Chapter 169

News came from the G5 Branch that the team sent to catch Vergo was defeated, and Vergo had disappeared without a trace. It was unclear whether he had already escaped from the G5 Branch or was hiding somewhere. However, the G5 Branch was sealed off, and no warship was allowed to leave.

Sengoku' expression turned serious upon receiving this news. If they didn't act quickly, Vergo might indeed manage to escape. He had expected that the G5 Branch's team might not be able to catch Vergo, given that Vergo was a Vice Admiral and the Base Commander, the most powerful figure in the G5 Branch. Even two years later, when Smoker was promoted to Vice Admiral and assigned to the G5 Branch, he was just helping Vergo. This showed how strong Vergo was.

So, Sengoku mainly instructed them to seal off the port and prevent any ships from leaving, to stop Vergo from escaping on a warship. Thankfully, warships couldn't be operated by just anyone.

However, even with this measure, it wasn't entirely foolproof, as Vergo was not a Devil Fruit user and had reached such a high level of strength that he could swim across the ocean without relying on a warship. It would just be more time-consuming and tiring. That's why he wanted Tokikake and Gion to hurry over.

Sengoku also dispatched five other Vice Admirals to search the sea outside the G5 Branch, just in case Vergo tried to swim away.

Vergo must be captured; otherwise, once he escaped to Doflamingo's side, it would be difficult to take action against him.

...

At the same time, in the video, Law and his crew received the news that Doflamingo quitting the Shichibukai was a lie. Law immediately realized that things were not good, so he had Robin and the others leave while he stayed behind to confront Doflamingo. After all, their main objective was to destroy the SMILE Factory. As long as Caesar and the Factory were gone, it didn't matter whether Doflamingo was a Shichibukai or not.

At three in the afternoon, Doflamingo arrived as scheduled.

At the same time, Fujitora also arrived with the Marines he led.

"Oh, it's you! Fujitora, who was specially promoted to Admiral during the World Military Draft. I've heard about you, they say you are a monster with immeasurable strength, just like Kizaru," Doflamingo said, smiling playfully when he saw Fujitora approaching.

"You flatter me too much, Your Excellency," Fujitora said solemnly.

"Hmph! You hypocrite!" Doflamingo snorted.

"I am still a newcomer to the Marines, but your actions are also hard to understand. Though unconfirmed, I have received information that you seem to have violated the rules. The person who has been calling you JOKER earlier, may I ask what that means~?" Fujitora asked.

"Heh... If you want to investigate my identity, be prepared to face the consequences. Go back and verify it first before you say anything to me. So, how does the Marine plan to deal with Law this time?" Doflamingo replied with a smile.

Upon seeing this scene, everyone's expression changed. They didn't expect things to take such a turn. They had originally thought the Admiral would go after the villain Doflamingo, but instead, it seemed that the Marines were here to deal with Law and Luffy.

They looked at Admiral Fujitora, unsure what choice he would make. It was their first time seeing this newcomer Admiral in action.

"As for the news about the Straw Hat Crew, if they are indeed part of the Alliance, they are black. If they are just under your command, they are white. Depending on the answer, my duty may be to arrest you and the Straw Hat Crew," Fujitora said.

Fujitora's attitude surprised everyone. He seemed like a more old-fashioned Marine compared to the Admirals they had seen before, like Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu.

Furthermore, he left the choice in Law's hands. If Law chose that they were under his command, would Fujitora let them go?

Just as everyone was puzzled, Caesar asked the question, "What if he's lying? Then it's over, right?"

However, Law decisively denied after thinking it through, "The Straw Hats and I are not in an Alliance. As the news said, we are allies."

Doflamingo laughed loudly, "You are really foolish!"

However, Law's true intention was to stall Fujitora and Doflamingo here and buy time for Luffy and the others.

Law's response ended, and Fujitora made a decision, "Then I'll strip you of your title. I wish the news could be handled as easily."

The people watching the video were somewhat puzzled by Fujitora's remark about handling the news easily. What did he mean?

Did it refer to Doflamingo quitting the Shichibukai?

Was he saying it would be nice if he could strip Doflamingo of his Shichibukai title?

Before they could think too much, a terrifying scene appeared before them.

As Fujitora's words fell, he unsheathed his sword slightly, and a strange halo rose into the air.

As everyone was somewhat bewildered, a black dot appeared in the sky, getting closer and larger.

When the black dot was close enough for people to see what it was, everyone was shocked.

It was actually a meteorite!

Fujitora had actually pulled down a meteorite from the sky!

Could a human really do that?

Initially, they saw Fujitora's blindness and thought he was decently strong, but still limited. However, witnessing this scene made them realize that it was precisely because he was blind that he became an Admiral, proving how terrifyingly strong he was.

With this move, many influential figures around the world couldn't sit still. This was truly a monstrous ability!

And this was just a meteorite with a diameter of a hundred meters. Remember, there were even larger meteorites and even the moon up there. If Fujitora could pull the moon down, it would probably destroy half the world.

In an instant, many people realized the terror of Fujitora's power. Of course, if Fujitora really could do such a thing.

After the shock, many people were secretly delighted, especially Kaido, Big Mom, and other pirates.

Although Fujitora had joined NEO Marines and was their enemy, he was originally going to join the World Goverment-controlled Marines.

However, he went to NEO Marines instead, which meant the Marines lost a powerful force. The World Government and Marines must be regretting it.

Thinking that they were irritated, Kaido, Big Mom, and the others were delighted.

Moreover, the split in the Marines into two factions was also good news for these pirates.

Marineford already had three Admirals and many Vice Admirals with strength comparable to Admirals, as well as countless mid-tier combatants. This was already terrifying.

By recruiting monsters from the civilian population, the Marines' strength would be further improved.

NEO Marines and the Marines were not in sync, which meant that NEO Marines could take away some of the Marine's strength. This was equivalent to weakening the Marines, while NEO Marines also attracted the attention of the World Government and the Marines.

This could be considered a good thing, and they were pleased. They even thought that if the Marines and NEO Marines continued to compete, they might both end up weakened, which would be their chance.

Now that NEO Marines had absorbed such a monster, they looked forward to the future confrontation between the Marines and NEO Marines.

While the pirates were rejoicing, the Five Elders looked as dark as ink. Fujitora's technique of bringing down the meteorite made them wary and more distressed that such a powerful force that originally belonged to the Marines went to the other side.

Since they couldn't have it, they had to get rid of it, or else this horrifying power that could destroy the world, just like Whitebeard, would be used by NEO Marines and become their great enemy in the future.

They had to eliminate NEO Marines before they grew too strong!

...

Meanwhile, the image on the screen was coming to an end.

A huge and scorching meteorite fell from the sky with astonishing speed, and ordinary people could only wait for despair and death.

However, the three people below were not ordinary people.

Doflamingo looked at the sky in shock and exclaimed, "Hey! Are you kidding me!"

Immediately, he pulled out a huge net and covered himself.

At the same time, Law, with a look of disbelief, quickly activated his "ROOM" ability and split the meteorite falling towards him into two halves.

On the other side, Fujitora used gravity to repel the falling meteorite feathers.

A loud bang rang out, and a huge crater appeared where the three stood, leaving Law, Doflamingo, and Fujitora standing there unharmed, like three solitary peaks.

"Hasn't the Fleet Admiral taught you any manners? You mad dog!" Doflamingo, who was almost taken away by Fujitora's move, cursed loudly. "You capture Law, fine! But why did you also involve me in the attack?"

"Thanks for the compliment. I was just testing the waters." In the face of their shock, Fujitora replied calmly.

The image ended with this "testing the waters."