Let's rewind the clock a bit. Kizaru had always been Vegapunk's protector, and today his warship arrived at Punk Hazard to rendezvous with Vegapunk.
It was quite a coincidence that the Den Den Mushi suddenly lost connection.
Kizaru immediately contacted Sengoku using a special Den Den Mushi, who in turn contacted the Gorosei. Now, Kizaru's Den Den Mushi was powered on.
"What a hassle," Kizaru muttered nonchalantly.
With two bosses watching him, how was he supposed to play this?
"Admiral Kizaru, what a rare guest," Rhett's voice was low and mocking. "But do you really think you can take someone from me?"
Kizaru shrugged. He knew he couldn't win alone, but he couldn't lose face either. Golden light gathered at his fingertips. "Let's give it a try~"
Golden light clashed fiercely with the blood mist above Punk Hazard. Kizaru's laser sword sliced through the thick fog, but the moment it touched Rhett's body—
"Ding"
Rhett's figure vanished instantly.
In the next moment, Kizaru slashed behind him.
The golden laser sword was already aimed at Rhett's neck.
"Clang—!"
The blood mist condensed into a blade, forcefully blocking Kizaru's strike. The collision of the two forces created a piercing screech in the air.
Kizaru's strength was something his current crew couldn't handle, but Rhett still found fighting Kizaru to be easy and enjoyable.
"Kowai ne, Admiral Kizaru," Rhett chuckled. "Not bad speed."
The blood mist suddenly exploded, turning into countless tiny blood needles that shot towards Kizaru like a rainstorm!
"Yata no Kagami!"
Kizaru's figure flickered, weaving through the gaps between the blood needles, but a few strands of blood mist still grazed his body, leaving corrosive wounds.
"Hmm... what a troublesome ability~" Kizaru glanced down at his wounds, his tone still lazy, but his eyes had turned sharp.
Rhett didn't give him a chance to catch his breath. The blood mist surged like a tidal wave, sealing off Kizaru's retreat.
"Ama no Murakumo!"
Kizaru clasped his hands together, and golden light erupted. A massive light sword swept out, forcefully splitting the blood mist!
But Rhett's figure was no longer there—
"Where are you looking?"
A cold voice echoed in Kizaru's ear as the Black Tide Greatsword condensed from the blood mist.
"Mist God Style: Silence!"
"Boom—!"
Kizaru barely managed to dodge, and his light-speed kick clashed with the greatsword. The explosion's shockwave sent Kizaru flying.
Kizaru landed, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth, a result of being blasted away. Rhett stood firmly, completely dominating.
Seeing Kizaru bleeding from the mouth, the mist had essentially entered his body.
"Admiral, how much longer can you hold on?" Rhett slowly approached. "If we keep fighting, you might not make it out alive. Sigh! You're a government employee, no need to go all out."
At the critical moment, Kizaru's body suddenly erupted with blinding golden light.
Rhett condensed mist over his eyes and slashed towards Kizaru's position.
The intense light temporarily blinded everyone. When their vision returned, Rhett dispersed the mist in front of him. Kizaru had already retreated a hundred meters with Vegapunk in his arms, but his right abdomen now had a gushing wound, the blood starting to turn slightly purple.
The golden Den Den Mushi in his arms suddenly rang.
Kizaru, panting, answered. The voice of the Gorosei came through: "Borsalino, hand the Den Den Mushi to Rhett."
Rhett raised an eyebrow and took the Den Den Mushi. Nusjuro's voice carried suppressed anger: "Crimson Dawn Rhett, enough is enough."
"Oh? News travels fast," Rhett played with the Den Den Mushi. "Isn't this the esteemed Financial Warrior God? Why are you yelling so loudly? Do you think you're my boss? Barking all day, I've been putting up with you for a long time. Be careful, I might accidentally crush this Den Den Mushi."
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Saturn took over: "We can stop the crackdown on your industries. In exchange, let's consider the Punk Hazard incident closed."
"Hey hey hey, you attacked me first. Why does it sound like I initiated the attack?"
Nusjuro's voice returned to normal: "The World Government can provide some conveniences for your industries and will no longer hinder their development. Isn't that enough? Rhett, don't push it."
Rhett's blood mist slowly retracted. He stared at the severely injured Kizaru, who still protected Vegapunk, and suddenly grinned: "Fine~ But..." The blood mist suddenly surged, forming a giant hand that slammed into a distant research facility. "I'll take the interest!"
As the last laboratory crumbled, Rhett turned and walked towards the ship's railing: "Tell Sengoku, if he touches my industries again..." He turned back, revealing his white teeth. "Next time... hmph."
Kizaru watched the retreating figures of the Crimson Dawn members and finally couldn't hold on any longer, kneeling on one knee.
Vegapunk supported him: "Your injuries..."
"Ahhh~" Kizaru smiled weakly, but there was a hint of joy in his eyes???
"It seems I'll need to take a long leave~"
That was truly genuine, no deception. Both bosses had witnessed his fierce battle.
More than a week had passed since the attack on Punk Hazard, and news was spreading everywhere.
Sengoku slammed his fist on the desk, the thick solid wood surface instantly cracking like a spiderweb.
"Who leaked the information about Borsalino's severe injuries?!" It was clear Sengoku was furious.
Akainu sat nearby, cigar smoke swirling around his cold, stern face, his eyes flashing with dangerous light: "What's going on with the Gorosei? If even an Admiral is severely injured, how can the Navy maintain its deterrence over the seas?"
Aokiji, unusually not dozing off, leaned against the window, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, saying nothing.
Tsuru adjusted her glasses, calmly analyzing: "This leak of information is clearly the World Government warning us—the Navy's recent crackdown on underground black industries has touched too many people's interests."
Sengoku sneered, his fist slowly clenching: "So, they're using Kizaru's injuries to reprimand the Navy? How ridiculous! Have they gone mad?"
Akainu suddenly stood up, his military boots stomping heavily on the floor: "Fleet Admiral!!!"
Sengoku took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as knives: "Pass down the order—the Navy's next actions will proceed as usual! Investigate what needs to be investigated, arrest who needs to be arrested!!"
But he sighed helplessly: "If they have connections, let them go."
Kong, sitting nearby sipping tea, shook his head: "Sengoku, you still haven't fully grasped it. They can die from unnatural causes, it's just a bit more troublesome. Alright, I've rested enough, time to go back."
The Navy's military budget is controlled by the World Government, making the Navy's justice seem so helpless.