Chapter 79

[New World]

In the wild sea where the lightnings rumbled down and tides rapidly crashed over and over again, four Marine Warships were found sailing through. They, having departed from the Marine Base G-1, were currently heading to the northern Calm Belt.

"But of course, the trade won't go smoothly,"

And on one ship, one old-aged Vice Admiral, Tsuru, was found with her arms crossed. She, with a stern expression, gazed at the sea ahead of them.

"That Crocodile kid… he without a doubt possesses hatred for us Marine. Requesting Strawberry to be present during the trade… hah, isn't that a little too obvious?"

On one adjacent ship stood Gion and her division. Gion, looking at Tsuru, asked, "Sister, is it really necessary to dispatch this amount of force just for Crocodile and Barrels alone?"

Tsuru, upon hearing Gion, closed her eyes. She then said seriously, "The value of Op Op fruit is beyond your imagination, Gion. With sufficient medical knowledge, the user of the devil fruit becomes the world's greatest doctor capable of curing illnesses that are considered incurable. Chances like this don't come by easily, and World Government this time around... they are very adamant about gaining that fruit. In addition, of course,"

Tsuru grimaced,

"The abrupt disappearance of Yellowmustache pirates, Gangster pirates, Mammamia pirates, and many more notorious criminals in the New World... all those cases were recently revealed to be the works of 'Sir' Crocodile upon his re-appearance. We cannot ascertain that man's current level of strength any longer, and that alone raises the danger level of this mission by many folds.

For Nika's sake, the sheer raise in the bounty from 81 million to 630 million Beli... that sure is saying something."

Gion found her expression darkened after listening Tsuru's explanation. Crocodile, the man who was defeated by Rear Admiral Strawberry in the past, has now returned as a mysterious fellow.

'...Will Rear Admiral Strawberry be able to do the same this time around?' Gion couldn't help but think, 'If Crocodile became so strong that he wiped out multiple pirate crews in the New World by himself—'

"...Gion." Tsuru, while taking a pill with a cup of water, said seriously, "Get ready for a battle. We got a company."

Gion's eyes widened. Just when Tsuru said so, the lightning crashed, and the light illuminated by the lightning revealed twelve pirate ships, which were approaching them.

"Woohoo! Stop there, you blue freaks!"

At the front-most pirate ship was the drunken man with captain's hat, laughing foolishly and giving a middle finger at the marines. All the marines instinctively felt that he wasn't your normal pirate, and subsequently gulped upon identifying who this man was.

Tsuru, clicking her tongue, muttered, "...John. I haven't expected to see the world's finest plunderer here."

'Captain' John, the man with 1,900,000,000 Beli on his head. Not only is he a former member of the legendary Rocks pirates, but is currently known as the world's greatest treasure hunter and plunderer, known to have accumulated all the stolen wealth in an unavailable location that no one, not even his crew, knew.

"Tsuru!!" John then shouted mockingly, "You've become a whole lot ugly, woohoohoo!!"

Tsuru replied coldly, "Says the man who's undoubtedly in a worse state." While saying so, she quickly swept her eyes across the pirates.

'Why would this man and his crew, who's been avoiding us marines for years on purpose, reveal themselves like this? Op Op fruit...' Tsuru frowned, 'Id, the underworld powerhouse. Garp is also engaging Shiki from what I've received. Don't tell me...'

Tsuru, watching as John casually emptied a bottle of rum, asked with cold eyes, "Your presence here does suggest... that Id is closely affiliated with the Rocks pirates."

John shrugged before yawning, "Oh, is he? Dunno, I was just given the money, you know? Doesn't hurt to play mercenaries in a while! And besides," He, throwing the bottle away, held onto the hilts of his two swords, sheathed on each side of the waist, "Op Op fruit... devil fruit is always one of the finest treasures to stash!!"

Two swords were then unsheathed. John swung them few times around before pointing the sword in his right hand at Tsuru. He said sluggishly, "Hey, marines, if you decide to retreat, we won't follow. But!! Know that once you come a tad closer, bam! A fight will begin!!"

The pirates around John snickered at the state of their captain, but nonetheless raised up their weapons toward the marines.

"...Damn it." Gion muttered while holding the hilt of her sheathed sword, Konpira. She looked at Tsuru to make an order, and Tsuru, without any hesitation, called,

"There is no agreement to make with the scums of the sea." Tsuru glared at John, before firmly stating,

"All marines, ensure that not even a single of them escape!"

All marines gathered their resolve while shouting proudly,

"""Yes, ma'am!!!"""

John snorted at the sight of marines getting ready to attack, and commented, "Boring as always. That's why your husband left you," John pointed his left sword at the sky, "to the afterlife that is."

Tsuru's cold eyes gazed at John impassively, and then,

Bang.

At the New World, Vice Admiral Tsuru and Rear Admiral Gion's divisions began their clash against the pirate fleet led by 'Captain' John.

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[New World, Unknown Location]

Smokes. Blood everywhere. On the sea, six pirate ships in total, with two on verge of sinking.

"Kek..."

The atmosphere was ominous. The wind blew at a bizarre and continuously changing speed and magnitude. The sea churned and swayed the ships, but remained relatively gentle such that the pirates were able to keep their footings on the ships.

"Kurgh... cough... cough cough..."

On one ship, hundreds of corpses were found piled up on top of one another. On top of the small hill of corpses stood the obese and long-nosed man with a small patch of black beard under his chin. He was Marshall D. Teach, the enigmatic pirate who was currently holding onto the neck of...

...Whitey Bay, the captain of the fellow subordinate crew under Whitebeard pirates. With the exception of her, all her crew members were wiped out without mercy, and Teach's crew members were busy moving the treasures to their own ships.

"Tea...ch..." Whitey Bay, gritting her teeth as she tried to get Teach's hand off of her neck, managed to mumble, "You... why did you betray us..."

"Oh come on, Bay!" Teach, grinning with a speck of lust in his eyes, shouted boisterously, "We are pirates! We act according to our desire! What betrayal?! This is how it is meant to be!"

Whitey Bay held Teach's hand with her two hands. She desperately pushed against it, but Teach's grip didn't budge, and instead,

"Keuk—"

the grip tightened.

"Listen!" Teach exclaimed with twisted joy, "Your bounty amounts to 232 million, right? First, I will hand you over to Marine and become a Warlord! And then, upon hearing your imprisonment in the Impel Down, Whitebeard—that foolish man who's playing pirate and family at the same time—will move his fat ass!"

Zehahaha!!! Teach's voice boomed forth, and Whitey Bay, for some reason, felt shiver down her spine.

"It will be the war between Whitebeard and Marine!! The war of another scale—the war between the apexes of the world!!!" Teach then leaned in and whispered into Whitey Bay's ear, "Pops has become a little sick lately, hasn't he? I recall that he was still almost as strong as his prime, but the subtle changes brought by it… it must have some impact."

Whitey Bay's eyes shook as she pictured what Teach spoke of. Her face became pale, and she, while struggling from Teach's grip still, secretly looked at one member of her crew who was acting dead from beneath the pile. That crew member met his eyes with Whitey Bay and nodded slightly—

BANG.

—before getting shot in the head by Teach who was holding a pistol with his other hand.

"But of course, there's another way out for you, Whitey Bay. And perhaps, that option may seem more appealing to you." Teach, casually placing his pistol back on his holster, said, "Become my woman. You'd rather do that than rot in the Impel Down forever, right?"

Whitey Bay, in return, gathered all her strength and spat on Teach's face. Teach frowned in displeasure, before throwing Whitey Bay to the wooden pole.

BOOOM! The wooden pole broke, and Whitey Bay, injured to the point where she couldn't muster a strength, simply focused on filling her lungs back with the air.

"Tch, Impel Down it is." Teach said while rubbing the spit on his face.

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[Mariejois]

In the holy land that sits atop the Red Line, there stands one building nearby the infamous Pangaea Castle. It is the military facility of the Celestial Dragons that strategizes and controls the Marine and some of the World Government-related troops. In here sat one muscular man with spiky white hair and a similarly spiky white beard. He was Kong, the former Fleet Admiral of Marine and currently the World Government's Commander-in-Chief.

And in front of such a man stood an orange-haired Admiral, Blaise. He, exhibiting a playful smile, placed a paper form on top of Kong's table.

"...And this is?" Kong asked in a low tone. Blaise, giving a light shrug, replied,

"A resignation form, Commander-in-Chief."

Kong frowned while raising his head up and looking at Blaise, "You are too young to resign, Admiral."

"And?" Blaise questioned, "Why must I be bound by this organization until death? Rather, it is because I'm young that I desire to retire."

"...Where's your justice at, Admiral Blaise? Haven't you joined the Marine to correct the wrong of the world?"

Blaise shook his head while giving a light chuckle, "You are accounting for the select few, Commander-in-Chief." He opened his arms wide and stated, "Human beings are naturally born evil. Anyone who's capable of thinking with a sane mind prioritizes him or herself above all else; be it wealth, honour, or strength, most of the marines joined the organization for their own gains rather than justice. It's the same for you, Commander-in-Chief, who left the organization upon receiving the offer to be placed in your current spot."

Blaise gazed at the displeased Kong mischievously,

"Don't push your radical ideals on me, Commander-in-Chief. Marine, to me, was nothing but an occupation. I don't care if what I do is right or wrong, for as long as I get benefits out of it, I am satisfied."

Kong narrowed his eyes, "You..."

"Ah, am I reminding you of someone?" Blaise interrupted Kong casually, "Someone with Glint Glint fruit, perhaps? Well, I'll leave it at that."

He took off the justice coat and dropped it to the floor. Immediately after, the floor beneath the justice coat was suddenly 'zipped' open, and the justice coat disappeared into the gaping hole.

Kong watched in silence as Blaise exited the room. He then sighed while massaging his temple,

"What in the world..."

Kong doubted that the higher-ups would allow this, however.

...

Blaise, no longer the Admiral, walked through the peaceful and beautiful path in Mariejois. He, holding his hands together on his back, walked with a handsome smile, exhibiting nothing but content. However, contrary to his outward appearance, he was currently full of thought.

'A report of Whitey Bay's capture by the newly risen "Blackbeard" Marshall D. Teach, and his request to become a Warlord. Considering that Whitey Bay is a notorious pirate whose strength is well recognized, the Five Elders came to determine that his acceptance into the system is adequate enough.'

The resignation of Blaise was based on a calculation from the beginning.

'Whitey Bay will soon be moved to the Impel Down and be imprisoned on the lowest floor. Within a week, this news will be out in public, and Whitebeard... he'll definitely move.'

A war will occur—one between the powerhouses of the world.

'And furthermore,' Blaise then stopped on his way and looked at the sky, '...White Hunter Smoker.'

Five Elders ordered him to assassinate Smoker without earning Garp's hostility. It was essentially an impossible task, but Blaise believed that there was a way.

'Capture White Hunter before the start of the war. Place him in the Impel Down.'

And that's why Blaise quit the Marine. He needed to move himself, for it was proven that even the combined strength of Bayard, Tensei, and Onigumo wasn't enough to defeat that man, and the seat of Admiral simply directed too much attention for him to move out.

'But alas, here I go.'

Blaise, forming a shrewd eye-smile, then jumped down the Mariejois. In mid-air, while descending rapidly, zippers suddenly appeared from his arms and spontaneously unzipped. And from the generated holes, Blaise took out a mask of a clown and a white hat, before placing the mask on his face.

The time of 'Admiral Seidohebi' was over, and the chief of the Cipher Pol Aigis Zero, 'Pierro,' was on his way to hunt down the 'White Hunter.'

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[East Blue, Loguetown]

January 23rd, 9 am. Almost two days passed by since Smoker and Baby 5's departure from the Kuen Village. By no means was Kuen Village in North Blue close to the Polestar island of East Blue. And yet, Smoker not only crossed the entirety of the Red Line in two days, but managed to reach the Loguetown that lied on the Polestar island; it was an unbelievable speed that most of the individuals won't be able to achieve after their lifetime's training.

"Ha..." And Smoker, not having managed to sleep for days by now, was currently sitting down on a staircase with Baby 5. Baby 5, also draped around by a cloak that Smoker recently purchased, dozing off by his side. Underneath Smoker's eyes were dark bags, and the only source of salvation in current situation was a dango stick in his hand.

And yet, a smile found its way on Smoker's face.

'...Are you doing well, Captain Merlin? Are you still stuck with those idiots? Bwahaha... I can picture you complaining as you always did.'

Smoker, taking a bite out of it, gazed at the busy street where the civilians jovially continued on their daily lives. He never expected to revisit this place, the place in which his transmigration began—as a wanted man. Watching the scenery made Smoker feel a little nostalgic, thinking that many things happened since then—

"...Yuck," Then, Smoker suddenly stopped chewing and frowned at dango stick, "Mint flavour? Is this real?" Suppressing his urge to vomit the food out, he barely managed to swallow it down. Subsequently,

"Baby 5, wake up." Smoker shook the young girl's shoulder and woke her up from her slumber. Baby 5, rubbing her eyes and yawning, stood up wobbly and looked at Smoker with half-lidded eyes.

Smoker handed her the dango stick with a blank expression, "Full or not, wanna try dango?"

Baby 5 jolted up with widened eyes as she took hold of the dango stick. She, without a word, looked back and forth between the food and Smoker, before taking a bite of it. Smoker waited for her reaction in anticipation.

"Wow…" Then, she whispered, "This is so good. Better than oden."

"...What is wrong with you?" Smoker squinted his eyes at her, wondering if the girl's sense of taste became messed up after the prolonged starvation.

The two of them, having taken a rest for a little period of time, now walked down the street. And unlike his experience in the past where he was recognized even with the cloak over him, he currently had fashion glasses over him just like Robin, which surprisingly proved to be effective in concealing his identity.

"...Still the same as ever." Smoker mumbled to himself as he looked around, "Did the time here stop since then?" He stopped one civilian who was going his way and asked, "Who's the current commander of the marine branch here?"

Said civilian replied with a grin, "Captain Merlin, duh," before going his way.

Baby 5 looked up at the chuckling Smoker out of curiosity, but Smoker simply rubbed her on the head. Just then,

"Yay! Three-scoop ice cream!" One girl was found running down the street. A man who seemed to be the girl's father smiled as he walked from behind,

"Be careful! You might fall when you run—"

The girl, running without control, ended up smashing her ice cream on Smoker's cloak.

"A-ah..." The girl, filled with disappointment, raised her head up and found a scary-looking man with glasses, staring back at her.

"...Huh?"

The father of the girl gulped, noticing from straight go that Smoker wasn't a normal man.

The girl whimpered, "My ice cream..."

The man quickly closed off his daughter's mouth with her hand, "I'm so sorry! My kid..." He then panicked as Smoker leaned down to his daughter, "I'm sorry!! I'm sorry!! I'm sorry—"

"Sorry kid." Smoker said to the girl, "Looks like my cloak ate your ice cream." He reached into his pocket and handed what was in there to the girl, "Here, go buy yourself five scoops."

This girl had blonde hair just like the one whom the canon Smoker met in the year 1522. Smoker wondered as the girl and her father walked away after giving their thanks, if that girl is the mother of the one whom the canon Smoker meets, but eventually cracked a smile and discarded such thought.

"Why are you laughing?" Baby 5 asked.

Smoker shook his head with a smile, "It's nothing." He then took in a deep breath and erased the smile.

And thus, their journey to the Drum Kingdom seemed as if it was going to resume, however,

<<Purururu, purururu,>>

Smoker's mini Den Den Mushi rang at the next moment.

…And in the middle of the busy street where people passed and conversed by, Smoker and Baby 5 were no longer walking.

<<Smoker, this is Cancer. And...>>

Baby 5 looked at Smoker worriedly as Smoker, with his eyes shaking in disbelief, held the mini Den Den Mushi right next to his ear.

<<...Op Op fruit is found.>>

Smoker felt as if his heart stopped.