Withdrawing his blade to block, Issho pulled back to avoid the sweeping spiked club before lunging at Kaido again.
The clashing of dense tal echoed continuously through the sky as shockwaves fractured the clouds.
Issho had mastered both Haki perfectly.
His blade, heavily enhanced by gravity and infused with Armant Haki, matched the Emperor's spiked club strike for strike, even against the infusion of Conqueror's Haki.
In fact, it was Kaido who was forced to retreat repeatedly under the crushing weight of the gravity slashes.
The Gravity Fruit held massive tactical advantages in aerial combat.
In the distance, Robin uncrossed her arms.
The peripheral pirate ships near the Rose Hunter were slowly sinking into the waves.
Baby 5 retracted her weaponized hands and gazed out at the sea.
The combatants were no longer visible, but the terrifying tremors of their clash still rippled through the air.
"Aren't we going to help?" Baby 5 asked.
"We'd only be in the way," Robin shook her head.
The Rose Hunter continued sailing away from the battlefield. She understood perfectly well that staying would only serve to distract the swordsman.
'But can Mr. Issho truly hold his own against Kaido of the Beasts?'
With this worry lingering, Robin kept rowing while retrieving a Den Den Mushi from her coat.
Seeing the snail, Baby 5 fell silent.
Buru buru!
The snail rang briefly before connecting.
"Robin, what happened?" Cyrus's voice ca through.
"We've encountered Kaido of the Beasts," Robin reported, feeling considerably more at ease hearing his voice.
"Kaido? That guy went to Big Mom's territory? Did you run into Linlin?"
"No," Robin clarified quickly. "It's just Kaido. We were spotted by a scout from the Big Mom Pirates, but shortly after, Kaido attacked from the sky. Mr. Issho is currently holding him off."
"So, it's just Kaido by himself?"
"Yes. He transford into a dragon and attacked us from the clouds."
"I see. If it's just Kaido alone, while Issho might not defeat him, he certainly won't lose."
Hearing Cyrus's confidence, Robin let out a soft sigh of relief.
"What should we do now?"
"I'll be back soon."
"Alright. I'll contact you when we dock at the next island."
"Be careful."
The call disconnected.
"Let's go. We need to find safe harbor," Robin said, glancing back at the trembling sky as she steered the ship away.
...
At the Sabaody Archipelago.
Cyrus hung up the snail receiver. Crocodile, sitting across from him, looked thoroughly surprised, having overheard the entire exchange.
"Issho and Kaido are fighting?" Crocodile sought confirmation.
"Didn't you just hear? Kaido won't find it easy to take Issho down." Cyrus knew the blind swordsman was Admiral level powerhosue, his strength had been personally verified by him.
While Cyrus couldn't predict the exact outco, he knew Kaido couldn't stop Issho if the swordsman decided to leave.
"Let's continue," Cyrus prompted.
Crocodile suppressed his curiosity and resud his administrative report. "Cooperating with the Revolutionary Army has greatly accelerated our developnt. They have connections across many seas and have been thorough in selecting strategic locations for our branches. However, I recently received intelligence that the revolutionaries sotis use the Hunter Guild as a front to instigate internal rebellions in certain countries."
Crocodile watched Cyrus's expression closely, trying to discern his stance on this manipulation.
"Continue," Cyrus's expression remained unchanged.
He wasn't surprised that Dragon's forces were using such tactics.
The world operated on pure strength.
As long as Cyrus remained at the top, the Hunter Guild would never slip from his absolute control.
The revolutionaries were rely borrowing his reputation to further their own geopolitical goals.
It was a transaction he had fully anticipated.
"Aren't the prizes for the upcoming Hunter Exam a bit excessive?" Crocodile asked.
"What do you an?" Cyrus raised an eyebrow.
"The three Devil Fruits and the Sky Island gold would have been sufficient. But before you returned, the Revolutionary Army delivered another nineteen Devil Fruits, claiming you had instructed them to hand them over to ."
"Are those ant to be exam prizes as well?"
"Oh, you an the SMILEs. Those were confiscated from Doflamingo. Handle them however you see fit—they're defective Artificial Zoan fruits, not particularly valuable," Cyrus waved his hand dismissively.
His casual dismissal left Crocodile speechless.
In all his years, the Warlord had never seen so many fruits gathered in one place.
Such treasures were usually consud imdiately; few collected them in bulk.
"In that case, shall I add them to the guild's regular reward pool?" Crocodile suggested.
"Approved. How is the establishnt of the branches in the Four Seas progressing?"
"Smoothly. In the North Blue, Germa 66 approached us directly to collaborate. In the West Blue, the Happo Navy and various underground factions have voluntarily offered logistical assistance. Progress in the East and South Blue is slightly slower, but steady. The Revolutionary Army clearly has significant influence in the South."
"I see. Bartholow Kuma in the South Blue isn't a Warlord yet, correct?"
"Huh?" Crocodile was montarily stunned before shaking his head.
"I don't believe so." His tone was uncertain.
Previously, he would have confidently stated Kuma wasn't a Warlord, but Cyrus seed to possess impossible foresight.
If he brought it up now, did it an Kuma was slated for the position?
'I need to gather intelligence on this man,' Crocodile noted ntally.
"I understand," Cyrus nodded.
"I've also secured a safe thod to ascend to Sky Island. Our guild mbers have already reached the clouds and ford a preliminary agreent with the Skypieans. Establishing the exam venue there will proceed smoothly," Crocodile continued.
According to the blueprint, the forr God's Domain would be completely repurposed into the grueling testing grounds for the Hunter Exam.
"What about our operational funds?" Cyrus asked.
"I thought you wouldn't concern himself with sothing as mundane as money!" Crocodile replied with a hint of sarcasm.
Cyrus raised an eyebrow, leveling a flat look at the sand user.
"Ahem, we have sufficient funds," Crocodile quickly corrected, turning serious. "Various factions have been funneling money into the guild recently. This includes Stussy and several underworld figures making secret contributions. Oh, and Gild Tesoro."
"The user of the Gold-Gold Fruit?" Cyrus was sowhat surprised.
"Yes. He erged suddenly in recent years and has ties to Doflamingo."
"Hmm, he stole that fruit from Doflamingo." Cyrus stroked his chin.
Co to think of it, the Heavenly Demon had handled quite a few famous Devil Fruits: the Ope Ope Fruit, the Gold-Gold Fruit, and eventually the Fla-Fla Fruit in the original tiline.
The Warlord had a strange knack for sourcing top-tier powers.
"Alright, I'm reassured leaving this in your hands. You've done well." Cyrus stood up, patting Crocodile on the shoulder. "One more thing—those who join the Hunter Guild cannot act like pirates. If any cross that line, you know what to do."
"Understood," Crocodile nodded solemnly.
This concerned the fundantal reputation of the organization, if they gained a pirate's infamy, correcting the public narrative would be incredibly difficult.
"I'll head back now. You heard the call—Issho and Kaido are fighting. If I hurry, I might still catch the action."
"Guild Master," Crocodile called out as Cyrus turned to leave. "What are your plans for the New World? Do you intend to compete for territory with the Emperors?"
In Crocodile's view, Cyrus entering the New World guaranteed catastrophic clashes with the established powers.
He hadn't been in those waters a week before crossing blades with Kaido of the Beasts.
"Most likely. I'll find suitable personnel to establish guild branches on appropriate islands in the New World. You can send administrators to connect with them later."
"Understood." Crocodile hesitated for a fraction of a second before speaking up again, this ti with a personal request.
"If you engage in battle with the Whitebeard Pirates, please allow to participate."
"Want to challenge the old man again?" Cyrus understood instantly.
Crocodile had been beaten back to Paradise after a humiliating defeat against Whitebeard, his spirit crushed much like Gecko Moria's.
"I want to give it another try," Crocodile stated, his expression deadly serious.
"Very well. I hope to see you finally defeat him," Cyrus smiled, granting the request.
"Thank you, Guild Master."
"No need. We're on the sa side now." Cyrus walked toward the exit, stopping just at the threshold.
"Arrange a ship to send Hancock back to Amazon Lily as soon as possible. Additionally, if the Marines or the World Governnt launch an attack on any guild branch, retaliate directly."
"To what extent?"
"Any extent is acceptable."
With that, Cyrus stepped out.
A deafening sonic boom echoed through the air monts later and the Guild Master was gone.
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