Silence lingered.
Heavy.
Unbroken.
Kael's sudden movement had left the entire room frozen.
Back with the others—
"W-When did he…?!!"
Igaram stuttered, eyes wide in disbelief.
Nami gave him a flat look.
"You're still acting surprised?"
Then she turned toward Nefertari Vivi.
"Is this idiot your friend? Why is he so… unusual?"
Vivi shook her head helplessly.
"He's reacting completely normal."
A small pause.
"…Kael-san is the unusual one here."
Nami paused.
Then nodded seriously.
"…Yeah. That makes sense."
"It's him who's not normal."
Nearby—
Tashigi was practically trembling, stars shining in her eyes.
"Kaya, look!!"
"I'll do that same cool move in the future!!"
Kaya smiled warmly, patting her back.
"Yeah… you will."
"I believe in you."
Meanwhile—
Back at the center—
Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 stood completely still.
Their minds struggled to process what had just happened.
When did he move?
How did he get there?
Kael grinned.
His grip tightened slightly on their shoulders.
Valentine let out a pained groan.
Mr. 5's face twisted, turning ugly as pain shot through him.
A thought echoed in his mind—
Why…?
Why can't I shake this kid's grip?
When did I become this weak?
Kael lowered his head slightly between them due to the height difference and muttered—
"Where's the laughter from before?"
A brief pause—
"You bastard!!"
Mr. 5 snapped, still unable to move.
He inhaled sharply, activating his Devil Fruit—
"NOSE FANCY CANO—"
Too slow.
Kael's hand released him—
Turning pitch black with Armament Haki.
Before Mr. 5 could even react—
BOOM.
A single punch landed square on his face.
His body flew back like a ragdoll—
Crashing into the wall with such force that it shattered on impact.
Miss Valentine stood frozen.
Completely numb.
Her mind blank.
The rubble above Mr. 5 shifted slightly—
Trembling.
A clear sign—
He wasn't done yet.
Kael casually shook his hand.
Then turned.
Releasing his grip from Valentine's shoulder.
He leaned closer—
Bringing his face near her ear.
She flinched violently.
"Now now… Mikita."
Her entire body froze.
Her arrogant, haughty demeanor shattered instantly.
She looked at him with wide, terrified eyes.
"…How?"
Her voice trembled.
Kael smiled faintly.
"Does it really matter how I know your real name?"
A pause.
"…No, right?"
Her body trembled even more.
Kael raised two fingers casually.
"I'm feeling generous today."
"So here are your two options."
He pointed toward the rubble.
"First—stand there quietly…"
"…until I'm done with him."
She swallowed.
His second finger rose.
"Second—"
His tone remained casual.
"Die. Right now."
Her heart pounded violently.
Where… where did this monster come from?
Grand Line? Some big shot?
Why… why am I so unlucky…?
No… I can't die.
My dream…
I've suffered too much for it…
I won't die here.
Not today!!
"I—I'll… stand by…"
She replied in a cracking voice, lowering her head.
Kael removed his hand.
"Smart woman."
"I like it."
Then he turned—
Walking casually toward the rubble.
At that exact moment—
CRACK.
The debris burst apart.
Mr. 5 stepped out.
Bleeding.
His glasses shattered.
Blood running down his face and head.
His fists clenched tightly.
"You're… Kael Sylvarion, aren't you?"
Kael blinked.
"You know me?"
A faint smirk.
"I'm almost honored."
Mr. 5 grinned viciously.
"Yeah."
"Miss All Sunday warned me about you."
"She even showed me your poster…"
"…but I ignored it."
Kael's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
"She did?"
Back with the crew—
The expressions of Mr. 9, Igaram, and Vivi hardened instantly.
Vivi clenched her fists.
"Miss All Sunday…"
Kaya looked at her curiously.
"Vivi… do you know who that is?"
Nami and Tashigi also looked confused.
Vivi nodded.
"Of course I do."
"She's the second-in-command of Baroque Works."
"She's the one who relays orders from Mr. 0 to all agents."
They listened carefully.
Vivi's expression turned serious.
"If you ever come across her…"
"Don't get involved."
"She's dangerous."
Mr. 9 and Igaram immediately added—
"Yeah, Princess Vivi is right!"
"She's very dangerous!"
The three women exchanged glances.
Then smiled.
Nami pointed toward Kael.
"…More dangerous than him?"
Silence.
The three of them paused.
Looked at Kael.
Then back at them.
Then sighed.
Mr. 9 laughed helplessly.
"…Yeah."
"Almost forgot this monster."
He walked away, sitting beside the resting Miss Monday.
Vivi smiled awkwardly.
Igaram stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"…Hmm."
"It's hard to imagine someone more dangerous than Prince Kael."
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Vivi's face turned red.
Nami's eye twitched.
"Prince?"
"That bastard?!"
Kaya chuckled softly.
"…It suits him."
"Nami—"
"Kaya!!"
Tashigi sighed, shaking her head.
"Igaram!!"
Vivi snapped.
"What are you even saying?!"
Igaram frowned, confused.
"But Princess, isn't he your boyfri—"
"SHUT UP!!"
Vivi's face turned completely red.
"If you ever say that in front of Father…"
"I will feed you to the Banana-gators!!"
Meanwhile—
Back at the center—
"I admit it…"
Mr. 5 spoke coldly.
"It was my mistake to ignore her warning."
"You've got some strength… for a kid."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"You keep calling me a kid."
"But you're not that much older than me."
Mr. 5 smirked.
"It's not about age."
"It's about the difference in strength."
Kael looked at him flatly.
"…Sigh."
"Why are all Baroque Works agents such idiots…?"
"SHUT UP!!"
Mr. 5 roared.
"Take out your sword and fight me!!"
Kael exhaled.
Then—
Clenched his fists.
Took a stance.
Mr. 5 frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"I said take out your damn swo—"
Kael waved his hand dismissively.
"No need."
A pause.
"I don't hunt rabbits with cannons."
Silence.
Absolute.
Even the air seemed to freeze.
[Host, are you copying Mihaw—]
(Shut up!!)
Mr. 5 lowered his head.
His shoulders trembled.
Then—
He laughed.
Loud.
Unhinged.
"Hahahahahaha!!"
He raised his head.
Eyes bloodshot.
"Kael Sylvarion…"
"There's a limit to how much you can look down on someone…"
His voice dropped—
"You will die for this…"
Then he screamed—
"YOU WILL DIE!!"
He pulled out his revolver—
Firing wildly.
"Breeze Breath Bomb!!"
Explosions erupted everywhere.
But Kael—
Moved effortlessly.
Dodging every single one.
Mr. 5's eyes widened.
"What?!"
He gritted his teeth.
"Damn it!!"
He charged forward.
"Kael Sylvarion—DIE!!"
His entire body expanded—
Swelling with explosive force.
"FULL BODY EXPLOSION!!"
He reached Kael—
And—
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion engulfed everything.
The blast shook the entire restaurant.
The shockwave rolled outward like a violent tide.
Glass cracked along the walls. Loose boards groaned under the pressure. Dust and splinters filled the air, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
For a brief moment—
No one breathed.
The heat from the blast lingered, sharp and suffocating, as if the air itself had been scorched.
Nami instinctively stepped forward, only to stop midway, her fingers tightening.
Tashigi's grip on her sword trembled.
Even Igaram didn't speak.
Because deep down—
They all felt it.
That quiet certainty.
If anyone could stand at the center of that explosion—
It was him.
Tables—
Chairs—
Everything near them—
Gone.
The ground beneath them—
Scorched.
Igaram clenched his fists.
"Damn it! He took that head-on!!"
Vivi whispered—
"…Kael-san?"
The smoke lingered.
Black.
Thick.
Then slowly—
It cleared.
And what they saw—
Made them freeze.
Mr. 5 stood there.
Wide-eyed.
Trembling.
"…Why…?"
In front of him—
Kael stood.
Completely unscathed.
Calmly dusting off his clothes.
"…Damn."
"That was a strong move."
(Definitely stronger than the original.)
Mr. 5's voice cracked.
"Why…?"
Kael looked at him, mildly amused.
"Any more tricks?"
He pointed behind him casually.
"You see…"
"The ladies back there are tired."
"They need rest."
Mr. 5 trembled.
"…Why…?"
Kael frowned slightly.
"Huh?"
"You've been saying that this whole time."
"What happened?"
"Say it clearly—"
"WHY IS THE GAP SO BIG?!!"
The scream echoed.
Desperate.
Broken.
Kael's smile disappeared.
His gaze turned sharp.
Cold.
He raised his right leg—
Straight above his head—
Armament Haki coating it black.
"Go ask your ancestors."
THUD.
The kick landed with crushing force.
Mr. 5's body slammed into the ground—
His upper half buried into the floor.
Lifeless.
Still.
Only his lower body remained visible.
Silence.
Thick.
Oppressive.
The loudest it had ever been.
Behind—
Miss Valentine watched everything.
Her expression shattered.
Her knees gave out.
Thud.
She collapsed to the ground.
Tears streamed down her face.
Her body trembling uncontrollably.
Fear had completely consumed her.
Kael turned and walked back toward his crew.
The tension hadn't even fully settled—
Yet two figures were already rushing toward him.
"Kael-san!!"
Vivi reached him first, worry clear on her face.
"Are you okay?!"
Right behind her, Kaya stepped in without hesitation.
"Let me check—stand still."
Kael sighed softly.
Before either of them could fuss any further, he placed a hand on both their heads.
"I'm fine."
"Don't worry."
The simple gesture made them pause.
Vivi lowered her gaze, cheeks slightly flushed.
"…mm."
Kaya, however, didn't back down.
"But still—let me check!"
Kael just shook his head lightly, letting her do as she pleased for a moment.
Then—
"Tashigi."
The response was instant.
Tashigi straightened sharply.
"Yes, Kael-san!!"
Kael blinked.
Then let out a small breath.
"…No need to be that dramatic."
A faint shake of his head followed.
"Take out the transponder snail I gave you."
Tashigi paused.
Eyes widening slightly.
"You mean…?!"
Kael smiled.
"Yeah."
"Call Smoker."
A beat—
Then her expression lit up.
"Yes!!"
"Right away!"