Chapter 28: An Admiral Really Showed Up!

Ron had been puzzled about that matter as well.

But after thinking about Marshall D. Teach’s personality, it made sense.

"Teach has always been suspicious by nature. More importantly, he never puts himself in danger."

Ron shrugged.

"He might’ve already arrived at Jaya long ago and simply been hiding somewhere, secretly observing everything."

Ace nodded, his expression turning serious as if recalling old memories.

" Ron is right."

"Even before Thatch died, I had already noticed Teach."

"That guy never places himself in a dangerous situation. No matter what he does, he always prepares an escape route first."

Jozu scratched his head.

"Alright, I trust Ron."

The moment his words fell—

The entire battlefield seemed to freeze.

Then a dazzling beam of golden light streaked across the sky like a meteor.

Everyone’s attention was instantly drawn toward it.

Countless glowing golden particles converged from every direction.

They swirled together in midair, gradually forming a humanoid silhouette.

The figure became clearer and clearer.

Until finally—

It completely materialized.

Admiral Kizaru.

He floated calmly in the air, radiating the overwhelming pressure expected of a Marine Admiral.

The atmosphere instantly became silent.

"The Whitebeard Pirates?"

Kizaru glanced at the group.

"Kizaru?"

The Whitebeard Pirates looked up as well.

Jozu couldn’t help taking a sharp breath.

"Damn..."

" Ron is incredible."

"An Admiral really showed up!"

At that moment, Kizaru’s gaze shifted toward the unconscious figure lying on the ground.

Saint Degu.

His face was swollen beyond recognition.

The Admiral rubbed his forehead with a headache.

"Pirates really are terrifying."

His voice carried his usual lazy tone.

"To beat Saint Degu into such a state... that’s truly frightening."

Then he noticed Ron standing beside the Celestial Dragon.

More specifically—

The bloodstains on Ron’s fists.

Kizaru’s pupils contracted slightly.

He instantly understood what had happened.

"You’re the one who beat Saint Degu?"

"That’s right."

Ron glanced down at the unconscious Celestial Dragon.

"Just a pig."

Kizaru:

"......"

The Whitebeard Pirates’ eyes lit up.

As expected of their Vice Captain.

Even if his combat strength wasn’t on their level yet, his courage in front of an Admiral was second to none.

Kizaru’s expression darkened.

Insulting a Celestial Dragon so openly in front of so many people was equivalent to slapping the Marines directly across the face.

He took a slow breath.

Suppressing his irritation.

"Young people are truly frightening."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"And what might your name be?"

Ron slowly raised his head.

His gaze met Kizaru’s directly.

For a brief moment, the surrounding world seemed to disappear.

Only the silent confrontation between the two remained.

"Whitebeard Pirates Vice Captain—Ron."

He announced his identity word by word.

Each syllable carried absolute confidence.

The declaration echoed across the battlefield.

Kizaru was visibly surprised.

A Vice Captain?

As one of the Marine Admirals, he knew the major pirate forces of the seas better than almost anyone.

Yet he had never heard of a Vice Captain within the Whitebeard Pirates.

This was completely new information.

The battlefield fell silent.

Only the rustling of leaves could be heard.

Then Marco stepped forward.

Subtly placing himself between Ron and Kizaru.

From that position, if Kizaru suddenly attacked, Marco was confident he could intercept him immediately.

"That’s correct."

Marco’s voice was calm and firm.

"Ron is the new Vice Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates."

Kizaru silently memorized the name.

Ron.

Just as he was about to speak, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Recent events.

The brilliant golden light over Jaya.

The mysterious changes within the Whitebeard Pirates.

Admiral Aokiji’s severe injuries.

Various clues instantly connected together.

A bold possibility emerged.

So he decided to test it.

"Vice Captain Ron."

Kizaru stared directly at him.

"I’d like to ask something."

"Are all the recent changes within the Whitebeard Pirates connected to you?"

"Whether it’s Ace obtaining two Devil Fruit Powers..."

"Or the golden phenomenon that appeared over Jaya..."

His eyes remained fixed on Ron’s face.

Trying to catch the slightest reaction.

But to his surprise—

Ron showed absolutely no intention of hiding anything.

Instead, he openly admitted it.

"Fine."

He spread his hands.

"No need to guess anymore."

"It was me."

He smiled.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

Kizaru:

"......."

Since everything was now out in the open, there was no point probing further.

"Young people these days..."

His voice became slightly colder.

"Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"

As he spoke, he slowly raised his right leg.

Blinding golden light rapidly gathered around it.

The radiance intensified.

Brighter and brighter.

Like a miniature sun rising into existence.

Then—

His body vanished.

Instantly.

Charging directly toward Ron.

"Hmph!"

Jozu snorted.

"You think you can attack our Vice Captain?"

"Try getting past me first!"

Before anyone realized it, Jozu had already appeared in front of Ron.

His right arm transformed into sparkling diamond.

A wall of absolute defense.

BOOM!

Kizaru’s light-speed kick slammed directly into Jozu’s diamond arm.

The collision generated a violent shockwave.

Dust exploded outward in every direction.

The impact spread in a circular pattern across the battlefield, creating a massive cloud of debris.

Everyone held their breath.

Watching closely.

When the dust finally settled—

Jozu was still standing exactly where he had been.

Not even half a step had been pushed back.

His diamond arm continued to glitter brilliantly under the sunlight.

As though Kizaru’s terrifying kick had been nothing more than a gentle breeze.

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