Ezra tossed Charlmarco to the ground with a casual flick. The man groaned as he came to.
"W-What did you do to me?!"
Ezra's brow furrowed.
"Shouldn't that be my question? You were an accomplice in what happened."
Charlmarco went silent instantly. Ezra smirked, uninterested in further words. His spiritual pressure surged in his right hand he intended to end this here and now.
The nearby CP0 agents panicked.
"Um… Master Ezra, you can't kill him right now!"
Ezra's crimson eyes fixed on the agent. In an instant, the man froze as if he were staring at the most terrifying creature in existence, unable to move.
"No one can stop me from killing who I choose."
A sharp whoosh!
A spiritual bullet pierced straight through Charlmarco's heart.
Charlmarco was dead.
The scene fell into stunned silence. The CP0 agents froze, unsure how to respond.
"Take his body back. I will explain everything to the Celestial Dragons myself."
"Yes, Master Ezra."
The agents had no choice but to obey, returning with the body.
On another ship, Doberman and his crew couldn't hear Ezra's words, but witnessing Charlmarco's instant defeat left them shaken.
"Gah… is Admiral Residual Fire always this violent?"
"D-Do you think… anything bad will happen?"
"After all… that's a Celestial Dragon," Doberman muttered, swallowing hard.
Ezra noticed Doberman and casually approached him.
"Doberman, long time no see."
"Uh… is now really the time to talk?" Doberman muttered, exasperated.
Ezra scratched his head.
"So, what should I call this?"
Doberman sighed.
"Fine, fine. You're the Admiral. Whatever you say goes."
Ezra patted Doberman on the shoulder.
"You're doing well yourself. Made it to Rear Admiral."
Doberman chuckled lightly.
"Still got a ways to go. But Admiral Residual Fire, you just killed a Celestial Dragon. Are you really okay?"
Ezra shrugged.
"Relax. They won't do anything to me."
Doberman nodded reluctantly.
"All right, Doberman. I have some matters to handle. Your guarding mission is over. Return to Marineford."
"Understood, Admiral Residual Fire. Oh, and don't mention this to Sengoku. I'll explain in person when I return."
Doberman nodded eagerly. No one wanted to be involved in such matters if they could avoid it.
Back on his ship, Ezra watched Doberman and the CP0 depart. His gaze shifted to the sunken fishing boat.
"Sabo, huh?"
"Accelerate to Windmill Village. I'll meet an old acquaintance first."
"Yes, Admiral Residual Fire!"
With that, Ezra left the ship while the vessel continued toward Windmill Village's harbor.
In the back hills of Windmill Village, Ezra touched down lightly, eyes on a tattooed man holding a small child.
"Long time no see, Dragon."
"Admiral Ezra, what a surprise to see you here. Lucky, isn't it?" Dragon replied, exasperated.
"What brings you to Windmill Village? Just to check on Luffy?" Ezra asked curiously.
Dragon shrugged.
"Various things have happened."
"Fine. But can you put the child down?" Ezra gestured toward Sabo in Dragon's arms.
"No can do. I promised this boy I'd take him out to sea."
Ezra's lips twitched. Clearly, a lie.
"Then don't blame me for being impolite."
Snap!
With a crisp snap of his fingers, Ezra's presence triggered Dragon's keen Observation Haki. He sensed the sudden, unnatural disturbance around him.
Dragon didn't resist; he moved away just as a scorching explosion erupted where he had stood.
"Whoa, whoa… first thing you want to do is kill me?" Dragon muttered, corner of his mouth twitching.
Ezra shrugged.
"Don't forget your current status, Dragon."
Dragon fell silent. His Revolutionary Army had grown strong, committing acts that enraged the World Government.
"Ezra, you must know how heinous their actions are!" Dragon asked, finally standing his ground.
"I know. So?" Ezra replied.
"You!" Dragon's chest tightened.
"Wake up, Dragon. The World Government… they are hypocrites! They don't care about the lives of others!"
Fourth White Lightning!
A white bolt of lightning struck in response. Dragon's pupils contracted as he raised his right hand into a claw, swinging downward to create a wind wall.
"Ha!"
The lightning shattered the barrier instantly. Dragon vanished from sight.
Ezra's brow lifted as he sensed through his spiritual pressure: Dragon had swiftly left Windmill Village.
"Tch… let Uncle Garp deal with the headache." Ezra muttered.
He instantly moved to the port, where the warship had just arrived.
"Admiral Residual Fire!"
"Mm, I have business in Windmill Village. You all stay here and rest."
"Yes, Admiral Residual Fire!"
Ezra headed into Windmill Village.
"Hey, isn't that Ezra?"
Ezra smiled faintly.
"Village Chief, long time no see."
The village chief laughed.
"Garp sent you, didn't he?"
"Indeed. Follow me. I'll take you to Dadan first."
"All right, lead the way."
As they walked, the chief asked, "And what about Makino?"
Ezra frowned slightly. He understood Makino's feelings, but she refused to move to Marineford, clearly afraid of encountering certain people.
"Well… that can wait." Ezra waved it off.
In casual conversation, they reached Dadan's house. Ezra immediately noticed two children inside: Monkey D. Luffy and Portgas D. Ace.