Volume 2 Chapter 6

As Ezra made his journey back to his ship, he thought about how things had progressed since his graduation from the academy. The world government and marines released a shocking statement that stirred up the seas. The introduction of the Emperor and Warlord system.

The 3 emperors Whitebeard Edward Newgate, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin and Beast Emperor Kaido were infamous, notorious and powerful pirate captains in the world. These individuals resided within the second half of the Grand Line known as the New World, exerting influence and control over dozens of other pirate crews and self-governing islands.

Warlords were dangerous pirates who were approached to work with the marines and were given the title warlord of the sea. The pirate could no longer be attacked by marines and all bounties placed on them and their crew were frozen and withdrawn. But they had to also fulfil some other requirements like fight for the marines when called upon and lastly a percentage of their plunder was required as payment to the marines each year. Currently, there are 3 official members with the hope to expand to 7 official members. The Warlords are Crocodile, Bartholomew Kuma, Dracule Mihawk.

These 2 new systems with the marine HQ now formed the Three Great Powers which were to bring a balance to the seas. These were information cascaded down to all marines regardless of ranks. Ezra wanted to know what the world government was thinking and how the marines are now sheltering criminals. Unfortunately, his rank and clearance were still not high enough to raise his opinions in high-level decisions like this.

The yellow scarves had initially tried to keep in contact with one another until an investigation about one of their members took place. The one leading it was Spandam, the current leader of CP 6 and son of Spandine. White Smokes was investigated and proven to be a spy from power-hungry Ohara and was executed for it.

News had been spread of a lucky fellow from the academy in the East blue, who had eaten the fruit. He is known as "White Chaser" Smoker.

Hotheads whereabouts are unknown. After a year on captain Bloodshots ship. He was recommended by the West Blue to join research on the development of devil fruit powers with the renowned Dr Vegapunk. He is currently listed as MIA

The most unfortunate was Warhead. Two years ago, he was sent as a spy to Winid kingdom. This kingdom was invaded by pirates, who wanted the world government to make their captain a warlord of the sea and rightful ruler of the kingdom. 500 marines were sent to quell the problem, only to be captured and used for ransom.

Warhead was ordered to infiltrate the warehouse where the marines were detained for information. Not knowing that the world government had released a beast in human form. A boy of 13, killed all the 500 captured marines including Warhead before a full-on battle with the pirates. He is currently the biggest news in the marines as their poster boy for absolute justice, his name is Rob Lucci.

The only yellow scarf left was Dalmatian, he had excelled in his role as an instructor at the 80th marine base in the West Blue. He was then promoted to the rank of a Lieutenant Jr before being assigned to the legendary Monkey D. Garp. His current rank was now Lieutenant Commander the same as Ezra.

The return trip was uneventful, but Ezra felt at peace. He had taken a step towards his figuring out his Justice as a marine. He knew he despised the notion of absolute justice but he had yet to find out his own and what impacts having the Umi Umi no Mi (Sea Sea Fruit) will play in this. 'What if it was my family that was killed would I just sit still and accept the fact, I am sure some people have been arrested or killed by the Celestial Dragons or Marines for speaking out against the injustice and kidnappings, maybe I would have been amongst that statistics if this were to happen to me. In this world, power seems to have a louder voice.'

"Lieutenant 20, I see something in the water" a seaman on lookout duty shouted out from the crow nest.

"Load the front cannons, Riflemen aim at the object moving under the water. Wait for my command!" No. 20 stated. The captain had been gone for a month, they did not want to seem unprepared when he returned and if it wasn't him they were ready to fight.

Ezra could see the marines on board the ship move according to the procedures he had implemented when facing an unseen enemy. Each rifleman wore a belt-like harness which secured them to the main mast or other solid structures on the ship. The belts were custom made for Ezra's unit and were very easy to remove with only the click of a button. Ezra's Unit was full of frogmen, these were marine soldiers trained mainly for fighting underwater, these amphibious marines were not common amongst the marines, but they had earned a name already from their actions over the past 3 years.

Ezra's boat emerged from the sea, his form also visible as he stood on the boat, drifting towards the ship.

"Welcome back Captain!" Seamen saluted as Ezra made his way on the deck.

"At ease! No. 20, Did anything happen after I left?" Ezra asked.

"Yes there are a few things that happened, but nothing we couldn't handle. The only thing to report is a command came in from Vice-Admiral Tsuru, she wants us to head over to Flevance." No. 20 reported.

"Everyone, PREPARE FOR BATTLE" Ezra announced after hearing the report.