"Vice Admiral, the Marine uniform is so handsome; why are you wearing casual clothes?"
Mike, who had been promoted by the Fleet Admiral's personal order, was beaming with joy, dressed in a brand-new Major's uniform and draped in an officer's "Justice" cloak.
He was very puzzled by Taro's attire.
Taro, dressed in black casual clothes, had his cheek twitching.
Does this mission have even the slightest thing to do with "Justice"? Just looking at it makes me feel uncomfortable all over.
"Mike, tell everyone that Admiral Kizaru is personally taking action this time, so we shouldn't try too hard."
Hearing the order, Mike was stunned for a moment, but then he quickly reacted and nodded in deep agreement.
"Indeed, you've thought things through thoroughly, Vice Admiral. I'll go pass on the order right away!"
Huh? What are you saying? What "thought things through"?
Seeing Taro looking at him in surprise, Mike felt that Vice Admiral Taro was testing him, so he puffed out his chest.
"The Vice Admiral has been in the spotlight for the last few missions, so it's only right to give our brother units a chance to earn some merit."
"Besides, Vice Admiral, your current goal is this; those small-time pirates naturally aren't worth your attention!"
As Mike spoke, he pointed to the "black dragon steps on four emperors" flag on the main mast.
He's overthinking things again. Taro instantly felt like his head was about to split open.
I'm afraid you guys will get killed!
He waved his hand weakly, telling Mike to get lost... Sabaody Archipelago is the terminal point of the first half of the Grand Line. Ahead lies the Holy Land Mary Geoise on the Red Line, and the Marine Headquarters, Marineford, is also nearby.
The world's largest mangroves—the Yarukiman Mangroves—have roots that remain exposed above the sea surface like giant trees. Each root forms an island, ultimately making up the Sabaody Archipelago.
Grove 60 of the archipelago is the entry and exit area for the Marines and the World Government. After Taro's warship docked, he cautioned Mike once more.
"Make sure everyone stays sharp, understand?"
Mike said solemnly, "Vice Admiral, please rest assured!"
Taro looked at him skeptically for a moment before nodding and jumping off the bow.
"Extra! Extra!"
The news gulls of the news tycoon, Morgans, scattered newspapers across the sky, causing a wave of exclamations. Taro grabbed one.
The front page of the newspaper read:
"Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace, Public Execution!"
Taro's hand trembled slightly, then he irritably crumpled it into a ball and threw it aside.
At this moment, the Sabaody Archipelago was already in chaos. The news that a Marine Admiral was about to arrive had sent the island's residents and pirates into a panic.
Due to the mobilization by Marineford, the number of garrisoned troops here had significantly decreased. With limited forces, it was difficult to pose much of a threat to the "Supernovas."
Kizaru was already waiting at the dock, though not for Taro, but for his subordinates.
"Hello, moshi moshi, this is Kizaru,"
Kizaru raised his left arm and called into the baby den den mushi on his wrist, then muttered, "How strange. Hello, can you hear me? Hello?"
Watching Kizaru calling into that small black eavesdropping den den mushi, Taro's mouth twitched.
You got into character way too fast, and isn't your acting a bit too exaggerated?
"Admiral, that one on your wrist is an eavesdropping den den mushi." Taro couldn't help but remind him, "You should look for another den den mushi on you!"
Kizaru paused, acting as if he had just realized, and began fumbling around his person.
"Oh, is that so? I wanted to contact Sentomaru. He's my subordinate and should have arrived on the island by now."
Taro had some impression of Sentomaru—more accurately, of the "Pacifistas" under him, which were modeled after the appearance of "Tyrant" Kuma.
Taro nodded to Kizaru. "Since they're taking action, I'll just go for a stroll."
After saying that, he waved a hand behind his head to bid Kizaru farewell.
"If I run into any pirates, I'll take care of them."
Kizaru slowly muttered, "Young people these days really have quite the temperament!"
Taro curled his lip, ignored him, and walked straight toward the interior of the island.
According to the intelligence, Taro knew that the place where Luffy punched the Celestial Dragon was in Grove 1.
Groves 1 through 29 were lawless areas where almost all the pirates were located, so he purposefully walked in the opposite direction, thinking he wouldn't run into any pirates that way.
Little did he know that after passing through just a few groves, he would run into someone head-on.
It was a lean old man with silvery-white hair and beard, wearing glasses, with a vertical scar over his right eye, draped in a white cloak, and wearing a pair of shorts.
And a pair of flip-flops on his feet!
As everyone knows, the first law of the Pirate World: those who wear flip-flops are masters!
Taro was stunned. He never imagined that despite all his calculations to avoid the pirates on the island, he would instead run into the biggest pirate there.
His cheek twitched violently several times. Suppressing the mental expletives stampeding in his heart, he looked at the old man opposite him with as kind a gaze as possible.
The First Mate of Pirate King Gol D. Roger,
"Pluton" Silvers Rayleigh!
Rayleigh was carrying ship-coating tools, preparing to head to Grove 41 to coat the sunny, when the two of them met unexpectedly on the street.
Rayleigh noticed the saber at Taro's waist at a glance and realized his identity. Seeing Taro's harmless appearance, he narrowed his eyes and a meaningful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Young man, did you come looking for me specifically?"
Rayleigh's words made Taro freeze. Holy shit, there's going to be a misunderstanding!
He quickly waved his hands. "No, no, it was just a coincidence."
Seeing Taro deny it, Rayleigh chuckled. "Kid, lying isn't a good habit!"
This is ridiculous, does no one believe the truth?
Taro knew that the saber at his waist had exposed his identity, and he sighed helplessly.
"Old man, whether you believe it or not, I'm telling the truth."
Rayleigh obviously wouldn't believe Taro's words. The atmosphere between the two suddenly became tense as Rayleigh slowly placed the coating tools he was carrying on the ground.
Sigh, do we still have to fight?
"Purupurupuru..."
Just then, Taro's den den mushi rang. Keeping a wary eye on Rayleigh, he slowly pulled the den den mushi from his pocket.
"Moshi moshi, Taro?"
Taro was taken aback. "Admiral, it's me."
"Ah, Taro. The main participants of the incident—the Straw Hat Pirates crew, Kid, and Law—are now escaping in different directions. I'm taking Sentomaru to pursue the Straw Hat Pirates crew; I'll leave those other two pirates to you."
Taro rubbed his forehead, stole a glance at Rayleigh's expression, and then asked, "Admiral, which grove is the Straw Hat Pirates crew escaping to?"
"Well, Grove 27. You don't need to come; just go deal with those two small-time pirates."
Hearing Kizaru's answer, Taro raised an eyebrow at Rayleigh and then responded to the den den mushi:
"Understood."
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