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

(He can't stay in the underwater cave leading to the outside sea forever!)

Without hesitation, he plunged in and swam vigorously through the dark, icy waters.

When he finally broke out of the cave and floated back to the surface of the sea far from the Sabaody Archipelago, he was in the seawater.

He extended his senses and soon spotted a small boat nearby that looked like a smuggling vessel. When he breathed in the salty, fishy air that felt so liberating, he knew that he had finally escaped!

The fast sailboat, shaped like a leek, was furtively moored behind a hidden reef, seemingly waiting to glance back at the bubble islands still shrouded in dark clouds and murderous intent, without any sense of opportunity.

Ryukai didn't stand on ceremony.

He slithered past silently like a water ghost, then lingered, feeling only a sense of relief at surviving a calamity and... an even heavier weight of thoughts.

Without pausing, he swiftly subdued the few mediocre smugglers on the ship with overwhelming force (he immediately found a large enough piece of ship wreckage that had floated over during the earlier chaos, lay on it, and without killing them, simply knocked them unconscious, tied them up, and threw them onto a small life raft that could ensure their temporary safety).

The sulfur was carried by the ocean currents to an unknown distance.

He needed to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.

At sea

Then he took control of the ship.

Although the boat was small and may have been carrying some shady items that had been adrift for several days, Kai was fortunately rescued by a passing smuggling boat heading to a nearby island (of course, he paid the last of his belongings as "reward").

Upon arriving at a nearby island, he could retrieve his cargo, but at least it allowed him to temporarily escape this troublesome place and proceed to his next destination.

The first thing I did while piloting this vehicle was to immediately head to the local black market for intelligence to gather the latest information about the Sabaody Archipelago incident.

Without pausing, Kai set sail in his small smuggling boat, hoisting the 4.4-meter sail and heading away from the Sabaody Archipelago, eager to know the final outcome of the storm and... where he should go next.

The direction disappeared into the vast sea.

On the ship, Kai finally had a moment to relax a little.

Soon, a shocking message reached his ears, and he quickly tensed up, beginning to treat his injuries (although he hadn't experienced a major battle, the news had spread throughout the world during the previous pursuit and escape!).

Portgas, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, inevitably suffered some wear and tear and minor scratches.

At the same time, he immediately began to utilize any communication equipment that might be available on the ship (such as telephones). Meanwhile, D. Ace, in the process of pursuing the traitor "Blackbeard" Marshall D. Teach, unfortunately suffered a defeat! Furthermore, he has already been handed over to the Navy by Blackbeard Teach!

Meanwhile, the Navy Headquarters, either through its own secret intelligence channels (perhaps some special means of communication), began frantically gathering the latest information about the Sabaody Archipelago incident, as well as... the latest developments in the entire world.

He desperately wanted to know whether Kuma had officially announced to the world that in seven days, at Marineford, the location of the Marine Headquarters, the "Fire Fist" Aizen and his crew would truly be "annihilated," or, as he vaguely suspected, be publicly executed by Kuma using some special method!

Ace... is he going to be publicly executed?!

Kai's heart was suddenly sent away? If it was the latter, where were they sent?

He wanted to know the details of Rayleigh and Kizaru's confrontation!

He immediately thought of Ace and Luffy's relationship! They were sworn brothers! What would happen if Luffy found out about this?

He wanted to know that the World Government and the Marine Headquarters would definitely not stand idly by and ignore the news that "a Celestial Dragon was beaten!"

Chapter 83: The Straw Hat crew collectively kowtows and begs for mercy from Kai!

The Whitebeard Pirates... they reign supreme in the new world! The destruction of Enies Lobby (though not directly caused by the Straw Hat crew, it was their doing) and the fact that they are one of the Four Emperors of the Straw Hat world! The most powerful pirate crew in the world! How could they possibly stand by and watch their second division commander be publicly executed by the Navy?! This is practically a declaration of war against the entire Whitebeard Pirates!

Kai instantly realizes that a series of major events, such as "85 members have disappeared," will react in what way?

Soon, all sorts of news, some true and some false, about an unprecedented, massive storm that could engulf the entire world, and all capable of shocking the world, began to flood Kai's attention like snowflakes.

The Straw Hat Crew is no longer just "brewing," but... about to arrive!

Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines, has indeed seen the entire Whitebeard Pirates vanish! No one knows where they went, or whether they are alive or dead.

The Navy publicly announced that the straw bale... was publicly executed...

These words together are almost equivalent to... the Hat Pirates, who determined the course of an era, have been completely wiped out by the combined attack of the Marine Admirals and the Seven Warlords of the Sea!

After a brief exchange, Rayleigh and Admiral Kizaru seemed to have some reservations, and the matter ultimately ended inconclusively.

War on Thunder!

Kai felt her breathing become rapid.

He knew that this news would completely change the landscape of the world! And it would also... completely change the path of his own future!

What should he do? Stand aside? With Ri disappearing without a trace, Kizaru also temporarily left Sabaody Archipelago to deal with more urgent matters.

Is the world government involved in this in some way, or...?

A more significant and difficult choice was once again placed before him.

This time, his choice may truly determine his future fate.

"Fire Fist" Ace has been arrested and is about to be publicly executed at Marineford, the Marine Headquarters!

This news was like a giant bomb thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing an unprecedented and violent shockwave around the world! Its impact far exceeded that of the Straw Hat crew's rampage on Enies Lobby and their open declaration of war against the World Government!

Although Kai was on a remote island in the middle of the Grand Line, his increasingly sophisticated intelligence network and keen perception allowed him to clearly feel the enormous ripples that the impending storm would cause to sweep across the entire world.

He can "hear"!

He "heard" that countless pirate forces were beginning to stir in every corner of the Grand Line! Those pirates who were already unruly and lawless became even more restless and excited because of this news! Some saw it as a perfect opportunity for the Navy and Whitebeard to weaken each other, allowing them to rise to power; others, out of awe or hostility towards "Pirate King" Roger (Ace was his posthumous son, although this secret has not yet been made public, it may already be rumored) or "the strongest man in the world" Whitebeard, were preparing to play a role in this upcoming drama; and many more pirates, simply out of a desire to watch the excitement and fish in troubled waters, began to gather in the waters near Marineford!

He can "sense" it!

He sensed that the Marine Headquarters was undergoing an unprecedented, massive mobilization! Countless warships, like an iron torrent, were sailing towards Marineford from all over the world! Countless elite Marine soldiers were on high alert! Almost all Marine Admirals and Vice Admirals had been recalled to Headquarters! Even the Seven Warlords of the Sea had been forcibly conscripted by the World Government, required to participate in this "encirclement and suppression" of the Whitebeard Pirates! The entire Marine Headquarters had transformed into a massive, heavily guarded, and menacing war fortress, its power more than ten times greater than that of Enies Lobby!

He can "feel" it!

He sensed the profound panic and unease felt by ordinary people around the world upon hearing this news! Whitebeard! He was a legendary figure, a god who had reigned over the seas for decades! The Navy was going to wage a full-scale war against such a being? What a cataclysmic event that would be! What impact would the war have on their lives? Would it affect their islands? Would prices skyrocket? Would trade be disrupted? All sorts of worries and fears hung over the hearts of ordinary people like dark clouds.

Kai clearly realized that this was no longer just a public execution of a particular pirate! This was actually... the fuse for an unavoidable, all-out war between the Navy, the massive violent machine representing the World Government's "order," and the Whitebeard Pirates, the strongest pirate force symbolizing the "freedom" and "pinnacle" of the old era—a war that would determine the course of the next era!

The world order may very well be completely altered because of this war!

And what role should he play in this impending, all-encompassing storm?

Just as Kai was reeling from this sudden and earth-shattering turn of events and began to seriously consider his next move, an unexpected message, like a glimmer of light in the darkness, was delivered to him in some extremely secretive and special way.

It's Fujitora-senpai!

Kai immediately recognized that this was a message encrypted using a special kind of Haki fluctuation. Its unique frequency and "texture" were exactly the same as the "beacon" that Fujitora-senpai had left on his forehead! This was an extremely secretive method of communication that they had agreed upon!

Kai immediately held his breath and focused his senses to decipher this hard-won message.

Fujitora-senpai did not explicitly instruct Kai on what to do in the message, nor did he reveal any specific deployments within the Navy.

His words, like himself, are still full of Zen-like wisdom and thought-provoking insights, but the emotions they contain are heavier and more complex than ever before.

He spoke of his deep concern about the impending war.

He believes that, regardless of the final outcome of this war, it will inevitably cause incalculable destruction and the sacrifice of countless lives.

After so much bloodshed, can the "justice" that the Navy touts still maintain its purity? How many of Whitebeard's "family" will be left when faced with a devastating blow?

He expressed confusion and doubt about "justice" itself.

Can executing a pirate (Ace) truly bring peace? Is it really the proper form of "justice" to wage a war that could destroy countless islands and sacrifice countless soldiers and civilians in order to maintain so-called "order"?

He also vaguely mentioned the actions he might take.

He didn't seem to fully agree with some of the decisions made by the Navy's top brass (especially the hawks), but as someone who had just joined the Navy (although he had obtained the rank of admiral directly through the special method of "world drafting," but had not yet been officially appointed) and was not in control of his own destiny, he could not openly oppose it.

He hinted to himself that he might go to Marineford in person, not to participate in the killing, but to witness it firsthand, and to try to do something he felt he “should” do at a crucial moment, even if it might get him into huge trouble and controversy.

Finally, Fujitora-senpai seemed to be alluding to Kai.

"Chaos is coming, and monsters will run rampant."

You should keep your true nature in mind and use your power prudently.

The path you take in the future is yours to choose.

But no matter what, do not let hatred... devour the undying flame of 'benevolence and righteousness' in your heart.

"

Fujitora's words struck Kai like a hammer blow, prompting him to think more deeply.

The senior is going to Marineford! And he seems to be wavering on the Navy's sense of justice? He wants to do something he "should" do? What could that be? Stop the war? Protect civilians? Or... is there a deeper purpose?

What did the senior's last words mean? Was he reminding me not to let hatred cloud my judgment? Or was he implying that I should make a choice... that aligns with "righteousness" in this war?

Kai felt her thoughts becoming chaotic again.

But at the same time, a thought also became increasingly clear and intense—

He must go to Marineford!

Once this thought arises, it spreads like wildfire and can no longer be contained!

Why go?

Kai began to carefully analyze in her mind the reasons for making this decision.

First, it is to "witness history".

As Fujitora-senpai said, this war will undoubtedly determine the direction of the next era.

The direct clash between the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates, two behemoths representing the world's top powers, will be unprecedented in scale, ferocity, and the number of powerful figures involved! Witnessing this epic battle firsthand (with his inner eye) will allow him to directly understand the world's elite combat capabilities (the Four Emperors, Admirals, Shichibukai, legendary pirates, etc.) and gain a clearer grasp of the future world order and power balance.

This is of immeasurable value to him in making future plans and finding ways to become stronger!

Secondly, it was to "find opportunities".