ticket out of this cursed place.
So there's no need for you to worry.
When the time comes...I'll take that trespasser out of your world myself."
Imu's footsteps paused.
Then he silently nodded, as though acknowledging those words, before leaving the Room of Flowers without saying another word.
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