213. Two Years

Sabaody Archipelago.

Leo was chewing on a piece of skewered meat as he sized up the people around him.

"Pirates still got the guts walk around Sabaody?"

Mace who was walking beside him replied, "Ever since our headquarters was shifted to New World this place became a lot more lawless. Of course it's not to the point where people are killed left and right."

"Hm...

Leo took a bite and slowly chewed as he walked without aim.

"Sir, when we left him there was no one else there. Do you think he might have gotten bored and decided to take a stroll?"

Mace asked.

Leo paused his footsteps and thought for a moment, "It's possible."

Mace rubbed his forehead and said, "Should I search for him?"

"Hm... no. Let's see how everything goes, he is a lot stronger than he was before, he won't get caught that easily."

Mace nodded and followed Leo as he went from one stall to another.

Hm?

As he was smelling the fragrance from a roasted meat stall his expression paused. He turned to look in a particular direction. His blue eyes seems to have pierced through the grooves and locked onto to something.

What the?!

A wry smile came onto his face. Mace also seems to have sensed something, he looked in that direction and asked with doubt.

"Sir, is that...

Leo nodded.

"Did they...

Leo facepalmed and nodded again.

Mace was dumbfounded and failed to find the right words to speak. After a moment he smiled wryly.

"Their ability to get into trouble is really a talent."

Leo shook his head and said, "Let it be. Let's go see how the rest are doing, I am very interested in seeing how far they have grown."

...

On the other side of Sabaody Archipelago.

Luffy, Zoro and Sanji were running from a bunch of marines.

"Mosshead, that's the wrong way!"

"I know!"

Sanji and Zoro were growling at each other as they ran from the marines.

Suddenly a bunch of overgrown insects rushed over and blocked the marines.

Luffy and the rest were wondering what was happening when a giant bird dived down and landed infront of them.

"Luffy!"

A small figure jumped off from the bird's back and hugged Luffy.

"Chopper!!"

Luffy smiler foolishly like a kid when he saw Chopper.

"Hurry, get on. Everyone is waiting!"

Luffy, Zoro and Sanji jumped onto the back of the bird and flew away.

Soon they reached a secluded corner and saw Sunny.

"Hey, he is here!"

"Luffy!"

Nami, Brooke, Robin, Franky and Usopp excitedly yelled as they landed.

"Everyone!"

All of them had a happy grin on their face when they saw Luffy.

Leo was watching this small crew from the distance. When he saw their smiles he also involuntary smiled.

"They are an interesting bunch."

He lightly said.

Mace standing beside him nodded.

"Do you want to go over and say goodbye?"

Leo shook his head, "Nah. I would put down that cheerful mood they got there."

He got one last look at them and left.

Zoro who was laughing with his friends seems to have sensed something and looked in Leo's direction.

He caught a glimpse of his fading figure.

Zoro held his sword and solemnly bowed in that direction.

Thank you for your guidance these two years, teacher!

"Mosshead , what are you doing?"

Zoro stood like that for a second and got up. He looked at Sanji and said, "Curly eyebrows."

"You looking for a fight?!"

"Tch."

Zoro turned away and clicked his tongue.

Sanji was about to flare up when a canon ball flew by their ship.

"It's the marines!"

"Franky, get us out of here!"

...

Leo was on his ship. His part as Zoro's teacher was over.

"Sir, Issho is already in position."

Mace came upto him and reported.

"Hm. Is HE in that fleet?"

Leo asked.

Mace shook his head and said, "Not confirmed. Issho only reported two division commanders."

Leo was leaning on the rails. The wind swept past his face as he looked out into the sea.

"Tell him to cooperate with Shinobu, I don't want a single one of them to escape."

A cold glow flashed in his eyes.

Mace curled his lips and said, "After two years, we are finally making a splash."

Leo laughed as he heard Mace.

...

Somewhere in New World.

A small ship was docked on an inconspicuous island.

The forest was lush and many beasts roamed through it. At this moment Issho was having a bowl of plain noodles over a fire.

"Captain, their fleet will leave at any moment. Should we attack?"

Violet asked Issho.

Sipping the soup and letting out a satisfied breath Issho said, "The right moment to attack is when we are ready. Ma'am is still on her way, so we can't attack just yet. Sir's order was complete annihilation."

He spoke leisurely like what he said was some common topic. However the content was far from common.

Violet nodded and ate her bowl of noodles.

Pereperepere.

Their den-den mushi rang. Issho picked it up.

"Did you see him?"

He asked.

Flare's voice came from the other side, "No. However it's not two division commanders but four. It's still doubtful if he is there, if he is... then it's gonna be trouble even if ma'am joins us."

Issho was calm as he listened, "Sir is done with his errand, he will be joining us soon."

"Sir is coming?! Then this gonna be a easy. Haha, two years later we are finally gonna make a big rumble! Haha!"

Flare laughed excitedly from the other side.

Issho smiled. The glow from the fire added a peculiar air to him.

...

On a different part of the island was a large fleet of twelve ships. All twelve ships were filled with pirates.

Within one of the ship were five people.

"Captain, I fell uneasy. It's like there is a wild beast staring at us."

"Yeah. We should get out of here soon. I get a bad feeling the longer we stay here."

"So it's not just me. All of you felt the same."

"Yeah."

Three men and a woman spoke to a large bellied man seated across them. The larged bellied man thought for a moment and said.

"Let's leave."