On the Marine warship, Vice Admiral Momonga looked through a telescope toward the port.
"They've already landed. Let's head over as well."
He was about to lower the telescope when he caught sight of a tattered flag bearing a scratched smiley face.
"Wait, that symbol…"
"The mark of the Donquixote Family?!"
"In other words, the pirate here is Bellamy, an affiliate of the Donquixote Family!"
Vice Admiral Momonga's pupils shrank. His heart sank with realization.
Based on the flare earlier and the pirate flag, he had quickly put the pieces together.
It was Bellamy who was planning to attack Caelan!
"No, I have to intervene."
Momonga wasn't concerned that Caelan would lose to Bellamy. He was worried that this would draw Caelan into direct conflict with Doflamingo.
With the potential Caelan had already demonstrated and his actions aligned with justice, Momonga couldn't bear to see him cut down so early.
As a Vice Admiral of the Navy, he was fully aware of the strength among the Warlords of the Sea.
Crocodile was mostly a show-off with his Devil Fruit. His Haki was much weaker than Momonga's.
But Doflamingo was different. His Devil Fruit had awakened, and he possessed all three types of Haki at a formidable level—far stronger than Crocodile.
"Even if he defeated Crocodile, it's still too soon to face Doflamingo!"
Looking at the nearby port, Momonga muttered with worry.
Soon, Vice Admiral Momonga led a group of Marines to approach Caelan's location.
…
At the port, Caelan and his crew stood across from the group of pirates led by Bellamy.
"What, are you in such a rush to give me more bounty money?"
Caelan narrowed his eyes, speaking with calm indifference.
He had expected only Bellamy's crew, but Bellamy had managed to gather a small army of pirates.
No matter. The appetizer just got a bit bigger.
"Looks like you still don't understand your situation. You're already surrounded, yet you're still putting on an act."
Bellamy sneered at Caelan's relaxed attitude.
He had over a hundred pirates behind him, many of them worth tens of millions. It was the combined might of Mock Town.
He couldn't imagine how Caelan could do anything about it alone.
"Yeah, there's a whole bunch of us! Are you scared?"
Roshio shouted arrogantly, as if he hadn't been trembling in the tavern just earlier.
Now that he was hiding behind Bellamy and all the others, his courage returned.
"That's right! We're not afraid of you!"
"Today, we'll teach you what real power looks like!"
The other pirates jeered and shouted, trying to act tough.
But as they looked into Caelan's calm, unwavering eyes, it felt like they were staring into a bottomless abyss.
Their threats rang hollow, like bleats from a cornered lamb.
"Your clown show is amusing, but honestly, your bounties are more interesting."
Caelan's tone was flat and expressionless.
"You're still putting on a front? What can you possibly do against all of us?"
Bellamy crossed his arms and scoffed.
Over a hundred men stood behind him. Many had bounties exceeding ten million. Even facing two of them was a challenge for most.
Caelan didn't respond. He didn't even glance at Bellamy.
Bellamy gritted his teeth, just about to retort.
Boom!
A powerful wave of energy erupted from Caelan, and arcs of terrifying purple-black lightning crackled across the eastern part of Jaya Island like serpents gone wild.
In an instant, most of the pirates collapsed as if their skulls had been struck, unconscious on the ground.
Only Bellamy was still barely standing, sweat pouring down his face as he stared at Caelan in horror.
…
"Hahaha, looks like we have a winner!"
Blackbeard, observing from the shadows, laughed hoarsely, his gaze locked on Caelan.
No wonder he had defeated Crocodile. This man was truly dangerous.
"He has Conqueror's Haki… He really can't be allowed to clash with Doflamingo now."
Vice Admiral Momonga, having just arrived, felt the overwhelming presence and became more resolute.
Caelan had potential beyond measure and was still close to the Navy. He could become the first emperor-level figure on good terms with the Marines. They couldn't afford for him to become Doflamingo's enemy yet.
…
"H-How is this possible? He has the same Conqueror's Haki as Doflamingo-sama?!"
Bellamy stammered as he watched the fallen pirates all around him.
The forces he'd worked so hard to assemble were wiped out in an instant.
"Thanks for gathering them for me. Saves me a lot of trouble."
Caelan smiled mockingly as he looked at Bellamy.
"I'm not done yet!"
"I'm going to join the Donquixote Family and help usher in Doflamingo-sama's new era! I won't fall here!"
Bellamy's eyes burned with madness as he roared defiantly.
Even if Caelan had Conqueror's Haki, Bellamy still had his Devil Fruit. That might be enough.
The next moment, his legs transformed into springs, and he launched into the air, bouncing between buildings as he gathered kinetic energy.
"Spring Hopper!"
Bellamy's speed increased rapidly. He became a blur, bouncing around at high velocity.
As his momentum peaked, he dove straight toward Caelan with terrifying force, the wind howling behind him.
"Die!!"
Bellamy's eyes gleamed with excitement and bloodlust. He was sure of his victory.
This was his ultimate technique. He had crushed many foes with it—and this time would be no different.
Fast. Fierce. But ultimately meaningless.
Caelan sighed and casually threw a punch.
Bang!
In the blink of an eye, his fist slammed into Bellamy, sending him crashing into the ground.
The high-speed blur that couldn't even be tracked just moments ago now lay embedded in the dirt like a lifeless dog.
Vice Admiral Momonga arrived moments too late and looked at the scene with a deep frown.
He had still been too slow.
"Caelan, you shouldn't have hit him! He's one of Doflamingo's men!"
Momonga shouted at Caelan, his tone urgent.
Why was this man so reckless? With that much talent, he should focus on growth before provoking the strong.
"Doflamingo? Doesn't matter."
Caelan replied casually, completely unfazed.
Even Doflamingo didn't scare him?
Momonga looked at Caelan, stunned.
This wasn't arrogance. This was exactly how someone like Kaido used to act.
In that moment, Momonga understood.
True strength wasn't born from hesitation, but from pressing forward like Caelan was doing now.
Blackbeard, still watching from the shadows, was equally shaken.
"Haha… What a monster. He's got the same presence as that old man, Whitebeard."
Blackbeard stared long and hard at Caelan, committing his face to memory.
To have trained such spirit and strength in just the first half of the Grand Line...
It wouldn't be long before another emperor appeared in the New World.
Without hesitation, Blackbeard turned and quietly left.
Until he obtained his Devil Fruit, he would never face Caelan. It simply wasn't worth it.
(To be continued.)
***
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