Two years later, Ivalis' behavior was utterly astonishing compared to when he first joined. The man had truly behaved himself during these two years, showing no signs or inclination towards rebellion.
Despite this, the number of people who still suspected him of being a potential traitor was not small. But for Ivalis, it was enough. The group of former Red-Haired Pirates he brought with him were now his trusted subordinates. While many in the Immortal Pirates still didn't approve of him, he had gained the recognition of a good number of the crew and was doing quite well.
The gold hair that was shoulder-length two years ago now reached his back. He wore sunglasses beneath his bandana, giving his poker face an imposing, calm demeanor.
"Ivalis! A Marine battleship is moving in this direction!"
Ivalis, who was patrolling the seas around Arderay, suddenly heard his subordinate's shout. He immediately put the grilled meat he was having for lunch back onto the deck, quickly walked over to his subordinate, and asked, "Who is it? Aokiji? Or Kizaru?"
The subordinate shook his head. "I've never seen them before. There are two ships in total. The two people standing at the front are a girl and a man with an afro. Judging by their appearance and attire, they are Marine rookies."
"Marine rookies daring to come all the way here..." Ivalis muttered in disbelief. He took the telescope from his subordinate and looked across the water.
It was exactly as reported. There were two people standing at the bow of the ship, and the group of Marines behind them were almost entirely dressed as Marine recruits, wearing Marine short-sleeves, vests, and caps.
The two leaders were a young woman in her early twenties with dark blue, eyebrow-length hair, and a man with bright red hair that looked like a bird's nest. They were too far away for Ivalis to see them clearly.
They were Zephyr's last students, Ain and Binz.
"Hmph!" Ivalis drew his saber, his expression turning serious. "No matter who they are, Marines are Marines. Prepare to sink their warships!"
He was not the type to stop simply because the enemy didn't attack him; that was Shanks. Ivalis was the type to strike first.
"Understood!"
The pirates on Ivalis' ship responded in unison. They didn't bother notifying the other patrol ships, believing their single ship was enough to deal with two warships led by nobodies.
Ivalis was the first to act. When the Marine warships were still half a mile from his ship, he leaped high from the deck. A golden sword beam shot down, powerful enough to cleave a warship in half.
Ain, who was standing at the bow and had prepared for this, had two peach-colored flames burning in her hands. With a swing of her arms, the flames collided with the sword beam Ivalis unleashed. The golden sword aura was enveloped by the peach-colored shield and gradually vanished.
"Nani!?"
Ivalis was startled by the sight. He jumped back from mid-air to his own deck and frowned. "An ability from a Devil Fruit, huh."
After stopping Ivalis' attack, Ain neither relaxed nor gloated. Instead, she commanded her subordinates, "Turn the ship thirty degrees! Flanking attack!"
So strong. I can't win against him head-on. As expected of a former main executive of the Red-Haired Pirates, Ain thought to herself.
Ivalis instantly understood her intention when he saw the movement. He murmured, "Avoiding a frontal clash and looking for an opportunity from the side? Interesting. But what exactly is the goal of these Marine rookies?"
"Ah, whatever." Ivalis shook his head, deciding not to worry too much, and commanded, "Full speed ahead!"
The two sides plunged into a fierce battle of offense and defense. Under the heavy cannon fire from Ivalis' group, Binz, the user of the Grow-Grow Fruit, scowled, "As long as we can reach land, I can use my power! Grow-Grow..."
Ain, directing the other Marines under her command, also felt the severe pressure from facing a Yonko crew, but she spoke determinedly. "I absolutely cannot fall until I see Zephyr-sensei."
…
Meanwhile, in the dim castle inner hall, Alucard was looking at the day's newspaper, his eyes narrowed. He muttered to himself, "What are those people in the Government up to..."
The news published in today's paper was not about a pirate causing trouble or a country fighting a war. It was about the key to the ONE PIECE and the secret to becoming the Pirate King—the Road Poneglyphs.
It detailed the matter of the four Red Road Poneglyphs. If one could obtain all of them and decipher the ancient script inscribed on them, they would be led to the location of the final island, Laugh Tale, the resting place of the ONE PIECE. The person who obtains the ONE PIECE would, without a doubt, claim the title of Pirate King along with the great treasure, making them the most coveted existence for all pirates.
Of course, concerning the secret of the Poneglyphs, the article only mentioned that they pointed to the route to Laugh Tale. It made no mention of the Ancient Weapons, the reason for the World Government's establishment, or the Void Century.
The Government was the source of this revelation, so the information was highly credible, at least in the minds of the majority of the fools in the world.
"...And the people who currently possess these four stones are..."
Alucard mused as he looked at the content below. At the end of the newspaper, the Government listed the owners of the four Poneglyphs:
Yonko Alucard
Yonko Kaido of the Beasts
Yonko Big Mom
Yonko Whitebeard
"HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"
Upon seeing the names listed, Alucard couldn't help but burst into loud laughter. Wasn't this a blatant lie?
He didn't know if Whitebeard had one, but it was certain that the idiot Kaido absolutely did not have one. The Government was clearly aiming the spear of all pirates hungry for the ONE PIECE at the four Yonko.
"The new official's fire finally reached me after two years, huh? I wonder which fools this will attract to challenge me."