"Mihawk really has no respect for authority, Marshal Sengoku."
Xiao covered his mouth and laughed softly.
"You just dismissed a Shichibukai, and he immediately gives you a slash across the battlefield. He doesn't take you seriously at all. I can't even bear to watch."
Sengoku's face stiffened.
"Mind your own business," he said coldly.
"This matter does not concern you."
Originally, he had intended to use Hancock's dismissal as a warning—to force the other Warlords to stop slacking and contribute seriously, like Blackbeard appeared to be doing.
Instead—
It had backfired.
The Shichibukai were displeased.
But even so, Sengoku did not pursue Mihawk's provocation.
The reason was simple.
The Navy needed them.
Now more than ever.
Since the arrival of Straw Hat Luffy and the Impel Down escapees—
Something invisible had changed.
Whitebeard's side had regained momentum.
Morale surged.
While the Navy's cohesion wavered.
The artificial Devil Fruit soldiers were falling under Haki strikes.
Because at the end of the day—
They were still rookies.
Power without experience.
Elementalization without battle instinct.
Thunder and flame were impressive—
But insufficient against seasoned captains.
Sengoku needed more.
More numbers.
More power.
More artificial users.
"You want me to keep working?"
Xiao tossed a newly formed artificial Devil Fruit casually in his palm.
"You think I do charity?"
He grinned.
"I value money, not favors."
"Ten million Berries per artificial Devil Fruit."
"Success or failure, you pay."
"One coin less, and I walk."
He snapped his fingers.
A shadowy tendril yanked a half-dead marine from the ground.
The fruit was shoved into his mouth.
Moments later—
Thunder and flame erupted.
Success.
Sengoku's brow twitched.
Expensive.
But acceptable.
"Hmph. The Navy can afford it."
"Keep producing."
Xiao's smile widened.
One in ten succeeded.
One in ten.
The Navy's artificial elite slowly expanded.
But the other Shichibukai were watching.
And they were not pleased.
Originally—
Everyone was paddling lazily.
Just showing face.
Now Blackbeard was performing like a model employee.
A loyal dog wagging his tail for the boss.
Which made everyone else look useless.
And that—
Was unacceptable.
If one person works hard,
Everyone else looks incompetent.
So—
Their battlefield attacks subtly shifted.
Large-scale strikes.
Sweeping arcs.
Uncontrolled impact zones.
"Accidental" collateral damage.
Toward Navy lines.
Toward Xiao.
"Thief hahaha…"
Xiao not only didn't get angry—
He enthusiastically saved the affected marines.
Pulling them from harm.
Shielding them from stray attacks.
Creating artificial users for them.
Instantly—
His reputation among ordinary naval soldiers skyrocketed.
Because beneath the politics—
Most Navy men truly Believed in justice.
They fought pirates sincerely.
They weren't thinking about Celestial Dragons.
They were thinking about protecting civilians.
And Blackbeard—
Was saving them.
A life-saving favor on the battlefield—
Creates loyalty stronger than doctrine.
Xiao understood this very clearly.
If one day he chose to—
He could carve out a faction inside the Navy itself.
His own army.
A springboard to control the World Government from within.
Puchi—
A blood-soaked body collapsed at his feet.
Vice Admiral Onigumo.
He lay on the ground bruised.
Burned.
Hair half-gone.
Dignity shattered.
In the distance—
Marco soared once more in phoenix flames.
"You really can't handle him, huh?"
Xiao helped Onigumo up and sighed.
"Even with Seastone cuffs."
"I was careless!" Onigumo snapped.
"I removed the cuffs temporarily and he counterattacked!"
He would never admit inferiority.
Only lack of Devil Fruit power.
Originally, he had been suppressing Marco.
Once the cuffs came off—
Marco reversed the fight completely.
Xiao nodded sympathetically.
"You just lack a powerful fruit."
He leaned closer.
"What about this?"
From within his coat—
He produced a pink-scaled Devil Fruit.
Artificial Animal-Type
Mythical Beast Model
Fish-Fish Fruit
Azure Dragon Form.
Onigumo's breath caught.
"…The same one as Kaido?"
One of the Four Emperors.
Kaido of the Beasts.
The strongest creature on land, sea, and air.
Defeated seven times.
Captured eighteen times.
Tortured over a thousand times.
Forty executions survived.
Unkillable.
Because of that fruit.
"Yes."
Xiao's voice lowered.
"The most perfect artificial version."
"Except for the color."
"All other abilities identical."
His tone became hypnotic.
"Eat it."
"Defeat Marco."
"Become the Navy's dragon."
Onigumo swallowed hard.
Desire.
Ambition.
Power.
But—
He was not a fool.
"What's the price, Teach?"
He stared directly into Xiao's eyes.
Battlefield chaos roared around them.
But between the two men—
Silence fell.
Xiao smiled slowly.
Not kindly.
Not cruelly.
Just knowingly.
The real negotiation—
Was about to begin.
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