George flipped through the document, confirming that it was indeed an official authorization letter, complete with a special seal and code. He glanced at Senior Agent John, who was dressed sharply and claimed to be from the FBI. Unsure, George pulled out his phone to verify the situation.
After speaking with the director and confirming everything, George sighed in relief. "Steven," he called to one of his officers, "let's step back and let the FBI handle this."
With a nod to Agent John, George and his team began wrapping up and took the elevator down, leaving the case to the federal agents.
Inside the elevator, George's mind raced. This whole case was strange—every aspect of it. There were too many oddities, too many things that didn't add up. And the fact that the FBI had taken over so quickly? That wasn't normal procedure. Usually, transferring a case took time, but this felt almost immediate.
Something about this situation was off.
The strange nature of this case made it difficult to handle. If it wasn't solved quickly, public opinion would likely put the blame squarely on the police department. Though George was intrigued by the mystery, he wasn't stubborn. If the FBI wanted to take over, it was probably for the best. The speed at which the case was transferred likely meant the director had pulled some strings.
As they reached the first floor, sure enough, a group of suited agents had already set up a cordon and were keeping a large number of reporters at bay. The moment George and his officers emerged, the reporters thrust their microphones forward, bombarding them with questions. But George and his team ignored them, heading straight to their police cars and driving off.
Meanwhile, up on the rooftop, the FBI agents got to work. They didn't bother with the discarded weapons scattered across the area. Instead, they used advanced devices, including infrared scanners, to survey the scene. Before long, red footprints became visible on the ground. One of the agents approached Senior Agent John.
"Sir, based on the footprints and blood samples we've collected, we've confirmed that this was a gathering place for vampires."
"And they were all killed," the agent continued.
John nodded and pulled out a tablet, connecting to a video call. A moment later, a cold, composed female figure appeared on the screen.
"Agent Hill," John greeted.
"John, how are things over there?" Hill asked.
"We've confirmed it was a vampire gathering. Around 150 to 200 members, all dead," John reported.
Hill's expression shifted slightly. The number was more than she expected. John continued, "They were heavily armed, but from the moment the attackers breached the building until all the vampires were killed, it took no more than five minutes. Maybe even less."
"I see. Investigate thoroughly. I'll grant you full access to all resources here in New York," Hill responded calmly.
"Understood," John replied before ending the call. Handing the tablet to another agent, he glanced around the rooftop and let out a sigh. All the street surveillance had been wiped, with no way to recover it. Whoever did this wasn't ordinary, and investigating them would be a challenge.
"Well..." he muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, under the majestic waterfall of the Seven Cities of Sky Blade, Leon stood, bare-chested, as water cascaded down on him. With Keisha's assistance and her precise calculations, he trained relentlessly—honing the three Haki techniques, refining his body, and mastering his devil fruit powers.
Leon's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a call from Natasha.
She mentioned that Melina and her family wanted to meet him, which caught Leon off guard. He knew Natasha was reconnecting with her sister and family, but why was he suddenly involved?
Despite his surprise, Leon didn't turn down the request.
"Tonight? Sure, I'll be there on time," he replied before ending the call.
Standing under the waterfall, Leon remained unmoved by the force of the rushing water. The intense pressure didn't bend his posture. Instead, his right hand began to glow with a dark luster, and a terrifying aura solidified around him. Wisps of red lightning suddenly sparked into existence, crackling and coiling around his arm.
His eyes, filled with a primal intensity, focused sharply as he compressed his energy. Finally, with a swift upward strike, his fist tore through the air.
Boom!
The force of his punch, enveloped in red lightning, caused the hundred-meter-high waterfall to reverse its flow. The water shot into the sky like an explosion, thousands of tons of it suspended momentarily before falling back down as a rainstorm, drenching everything below.
Water droplets clung to Leon's hair, sliding down his forehead, temples, and over his perfectly defined muscles, giving him an almost ethereal, rain-soaked appearance.
It was a striking, solitary moment, witnessed only by Leon—and Keisha, who silently observed from afar.
"The combination of pure mental energy and physical energy results in a high-intensity output," Keisha remarked, her graceful figure appearing beside the river. She gazed at Leon with her captivating eyes, explaining, "But it places severe demands on the user. The average human physique simply can't handle it."
Leon shrugged and jumped in front of her, his movements casual. Keisha snapped her fingers, conjuring a towel out of thin air, which she handed to him. He took it, wiping his hair as they strolled along the riverside path.
"How's the analysis going?" he asked.
"I've run a rough simulation," Keisha replied. "The three forms of haki are primarily driven by mental power. That mental energy can be stimulated through specific techniques. In addition, it works in conjunction with physical strength, enhancing both. If you're ready, Captain Leon, we can begin the process at any time."
"Let's hold off until I return. And the fruit?" Leon inquired.
Keisha's eyes sparkled with knowledge as she elaborated. "Your Devil Fruit energy is unusual. Once it reaches a certain threshold, it can influence matter and even alter fundamental laws. You can develop a wide range of abilities by manipulating light energy—thermal effects, light quanta, and even manipulating hot and cold light sources. Once your body is strong enough, you'll be capable of moving at the speed of light, or even beyond. The potential is enormous."
Keisha, speaking from the vast technological wisdom of angelic civilization, considered the Glint-Glint Fruit's potential remarkable.
"If you push it far enough," she continued, "and your body can handle the immense energy, you could evolve into something like a star—a walking, human-shaped sun."