“He actually killed Charlotte Linlin.”

The World Government elites battling against Gion and her companions were utterly horrified as they gazed at Kuke.

That was his crew member.

And yet, he had swiftly slain an Emperor of the Sea.

Terrifying.

Absolutely terrifying.

“Smoothie, your captain killed your mother. Why are you still serving him?”

“Gion, your captain would kill his own crew. Why follow a leader like that?”

They attempted to sow discord among Gion and Smoothie, hoping to shake their resolve. If they could make them defect, the only enemy left would be Kuke. Their situation would improve significantly.

Gion merely smiled, not bothering to respond, and continued her relentless assault.

Smoothie hesitated momentarily but quickly recovered. Her captain could bring people back to life. He definitely could. Seeing her “mother’s” body vanish, Smoothie held no doubts.

Instead of sowing doubt, the words of the World Government’s elites only strengthened their resolve, making their attacks even fiercer.

“What a terrifying captain—his crew are utterly devoted, almost like death soldiers,” one of the World Government’s fighters muttered as they faced an overwhelming disadvantage in both power and morale.

After dealing with Charlotte Linlin, Kuke chose not to resurrect her immediately aboard the Tomorrow’s Dawn. He decided to wait until everything was settled before bringing her back to life on the ship.

With his blade in hand, Kuke followed the path the Five Elders had taken. His Observation Haki never lost track of them.

“Charlotte Linlin seemed different when she regained consciousness earlier,” Kuke mused as he walked, recalling the small details.

She had behaved almost like a little girl.

And yet, she also seemed to retain some memories.

It was… odd.

“Is she in her childhood state, or is she still herself from before?” Kuke pondered, unable to determine the truth.

He decided he would only know for certain after her resurrection.

“That nun once mentioned that Smoothie and the others were her descendants. Could it be…”

There were still many secrets to uncover.

Elsewhere, two of the Five Elders, injured but determined, hurried down a straight corridor.

Steel alloy doors opened one after another as they made their way deeper into the Pangaea Castle’s inner sanctum—a place among the most mysterious in the world.

In the heart of this hidden realm, amidst an ornate flower garden, sat the true throne of power.

Beside the throne rested an enormous straw hat.

A mysterious figure lounged on the throne, their head propped on one hand, body reclined lazily. Their eyes were closed, their chest rising and falling only once every few minutes, a faint sign of life.

Butterflies, ethereal and enigmatic, fluttered gracefully around Imu, occasionally landing on her fingertips.

Creak—

A massive alloy door, sealed for countless years, began to open slowly.

As the two Five Elders entered, they immediately dropped to their knees, bowing deeply, foreheads pressed to the floor. They dared not raise their heads, nor speak a word.

Though they were among the most powerful figures in the World Government, they knew Imu’s existence was the true center of authority—the ultimate ruler, above even the Celestial Dragons.

Despite their own immense status and strength, the gap between them and Imu felt insurmountable, like an endless abyss.

From the throne, Imu slowly opened her eyes, revealing calm, swirling red pupils, like a vortex of mystery.

“What’s the matter?” Her voice was cold and indifferent.

“Imu-sama, an enemy has infiltrated,” one of the Five Elders stammered, trembling with fear.

“An enemy?” Imu’s gaze turned icy as she stared at the two kneeling before her. “Have the flames and their reincarnations already appeared?”

She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. The pressure emanating from her was suffocating, crushing the two elders under its weight.

“The time hasn’t come yet.”

Her voice remained level, but the Five Elders felt as though they were teetering on the brink of death. Their very lives seemed to rest in her grasp.

“An enemy not tied to the flames? One you cannot handle?” Imu’s expression betrayed a sliver of curiosity.

In her long reign, she had never regarded the so-called Emperors of the Sea or Admirals as anything significant. Even when idle, she was aware of all World Government secrets. Before the flames matured, who could possibly challenge her? Only a united force of all the sea’s strongest might have a chance.

Still unaware of Kuke’s existence, Imu remained detached.

“Deal with the enemy,” she said simply, shutting her eyes once more. Whoever it was, they did not merit her personal attention.

The Five Elders remained prostrate, inwardly lamenting. If they could have handled the situation, they wouldn’t have come to bother her.

“Unable to resolve it yourselves?” Imu’s voice hinted at slight intrigue.

Moments later, her Observation Haki spread across the entirety of Mary Geoise. With ease, she discerned the identities of all intruders, from Gion and Stussy to Kuke, who was steadily approaching.

“Not strong,” she remarked dismissively of Gion and Stussy.

However, her attention lingered on Kuke. He was unfamiliar—neither connected to the flames nor reminiscent of any past foes.

“The Admirals? Where are they?” she asked, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. Why was Mary Geoise left with so little defense?

The Five Elders quickly summarized the earlier events.

Imu, whose expression rarely shifted, showed a faint glimmer of surprise.

“Teleportation across the New World? Power beyond this era?” Her interest in Kuke grew.

Boom!

The steel-alloy door warped before being torn apart with brute force. The Five Elders turned to see Kuke stepping through, his hands having ripped open what they had believed to be an impenetrable barrier.

“He’s here.”

The elders first felt terror, then confidence.

“You’ve sealed your fate,” they sneered. “You had your chance to leave. Now it’s too late.”

They stood firm in their belief that Imu, the true ruler of the world, was unbeatable.

Kuke ignored them entirely, his gaze fixed on the figure on the throne.

For the first time, Kuke beheld Imu—the most mysterious character from the original story, whose face had never been revealed.

“You’re a woman?” Kuke said, his voice tinged with genuine surprise.

Her cold yet regal beauty, the swirling red pupils, and her relaxed posture radiated an aura of absolute dominance.

As Kuke’s eyes traced downward, he noticed her jade-like fingers, upon which a butterfly rested, and the faint curves beneath her loose, pale robes.

Barefoot.

Kuke was taken aback. He had known of Imu’s existence but little else. The original story revealed neither her gender nor her other traits.

Now, it was confirmed—Imu was a woman.

——

DONT FORGET POWER STONE

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep