"Hmm!?"
McKinley frowned habitually, his expression as practiced as his official tone. "Sir, are you attempting to violate the law?"
Again, thought the restaurant owner from the corner, his mouth twitching.He'd heard that exact line an hour ago — word for word.
And, just like last time, he knew what would follow. A Blue Sea pirate would resist in anger, the White Beret Troops would crush them without effort, and he'd be the one to deliver the final escort to the escapees — fulfilling this month's quota.
So he stayed silent, calculating how to make use of the good impression he'd left earlier.
Inside the restaurant, conversation continued.
Ren lifted his head slightly, eyeing the cold-faced Sky Islander. "Violate the law?"
"Yes. This tax collection is the law decreed by God's Kingdom. If you refuse to pay, you'll be classified as invaders.
And not just you — that moss-headed man as well. He used a large plate, so he'll need to pay the large plate tax."
McKinley, thinking Ren was still calm, decided to broaden the conflict toward Zoro.
"What?"
Zoro's face darkened as he swallowed his shrimp.
"We expected as much, but you people really are unreasonable."
Ren sighed, shaking his head. He'd just wanted to finish his meal before any trouble started — but it looked like that wasn't happening anymore.
"Reason? The law is reason."
McKinley's face hardened, impatience creeping into his voice. As if on cue, the Divine Soldiers began surrounding the restaurant, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Urouge stepped in front of Nojiko and Vivi, expression grim. Zoro's gaze turned toward Ren.
"Captain, your crew's watching you," McKinley warned, eyes narrowing. "Don't make this difficult for us."
"Difficult?" Ren hadn't spoken yet, but Nami exploded first.
"Forget difficult — let's make it impossible!"
She kicked over the table and, with a flick, the three segments of her Magical Clima-Tact snapped together.
At least let me finish my bite first, Ren thought helplessly, setting down his knife and fork. Thunder crackled in his palm — Thunder Spear taking shape in a flash.
The blinding light reflected in McKinley's widening eyes.
BOOM—!
The explosion tore through the restaurant like a bomb. The structure disintegrated instantly, the unleashed lightning ripping through the Cloud Tower and blasting McKinley and his soldiers out into the open sky.
Urouge shielded the others from falling debris, swallowing hard as he watched Ren emerge from the smoke — lightning rifle in hand, its blade glowing with cyan arcs.
The smoke parted under Zoro's sword slash. Grinning, he stepped out, blade in hand — Finally! No more pointless talk.
He still wanted to test those so-called "Four Priests" and the "God" named Enel.
"Cough… cough… what's going on!?"
McKinley staggered up, shoving aside his men, dazed and disheveled. The arrogance from earlier was gone, replaced by raw confusion.
Lightning?
Had God intervened just now?
No—he'd seen it clearly. The lightning had come from that pirate's hand!
Impossible.Was there someone in the Blue Sea who could also wield lightning?
Even shaken, McKinley shouted hoarsely, "Y-you're violating the law!"
"Wrong."
A massive hand of lightning burst from the smoke, grabbing McKinley and electrocuting him until his skeleton flashed through his skin.
Ren strode forward, Thunder Spear dragging across the ground, carving a deep burning trail that ended before McKinley's twitching body.
Looking down coldly, Ren said,"This isn't lawbreaking. This is war — a battle to the death."
He raised the spear. A dazzling flash erupted — the radiant beam of lightning expanded outward, consuming the Divine Soldiers in a wave of thunder.
When the thunder subsided, all that remained was a charred crater, molten at the edges.
Through the hole, the fleeing Angel Island residents could be seen screaming in terror.
Ren's eyes fell upon two familiar faces —Conis and her father, Pagaya.
A strange sense of déjà vu hit him, but he moved anyway.
A streak of lightning flashed — Ren appeared across the street and grabbed Conis.
"Ah!"
Her scream rang high and clear. Tears welled in her eyes as Ren pinched her face, while Pagaya, trying to rush forward, was struck down by a paralyzing bolt.
Ren studied the girl he'd "met" before — blonde hair, twin braids, high-collared minidress, small angelic wings on her back, barefoot in sandals — the very image of a Sky Islander.
Sorry, he thought briefly.
Then he began his act. "Well now, aren't you pretty? Come keep me company for a bit. Let's see just how useless your White Beret Troops really are!"
His words didn't sound strange in context — many Blue Sea pirates raided towns this way, flaunting strength and indulging in cruelty.
It was all part of the show.
"Let go of me—zzzt!"
Conis's desperate struggle ended in a convulsion, lightning dancing across her body. Under Nami's disapproving gaze, the girl went limp, eyes wide with tears, utterly terrified.
She had no idea how her simple day out had turned into this nightmare — only praying the Divine Soldiers would rescue her.
Ren tossed the Thunder Spear skyward and snapped his fingers.
Divine Wrath: Serpent of Gluttony!
The spear transformed into roaring lightning above, locking onto one Divine Soldier after another rushing toward them. Each bolt devoured its target, growing larger as the "Serpent" fed on its prey — the magnetic field twisting with every impact.
"Wipe them out."
At his command, Urouge charged first. Zoro, less interested, casually cut down a few opponents. Nami, on the other hand, seemed quite enthusiastic about bullying the weaker enemies.
Still, the difference in power between Ren's crew and the Sky Islanders was too great.Within moments, the Divine Soldiers were utterly annihilated.
Then came the provocation phase of Ren's plan.
"So, this is all your island's got? Pathetic. Sky Islanders are really disappointing — even with your thin air advantage, you can't beat Blue Sea folk."
The insult made the surviving soldiers grit their teeth in fury.
"Bastard! We're just soldiers! The Priests and God himself aren't here! Head north — you'll find the land where even mountains tremble before our God!"
A blood-soaked soldier pointed north with trembling strength.
Ren arched a brow. The man beneath his boot immediately added, "Or are you too scared? Afraid to face God's wrath out at sea?"
"Beating us means nothing! Face our God if you dare!"
Ren sneered. "If your God were that mighty, he'd have shown up already instead of letting you die like dogs."
He gripped the Thunder Spear tightly, sparks snapping across the weapon.
"I've heard your God also commands lightning. Maybe he's just scared — afraid he'll lose to me in his own element?"
"Lies! Our God—"
The soldier bit back his words, nearly blurting that their God had once destroyed an entire island. But he stopped, fearing that might scare Ren off instead.
"Fine then! Go face him if you dare! You'll see true despair!"
"Good."
Ren smiled faintly. "Then I'll bring back your God's head to show you myself! Zoro, let's go!"
Zoro grinned, tightening his grip on his sword as the crew followed their captain.
Ren grabbed the trembling Conis by the arm. "You — lead the way."
"...Y-yes."
Conis's lips pressed tightly together, eyes brimming with fear. These outsiders were as savage as the last invaders — only far stronger.
The White Beret Troops couldn't even touch them.
Her only hope now was to lead them to Upper Yard and escape when the chance came.
"Come on, the captain gave the order."
Zoro moved, Nojiko and the others following. They boarded the Enlightenment and set course toward Upper Yard — the land of God.
As they departed, the battered soldiers helped one another to their feet, unaware that something else had changed.
Someone among the departing crew had quietly vanished — and among the bystanders, one more person had silently appeared.
It's started. Time to deploy the anti-lightning agents.
Nami, clutching her Magical Clima-Tact, left the crowd and climbed a tall cloud building.
Weatheria's science was extraordinary, and the lightning-resistant suits they wore were one of its finest inventions.
Just before they'd left, Haredas had handed her a small box — a batch of Weather Eggs, containing a special lab-made product known as "Anti-Lightning Factor."
It could inhibit regional lightning flow and reduce discharge efficiency — though still untested in the field.
The researchers had asked Haredas to deliver it for practical testing. Ren had agreed — if scholars had designed it, it had to work to some degree — and left the timing to Nami's judgment.
She decided this was the perfect opportunity.
Angel Island lay some distance from Upper Yard — far enough that wind could carry the agents there undetected.
Even if discovered, their opponents would have no time to react.
Once deployed, she'd take a Waver and leave for another part of the cloud sea to execute the next phase.
It was safe. She wouldn't be caught.
Don't let me down, Ren. I gave you all my savings for this, she thought, pouting slightly.
Then she went to work.
With each swing of her staff, Weather Eggs burst open midair, releasing barely visible Anti-Lightning particles. Using the altered form of her Gust Sword technique, Nami created a strong directional wind that carried the factors toward Upper Yard.
Once the entire box was spent, she retracted her Magical Clima-Tact, mounted a Waver left by the Enlightenment, and rode off toward the deeper cloud seas.
(End of Chapter)