The words had barely fallen when the air grew tense.
An oppressive silence blanketed the scene.
One of the navy soldiers cautiously raised his musket and aimed at Kairos Flint, but the fear in his eyes betrayed his uncertainty. After all, every report confirmed that this was the man who had single-handedly wiped out the infamous Dragon Pirates.
That kind of power wasn't something their muskets could hope to match.
A loud gulp broke the silence.
Colonel Mouse swallowed nervously. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"You're... you're joking, right?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt.
"You're welcome to find out," Kairos replied coolly, shooting him a flat look.
"I'm a naval officer! If you dare lay a hand on me, do you realize the consequences?!" Colonel Mouse's voice rose with false bravado, trying to summon courage from the authority he wore.
"A naval officer?" Kairos scoffed. "You mean a disgrace in uniform."
He took a step forward.
"As for consequences, Colonel Mouse, let's talk about yours. You've been in bed with the Dragon Pirates for years. If your superiors ever found out... do you think you'd still be wearing that uniform tomorrow?"
Colonel Mouse flinched, his pupils shrinking.
"W-What nonsense are you spouting?! I-I would never! I'm a servant of justice! How dare you accuse a man of the navy like that?"
His panicked rambling only fueled Kairos's steady gaze.
"Please. Don't insult my intelligence," Kairos said, his tone sharp. "When I took down Arlong, he told me everything. About your deals, the bribes, the years you spent covering for him. That adds up to a small fortune, doesn't it?"
He smirked.
"What do you think will happen when your office—or your home—is searched and they find millions of Berries with no clear origin? What story are you going to spin then?"
Colonel Mouse's face paled further. His confidence had shattered like glass.
"Put the guns down," he barked to his men, who immediately obeyed, lowering their weapons with visible relief.
Colonel Mouse turned back to Kairos, plastering a sheepish grin on his face.
"Mr. Flint..." he began.
"Name's Kairos," Kairos interrupted without a change in expression.
"Right. Mr. Kairos Flint," the colonel corrected himself. "Surely we can settle this peacefully. How about ten million Berries? Just to... smooth things over. All I ask is your silence."
Kairos didn't even blink.
"That woman beside me," he gestured to Nami, "you tried to arrest her too, didn't you?"
Colonel Mouse's grin twitched.
"A misunderstanding! An honest mistake. There's no way she was part of the Dragon Pirates. And for the trouble I caused her, I'll offer five million more as compensation."
He gave a little bow, lips twisted into a sycophantic smile.
It was a pathetic display.
Kairos didn't speak. He reached into his coat and pulled out a communication Den Den Mushi.
"Colonel Smoker," he said calmly, "you hear all that?"
Colonel Mouse's face turned ghost white.
"You bastard! You tricked me!"
He howled in rage, but it was too late.
The Den Den Mushi, echoing Smoker's voice, responded with barely restrained fury.
"Colonel Mouse, you've outdone yourself," Smoker growled. "It's truly a privilege to serve beside such a spineless, corrupt coward."
Before now, Smoker had only heard secondhand rumors about Mouse's alliance with the Dragon Pirates.
Now he had the confession.
"Kairos, hold them there. No one leaves until I arrive. If they resist, arrest them. I owe you one."
"Consider it done," Kairos replied without hesitation.
That favor—coming from someone like Smoker—was worth its weight in gold.
He may not have the highest rank, but Smoker had pull, and more importantly, his teacher was the former Admiral Zefa himself.
A favor like that could pay off in ways no bribe ever could.
And Kairos Flint had just collected it.