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

Kai mentally labeled Crocodile.

He became even more wary of these former Shichibukai who were treacherous and treated betrayal and exploitation as commonplace.

Each of these people is a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment and drag everything around them into destruction.

While keeping an eye on Crocodile, Kai also noticed another extremely unique and eye-catching figure among Luffy's "weird" group of escapees—Ivankov, who has a huge head, dresses in a flamboyant manner, and calls himself the "Queen of the Okama"!

Kai had never encountered a transvestite before, let alone someone like Ivankov who had so thoroughly implemented the "way of the transvestite" and possessed such great strength and bizarre abilities!

He could clearly sense that Ivankov was not just a cheerleader who followed Luffy around.

His strength is absolutely not to be underestimated! His martial arts (transvestite fist technique?) are bizarre and tricky, and his strength and speed are quite astonishing! Moreover, he seems to possess some kind of... extremely special Devil Fruit ability!

Kai "saw" (perceived) that during the battle, Ivankov simply blinked his heavily mascara-covered eyes (a deathly wink?) at a friendly prisoner who was beaten to the point of near death and almost incapacitated, and then... that prisoner instantly regained his energy as if he had been given a stimulant, and threw himself back into the battle with renewed vigor!

He also "saw" Ivankov extend his gloved, syringe-like, sharp finger and gently poke a Marine soldier chasing Luffy! That once proud and arrogant Marine soldier, in just a few seconds, underwent a drastic transformation, turning into a... voluptuous, curvaceous... woman?! And instantly lost all will to fight, starting to swoon over Ivankov?!

Hormone Fruit?! The ability to freely manipulate human hormones, change gender, heal injuries, and even... unleash human potential?!

Kai was once again filled with astonishment! Could there really be such an...unbelievable Devil Fruit ability in this world?! This ability, which can directly affect the human body and alter physiological states, is simply impossible to defend against! Its potential and scope of application are probably unimaginable!

Kai immediately added Ivankov and his Hormone Fruit ability to his "highly watched" list.

This ability, if used properly, could play an extremely terrifying role in combat, healing, or infiltration! He must remain sufficiently vigilant about this special power.

While keeping an eye on those "troublemakers," Kai also didn't forget to observe one of the "protagonists" who should have been there in the first place—the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Besides Hawkeye, Doflamingo, Moria, Hancock, and Kuma, there is another Shichibukai whose stance and actions also leave Kai somewhat... puzzled and surprised.

That's Jinbe, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea from the Fish-Man race!

Chapter 90: The Marineford War Completely Changed!!!

According to the information Kai had previously gathered, Jinbe, although a Shichibukai, was known for his "benevolence" and "chivalry," and enjoyed considerable prestige in both Fishman Island and the human world.

Moreover, he seems to have a good personal relationship with Whitebeard, and even once publicly opposed the World Government to prevent Ace from being executed, which resulted in him being imprisoned in Impel Down!

At this moment, on the battlefield, Jinbe truly proved his stance with his actions!

Unlike most of the other Shichibukai who chose to stand by or take advantage of the chaos, he... firmly stood on the side of Luffy and the Whitebeard Pirates!

Kai could clearly sense Jinbe's powerful aura, like a raging sea, charging left and right through the Navy's lines! His unparalleled Fish-Man Karate was displaying astonishing power!

His "Shark's Roar Fist" can easily shatter solid ice and send groups of naval soldiers flying!

With a single "water strike," he could manipulate the surrounding seawater (after the ice melted) to create a massive water shockwave that shattered the navy's formation!

He was even able to move nimbly through ice fields and seas, constantly providing cover and support for Luffy and the members of the Whitebeard Pirates, thanks to the Fish-Men's strength far exceeding that of humans and their advantage in water!

Every time he takes action, it carries with it a kind of determination and courage to fight against the whole world in order to protect the "benevolence and righteousness" he believes in!

Kai was somewhat puzzled by this.

As a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Jinbe should have been an ally of the World Government.

Why would he betray the World Government and become an enemy of the powerful Marine Headquarters for the sake of one pirate (Ace, despite their past relationship) and another pirate (Luffy, despite their collaboration in Impel Down)? Does this align with his belief in "righteousness"? Is it truly a wise choice to oppose the forces that maintain world "order" for the sake of personal "loyalty" and "ideas"?

Kai couldn't understand Jinbe's logic.

In his view, Jinbe's actions, while full of "chivalry," were also... somewhat "foolish" and "disregard the big picture."

However, Kai also had to admit that Jinbe's determination to do what he knew was impossible and to pay any price to uphold his beliefs was indeed admirable.

Perhaps... this is another manifestation of so-called "benevolence and righteousness"? A kind of "benevolence and righteousness" that is completely different from Fujitora's "seeking change within the order" and instead chooses to "directly stand on the side of the weak and the ideals to confront the powerful"... a more direct and pure "benevolence and righteousness"?

37 Kai fell into thought again.

He found that his understanding of "justice" and "benevolence" seemed to have become more blurred and diverse once again... because of the actions of these powerful people with different positions and choices.

This world is indeed not simply black and white.

And his own path... seems to require more careful selection.

The unexpected arrival of Luffy and his "strongest escape army in history" completely disrupted the battlefield situation in Marineford.

The navy's attention and firepower were drawn to these uninvited guests, and the originally tight defenses became chaotic and gaps appeared because of the need to divide forces to deal with them.

This, in turn, gave Kai, who was hiding in the shadows, an excellent opportunity to act!

He has not forgotten his "purpose" for coming here—to carry out what he considers "necessary evil" and prevent the continuation of the Great Pirate Era.

The most direct and effective way to achieve this is to weaken the Whitebeard Pirates' manpower as much as possible and prevent them from successfully rescuing Ace!

With Luffy, the giant "target," drawing most of the attention, Kai, like a top-tier ghost assassin, began his... covert hunt on the edge of the battlefield!

His target was not the ordinary members of the Whitebeard Pirates (killing them would be pointless and would only expose him), nor the top-tier division commanders who were currently fighting against Marine Admirals or Vice Admirals (he was not arrogant enough to think he could easily challenge those level of powerhouses).

His targets were those... powerful figures (at least those below the vice admiral level that the navy could not deal with alone), who posed a significant threat to the naval defenses, but who, for various reasons (such as being entangled in battle with other naval commanders or temporarily out of the main battle zone), had not been targeted by the navy's top combat forces... well-known captains or formidable captain-level figures under Whitebeard's command!

These people are often the backbone of the Whitebeard Pirates' attack! Taking them out will effectively disrupt Whitebeard's offensive and slow their advance towards the execution platform!

Kai's actions were more secretive and cautious than ever before.

He pushed his Observation Haki to its limit, not only to sense the battlefield, but also to... conceal himself! Like a chameleon, he perfectly blended his aura into the chaotic battlefield environment around him.

Sometimes, he would simulate a cold rock, lurking in the shadows of ruins; sometimes, he would simulate a stream of air, silently gliding over the fighting crowd; sometimes, he would even briefly simulate the faint breath of a recently fallen naval soldier, to confuse the enemy!

His route of action was also meticulously calculated.

He always operated on the edge of the most chaotic and energy-fluctuating areas of the battlefield, using the roar of artillery fire, the shouts of the crowd, and the energy clashes of the strong as cover.

Once he has locked onto a target, he will lurk in the shadows like the most patient cheetah, carefully observing (perceiving) the target's fighting style, habits, weaknesses, and the surrounding environment.

Then, at the most opportune moment—for example, when the target has just unleashed a powerful attack and is briefly exhausted; when the target is temporarily entangled by other marines, exposing a gap in their defense; or when a violent explosion or smoke happens to obscure the vision and perception of those nearby…

He will launch a deadly attack like a venomous snake!

His speed was lightning fast, and his movements were incredibly concise! There was not a single unnecessary flourish! Often, it was just a single step, a single thrust of the blade!

The "Tranquility" staff in his hand, covered with his increasingly refined Armament Haki, was like the Grim Reaper's scythe, stabbing with unparalleled precision at the target's vital points—throat, heart, or spinal nerves!

His attacks weren't about flashy moves, but about absolute efficiency and... lethality!

puff!

Often, with just a barely perceptible thud, a powerful Whitebeard soldier who was fighting valiantly and causing great trouble for the naval defenses would collapse silently into a pool of blood before he even understood what was happening!

Kai, after landing his successful blow, didn't even glance at his fallen prey, vanishing once more into the chaotic shadows of the battlefield like ink dissolving in water! Leaving no trace! As if he had never existed!

He was like a cold, deadly ghost wandering on the edge of the battlefield, constantly repeating this process: locking onto the target, lying in wait and observing, delivering a fatal blow, and then quietly disappearing.

Every move he makes is precise and efficient.

Each "hunt" meant that the Whitebeard Pirates lost an important member of their force, and that their advance toward the execution platform was slowed down once again.

No one noticed him.

Nobody knows it was him.

In such a vast and chaotic battlefield, it is only natural that people will fall one after another.

His clandestine "cleanup" operations were completely drowned out by the grander and more tragic backdrop of the Marineford War.

Kai didn't care at all.

He doesn't need anyone's attention or understanding.

He was simply carrying out what he considered the "necessary evil" silently and steadfastly, for that "order" that perhaps only he himself could understand.

His hands are quietly becoming stained with more blood.

But his heart, hardened by the darkness, seemed... not to be greatly disturbed by it.

Or rather, he has learned to completely seal away those unnecessary emotions.

Just as Kai was executing his "cleanup" plan as efficiently as a cold machine, an unexpected yet seemingly expected energy fluctuation suddenly erupted from the center of the battlefield near the execution platform, instantly attracting all his attention!

That was a... extremely special and terrifying... mental shockwave!

Conqueror's Haki!!!

And... the source of this Conqueror's Haki is actually... Straw Hat Luffy?!

Kai's "mind's eye" immediately focused on the past! He clearly sensed that Luffy, seemingly on the verge of unconsciousness during a fierce battle with the Navy, was physically exhausted and mentally traumatized (perhaps due to losing control of his emotions after seeing Ace about to be executed?). He was on the verge of losing consciousness when... he unconsciously unleashed the "King's Qualities" hidden deep within him!

Om-! ! !

The invisible Conqueror's Haki, like a tangible shockwave, instantly swept across the area around him!

Those naval soldiers who were besieging him and whose willpower was relatively weak were instantly frozen in place, their eyes glazed over, foaming at the mouth, and collapsing to the ground in droves!

Even some of the stronger and more determined naval officers, and even some members of the Whitebeard Pirates who were engaged in fierce fighting nearby, felt a pang of fear and dizziness under the sudden and absolutely intimidating impact of Conqueror's Haki, and their movements involuntarily froze for a brief moment!

The entire chaotic battlefield fell into an extremely brief and eerie silence because of Luffy's unconscious outburst of Conqueror's Haki!

"This...this is...Conqueror's Haki?!" Kai sensed it, and the knowledgeable Marine officers and Whitebeard captains around him exclaimed in disbelief!

"That straw hat kid... he actually possesses... the qualities of a king?!"

Kai was equally shocked!

Conqueror's Haki! That legendary, innate power that only one in a million possesses! And Luffy... he actually has it too?!

Although he had vaguely sensed an unusual "domineering" aura when he was sensing Luffy's presence, he never imagined that it would actually be... Conqueror's Haki!

This discovery stirred up an even more complex, and even... colder, emotion within Kai!

Those who possess Conqueror's Haki often have the potential and ambition to change the world! They are like born kings, able to attract followers, unite people's hearts, and create a huge wave of change! Pirate King Roger was like that, Whitebeard was like that, Shanks was like that... even Doflamingo is said to possess Conqueror's Haki!