Chapter 48 Unlucky Encounter in the New World

As the warship neared the G-8 base, Satoru began to believe his luck had been unusually good—he hadn't encountered a single pirate group during the journey. But just as that thought crossed his mind, a pirate ship appeared on the horizon, its crew loud and oblivious to the approaching danger.

"Attention all soldiers! Pirate group spotted ahead. Prepare for battle!" the adjutant commanded sharply.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The sailors moved with precision, their expressions serious as they armed themselves for combat. Guns were loaded, blades drawn, and even Admiral Kizaru, the Yellow Ape, stood calmly on the deck, observing the distant pirate ship.

"The pirates who survive in the New World aren't to be underestimated," Kizaru remarked. His casual demeanor betrayed none of the tension in the air.

Kizaru's gaze drifted to Satoru. His silent expectations were clear.

"Fine, I get it," Satoru said with a confident smirk. "You want a demonstration of my strength? Watch closely, Admiral."

Before anyone could blink, Satoru disappeared from the warship, vanishing in a flicker of space.

Kizaru's lips curled into a slight smile. "Hmm, faster than light itself? Interesting. It must be some kind of spatial manipulation ability."

In the blink of an eye, Satoru reappeared above the pirate ship. From his vantage point, he observed the crew celebrating, indulging in food and drink with carefree abandon.

"If all pirates in the New World are like you," Satoru declared, his voice dripping with disdain, "this so-called 'paradise' is nothing but a joke."

His words echoed across the ship, freezing the pirates in place. Their laughter died as they looked up to see the navy officer hovering in midair.

"Who does this kid think he is?" one pirate sneered before pausing, realizing something was amiss.

Moments later, a panicked shout came from the lookout. "Captain! There's a Navy warship ahead—and it's led by Admiral Kizaru!"

The pirate captain's face darkened. "Kizaru, huh? Then we're in deep trouble."

Desperation gleamed in his eyes as he devised a plan. His gaze fixed on Satoru. "If we take him hostage, we might have a chance to escape!"

Satoru raised an eyebrow, amused. "Take me hostage? Really?"

His mocking tone made the captain flinch. "Your plan is written all over your face," Satoru added.

Enraged, the pirate captain leaped into the air, meeting Satoru at eye level. His fist, coated in Armament Haki, swung toward Satoru with deadly intent.

"Impressive strength," Satoru mused as the blow approached. "Too bad it's wasted on someone like you."

The captain's fist stopped abruptly, inches from Satoru's face. He strained to move, but his attack was frozen in place. His expression turned to shock and fear.

"Impossible! I'm using Haki! Devil Fruit abilities shouldn't work against this!"

Satoru smirked. "Why? That's a long story, and explaining it to someone like you isn't worth the effort."

In a flash, a black streak of energy erupted from Satoru's hand, striking the captain and sending him crashing back onto the deck with enough force to splinter the planks beneath him.

"That white-haired kid..." one pirate muttered, suddenly recognizing him. "He's the youngest Rear Admiral in Navy history! The one they call the Navy's supernova!"

The crew collectively froze in fear. They had dismissed the rumors as propaganda, but now they were seeing firsthand why the Navy had hyped this man so much.

"You all seem surprised," Satoru said with a smirk. "Guess the rumors didn't do me justice, huh?"

The captain groaned, barely able to move. "Why… why can't I land a hit on you?!"

"Let's just say… I'm built differently," Satoru replied nonchalantly.

Without giving the crew another moment to react, Satoru unleashed his technique. A blue sphere of energy formed in his palm, radiating with power.

"This is the end for you. Blame Kizaru; he's the one who told me to clean up."

With those words, Satoru released the sphere. It struck the ship, generating an intense suction force that tore it apart from the inside out. Within moments, the pirate ship split cleanly in half, its crew thrown into the chaotic waves of the New World.

In these waters, with no ship to rely on, their fate was sealed.

"Well," Satoru muttered as he returned to the warship, "that takes care of that."

Kizaru chuckled softly. "Impressive. You might just survive the New World after all."