Fleeing Rubeck Island

In a dimly lit room deep within one of Rubbeck's hotels, Gladius sat stiffly at a mahogany desk. A Den-Den Mushi rested in front of him, its receiver twitching slightly. The snail's appearance had shifted to mirror the exaggerated features of its user: a broad, grinning mouth and drooping cheeks.

Trebol's high-pitched, nasally voice cut through the silence like a whip.

"Gladius!" Trebol's tone dripped with mockery, though the anger beneath it was palpable. "How does someone like you—one of Doffy's 'trusted' enforcers—let an entire shipment of Adam Wood get stolen under his nose? Hmm?"

Gladius clenched his gloved fists, barely containing the frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "I underestimated the interference. The chaos at the auction was—"

"Excuses!" Trebol's voice screeched through the Den-Den Mushi, making the snail flinch. "Do you know how many berries we've already sunk into that wood? And now it's gone—poof!—because of some pests?"

Gladius straightened, his voice steady but firm. "It wasn't just 'pests.' There were highly skilled individuals involved. I suspect they were more organized than they appeared."

Trebol let out a wet, hacking laugh, making the Den-Den Mushi's face quiver. "Oh, you suspect, do you? Well, guess what, genius: I don't care! Doffy doesn't pay you to suspect things—he pays you to ensure stuff like this doesn't happen!"

Gladius's temper flared, but he kept his composure. "I'll track them down. The Adam Wood won't leave the North Blue without me knowing."

"Track them down, huh?" Trebol's voice oozed mockery. "And what will you do, Gladius? Blow yourself up again? Maybe that's all you're good for!"

The insult hit harder than Gladius expected, but he refused to react. "I'll find them," he repeated, his voice tight. "And I'll ensure the Adam Wood is recovered. They won't escape."

Trebol let out another laugh, this one colder and more menacing. "You'd better. If Doffy finds out about this before you fix it, you'll wish you had blown yourself up. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," Gladius replied through gritted teeth.

The Den-Den Mushi clicked off, leaving Gladius alone in the room. He stared at the wall, his jaw tight and his hands shaking with barely restrained rage. His pride was already bruised, but the thought of failing Doflamingo was unbearable.

He stood abruptly, kicking the chair behind him as he stormed out of the room. His mind raced, already formulating plans to track down the thieves. Whoever they were, they'd made a grave mistake crossing Doflamingo—and him.

"Enjoy your victory while you can," Gladius muttered, venom dripping from his words. "Because when I find you, there won't be enough left to celebrate."

***

Jiro sat crouched beside a crackling campfire in one of Rubeck Island's dense forests. His dark hood partially obscured the Revolutionary agent's sharp, bird-like features. In front of him, a Den-Den Mushi rested on a flat rock, its face mirroring Karasu's stoic, masked visage as the connection hummed with quiet tension.

"Report, Jiro," Karasu's deep, gravelly voice commanded, his tone as steady as the distant rustling of the wind.

Jiro nodded, adjusting his hood slightly. "The Adam Wood has been stolen. Gladius lost control of the auction. I suspect the group responsible had premeditated their strike."

"Who?" Karasu's voice remained calm, but there was an undertone of sharp interest.

Jiro glanced over his shoulder, ensuring his perimeter was secure before speaking. "They're not Marines or pirates from Doflamingo's circle. A small, highly coordinated crew. My intel suggests their captain is a sniper with a long nose. He's resourceful and unconventional. He has a Fishwoman swordsman and a blonde girl capable of strange transformations among his crew."

Karasu let the silence hang for a moment before responding. "Interesting. And the Adam Wood?"

Jiro leaned closer to the Den-Den Mushi. "They've already left the island, but they're not far. Their ship isn't designed for speed; it was likely a stolen noble ship, and Adam Wood would slow them down further. If we move quickly, we could intercept them."

"No," Karasu said, his voice unyielding. "The Adam Wood is valuable but unnecessary for our immediate mission. Focus on observing. One or two wildcards could favor us if this crew aligns with our goals."

Jiro frowned but didn't argue. "And what of Doflamingo's response? Gladius is already on edge. If they discover this crew's whereabouts, they'll retaliate viciously."

Karasu's tone hardened slightly. "Let Gladius focus on his rage. Our interest lies in the bigger picture. Doflamingo's network is vast, but the one in North Blue is cracking. The more he's forced to tighten his grip here, the more fragile it becomes."

Jiro nodded, though he still felt unease settling in his gut. "Understood, Commander. I'll maintain my position and continue observing. But if the crew becomes a target—"

"Do not act unless necessary," Karasu interrupted, his voice sharp. "Keep us informed. That is your priority."

The Den-Den Mushi went silent; its connection severed as Karasu ended the call. Jiro sat back, letting out a slow breath. The Revolutionary Army's methods were always calculated and deliberate, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this situation was spiraling into something more significant than anyone anticipated.

Standing, Jiro extinguished the fire and secured his gear. He had his orders, but that didn't mean he was blind to the growing storm. Gladius wouldn't let this humiliation go unanswered, and Doflamingo's wrath was a force no one underestimated.

And then there was this long-nosed man and his crew. A sniper captain, a Fishwoman swordsman, and a girl with transformations. They weren't ordinary by any stretch. But whether they were allies or enemies, only time would tell.

Jiro melted back into the forest's shadows, his sharp eyes and ears tuned to every sound. For now, all he could do was watch—and wait.

***

In the command room of a Marine warship stationed near the North Blue, Lieutenant Commander X Drake stood stiffly before a transponder snail resting on a polished mahogany desk. Its expression mirrored that of Vice Admiral Tsuru—a calm but penetrating gaze that seemed to cut through any pretense. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the faint creaking of the ship's hull.

"Lieutenant Commander," Tsuru's measured voice finally broke through, the Den-Den Mushi reflecting her unwavering demeanor. "Report."

Drake saluted sharply. "Vice Admiral, the situation on Rubeck Island has escalated. During the auction, the Adam Wood shipment was stolen. Initial reports suggest the perpetrators are an independent crew, not aligned with Doflamingo or known pirate factions."

Tsuru's gaze didn't waver. "And Doflamingo's response?"

"His man, Gladius, lost control of the auction," Drake replied, his voice clipped and professional. "Based on intercepted communications by white Den-den Mushi, Gladius has been scolded by Trebol and is now actively hunting the thieves. However, the crew responsible has already fled Rubeck Island. Their ship is reported to be heading toward nearby Rocky Island."

Tsuru leaned back slightly in her chair, her sharp mind piecing together the information. "Describe this crew."

Drake hesitated for a moment. "The crew is small but highly skilled. Their leader is a sniper with a long nose, said to have exceptional tactical and inventive capabilities, judging by how he has a lot of weapons on his side. He's accompanied by a Fishwoman swordsman who appears to be a master of Haki and using six sword style, and a girl capable of shapeshifting into what some witnesses described as a huge, four-limbed creature form."

Drake shifted his weight, his tone steady. "The crew isn't behaving like traditional pirates. Their actions seem purposeful as if they're gathering resources for something specific. The Adam Wood theft appears calculated, not opportunistic."

Tsuru's expression remained unreadable, but Drake could sense her mind working. "And what of Doflamingo's position in all this? Is he treating this as a direct attack?"

"Yes, ma'am," Drake replied. "Gladius has been ordered to recover the Adam Wood and eliminate the thieves. If they reach them, the situation could escalate further."

Tsuru nodded slowly. "Doflamingo's network is under pressure. The Revolutionary Army has been active in the North Blue, and its operations are becoming more exposed. This incident may push him to act rashly."

Drake clenched his fists. "Should we intervene, Vice Admiral? If we can secure the Adam Wood, we could weaken Doflamingo's hold and gain leverage over this rogue crew."

Tsuru's eyes narrowed slightly. "Intervention at this stage would be premature. Doflamingo's actions are drawing attention, and that serves our purposes. As for this crew, monitor them closely, but do not engage with them unless necessary. Their motives remain unclear, but their actions could disrupt Doflamingo's operations in ways that benefit us; the world needs more wildcards, Lieutenant Commander."

"Yes, ma'am," Drake replied, though he felt a twinge of frustration. He wasn't one to sit idle while chaos unfolded.

Tsuru's tone softened slightly, though it carried the weight of authority. "Patience, Lieutenant Commander. Doflamingo's empire In North Blue is crumbling, but we must not expose our hand too soon. Maintain your position, and keep me informed."

"Understood, Vice Admiral," Drake said, saluting once more.

The Den-Den Mushi's connection clicked off, leaving Drake alone in the quiet room. He let out a slow breath, his mind racing with thoughts of the crew that had disrupted the auction. The long-nosed and his team weren't ordinary pirates. Their precision and resourcefulness hinted at something more significant that could shift the delicate balance of power in the North Blue.

As he stepped out onto the warship deck, the cold wind biting at his face, Drake couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning of a much larger storm.