Sensing the dense killing intent rolling off the woman in front of him, Shiki didn't flinch.
Instead, he furrowed his brows for a second before throwing his head back and bursting into hearty laughter.
"Jihahaha! You've become even more terrifyingly beautiful than backthen Linlin!"
Not only was Shiki completely unfazed, but he even had the guts to flirt with Big Mom—a woman capable of eating entire cities when she got hungry!
Hearing that, Big Mom's killing intent faded. She actually calmed down, responding in a surprisingly ordinary, almost businesslike tone.
"Mamamama... Shiki, you old fucker. If you were your younger self, I might've considered using your genes to create a child."
She leaned forward, her massive face looming over him.
"But you're far too old now. You're past your prime, crippled, and missing half your brain thanks to that steering wheel stuck in your head. Your genes are just too damaged for my collection."
Shiki laughed even harder at the insult, taking a long drag from his cigar.
"Harsh as always, Linlin! Then what kind of man are you looking for now? Surely not some weakling?"
Big Mom grinned, her mouth stretching wide enough to swallow several people whole.
Saliva dripped onto the floor as she looked down at the massive, unconscious white dog lying below them.
"Mamamama!" she cackled. "Of course not! I have my eye on a real prize."
Her eyes glowed with greed. "It's the master of this little dog—the one known as the 'Cold Prince,' Ray. He has silver hair, strange powers, and strength capable of clashing with Admirals. He is... perfect."
Shiki raised an eyebrow. "Jihahaha, so that white-haired brat is the real reason you teamed up with me, Linlin? You want a new husband?"
"Mamamama, pleasure doing business with you, Shiki~. You get your revenge on the Government, and I get a new husband."
"Naturally, Jihahaha~"
After exchanging pleasantries like old buddies, Shiki's expression turned serious.
He floated over to the edge of the platform.
"Alright then. Linlin, have your subordinate put a collar on that big dog. A beast like that shouldn't be allowed to run wild."
Big Mom nodded casually and spoke indifferently to the shadows.
"Perospero! Bring that boy who uses collars. Make sure it's tight."
"Perorin~ Yes, Mama!"
...
Ten kilometers away from Water 7.
Though Ray and Aokiji appeared to be fighting—exchanging blows that shattered the ice and shook the air—they weren't actually taking it seriously.
Most of their Observation Haki wasn't even focused on each other.
Instead, it was locked onto a group of giant beasts lurking two kilometers away beneath the ocean's surface.
CLASH!
Aokiji's ice sword met Ray's blade, sending sparks flying.
During the lock-up, Aokiji leaned in close, his voice low enough that only Ray could hear it over the howling wind.
"Ray... how about a temporary alliance? We join forces and take out those beasts in an instant. If we wipe out their army, the mastermind will have to show their face."
Ray deflected the sword and spun away, landing on a pillar of ice.
He didn't say a word, but Aokiji didn't mind—he already understood what kind of person Ray was.
The silver-haired man might not speak much, but his mind was already working.
He was definitely someone who thought deeply and planned carefully.
Indeed, even though Ray remained silent, his brain was firing on all cylinders, analyzing the situation.
'It's too convenient,' Ray thought.
'The appearance of these sea beasts is too much of a coincidence. They arrived exactly when the Marines were executing a Buster Call against us.'
'Yet, the sea beasts weren't lying in ambush at Water 7 directly. Instead, they were massing near Enies Lobby, which was quite a distance away.'
Unfortunately, most of the warships stationed at Enies Lobby had been sent to Water 7 for the Buster Call.
The judicial island was practically defenseless.
Assuming these sea beasts belonged to a force hostile to the Marines, one of their objectives was clear: Attack Enies Lobby.
Destroying one of the World Government's three major strongholds right under the nose of a Buster Call fleet would be a blatant slap in the face to the Marines and a terrifying show of power.
Of course, this so-called "third force" likely had other goals, too.
To figure them out, Ray needed to deduce who was controlling these beasts.
Ray narrowed his eyes.
'In my memory of this world, the only one capable of controlling the Sea King is the Ancient Weapon Poseidon—Shirahoshi.'
'I've never heard of any organization possessing over a hundred beasts nearly the size of Sea Kings.'
It seemed that due to his involvement and the drastically increased strength of the Straw Hat Pirates, the world's timeline had suffered from the butterfly effect.
The future was only going to get more chaotic and unpredictable.
Thinking of this, Ray felt a stir of excitement and restlessness in his heart.
'Good,' Ray smirked internally. 'Things are only interesting when there's a challenge.'
For now, he could choose to wipe out the sea beasts with Aokiji.
It would be easy. But Ray was cautious.
'Better to keep watching,' he decided.
'Before the chess players reveal themselves, it's best not to step into their trap.'
'Since Aokiji and I shouldn't act rashly,' Ray thought, 'why not send Chouchou to investigate? He has excellent stealth.'
'That dog hasn't returned all day—probably ran off to play. It's time he did some proper work.'
With that thought, Ray attempted to initiate the Bloodline Communication with Chouchou.
"..."
Silence.
Ray frowned. He tried again, projecting his will harder.
...Nothing.
He tried for a while, but there was absolutely no response from Chouchou.
It was like shouting into the void.
Clearly, something had happened to him!
WHAM!
While Ray was distracted, Aokiji seized the opening.
"Ray! Why aren't you dodging?" Aokiji shouted, launching a massive ball of condensed ice. "Playing dead isn't a good strategy! Whoever is watching us wouldn't dare to face me at my full strength anyway!"
Aokiji noticed that Ray had failed to evade a simple attack.
The ice ball engulfed Ray instantly, freezing him into a solid block.
Aokiji landed on the ice, confused.
This makes no sense, Why is he distracted?'
Of course, the fight had to continue.
Aokiji swung his Haki-coated fist and charged forward to shatter the ice sculpture.
He knew very well that even if Ray took the punch while frozen, it probably wouldn't kill him.
CRACK!
But less than half a second after being frozen, jagged demonic energy exploded from within the ice.
Ray emerged, his eyes glowing red.
He threw a punch, colliding squarely with Aokiji's incoming fist.
BOOM!
Using the mist and spray from the impact of their clash, Aokiji voiced his doubts again.
"You're not yourself," Aokiji stated flatly. "Did something happen?"
Ray took a slow breath, his eyes darting to the horizon.
He replied simply, "Nothing."
Then, Ray resumed the "fierce" back-and-forth battle with Aokiji, throwing kicks and slashes.
But while his body fought, his mind raced.
The bloodline connection between Chouchou and himself still existed—he could feel the faint tether of Chouchou life.
Yet, they had lost contact. This had happened once before.
It was back in the Inuyasha world, when Chouchou was severely injured and knocked unconscious.
'So, it must be the same problem,' Ray concluded, a cold anger building in his chest.
Chouchou was attacked and knocked out.
And the one capable of defeating Chouchou so quickly... is most likely this so-called third party.
Moreover, the opponent's strength must far surpass Chouchou's.
Otherwise, the dog definitely would have contacted Ray for backup before losing consciousness.
If that were the case, the situation was far more complicated than a simple Marine ambush.
With an opponent that powerful involved, Ray couldn't act recklessly.
At the very least, until he found Chouchou's location, his battle with Aokiji couldn't look suspicious.
He had to play the part.
...
Three kilometers above the Gates of Justice, hidden within the thick cloud cover, a massive island five kilometers wide floated silently.
At the front of the island, inside a grand palace, Golden Lion Shiki and Big Mom sat on the main thrones of the central hall.
Beside them, two large Den Den Mushi screens projected live feeds.
One was broadcasting the chaotic battle between the Straw Hat Pirates and the Marine fleet in Water 7.
The other screen was live-streaming the high-speed duel between Ray and Aokiji on the frozen sea.
"Jihahaha!" Shiki laughed, pointing his cigar at the screen. "Linlin, this Ray you've taken a liking to really has some skills. Look at him! He's actually able to fight evenly with that brat Aokiji. His swordsmanship is... interesting."
Shiki leaned back. "With strength like that, even you wouldn't be able to take him down easily, right?"
"Mamamama~"
Letting out a monstrous laugh, Big Mom stroked the fur of the massive beast beside her.
It was the demonized Chouchou.
The dog was currently unconscious, wearing a heavy metal collar that suppressed his will and exuded a dangerous, controlled aura.
Big Mom grabbed a handful of sweets and replied casually.
"Sooner or later, a winner will be decided. They're human and they will get tired. When both sides are exhausted, I'll swoop in."
She grinned. "I'll take care of capturing Ray. He will be the future stud for the Charlotte Family! And you, Shiki... you can handle that brat Aokiji. Capture him, kill him, I don't care."
"Gyahahaha!" Shiki slapped his knee. "A dignified Yonko actually resorting to sneaky tricks like waiting for them to tire out before attacking? How shameful!"
Shiki naturally mocked Big Mom for her cowardice.
But Big Mom didn't mind at all.
When she wasn't suffering from her hunger pangs, she was a genuine, ambitious, and cunning Great Pirate.
She knew how to win.
"I am a Yonko," Big Mom stated, her eyes narrowing. "Technically, I can't just appear randomly in Paradise. If Marine HQ finds out I'm here, they'll send everyone they have. So, if I take action, it has to be swift and decisive. I grab Ray and leave."
She looked at Shiki.
"As for you, Shiki. Since you want revenge... you'd better be prepared."
Big Mom's smile widened.
"Once we drop this island on Enies Lobby, you'll be starting an all-out war with the Marines again. Are you ready for that, old man?"
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