Minks return home

10 days later

Galan was sitting in front of a snail, saying "Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, nice to meet you."

Ryuga was standing in front of two giant Cat and Dog Minks, holding a snail with a calm smile. Inuarashi and Nekomamushi frowned, saying "What business do you have with us, Fleet Admiral. The Straw Hats you're looking for have left the island!"

Galan scratched his chin and nodded, "I know. I made sure to contact you after they left… However, now I see that you're looking for revenge from Kaido. Coincidentally, this aligns with my own interests. Ryuga will accompany you to Wano and assist you in overturning Kaido's rule with his unit."

Nekomamushi hissed, "We don't need help!" Galan retorted slowly "I believe this to be completely false. Your attack squad is on Wano and have been hiding or persecuted for 20 years. The fall of Odin doomed Wano, just as he doomed them the moment he left for a wider world. Essentially, he was a man who wished to have everything, yet never grasped anything."

Galan hummed before continuing "Before you insult me, think about your predicament. I assume you will bring all your warrior Minks, however according to my sources, you've been attacked before?" Inuarashi barked angrily "Speak! What do you want?!"

Galan let out a breath, saying "Very simple. I want to establish a Marine Base on Zou. I also have a Special Unit of Minks that were captured or left Zou. Many of them were slaves that I bought or escaped slaves from Mariejois. Most of them have been working for me for a long time, however it would be nice if they could return home…"

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi froze and their eyes turned red, their tribesmen!? Slaves?! They knew this but hearing it really made them enraged! Galan continued, "As with all things, nothing comes free. I saved them and they work for me, however maybe we could come to an agreement? I will send my Mink Unit to Zou and establish a Marine Base there, only Mink Marines."

He paused for a moment before adding "You have no downsides in this deal. You get Minks to protect your home while you're gone and my Minks are allowed to return." Inuarashi frowned and Nekomamushi said carefully, "What's in it for you?"

Galan fell silent for a few moments before replying "Stronger loyalty from my Mink Unit." Inuarashi barked out a laugh, "I knew Marines were no good!" Nekomamushi frowned and said "Inuarashi… These are Minks that want to come home." Inuarashi retorted "They're being used by him!"

Nekomamushi pointed out, "Yes, but didn't he save them? We should be grateful he even took the time to do so… I don't think this is a bad thing…" Inuarashi was shocked and shouted "You want to agree?!" Nekomamushi retorted angrily "That's our tribesmen! Of course!"

Galan listened to them argue before saying "Ryuga has already made preparations. I have distributed his Vivre card to the Mink Unit and they will be arriving shortly. You can choose to refuse them or not, it is of no consequence to me. Ryuga, make your way to Wano. That is all." as he hung up.

Inuarashi glared at Nekomamushi shouting "Now we don't have a choice!" Nekomamushi hissed angrily "They are right to return! Why should we abandon them?!" Inuarashi held his head and retorted, "I don't want to abandon them, but for this selfish Marine to manipulate them, I can't allow it!"

Nekomamushi frowned slightly and crossed his arm, the other one having been cut off, as he replied "We can talk to them, convince them to stay." Inuarashi laughed hopelessly, "They won't listen…" before sighing.

Ryuga bowed and smiled, "Pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen." before disappearing into the woods, waiting for the Mink Unit to arrive.

Galan immediately called SWORD and said "Rosinante." Rosinante said "Hey! Boss! How's it goin'?" Galan's face twitched and he ignored him, "Linlin is throwing a tea party and wedding, have you heard of it?"

Rosinante looked at the rest as they lounged around the base, he laughed helplessly "Yeah… I've heard of it." Maria looked at Kujaku and said "Kujaku, where did you get that dress! So cute!" Kujaku smiled happily "My mom sent me a gift, you like it? She gets a bunch of stuff for her birthday every year from a secret admirer, hehe~ I have more, wanna see?"

Maria's eyes lit up as she said "Yeah! It's too cute!" Kujaku and Maria interlocked arms, giggling as they skipped away. Rosinante looked at Prince Grus and Hibari, they all sighed and shook their heads.

However, Hibari was reading a romance novel… and Prince Grus was acting out a play with his clay powers… So really, none of them were normal…

Galan nodded, "Good. I have a mission for you. The Straw Hats will be crashing this wedding as the groom is their Kidnapped crewmate, Sanji Vinsmoke. Germa and Linlin are joining forces… allegedly. However I don't believe this at all, you have many jobs in this case."

Rosinante perked up and said "The kid who has an alliance with Law?!" Galan nodded, "Yes. Your mission is to make sure that they succeed in destroying the wedding and causing as much chaos as possible. In addition, if you have a chance to kill Linlin… do it! As for the Vinsmokes…"

Galan's face was thoughtful for a few seconds, "Your mission is to capture the entire Germa force, including Judge and his children. Caesar Clown will be there as well. You are to lock them in Germa and send them to Egghead, Vegapunk will take care of them afterwards."

Rosinante nodded, "Understood! And BigMom's crew?" Galan frowned, "This is complicated… Many of them are future criminals, however at the moment they are innocent as they haven't committed an act of evil yet… The source of their evil is Linlin, maybe these children can be saved and rehabilitated…"

He thought about it for a few moments before saying "Disregard them. Leave Linlin's crew alone, try to assassinate Linlin, if you fail back off immediately, don't tangle with her and her children. The Main purpose of the mission is to facilitate the destruction of this wedding and crush relations between the Vinsmoke and Charlotte families. Put your main focus on this and capturing the scientists."

Rosinante nodded, "Understood! We will get it done!" Galan nodded, "I expect success, Rosinante." before hanging up. Rosinante stood up and shouted "Everyone! We have a mission!" Hibari and Prince Grus' eyes lit up, finally!

Maria and Kujaku came back quickly, saying with excitement "Really?! Rosy, don't lie to us!" Rosinante grinned, "And this time, it's a big one! We're going after BigMom!" the members cheered and grinned excitedly as Rosinante laughed, "Come on, get ready. We're attending a wedding! Hahahah!"

A few days later

Ryuga met with the Mink Unit leader and smiled, "Boss wanted me to tell you, you guys can retire if you want." the Minks froze and the leader said with a serious tone, "Are you just saying that, Ryuga?" Ryuga patted his shoulder and smiled happily, "No, the Boss really told me to tell you that. He said 'After they establish the Marine Base, they can retire if they like. They're not slaves anymore.'"

The Minks behind the Leader collapsed and shed tears of joy, crying bitterly "Finally… After so long…" many of them embraced each other and cried happily as the Leader sighed with a complicated look on his face.

He looked at Ryuga and said "Thank you, Ryuga." Ryuga smiled gently, "Don't thank me, I'm gonna miss you guys… aha~" The leader hugged Ryuga tight before letting him go, smiling as he wiped his eyes, "Come on, everyone. Let's go home…"

The Minks got up and rushed into the jungle, disappearing as Ryuga sighed to himself. The Boss was really a kind person… If you asked him to do the same… he couldn't let go of the Mink Unit. They were excellent soldiers.

Then he laughed at himself, this was the reason he wasn't the boss. Ryuga looked at the jungle for a moment before sighing and leaving Zou, heading to Wano, holding a vivre card.

Ryuga was filled with complicated feelings, maybe one day he would be allowed to retire as well? He didn't know how to feel about that… Mainly because he didn't want to. After living like this for so long and making so many friends, all of them working for the same goal… He didn't want to stop…

He tossed his feelings aside and continued, he didn't need to think about this at the moment. There was still a mission ahead of him, his retirement wasn't a factor yet.