Chapter 63: Transfer Location is Impel Down?

Seeing the surveillance ward firmly attached to Luffy's hat, and noticing that no one else had detected it, Vivian instinctively turned his gaze to Chopper.

Should I place the eye on Chopper's hat instead?

Considering how much Nami and Robin adore Chopper, it's not impossible they'd take him to the bath…

"What am I even thinking!"

Vivian slapped his face, shook his head, and then addressed everyone on the deck: "We'll reach our destination in less than half an hour. I'll take a nap on the ship during this time. You can disembark on your own."

He then glanced at Robin and Chopper, "And please, no more seawater baths for me."

Chopper: (￣□￣;)

…

Luffy's crew and the Galley-La Company employees left Vivian's ship and returned to Water 7.

If everything goes as expected, Franky will build the Thousand Sunny for Luffy, and the crew will embark on their next adventure.

Based on the timeline, Ace's capture by Blackbeard and the start of the Marineford War are likely only two to three months away.

Vivian definitely didn't want to be involved in the Marineford War.

Therefore, he needed to find a way to stay far from Marineford before then.

"Hiss… Ha!"

Taking a deep drag on the cigarette Sanji left him, Vivian was about to turn the helm and head back when his pocket, soaked by seawater, started ringing.

…

Three days later.

Navy Headquarters.

Judgment Room.

Sengoku, Garp, Aokiji, and several Vice Admirals were seated at a long table, focusing their attention on Vivian.

"Three days ago, five navy ships from a branch were struck by lightning. Most of the navy personnel reported seeing a thunder dragon, similar to a flying slash. How do you explain this?" Sengoku, sitting at the head of the table, asked sharply through his glasses.

Vivian had anticipated this situation before returning.

Although the system hadn't given him any options at the time, he had internally debated between "1. Defect from the navy and become a pirate" and "2. Go back and find an excuse."

He recalled the three plans he had decided on after a sleepless night.

At the same time, the options appeared before his eyes.

Option 1: "Yes, I did unleash that thunder dragon, but I did it in anger because I was nearly hit by cannon fire." (Reward: Random combat skill from another world x1)

Option 2: "I didn't unleash that thunder dragon. I didn't see anything because I was knocked out by the Straw Hat crew." (Reward: Random special item from another world x1)

Option 3: "Yes, I did unleash that Thunder Dragon, but I was forced to. The Straw Hat crew took many civilians hostage and demanded I repel the pursuing warships. I couldn't just watch the hostages get killed, so I complied." (Reward: Random skill experience +1)

The choice was clear.

Using the first option would lead Sengoku to question why he didn't use the thunder dragon against the Straw Hat crew instead of attacking his own men.

The second option would be dismissed by Sengoku, who knew about his lightning abilities.

So, the first two options were risky. The last option, leveraging his long-established image of justice, seemed like the best choice.

Vivian said directly, "Yes, that's right. That thunder dragon is indeed my strongest attack."

As he finished speaking, all the officers present frowned and looked at Vivian with disapproval.

Is this guy… planning to rebel?

And doing it so righteously?

But Vivian continued, "But there's a reason for all this."

"A reason? What reason?" Sengoku asked.

"At the time, I received an order from Vice Admiral Momonga to pursue the Straw Hat crew. I immediately set off with the warship. But when I caught up, I found that they had taken quite a few hostages…"

"Hostages?"

"Yes, as far as I know, they seemed to be civilians from Water 7, captured by the Straw Hat crew. At that time, the one called Zoro… the pirate hunter, had a sword to a woman's neck, forcing me to surrender. That woman looked at me with pleading eyes. I couldn't just watch her die in front of me, so I had to throw away my sword and become their captive on the ship."

"And the attack on the warship?"

"He also forced me to do it by holding a sword to the civilians' necks…" Vivian said.

As he finished speaking, everyone present exchanged glances and then fell into silence.

To save the civilians, he was forced to attack his fellow Marines.

Moreover, according to the medics' reports, only a few people suffered minor injuries.

Could it really be as Vivian said?

Sengoku thought to himself.

"However, regardless of the reason, letting the Straw Hat crew escape and using the warship as their escape tool requires some punishment," Vice Admiral Onigumo suggested after a while.

Next to him, Vice Admiral Momonga, who had assigned Vivian to the pursuit, also lowered his head, "I am also responsible for this matter. I will accept the punishment along with Vivian."

He couldn't help but sigh.

If he had known Vivian was such an upright person, he wouldn't have sent him to chase the Straw Hat crew.

After all, people with such a character are easily outwitted by slightly smarter pirates.

"Punishment is indeed necessary."

Sengoku held his forehead.

But with the Buster Call issued at Enies Lobby, there was a lot of mess waiting for him to clean up. He really didn't have the energy to deal with such trivial matters. After thinking for about ten seconds, he said, "Momonga, your salary will be deducted for two months. Return to standby. As for you, Vivian, although it was unintentional, you indirectly helped the Straw Hat crew escape. So, I decide to demote you from Chief Petty officer to Petty Officer."

A demotion?

"That's not too bad…"

But just as Vivian breathed a sigh of relief, Sengoku continued, "And starting tomorrow, I will transfer you to Impel Down for two years."

Vivian: ∑(っ°Д°;)っ