The World Government had ruled the world for over eight centuries.
But even with that legacy, they never expected such humiliation—brought upon them by a rising star like Kairos Flint.
To protect the greater good and stabilize the current situation, they had no choice but to agree to Jiang Yang's aggressive demands. This temporarily defused tensions, but deep down, the anger still boiled within them.
They had been relentlessly trying to kill Kairos Flint and acquire his Devil Fruit. Its value was simply too great to ignore. This fruit allowed an ordinary man to grow into a powerhouse in a short span of time.
If the fruit could be obtained and wielded by someone they trained from the ground up, the World Government would command a truly fearsome champion—strengthening their grip over the entire world.
"Sir, another important update," said the CP agent over the den den mushi. "Charlotte Linlin appears to have fallen in love with Kairos Flint. She's currently plotting to capture him and make him her husband... to bear her children."
There was a pause.
The agent's voice carried a strained tone—barely containing amusement. The Five Elders, who had been deep in serious thought, froze simultaneously.
"What... did you say?" Saint Makasmas raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching with disbelief. "Charlotte Linlin... wants to marry Kairos Flint?"
Saint Jegarsia Saturn nearly choked on his tea, coughing violently.
None of them had expected this. The idea that Big Mom—the monstrous matriarch of the seas—had fallen for Kairos Flint and intended to trap him into marriage? It was more shocking than hearing Kaido had been defeated.
Topman Warcury shook his head with a long sigh. "Alright, keep it together. Let's not forget—Charlotte Linlin has married dozens of men and had children with each of them."
That reminder brought the room into an awkward silence.
They all felt the urge to laugh but kept it suppressed.
The CP agent continued reporting: "But Charlotte Linlin isn't strong enough to handle Kairos Flint on her own. Under Kaido's manipulation, the two have formed an alliance to try and trap him. The plan is to use a pair of seastone handcuffs to weaken his powers once captured."
Hearing this plan, the Five Elders looked at one another and nodded in agreement.
"If that's not enough," Saint Makasmas added coldly, "we'll send ten CP0 agents—elite assassination operatives—to accompany them as undercover support. If Linlin and Kaido fail, our agents will strike together."
"Of course," Saturn added, "they must not reveal their identities. Even in death, they must not link the operation to us."
Though Kairos Flint was strong, they reasoned that with the combined might of Linlin, Kaido, and ten general-level assassins, it might finally be enough to eliminate him—a threat they now viewed as a cancer spreading through their carefully ordered world.
"If we succeed," Saint Topman concluded, "the world will once again fall under the World Government's absolute rule."
"I agree."
"I support it."
All Five Elders voiced their consensus.
The World Government—backed by eight centuries of domination and the world's greatest resources—had more than just the Celestial Dragon army. Their real trump cards were the CP divisions: cold-blooded, loyal, and ruthlessly efficient.
These elite agents were chosen from among the strongest—each one just a step below the level of an admiral. And those selected for this mission were among the best of the best.
Across the rippling blue sea...
The Mythic Sky sailed steadily.
Kairos Flint sat calmly on the deck.
Nami was curled up on his lap, sipping her drink lazily, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Uta, nearby, sang a beautiful melody, her voice drifting like waves in the wind.
The rest of the crew lounged peacefully, everyone doing what they loved. The atmosphere was tranquil and carefree.
"Kairos, aren't we supposed to be heading to Totto Land?" Nami asked curiously, lightly shaking her pale hands.
Ever since Kairos awakened the power of the Life Slate, he had abandoned their original route, letting the ship drift freely through the sea.
"What's the rush?" Kairos Flint replied, his tone relaxed. "I'm sure someone will come find us soon."
Kaido and Linlin could try to hide, but it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths again.
For now, Kairos was focused on gathering more Devil Fruit crystals to feed into his stone slate—slowly pushing his strength to the level of a god. At the same time, he intended to help Nami and the others grow stronger as well.
"Kairos! A ship's approaching!" Vivi called from the crow's nest, her voice carrying excitement. She had spotted something through the telescope.
Hearing this, Kairos instantly extended his Haki and sensed a pirate ship closing in. The strange flag on its mast looked oddly familiar.
With a soft smile, he stood up and leaned over the railing, gazing at the distant ship.
Robin used her Hana Hana no Mi ability to snatch the telescope from Vivi's hands. Peering through it, she finally caught a clear glimpse of the flag.
"Oh, it's the Hawkins Pirates," Robin confirmed. "Captain Basil Hawkins. Bounty: 320 million berries. He's a Devil Fruit user—rumored to wield some kind of Straw-Straw Fruit."
She had been studying bounty posters on the ship, familiarizing herself with New World pirates—especially those with known Devil Fruit powers. After all, Kairos Flint was always on the lookout for new fruit users to harvest for his stone slate.
Whenever a poster mentioned a fruit ability, Robin or the crew would immediately report it to Kairos.
"Hawkins... Straw-Straw Fruit... a rare Paramecia-type ability," Kairos mused, a grin forming. "Not bad. I wonder what kind of power I'll gain after merging him into the slate."
His smile widened.
Just as he had hoped, opportunity had come knocking.
Though the timing felt earlier than expected—perhaps because his presence had disrupted the natural flow of events—Kairos Flint welcomed it with open arms.
"Hawkins entering the New World this soon... guess I've already started changing fate."