Chapter Fifty-Seven: Navy, Fork!

The sea was utterly calm, not a breath of wind to be found. Camio guided Hancock down to the rooftop, and in an instant, Robin and Ice Phoenix appeared before him.

"Are you both alright?" Seeing the two women neat and spotless, showing no signs of having fought, and then casting ambiguous glances at Hancock standing at Camio’s side as soon as they appeared—how could anything have happened to them?

"Hey! You went out to have fun, and wouldn’t you know it, the Navy actually attacked. So frustrating!" Robin chuckled softly, walked up to Hancock, and affectionately stroked her head.

Ice Phoenix smiled faintly. "We’re fine. Do you really think those navy soldiers could hurt us?"

Seeing the two of them completely unconcerned, Camio nodded. "Good, as long as you’re alright. I’ve decided to pay the Navy Headquarters a visit—make them realize this isn’t a place for them. Since they dared to come, they’ll have to pay the price. What do you think? Heh heh." As he finished, he let out a mischievous laugh.

Robin slapped her forehead. "There’s just no stopping you. If you want to go, go ahead! Just make sure you don’t kill anyone who doesn’t deserve it." She was helpless; knowing this rascal, once he heard the navy had come to cause trouble on Amazon Lily, he’d definitely go looking for payback. She only hoped he wouldn’t kill anyone he shouldn’t.

Ice Phoenix smiled softly. "I’m going too. I wouldn’t feel at ease if you went alone. Let me go with you, alright?" Her eyes pleaded with him—clearly, staying on this island without Camio was unbearably dull.

Camio nodded and looked at Robin. Robin shook her head slightly, took Hancock by the hand, and left, teasing as she went: "You two have fun out there, but don’t forget to come back soon! Hehe." Her laughter rang out as she walked away.

Camio took Ice Phoenix’s hand gently. "So, are you getting used to things here?"

"It’s fine, I guess. It just gets boring when you’re not around. Let’s go." Ice Phoenix pulled Camio up into the sky; she really didn’t like being secretly watched by two pairs of eyes from behind.

...

Navy Headquarters, Marineford. The Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s office.

"Report!" came a hurried voice from outside, clearly urgent.

"Come in!" Sengoku, who had been reviewing documents at his desk, frowned. It didn’t sound like good news. Could it be...

The door slid open and a colonel rushed in.

"What is it, why the rush?" Sengoku asked with a frown, anxiety gnawing at him.

"Admiral, all five vice admirals who attacked Amazon Lily have been killed in action. Of the ten thousand elite navy officers and soldiers sent, fewer than two thousand returned. The mission failed!" The colonel was drenched in cold sweat; he’d been terrified when he received the news, never imagining the island would be so fearsome.

"What?!" Sengoku shot to his feet, slamming his palms onto the desk uncontrollably.

He pushed his glasses up, forcibly suppressing his anger. With a trembling voice, Sengoku demanded, "Wasn’t Camio supposed to be away from Amazon Lily? How could the Navy have failed? Explain yourself!" Sengoku was seething. Just months ago, intelligence confirmed Camio was in the New World, even meeting Whitebeard recently—how could he have returned so quickly? Unless he flew? Suddenly the thought struck him—Camio had the same Devil Fruit ability as Kizaru; if Kizaru could fly, why couldn’t Camio?

"We didn’t see Camio, the notorious pirate..."

"What? Then why did the navy lose? Amazon Lily isn’t exactly known for its fighting force." Sengoku exclaimed in shock. If it wasn’t Camio, could it have been someone else? Perhaps that young woman who disappeared with him in Ohara?

"It was two women, both of unfathomable strength. According to the surviving soldiers, the two seemed even stronger than Camio. One appeared to be Nico Robin, missing for nine years and with a bounty of a hundred million, the other was a silver-haired woman not listed in any records." Cold sweat streamed down the colonel’s forehead. Was the navy’s time up? Should he defect to Camio, that notorious pirate?

If Sengoku knew what his colonel was thinking, he’d probably slap him right then and there.

Sengoku slowly sat down, heart heavy as lead. Alas! He’d thought Camio wouldn’t return, but to his surprise, the man was surrounded by so many powerful allies. It seemed they’d have to brace for Camio’s wrath.

At this point, the three admirals and the dog-headed Garp, who had been silent at the side, finally spoke. Garp looked at Sengoku with a mocking glint in his eye, his tone laced with irony: "Heh, that guy really holds a grudge. When he hears what happened, the navy—well, it might not see tomorrow." Garp knew the extent of that man’s power; nine years ago, Camio could already defeat him, and back then Garp was in his prime!

The three admirals frowned. After all, it had been their suggestion to wipe out Amazon Lily; they’d disgraced themselves badly that time. Was there no hope of regaining their dignity?

"Boom!!"

"Boom!!"

Suddenly, two thunderous explosions rocked the island, followed by violent tremors.

Sengoku’s brow twitched. How could they have arrived so quickly? The defenses weren’t even prepared.

He got up and rushed out, with the three admirals and Garp following close behind. Speak of the devil, and he appears!

...

"Hey, darling, what do you think of the cross I drew? Ha ha!" Camio hovered midair, standing in the center of the vast bay, grinning at Ice Phoenix beside him.

The enormous stone wall at Navy Headquarters, the one bearing the words "MARINE" and its emblem, was now in ruins. Earlier, Camio had casually unsheathed "Purple Emperor" and slashed twice, sending two arcs of sword energy crossing over the stone wall, creating a huge, eye-catching X—sure to be the first thing anyone arriving at Marineford would notice.

The navy soldiers guarding the bay below stared, stupefied. None tried to stop him; even if they wanted to, it would have been suicide. Still, the scene seemed an utter mockery of the navy.

At this moment, Sengoku and his admirals arrived at last. On seeing the sight before them, Sengoku’s face turned ashen. The three admirals looked equally grim, while only Garp shook his head slightly, glancing up at the two figures suspended in the air.

"Hmph!"

Camio let out a thunderous snort. Unleashing his Conqueror’s Haki in full, Ice Phoenix quickly withdrew to a safe distance, recognizing the look in Camio’s eyes.

The navy soldiers below were not so lucky; under the overwhelming force of his Haki, they collapsed unconscious. Sengoku and his four companions, caught off guard, were forced to their knees, unable to move, the pressure so intense it felt as though they were bowing in submission to Camio. They struggled, but couldn’t move an inch. It was as if they were stranded on a boundless sea with a massive mountain looming above them, utterly powerless before Camio.

The sea below was pressed down by hundreds of meters, the island shook violently, fissures gaping across buildings, and every soldier on the island slowly fell.

If someone were to capture this scene, it would shake the world—it was the navy’s ultimate humiliation. Yet they were helpless to resist.

The crushing pressure gradually lifted, and then a voice drifted to the ears of the navy’s leaders: "Remember! I don’t want a next time. If you defy me again, the navy will cease to exist." The menace in his voice was palpable. As they heard these words, the five men found themselves unable to move even a muscle, not even to tremble—such was the gap in power.

A seagull’s cry broke the silence, and the five finally regained their senses, slumping to the ground, gasping for breath.

"We are defeated, utterly defeated. Before him, we have not even a shred of resistance. Even if we called upon those elders, it would be useless! Ah!" Sengoku’s voice was desolate. Toward Camio, toward Amazon Lily, he felt nothing but resignation. That tangible bloodlust had enveloped him, making him feel as though his life was no longer his own, unable to move, his mind nearly shutting down. Such was the difference—an overwhelming difference in strength.

The other four wore equally defeated expressions.

...

Two years later.

"Ah, a whole day of training—time to get some sleep!" Camio said as he headed toward the bedroom.

Shedding his clothes, he slipped under the covers, waiting for Robin to arrive. Last night, Ice Phoenix had kept him company; tonight was Robin’s turn.

"Looks like Robin isn’t coming. Time to sleep." Closing his eyes, Camio drifted into slumber.

Half awake, he sensed a soft body sliding under the covers with him. Camio opened his eyes slowly and looked over.

"What’s this, Hancock, couldn’t wait any longer?" Camio gently stroked the head of the woman nestled naked in his arms.

"Mmm. Tomorrow’s my eighteenth birthday—I want to give my most precious self to you as a birthday present from you, Brother Camio." Hancock’s eyes were misty; she’d waited for this day for years.

Camio kissed away the tears from her eyes. "Silly girl."

A night of passion followed.

...

Perhaps because things had gotten a bit intense, and it was Hancock’s first time, she couldn’t get out of bed the next day.

It was her birthday, after all. Camio held her in his arms, lying in bed all day, whispering sweet words, while Robin and Ice Phoenix did not appear. Later, when Hancock recalled that birthday, she said it was her happiest ever, for that was the day she became Brother Camio’s beautiful bride.

Time flowed gently by, unnoticed...

...

The main story is about to begin—hope you’ll all continue to support! And don’t worry, he won’t be joining the Straw Hat crew.

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