Dr. Vegapunk's speech was brief. He spent the remaining airtime using the camera to showcase the "Third Path," a corridor allowing free passage between the New World and Paradise, before cutting the Visual Den Den Mushi feed.
The broadcast ended, but the world was left in a state of absolute uproar. In the plaza, the reporters' first instinct wasn't to write their drafts or contact their newsrooms, but to engage in a heated, frantic debate.
Previously, claims that the war between the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates would "determine whether the world is destroyed" were treated as mere hyperbole. But if the World Government's military had truly been defeated by the Immortal Pirates, then talk of the world's end was no longer an exaggeration.
Lest anyone forget, during the Summit War just half a day ago, Alucard had demonstrated a level of power that was meant to be looked up to, yet remained utterly insurmountable.
"Sky Island? Isn't that a legendary place over ten thousand meters above the sea?"
"The Immortal Pirates and the Government forces fought a war there? Impossible!"
"Besides Fish-Man Island and Mariejois, a third path to the New World has opened. What will become of the world now?"
"That man just called himself Vegapunk... isn't he the Government's genius scientist? When did he defect to the pirates?"
Vegapunk's words were short, but the sheer volume of information was staggering. People's minds simply couldn't process it all.
Rayleigh quietly led the Straw Hat crew and the Revolutionary Army members under Sabo away, reconvening at Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
Luffy, stepping into his role as Captain, commanded that regardless of what was happening in the outside world, they were not to lose focus. Two years from now, they would reunite at the Sabaody Archipelago!
As the Straw Hats temporarily disbanded, Nami, the navigator, voiced a concern: If Dr. Vegapunk was telling the truth, what state was Sky Island in right now? Rayleigh agreed to escort her part of the way, as he knew of an aerial route that could safely reach the clouds.
Meanwhile, the press took Dr. Vegapunk's words and ran with them. The world hadn't even finished celebrating the Navy's narrow victory over Whitebeard when this news struck them like a sledgehammer.
The Government was defeated by the Immortal Pirates?
To what extent?
If the Government, an institution eight hundred years old, could be toppled by a pirate crew, then in the future, whose voice would carry more weight? Alucard's, or the Gorosei's?
This series of disasters was more than enough to leave the Government and the Navy in a state of total chaos for the foreseeable future.
Ten days later, Alucard returned to the New World with Nico Robin, arriving at Arderay, the primary stronghold of the Immortal Pirates.
"Captain!"
The faces of the crew were flushed with extreme excitement. Ambitious pirates like Black Thorn Fallon could only be described as being in a state of "pure ecstasy."
Over the past few days, headlines had dominated the papers: "Alucard Ascends to the Throne of the World's Strongest" and "Who Will Control the Future: The Government or Pirates?" Alucard and the Immortal Pirates were now being directly compared to the World Government itself. To be a pirate of such stature was something even the Roger Pirates had never quite achieved.
"Alucard-sama, I've brought back an interesting brat."
During the clash with the Government forces, the captain of the Iron Arm Pirates, Urdaha, who had been sent by Alucard to monitor Water 7, approached him as they neared the castle.
"Hmm?"
Alucard turned his head slightly, following the direction of Urdaha's thumb. About fifty meters away, lurking behind the corner of a building, a young man in his early twenties was using a stone wall to hide most of his body, peeking out with only his head visible.
The man had green, slicked-back hair, black markings under his right eye, and a nose ring. His face resembled that of a forest demon, but right now, his eyes were shining with fanatical excitement.
Beside him were several subordinates dressed like street thugs. One man with a punk-style afro said, "Boss! The Great One is looking this way! You have to go say hello!"
Hearing this, the green-haired man nodded blankly. For some reason, he turned his back to Alucard and began to retreat sheepishly in a reverse-walk.
Urdaha squinted, looking embarrassed as Alucard's expression grew impatient. "Ahem... this kid's name is Bartolomeo. He's the captain of the Barto Club. He doesn't have a bounty yet, but his strength and talent are excellent. I'd estimate at least over 100 million. He claims he went to sea out of pure adoration for you."
"Is that so? Tell Vegapunk to come see me later."
Alucard finished his sentence and turned away, losing interest in the green-haired stranger.
It wasn't until half a minute later that Bartolomeo finally stammered his way over, still facing away. "A-A-A... Aluca... Alucard-sama! I finally get to see you! I-I am just a lowly..."
Seeing this, Urdaha simply kicked him in the rear. "You idiot!"
"He's already gone."
Hearing those words, Bartolomeo looked up from the ground, choking back sobs. "What a magnificent back! As expected of the man who committed the Great Massacre at Rulusas, caused an uproar at Marine Headquarters with Golden Lion Shiki, single-handedly slaughtered the Twelve Kingdoms, dealt with the Pirate King's apprentice Red-Haired Shanks, took down Dragon the Revolutionary, and recently shone so brilliantly at the Summit War..."
As he spoke, Bartolomeo's whimpering turned into a full-blown wail. "Waaaah! A man like that... I am only worthy of gazing at his back from afar! How could I be worthy of speaking to him?! Waaaaah!!"
Perhaps moved by Bartolomeo's emotions, his subordinate Gambia and the others also began to cover their faces and weep. "Boss, you're right! We were so rude just now! Waaaah..."
Was bringing these lunatics here a mistake...? Urdaha wondered. He turned to leave, comforting himself: Whatever. If they're useless, I'll just use them as cannon fodder.
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