Navy warships emerged one after another across the calm seas surrounding the Red Line, steadily drawing closer. Yet, strangely, the Black-clad Guards stationed on the Red Line hadn't received any formal notice of the Navy's approach. That silence was more than unusual—it was alarming.

In response, The four of the Five Elders appeared at the cliff's edge overlooking the advancing fleet. The surrounding Black-clad operatives instantly dropped to one knee, calling out in unison:

"Lords of the Five Elders!"

In truth, only four remained. The death of the blond-haired Elder had been meticulously concealed from these men. Had they known that, in addition to twenty Celestial Dragon family heads, one of the Five Elders himself had also perished, panic would have erupted.

The Elder in the flat hat peered down at the ever-approaching Navy vessels, his tone low and grim.

"They've come after all... Did Kong send them? Wasn't he missing?"

"Whoever sent them is irrelevant," the Elder with the long beard replied. "The question now is—do we allow them to come up?"

"We shouldn't," the birthmarked Elder said firmly. "They showed up without notice. It's time the Navy was reminded who they answer to."

"But Uchiha Chiga is among them," the flat-hat Elder muttered. "Are you sure we want to provoke him?"

"Hmph. He wouldn't dare to rebel outright, not in front of the whole world. If he does, what's left to separate them from pirates?"

Standing apart from them, the Kimono Elder said nothing. His eyes never strayed from the flagship bearing Chiga, a slight, unreadable smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Ever since he had slain the blond-haired Elder in one precise stroke, the others had distanced themselves from him. Were it not for his close relationship with Im-sama, the others might have turned on him outright.

Without consulting him, the remaining three made their decision.

"Let them wait below," the flat-hat Elder ordered coldly.

On the leading warship, Uchiha Chiga stood at the bow, arms folded as he surveyed the towering Red Line with calm, Rinnegan-enhanced eyes. Kalifa emerged from below deck, hurrying to his side.

"Chiga, Mary Geoise just sent word. They say we didn't inform them ahead of time. They want us to wait below."

A quiet scoff escaped Chiga's lips. "Even now, they cling to formalities. Pass the order—keep moving forward."

"Yes, sir!"

Kalifa rushed back inside to relay the command. The warships didn't waver; every single vessel pressed on, undeterred.

Above, the Elders watched in disbelief.

"What's happening? Didn't we send word to halt?"

The flat-hat Elder grabbed a trembling Black-clad operative by the collar.

"Did you or did you not deliver my order!?"

"I-I did! I swear! I passed it on exactly as commanded!"

With a roar of fury, the Elder hurled the poor man off the Red Line's edge.

"They're defying us. This is Chiga's doing!"

"What now?" asked the long-bearded Elder. "Do we let them dock?"

"No!" the flat-hat Elder barked. "Deploy Vegapunk's weapons. If they insist on advancing, we'll meet them with force!"

Driven to the edge by the recent chaos in Mary Geoise, the Elder had lost all semblance of patience. Normally, the Kimono Elder would temper the situation, offering measured counsel. Today, he remained utterly silent.

Moments later, heavy footfalls echoed across the plateau. Dozens of massive figures emerged along the Red Line's edge—rows of identical men with blank stares and broad shoulders. The Navy personnel recognized them immediately.

"Pacifistas..." murmured someone from a lower deck.

A flash of alarm crossed Kizaru's face behind his sunglasses. "So they've finally completed them," he muttered. "I knew I shouldn't have worked with Vegapunk on this."

On Chiga's ship, Kalifa gasped and pointed. "Chiga, those—they look just like Bartholomew Kuma!"

"They're not," Chiga replied calmly. "They're Pacifistas—cybernetic weapons based on Kuma. Each one costs as much as an entire warship."

The warships continued their ascent up the Red Line. As they neared, the Pacifistas powered up. Their mechanical mouths opened in unison, glowing with cross-shaped lights.

"Laser cannons..." Chiga murmured.

From the deck of a nearby vessel, Kizaru's body dissolved into golden light. He shot skyward, preparing to intercept.

"Yasakani no Magatama!" he declared, unleashing a volley of light-based attacks.

The Pacifistas fired simultaneously. Dozens of golden beams lanced downward at the Navy ships. But Kizaru's original was superior—his lasers collided with theirs mid-air, exploding in brilliant bursts of light.

Even so, the knock-off beams couldn't match the real thing. Kizaru's attack overwhelmed them, knocking out several Pacifistas and scarring the Red Line with blackened craters.

From above, the flat-hat Elder clenched his fists.

"Damn Borsalino," he growled. "He's actually serious."

His gaze shifted to a single Pacifista among the others—identical in appearance, save for the thick book it clutched.

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