Chapter 35: Provoking Kaido! Unleashing Conqueror's Haki in Mariejois

"In the solemn conference room, the ringing of the phone echoed sharply, drawing the attention of Sengoku, Tsuru, and Hawkeye. All eyes focused on Doflamingo, whose phone bug persisted in ringing despite his attempts to disconnect the call.

Doflamingo's irritation was palpable as he struggled with the persistent caller. "This must be that guy Bellamy," he muttered, glancing at the phone bug with frustration evident even beneath his typically composed demeanor.

"You'd better take it, Doflamingo," Sengoku advised calmly, observing the unfolding situation with interest alongside Tsuru.

Chuckling softly, Doflamingo reluctantly acquiesced, steeling himself to answer the insistent call. "Click."

"Moshi moshi," a strange voice greeted him from the other end, immediately wiping the smile from Doflamingo's face. His expression turned dark as he listened intently.

"Who are you?" Doflamingo demanded sharply, his voice betraying a hint of unease.

"Portgas. D. Ace," came the calm reply, the name alone enough to elicit reactions from everyone in the room. Even Hawkeye raised an eyebrow, silently acknowledging the significance of the caller.

"The pink flamingo, Doflamingo," the voice continued, prompting a visible reaction from Doflamingo, who bristled at the reference.

"Looks like I picked a good time to call. Is this Mariejois? Naval Headquarters Marshal Sengoku, Grand Staff Officer Tsuru, Shichibukai Bartholomew Bear, Shichibukai Hawkeye, Dracule Mihawk, all gathered in one small room," Ace remarked casually, causing a ripple of surprise among the listeners.

Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged a quick glance, their expressions hardening at the implications of Ace's knowledge. How could he be aware of their precise location and attendees through a mere phone bug? The implications were unsettling.

Tsuru's gaze sharpened. "Portgas D. Ace, are you implying that you have connections within the Marines?"

"It seems that you used the video phone bug to spread news of the Alabasta incident across the entire kingdom of Alabasta. Is this the same unconventional method you're using now, Portgas. D. Ace?" Sengoku questioned, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Ah, The Resourceful General Sengoku, the Buddha, by the way, how is my old man's health recently?" Ace replied casually, his tone betraying a hint of familiarity that further unsettled the room. 

"Portgas D. Ace, don't overestimate your position," Sengoku cautioned sternly, his patience clearly wearing thin with Ace's audacious behavior.

In the tense atmosphere of the conference room, Ace's nonchalant response to Sengoku's message sparked an immediate confrontation. Doflamingo's smirk grew more pronounced, his hidden intent palpable behind his glasses.

"Anyways so Doffy," Ace continued, his eyes flickering with a deep, ominous hue. "Help me deliver a message to Kaido of the Four Emperors. I, Portgas D. Ace, seeks his head."

The declaration was followed by an explosive eruption of Conqueror's Haki, surging through the phone bug in Doflamingo's grasp. Instantly, the room was thrown into chaos. Walls cracked, furniture splintered, and a tempestuous mix of black and purple lightning tore through the air, rattling Mariejois to its core.

Marines and Shichibukai alike were caught off guard. Elite guards succumbed to the overwhelming force, collapsing where they stood. Outside, even the aristocratic Celestial Dragons were not spared the effects of Ace's power.

Sengoku, enraged by the disruption, moved to retaliate with his own Conqueror's Haki, but Tsuru intervened, urging caution in the face of such devastation within Mariejois. The realization that Ace could channel his Haki through a mere phone bug left them all stunned.

As the chaos subsided, leaving behind shattered remnants of the once-steadfast conference room, Sengoku's expression twisted with a mixture of disbelief and begrudging respect. The potency of Ace's Conqueror's Haki had shattered his preconceptions of the young pirate's capabilities.

At this time, Doflamingo no longer had that evil smile on his face. He looked at his hands in disbelief—they were shaking. The Conqueror's Haki released by this brat was shaking him?! Doflamingo clenched his fists tightly, his face twitching crazily. Being so embarrassed by mere Haki reminded Doflamingo of a certain person: the one who reigns over the second half of the Grand Line like an emperor, the Four Emperors of the New World, the strongest creature, Kaido of the Beasts. The very thought of that terrifying existence made him feel suffocated. Are you kidding?! How could this brat's Conqueror's Haki be so strong?!

"The strong Conqueror's Haki," Hawkeye muttered, his sharp eyes narrowing. His usually careless posture became extremely solemn as he surveyed the damage. This newcomer's Conqueror's Haki had caused real harm to the environment, just like the red-haired guy. It was unbelievable that a newcomer who had just joined the Grand Line possessed such powerful Haki. No wonder Beckman had asked him specifically to learn the truth about Crocodile's death and had mentioned the newcomer, Portgas D. Ace. A man with this kind of Conqueror's Haki deserved his respect.

Even Kuma's usually expressionless face showed signs of being stirred. Such strong Haki! This level of Conqueror's Haki was not inferior to Monkey D. Dragon's. The top big shots of the sea present at the meeting stared at the phone bug that had taken on Ace's appearance, their eyes full of solemnity. At this moment, no one considered Ace's words to be the ignorant boasting of a fledgling newcomer. This was a real provocation to one of the Four Emperors, Kaido, and a man with this kind of Conqueror's Haki had the qualifications to do so.

"Remember what I said, Doflamingo," Ace's mocking laughter came from the phone bug. Doflamingo looked at the phone bug with a gloomy expression and said nothing. "Then, I'll take my leave now, and you can continue with the meeting," Ace chuckled lightly and hung up the phone before Doflamingo could reply. "Click!" The phone bug lowered its head and fell into silence.

But everyone present was no longer as calm as before. Portgas D. Ace actually had such powerful Conqueror's Haki. Moreover, he had openly released it in Mariejois and directly provoked the Four Emperors Kaido. Sengoku covered his head, looking extremely troubled. With Haki like this and still so restless, the sea was really going to make huge waves because of Portgas D. Ace. Garp! It's all your grandson's fault! Sengoku gritted his teeth.

"Asshole!" Doflamingo's eyes flashed with ultimate anger beneath his sunglasses. Portgas D. Ace hadn't taken him seriously at all. What made Doflamingo even angrier was that when he actually faced Ace's Conqueror's Haki, he felt a little afraid. Should he tell Kaido what happened today? The veins on Doflamingo's forehead swelled. No! He couldn't tell Kaido, at least not through his own mouth. After feeling the impact of Ace's Conqueror's Haki, if he told Kaido, wouldn't that be Surrendering? He, Donquixote Doflamingo, as Portgas D. Ace's messenger? In his heart, he would already be acknowledging his inferiority to Ace. His confidence would take a huge hit, and his Haki would weaken. Damn it, Portgas D. Ace!

Doflamingo gritted his teeth in hatred. Sengoku glanced at Doflamingo and already guessed that Doflamingo would not tell Kaido about Ace's provocation, feeling somewhat reassured. After all, Doflamingo was also an owner of Conqueror's Haki. If, after the impact of Ace's Conqueror's Haki, he had obediently told Kaido about today's incident, then Doflamingo's kingly ambitions would take a nosedive.

Sengoku glanced at Hawkeye and Kuma, feeling a bit more at ease. Hawkeye, known for not being meddlesome, wouldn't spread the word. Kuma, currently obeying the World Government's advice due to that incident, also posed no risk. With these thoughts, Sengoku felt a bit calmer. If Portgas D. Ace, who possessed such powerful Conqueror's Haki, were to face the Four Emperors Kaido directly, the sea might indeed fall into chaos. They needed time to prepare for such a collision.

The previous Marine judgment on Portgas D. Ace was that without leadership from a Naval Headquarters Vice Admiral, there would never be a significant clash. This evaluation was already high, but now it seemed even the senior Marine Vice Admirals who could participate in a Buster Call would be no match for him. The impact of Ace's Conqueror's Haki alone would render them powerless, if not unconscious. Ordinary Vice Admirals were mere fodder in front of Ace. If Ace truly had this kind of power, the Marines would have to consider dispatching an Admiral.

Sengoku's head pounded as he looked at the messy conference room. Garp, you old bastard, what kind of monster did you teach?! He suppressed his headache and addressed Hawkeye, Doflamingo, and Kuma. "Let's end today's meeting here. We will discuss the new candidate for Shichibukai tomorrow," he said solemnly.

Doflamingo, unusually silent, walked out of the conference room with a livid face, thoughts of Portgas D. Ace consuming him. Kuma, back to his expressionless state, also exited without a word. Hawkeye, standing up with a chuckle, remarked, "This time, I really didn't come here in vain. I will not attend the next meeting," and walked out slowly. Portgas D. Ace? It seems like I can find Red Hair and discuss this.

Sengoku, frustrated, slammed his fist on the conference table after they left. "These unruly bastards!" Tsuru handed him a glass of water. "Garp told you that Portgas D. Ace is his grandson?" she asked.

"That's what the old guy said. From the call just now made by Portgas D. Ace, it can be confirmed that this is true," Sengoku replied, drinking the water in one gulp, teeth gritting. "That old guy Garp actually taught such a monster and he became a pirate!"

Tsuru, pointing at the surroundings, said solemnly, "This power, if it were not an accident, I'm afraid Portgas D. Ace has mastered that power. Advanced Conqueror's Haki."

Sengoku, covering his aching head, spoke deeply, "If it is true, then this sea will really be in riots." Conqueror's Haki - Entanglement, if mastered completely, could allow someone to dominate the second half of the Grand Line and the New World like an emperor. Such a figure, even Navy Headquarters, must take extremely seriously. To deal with such a strong man, Naval Headquarters could only dispatch the three Admirals, with even Admiral candidates not qualified.

"The judgment on Portgas D. Ace will be re-evaluated, and no Marine on the Grand Line will be allowed to fight with him without an order from the headquarters," Sengoku declared solemnly. If Garp's grandson truly knew how to utilize Conqueror's Haki, then even the senior Vice Admirals of Naval Headquarters who could participate in Buster Call would be at risk.

"Clear," Tsuru nodded, her expression very solemn.

Sengoku didn't say much more and left the conference room quickly, fists clenching. Garp!!! With eyes burning, Sengoku went to seek out Garp.