An uproar occurred in marine HQ unveiling the abrupt incident that'd transpired in Gravitas Island. The marines withered no time printing out a bunch of newspapers and wanted posters about Vane with his newly updated bounty imbued on the front page of the poster showcasing "Dead or Alive."
The Navy admirals could not tolerate any form of disrespect or conflict instigated by the Blue-Eyed Pirates in the Grand Line, given that Gojo had been the mastermind behind every havoc wreaked from the time he was present at East Blue up to this certain day.
Vane bounty skyrocketed to 500 million bellies despite him being a notorious pirate in his prime before fabricating his own death to the world in order for the marines not to be on his tail any longer.
"He just continues to unleash chaos anywhere he goes. Damn him, Satoru Gojo. His death won't be easy." One of the marines blurted out in annoyance.
"He's still out there recruiting people to serve under him."
"Who would've thought Vane would become his subordinate? It's hard to digest."
The marines distributed the newspaper in a blur that circulated throughout the New World and also the Grand Line.
"Tashigi, where is Smoker?" Sengoku slid his favorite rice cracker into his lips.
Tashigi saluted, "he said he'll be back in a while that he's got to hunt down the pirates who fled from the island!" She felt her soul breach within her body.
"He's got to hunt?" Akainu flared up, "exhibiting an action without an order is a crime."
Garp laughed, "calm down, Sakazuki," Garp shifted his gaze towards Smoker's loyal subordinate. "I'll need you to reach out to Smoker and fetch his location. We can't have him chasing after the pirates alone."
"Yes sir!!"
"You're dismissed!"
Sengoku blitzed Garp as he snatched his snacks and savored it all in a minute, compelling the marine hero to gawk in snorts.
"M-My snacks." Garp outstretched his hand as he fell down to his knees, glaring at Sengoku distributing his snacks to his pet goat.
Knock!
"Come in!" Sakazuki ordered.
A rear admiral plunged forward into the room as he felt chills running down his spines. "I've come to report. The pirates apprehended in Gravitas Island are being transported to Impel Down."
"That's good."
The rear admiral exited the room with sweat bleeding down his brows before exhaling profusely. "That was scary!"
"Anyways, how's Impel Down?" Garp asked.
Sengoku massaged his temples, "damn that bastard, Gojo Satoru. It's all his fault Impel Down has sustained a lot of trouble reconstructing it."
"It will take a considerable amount of time before Impel Down ascends to its peak." Bosalino adjusted his glasses. "We'll have to increase the security."
"That's fact," Akainu puffed a cloud of smoke while scanning through the various wanted posters visible on his table. "These Yonkos, I'll have to put an end to each and every one of them roaming freely in the New World."
Sengoku snatched a wanted poster of Gojo embedded in the wall and fed it to his pet goat. "That's a bad idea, Sakazuki. If we ever tried to annihilate or trespass upon these Yonkos' territory, it would cause a vast disaster, and I am certain we would have many casualties to deal with."
"The Four Emperors haven't caused an uproar in a while which is truly uncertain. We should probably strategize ahead before engaging with them." Garp hummed, "they are not to be underestimated—not even the Red-Haired Shanks, the youngest of the Four Emperors and a pirate who once boarded the legendary Gold Roger's ship—the Oro Jackson."
Silence and tension lingered across the room.
Then.. Garp clenched his fist. "I'll have to settle scores with him. He's the reason my grandson had to pursue a very stupid and unrealistic dream of becoming a pirate. I trained him in order to become a more exemplary marine officer, whereas Shanks sought to corrupt him and lead him down the path of a pirate." His voice was brimmed with anger.
"It's all your fault." Sengoku yelled, "your grandson—Luffy, is out there causing chaos. If you aren't the marine hero, I would've taken you into custody to atone for the sins of your grandson."
Garp teared up as he erupted in laughter. "I'm proud of my grandson." Akainu glared at Garp vigorously, anger surging through his veins to attack the marine hero.
"Garp-san, aren't you being too breezy right now? We're deliberately talking about your grandson, Monkey D. Luffy."
"I'm out." Sengoku exhaled, his pet goat trailing beside him as he exited the office.
"Then I'll get going. I've got some punks to train." Garp muttered, flexing his muscles reluctantly.
"Don't kill them, Garp-san. They're still young." Aokiji smirked, reminiscing about the olden days Garp abducted him under his responsibility, through rigorous training and continuous development, he was forged into a superior and more resilient marine admiral, laboring day and night even amidst stormy and rain-soaked conditions. It was hell on earth.
Garp waved, slamming the door open as he exited the office. The Admirals in the room couldn't utter a word after witnessing the breezy attitude from the marine hero. A hero who once fought the legendary pirate, Rocks.
….
The Sorcerer sailed for approximately two full, uninterrupted days across the boundless sea; above, the seagulls glided through the vast heavens, while the sun cascaded its golden radiance onto the surface of the earth, infusing the world with a warm, almost aromatic glow.
Gojo, who was stationed in his room at the Sorcerer, contemplated the trajectory of his life from this point forward. If someone like Smoker who's a Logia-type user were to engage him in combat, he would inevitably lose since his attacks are futile without the use of Armament haki—despite the formidable powers within his arsenal.
"I've got to learn Armament haki."
He hopped out his bed, blinding his eyes with his sunglasses as he strode up the stairs to reinforce with his crew.
"It seems lively here." Gojo remarked.
Vane halted in his tracks and swallowed the vast chicken on his mouth. "We yelled your name countless times but you didn't react."
"Really?"
"Yap," Jake chimed in, "bingo!"
The crew hesitated for a brief moment, "what's the matter, Jake?"
"You see that? That's an island." Jake pointed to the far horizon, the island's silhouette began to reveal itself to the advancing pirates whereas the fog began to dissipate.
"We've go–"
A News Coo flew past the pirates ship and declined a newspaper which collided against Ryuken's head.
"What's that?"
Vane extracted the newspaper from the deck and opened it nonchalantly. "I figured it out. It's about the recent incident in Gravitas Island."
Gojo yawned, leaning his back against the ship's mast. "How'd they get the information so quickly? It scares me for real."
"That's the government for sure. Do not underestimate them." Jake ignited a cigarette, tossing one over to Vane.
A wanted poster slid down the newspaper and caught the scrutiny of the crew. A wanted poster?
Vane crouched and grasped the unusual wanted poster. Unveiling itself, the crew exclaimed in unison.
"500 million bellies?"
Vane's jaw dropped instantaneously as he glared at his own "dead or alive" wanted poster. "T-This is… awesome!!"
He erupted in laughter, compelling his captain to smack his shoulders in excitement. "Way to go, Vane. 500 million? That's insane." Gojo chuckled, "we're just getting started."
Jake and Ryuken sweatdropped, glaring at the duo who sprung into laughter not realizing the marines, bounty hunters as well as pirates were to hunt them nonetheless.
"Aggregating the total bounties of the crew, " Jake massaged his temples, "that's approximately over a billion."
"A billion?" Vane snapped, "the whole crew?"
Jake nodded. "Absolutely."
"Isn't that absurd? Having a total bounty over a billion is definitely crazy. I mean, no pirates in the Grand Line is definitely beating that feat."
Gojo couldn't hold back his laughter. "That's just the beginning of the thrill, Vane. I'll be the one to turn the world upside down."
"If it ain't you, then who else would that be?" Ryuken whistled.
Jake steered the ship into the radar of the island while the crew flexed their sore muscles, preparing for the worst outcome if the marines were to pinpoint them.
The ship moved calmly before it halted at the shore. The crew anchored the ship and dropped the sails before hopping into the island.
Trailing behind one another, Vane's eyes caught a glimpse of a pirate vessel adjacent to their very own ship.
"Guys, we aren't alone on this island," Vane warned, "look over there, that's a pirate vessel."
"Did you think it's a pirate who fled away from Gravitas Island?"
"Definitely. Should we scout the ship?"
Vane glared at the pirates flag for a minute before realization dawned on him. "That's the Straw Hat pirates!"
Ryuken concluded for an extent, a smirk playing on his lips. 'Zoro, we meet again.' He clutched his sword firmly.
Gojo declined their request. "Let's go. We'll eventually cross paths."
"That's true. I hope they don't cause an uproar to magnet the marines here. It'll be way dangerous."
"That's true," Jake shifted his gaze to his captain in particular. "Ya heard? Don't cause us unnecessary problems that'll attract unusual attention."
"Am I the villain here?" Gojo pouted.
"You're missing one thing, Ryu. Don't let him wander alone or else…."
"Alright, fine. I won't wander alone."
"We aren't saying you shouldn't wander alone on the island. We simply mean you shouldn't cause us troubles."
"That's what you could've said earlier. Fine."
.....
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