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"If that doesn't work, you can file a report," said Kaku, echoing what Jabra had suggested. "They found the Pluton blueprints and took Iceburg hostage to escape!"
The room fell silent as several agents exchanged uneasy glances, deliberately ignoring Spandam. Who would dare take responsibility for this mess? That would be career suicide.
More than ten days later, Hikaru finally received word from the priests.
"So, you're saying my God's Strike Team was captured by Gekko Moriah?"
The God's Strike Team was a special unit made up of Shandian warriors. As the strongest among them, Wyper served as the team's temporary captain.
Through the Den Den Mushi, a priest who resembled Shura reported the situation, sweat beading on his forehead as he tried to justify what had happened.
"Yes, Lord God. They weren't reckless or greedy for merit. The sea around that area is extremely treacherous, and as soon as they got close, they were sucked into Moriah's massive, eerie ship."
Hikaru didn't seem upset. As long as his subordinates accomplished their assigned missions, he considered them valuable assets.
"Hmm... so you've all reached the Devil's Triangle?"
"I've already informed the other priests. They're gathering there now."
"Good. Wait for my arrival."
Click.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Hikaru transformed into a bolt of lightning, flashing from Skypiea toward the Devil's Triangle.
On Skypiea, special shellfish known as Mother-and-Child Clams existed. Each set consisted of one Mother Clam and several Child Clams. No matter where they were, the Child Clams always pointed toward their Mother Clam, making them useful for tracking locations.
Not long after, Hikaru landed on a ship flying the flag of the Kingdom of God.
"Our Lord God!" the priests and God's Guards shouted in unison.
"Hmm?" Hikaru's gaze sharpened. Without hesitation, he unleashed a bolt of lightning onto the deck.
Before anyone could react, a bright flash engulfed their vision.
"Ahhh!"
A high-pitched, agonized scream followed as a long-haired man, dressed in extravagant clothing with a face resembling a lion, suddenly materialized.
"Aghh! There's a terrifying monster on this ship!"
Seated casually on the Gate of Void, Hikaru watched as the divine soldiers took advantage of Absalom's weakened state. They rushed forward and pinned him to the deck.
"When you board a ship, shouldn't you check it thoroughly?" Hikaru asked calmly.
"Lord God, we did search, but we didn't find anyone. Our observation and hearing abilities are far inferior to yours," Shura admitted, drenched in cold sweat.
On Skypiea, everyone's Haki had been trained under Hikaru—who had learned it on his own, albeit imperfectly. His knowledge of Haki was no match for what Silvers Rayleigh had taught Luffy or what the New World's seasoned warriors had mastered.
Still, it was a solid foundation. If more advanced Haki techniques became available—like those from Amazon Lily—proper training could follow.
"Who are you?" Absalom trembled from the lingering electricity but still refused to submit. Instead, he sneered defiantly,
"This is the territory of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! If you know what's good for you, you'll release me and leave at once. Otherwise, Captain Moriah will make you regret it!"
"Are you done?" Hikaru picked his ear, completely uninterested.
"Huh? You... don't tell me you've never heard of Lord Gekko Moriah?"
Seeing how unmoved everyone was, Absalom started to panic.
Hikaru waved his hand lazily, already bored. The divine soldiers immediately understood and rushed forward, slashing their blades into Absalom's strange body, as if performing surgery to separate his consciousness from his flesh.
"Wait!! You can't—"
Before Absalom could finish his sentence, his grotesque lion-faced head flew off.
White lightning crackled in Hikaru's hand. With a flick of his fingers, he extracted Absalom's Devil Fruit.
The Clear-Clear Fruit had its uses, but to Hikaru, it was practically worthless.
Its ability allowed the user to become transparent by letting visible light pass through their body. However, it had significant limitations—it couldn't conceal sound or scent.
In the New World, where Haki users were everywhere, someone relying on the Clear-Clear Fruit's invisibility could be easily detected.
So why did Shiryu of the Rain choose to eat this fruit? Hikaru mused. Did he have the same reasons as Sanji…?
"Door, storage room!"
A door the size of a human head suddenly appeared in the air beside Hikaru. He reached in and placed the essence of the Clear-Clear Fruit into a pre-prepared fruit.
This was the result of his mastery over the Door-Door Fruit. The other end of the portal connected to his collection room in the Sky Island Shrine.
By creating a permanent transfer door inside his collection room, he could open corresponding portals elsewhere and send objects back instantly.
However, his current level of development limited him to maintaining only one such portal at a time—opening another would force the previous one to close.
With this ability, he essentially had a portable storage space. If needed, he could even step into the portal himself and instantly return to Skypiea…
At that moment, five ships flying the flag of the Kingdom of God stood motionless on the waves. The divine soldiers wore solemn expressions, the air filled with silent anticipation.
"Have all the divine soldiers arrived?" Hikaru asked, reclining on the throne beside the mast.
"Lord God, the four great priests and the five divine guards are assembled and awaiting your command! However, the sixth team is too far away and won't make it in time."
"If most of us are here, that's enough. Begin the assault!"
"OUUHH!!!"
The divine soldiers, eager for battle, tightened their grips on their weapons and sailed deeper into the Devil's Triangle.
Before long, an eerie atmosphere settled over the fleet. A haunting, ghostly melody echoed across the waves, breaking the heavy silence.
"? Yohohohoho~ ?"
"? Bring us Bink's sake~ ?"
"? Ride the waves and sail the seas~ ?"
Then, without warning, the song abruptly stopped.
In the next instant, a medium-sized pirate ship appeared ahead.
It was old and battered, resembling an ancient relic. And yet, despite the brutal waters of the Devil's Triangle, it still floated—a testament to the rare and durable materials used in its construction.
Before Hikaru could give an order, Shura had already dispatched a group of divine soldiers to board the ship and investigate.
"Lord God!" A soldier soon reported. "There's no one aboard… just… a human-shaped skeleton."
A skeleton…? Hikaru immediately understood.
"Bring that skeleton to me."
Moments later, the divine soldiers returned, carrying Brook on their shoulders. They placed him on the deck beside Hikaru before stepping aside.