That night, in the castle.
Rocks summoned Raiver Sky.
"Raiver, there's a mission that needs your completion—"
"It's crucial for our next strategic layout."
"What mission?" Raiver asked in return.
"It's about..."
Rocks paused, a near-mad curve lifting the corner of his mouth:
"The Celestial Dragons."
Those three words struck like a thunderclap.
Raiver's mind stirred slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it quickly returned to calm.
As expected...
Was Rocks finally making a move against those "World Nobles"?
Truly an utter madman.
Those daring enough to target Celestial Dragons were probably only Luffy and Rocks.
"According to the intelligence I've gathered, the recent hijacking of the Celestial Tribute has infuriated those fools who call themselves descendants of gods."
"However, the Five Elders have ordered that the Celestial Dragons cannot hold the Navy accountable."
"Thus, the Celestial Dragons have redirected their rage toward the tribute-paying affiliated nations."
"They believe it's precisely because these countries provided insufficient quantity and quality of Celestial Tribute that the naval escorts were inadequate, allowing the Rocks Pirates to seize the opportunity."
"So recently, they'll be sending representatives to the New World to personally 'discipline' and 'punish' the relevant nations."
As he spoke, Rocks pulled a piece of parchment from his coat and spread it on the table.
It was a map of the New World, marked with three red dots.
"Kingdom of Xituna, Kingdom of Kars, Kingdom of Misteral—these three nations are the primary contributors to this Celestial Tribute."
"The Celestial Dragon representatives will visit these three countries in sequence to conduct 'accountability' and 'punishment'."
"Your targets are those representatives."
"I need you—"
Rocks spoke word by word, his voice like freezing ice:
"To capture several Celestial Dragons alive and bring them back."
As his words fell, dead silence filled the room.
Capture... Celestial Dragons alive.
This could no longer be described as "madness".
This was declaring war against the entire World Government, against the world order maintained for eight hundred years!
At this moment, a nearly ferocious, ambition-filled smile appeared on Rocks' face.
In that smile was madness, determination, and an overbearing will to trample the entire world beneath his feet.
The ruthlessness of his methods and the depth of his planning probably surpassed even what the future Four Emperors who would dominate the New World could achieve.
And this was precisely one reason why Rocks could become the strongest maritime overlord of this era.
He never played by conventional rules.
He dared to do what others wouldn't.
"No problem." Raiver agreed without any hesitation.
His voice was calm, as if Rocks had just said "go catch some pigs" rather than "capture Celestial Dragons alive".
A flash of appreciation crossed Rocks' eyes.
This was exactly why he liked Raiver's character—no unnecessary questions, no doubts, just pure execution.
"The specific intelligence is here."
Rocks pushed another piece of parchment toward Raiver:
"The Celestial Dragon representatives' itinerary, escort forces, estimated arrival times... everything's listed here."
"After completing the mission, bring the Celestial Dragons directly back to Hachinosu Island."
"I need them... to execute a grand plan!"
Raiver Sky didn't ask further questions.
He knew Rocks' plans were far more complex than merely "capturing Celestial Dragons alive."
But he could roughly guess - it was probably about publicly executing the Celestial Dragons, though that might not even be enough.
"Understood. I'll depart tomorrow." Raiver Sky stored the parchment away.
Rocks nodded and turned to leave.
Only Raiver remained in the room.
He looked down at the parchment in his hand, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Celestial Dragons...
World Nobles...
Descendants of gods...
"Heh."
Raiver let out a light laugh filled with mockery:
"Let me see how long you so-called 'gods'..."
"can last in my hands."
The third "madman" to directly attack Celestial Dragons was about to emerge.
In some sense, Luffy and Rocks' actions could still be considered "restrained" or "justified" - Luffy to save his comrades, Rocks to overthrow the world.
But Raiver Sky's current mission -
would perfectly demonstrate through action what it meant to be the "strictest father" to the Celestial Dragons, eventually earning him the title of "Godslayer" in the future.
Of course, all that would come later.
...
One day later.
New World, Kingdom of Xituna.
This medium-sized kingdom located at the edge of the New World was famous for its spices and silk.
Though not large in territory, it was quite prosperous, regularly paying substantial Celestial Tribute to the World Government in exchange for "protection."
The sky was clear, without a single cloud.
The port of the royal capital "Champs-Elysées City" was as busy as ever.
No one noticed a figure streaking across the sky at terrifying supersonic speed high above, descending like a meteor toward the palace direction.
This was Raiver Sky.
The palace stood atop a hill in the city center, constructed entirely of white marble that glittered under the sunlight.
A faint red light flashed imperceptibly in Raiver's eyes.
Advanced Observation Haki, combined with his unique Space Perception, instantly spread out like quicksilver, silently enveloping the entire island.
"Found them... three, huh?"
Raiver murmured to himself, a cold curve forming at the corner of his mouth:
"Let's deal with the one in the palace first."
In his perception, three figures wearing transparent bubble helmets were clearly distinguishable - one inside the palace, the other two aboard large ships in the port.
No one but Celestial Dragons would wear those ridiculous helmets all day, as if breathing ordinary air would defile their "noble" bodies.
Raiver's figure blurred as he swiftly headed toward the palace.
Outside the closed gilded doors of the Crystal Palace.
"Halt! Who goes there?!"
The elite guards stationed before the doors immediately spotted Raiver and shouted to stop him.
These soldiers were all elite royal guards, clad in golden armor and holding spears.
More notably, four men in black suits stood expressionlessly on either side of the door.
CP Organization Agents.
"This is a restricted area! Trespassers will be executed on sight—!"
The four CP agents reacted extremely quickly, swiftly spreading out to surround Raiver.
The commotion immediately attracted more patrolling soldiers, who came rushing toward the scene.
Soon, Raiver was surrounded by over fifty elite soldiers.
However, when the four CP agents clearly saw the face of the newcomer—
A bone-chilling cold shot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head!
As elite agents directly under the World Government, they were thoroughly familiar with intelligence from the New World and the four seas—especially those monstrously powerful pirates with terrifyingly high bounties.
And this face before them…
They knew it all too well!
The front page of the World Economic News, a monster with a 2.5 billion Belly bounty, the Supernova Officer of the Rocks Pirates—Raiver Sky!
"You… you're—!"
One CP agent's voice trembled as he tried to speak.
But it was already too late.
A flash of crimson light gleamed in Raiver Sky's eyes.
Hum—!!!
Before the four CP agents could even finish their words, they felt as if a heavy hammer had struck their brains. Their vision went black, foam spewed from their mouths, and they collapsed one after another, completely unconscious.
And not just them—
Everyone in the entire palace crumpled under this invisible mental assault!
Raiver Sky walked up to the gilded door, kicked it with one foot, shattering the entire door to pieces, and strode inside.
Ahead, two white figures blocked his path.