81. Arrival in Mary Geoise

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"Your Majesty, when we return home, I swear I'll double my efforts in training. From now on, I'll protect you with my life," Daiki said with fierce determination, his voice steady but his eyes blazing with resolve.

Anos looked at his loyal subject with a gentle but firm expression. "Don't burden yourself, Daiki. You've done enough. For now, let's focus on getting back. The sooner, the better. I'm not even sure if the other party saw our flag. If they did… well, it's not something we can easily erase."

Daiki nodded solemnly, but Anos could see the tension still hanging over him. It wasn't every day they encountered such a terrifying presence, one that had left them both feeling like ants in the shadow of a mountain.

And for Daiki, a man who prided himself on his strength, it had been a humbling experience.

They both stood silently in the air, using Geppo to stay aloft. Below them, the ocean, which had been a churning maelstrom moments before, was now beginning to calm.

The two warriors gazed down at the tranquil surface, lost in thought.

Who could have predicted such an encounter on a peaceful journey? It felt unreal.

They had set out expecting smooth sailing, as it had always been for the Tru Kingdom.

But now, they realized the world was far more complex and dangerous than they had imagined.

As Daiki glanced at his king, he thought about the uncertain future ahead.

They had narrowly escaped this time, but what if they crossed paths with that fearsome figure again? Would they be as lucky?

At that moment, somewhere beneath the waves, Kaido was floating in a state of eerie calm.

Though he couldn't move due to the side effects of his Devil Fruit, he could still breathe underwater thanks to his Fish-Fish Fruit abilities.

He was aware, fully conscious, but unable to act yet he was far from defeated.

This was Kaido, the creature known as the "Strongest Creature" a title that had been thoroughly earned.

Anos and Daiki, feeling the urgency of the situation, resumed their Geppo and quickly made their way back to their ship, the Tempest.

Their crew had been anxiously watching from a distance, waiting for a sign of their return.

They had sailed a considerable distance for safety, slowing only once they felt secure.

Time seemed to stretch as they travelled. It wasn't until someone on deck finally spotted their figures approaching that a shout of relief pierced the air.

Excited cries filled the ship as the others spotted them, all shouting their joy at once.

The entire crew had witnessed the island where Kaido had landed, and they had all seen it sink into the ocean like a stone.

Even from their safe distance, they had heard the rumbling as a massive chunk of land disappeared beneath the waves.

The power displayed had left everyone shaken to their core.

When Anos and Daiki landed back on the deck, the atmosphere was thick with both relief and lingering dread.

Anos moved as if unaffected, his expression calm and collected.

Daiki, on the other hand, was breathing heavily, his face slightly flushed from both exertion and lingering adrenaline.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Suzu, the ship's navigator, asked with tear-filled eyes.

She had kept herself composed up until now, but the sight of her king returning safely broke through her defences.

Anos gave her a reassuring smile. "All is well, Suzu. We're both fine. No need to worry," he replied, his tone calm and steady.

As his gaze swept over the ship, however, he noticed something odd.

The national flag of Tru Kingdom was missing from the mast. A small detail, but one that filled him with sudden dread.

"Where's the flag??" he asked sharply, his voice laced with a rare hint of alarm.

Daiki, following his king's gaze, echoed the question. "Yes, where's the flag? It should be up there!" he added, his voice tense.

"My apologies, Your Majesty," said Barlow, one of the ship's officers, stepping forward. "We encountered a fierce storm two days ago and took it down to prevent it from being torn. It seems it wasn't put back up afterwards. I'll see to it immediately!"

Anos let out a sudden laugh, the tension melting from his features. "Haha… Daiki, this might be a blessing in disguise! If the flag wasn't up, that guy wouldn't know which kingdom we're from!"

Daiki's eyes lit up as he grasped the implication.

At least, for now, they were safe from any immediate retaliation. Without a flag to identify them, Kaido had no way of tracing them back to Tru Kingdom at least, not without considerable effort.

A wide grin spread across Daiki's face, and he strode over to Barlow, clapping him on the shoulder. "Barlow, you've done a great thing without even realizing it! Don't worry about raising the flag just yet. Let's focus on getting back safely. Follow the Eternal Pose toward Mary Geoise," he instructed, his tone lighter than before.

The rest of the crew was still bewildered by the exchange, but they didn't question it.

Their respect for Anos and Daiki ran deep, and if their leaders weren't sharing details, it was likely for their good.

The encounter with Kaido had ended as well as it could have. Even though more than two hours had passed, Anos still felt a slight sense of unease.

The experience had left a mark on him, something that he couldn't shake easily.

Lying back in a deck chair, he closed his eyes, letting the sun's warmth wash over him.

Yet, beneath the calm facade, his mind was racing.

He had seen true power today, and it was a harsh reminder that even the strongest could be outmatched.

He knew he would need to prepare, to ensure that his kingdom would not be left vulnerable again.

As the days passed, their ship gradually made its way toward Mary Geoise. Ten days later, the grand city loomed into view, perched atop the imposing Red Line.

Even from miles away, its grandeur was apparent, an intimidating sight for anyone approaching it.

Mary Geoise represented everything that the world revered and hated. It was the seat of power for the World Government, the home of the Celestial Dragons, and a place that inspired both awe and resentment across the seas.

To the common folk, it was an untouchable fortress, a den of corruption, and yet, none dared to openly oppose it.

The waters near Mary Geoise were eerily calm, almost as if they were in a perpetual state of peace.

There was no wind, no movement an unnatural calm that hinted at the influence of the powers residing there.

As they drew closer, the tension among the crew heightened. Anos could feel it too; the closer they got, the more apparent the stillness became.

Guard towers and sentries were scattered around, some in plain sight and others hidden, their presence a silent warning to any who might think of causing trouble.

"Listen carefully, everyone," Anos announced, his voice cutting through the silence on deck. "We're here on official business. We cannot afford to make any trouble, no matter what happens. Is that clear?"

The crew nodded, their faces solemn. They knew the importance of staying in line.

In a place like Mary Geoise, a single misstep could lead to severe consequences, and none of them wanted to find out just how unforgiving the World Government could be.

As they approached the port, guards immediately moved to intercept them, their expressions hard and unreadable.

A massive plank was lowered from the ship, connecting it to the port below, and Anos disembarked with Daiki and Suzu at his side.

"Who are you?" a Marine barked as they stepped onto the platform.

"We are from the Tru Kingdom in the South Blue," Daiki replied, keeping his voice steady. "We've been invited to join the World Government."

He held up the invitation, a formal letter from the CP agents they had encountered days before.

It was their golden ticket, their way of gaining access without hassle.

The Marine took the invitation, scanning it carefully before nodding. "Very well. Who among you is the king? And how many of you will be proceeding? All weapons must be left here," he said, his tone brooking no argument.

Daiki felt a flash of irritation at the Marine's tone, but he held his tongue. They were here on official business, and it would do no good to stir up trouble.

He turned to Anos and said, "This is our king. Is there anything further required?"

The Marine looked over Anos carefully, as if assessing his worthiness. Finally, he nodded. "Proceed, but remember no disruptions are tolerated here."

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