"...there are many children here."
"As I have told you, right?"
The guess, who came to visit the Punk Hazard first, was Doll, who happened to be nearby, and as expected, when she saw many children and what had happened on this island, her expression became ugly.
The other Marines also weren't better, especially when they thought about what would happen to those children.
"Who did all of this?!"
"It should be Doflamingo."
"Doflamingo?! That Shichibukai?"
"Yes."
"...how could you be so sure?"
"She is his subordinate."
As Shinra said, he pointed his finger at Monet, who was caught by him. "By the way, you can catch her, but return the seastone chains to me since they are expensive."
"..." Everyone.
"...can you tell me from the beginning? Also, can you introduce yourselves first, Young Man?"
The one who asked those questions wasn't Doll, but someone on the Den Den Mushi.
When Shinra looked at the Den Den Mushi, it formed into the appearance of a gentle old woman, which made him doubt. "You are?"
"I am Vice Admiral of the Marines, and also the Great Staff Officer, Tsuru."
"Tsuru?"
One of the legendary female Marines, who stood side by side with the current Fleet Admiral, Sengoku, and the Marine Hero, Monkey D. Garp, was also known as the brain of the Marines, the Great Staff Officer, Tsuru.
"Yes. That's me, so can you tell me?"
"Okay."
Shinra then told everyone from the beginning how he arrived at the New World, and also discovered everything, including how he killed Caesar.
If he wasn't wrong, Caesar's bounty was about 300 million bellies, and it would be a shame if he didn't exchange that for money.
Still, while he talked about his discovery, he naturally hid many things, especially many of his gains on this island.
Then, as Shinra rubbed one of his eyes that was slightly dim due to the after-effects of using the Eye of Usurp on the Devil Fruit that he discovered in one of the rooms within the facility, he finished his story.
"I see... thanks for your hard work."
"It's fine. You don't have to worry. You have helped me to take care of those children, after all."
Shinra could tell that Doll had just arrived in the New World, but as she heard his report, she quickly gathered her subordinates to save those children and take care of them, telling him that she would return all of them to their parents.
The other Marines were also the same, and toward such people, how could he hate them?
Still, Tsuru, who heard Shinra's words, was silent for a while, then asked, "By the way, Young Man, have you thought of joining the Marines?" Even though Doll had told her that she had invited Shinra to join the Marines, she couldn't help but try to reach out to him.
After all, Shinra's power was obvious, considering he had defeated the Treasure Pirates alone, and was even able to sail to the dangerous New World by traveling through the Fish-Man Island, before finding the secret facility of a criminal on the Punk Hazard and saving many children.
Tsuru could tell that Shinra's heart wasn't bad, and more importantly, she could tell that he didn't even think about becoming a pirate.
No, Shinra wasn't even a pirate!
Probably, if one had to describe him, he was a bit like a bounty hunter, but most of the time, he was an adventurer.
With such a clean background, why should she hesitate?
Still, if it was before, Shinra might have disagreed, but this time, he said, "Sure."
"Eh?" 2x
All of them were somewhat dumbfounded by his answer, including Tsuru, as she had never expected him to give such an answer.
"But later."
"Later? When?"
"After I challenged the Four Emperors."
"...." Everyone.
"If I am defeated and need to run away, then please take care of me by then."
"...." Everyone.
At the beginning of his time after he came to this world, Shinra had planned to become part of the Marines, especially when it had complete systematic training, many good instructions, extensive facilities, and even being paid with good salaries.
However, as Shinra met Robin, his plans were interrupted, and all of a sudden, there he was on the New World, and probably soon, he would be targeted by Big Mom.
After all, Shinra had killed Caesar, the scientist in charge of Big Mom's dream to transform humans into giants. Sooner or later, he would become Big Mom's enemy, so he thought to join the Marines to have a moment of respite.
So, would the Marines accept him?
"Okay, then, but don't die, okay? I am waiting for you here at the headquarters."
Unexpectedly, Tsuru didn't seem to care much about the threat of Big Mom, but wasn't it normal?
The Marines and the pirates had always been enemies, and as one of the strongest pirates, even if Big Mom was powerful, Tsuru didn't care and wished for Shinra to be able to successfully return and join the Marines.
As for why Tsuru could make such decisions, it was clear that if Shinra fought the Four Emperors, he would become their enemies, and by then, his relationship would definitely be impossible to become an alliance with the Four Emperors, and he would be fully dependent on the Marines if he wanted to live.
More importantly, if Shinra could really get out alive, it showed his potential, which definitely wasn't weak at all!
So, why should Tsuru hesitate, especially when Shinra was so young?
"Thank you."
Yet, as they talked again, a Marine ship was seen in the distance.
"Huh? Marine ship?"
Doll was confused when she saw a large Marine ship come to Punk Hazard, even though she didn't even call for reinforcements. "That flag... is it G-5?"
G-5, officially the Marine "Grand Line" Fifth Branch, is a Marine Base located in the New World, near the Red Line.
As for why Doll quickly concluded it was the G-5, and didn't even doubt it, it was because of the state of the ship that was so bad that it wouldn't be weird that it would sink to the bottom of the ocean.
At the same time, the qualities of the soldiers of this base were so bad that they appeared more like pirates than the soldiers of the Marines.
"Huh? Is that Doll Vice Admiral?"
"So beautiful!"
"Vice Admiral, I love you!"
Doll had anger veins on her forehead as she watched the uneducated and undisciplined soldiers.
"G-5?"
Tsuru was also confused, and Shinra didn't say anything, only staring at the man with a crew cut hairstyle, who stood at the front area of the ship, completely solemn, cool, but with a piece of bitten patty on his cheek.
"Vice Admiral Vergo?"
Vergo, who was standing at the dock area, also quickly noticed Doll, which caused his expression to frown before he looked at Shinra for a moment.
Shinra was targeted by the Doflamingo Pirate after he had killed Bellamy and Saquiss, but while many could describe his appearance, his photo wasn't taken, and with the level of intelligence of the people on Jaya Island, it would be a miracle if they could describe Shinra's appearance properly.
Moreover, the thought of someone appearing in the New World after they became the enemy of the Doflamingo Pirate never crossed the mind of Vergo at all.
Why did Vergo think so?
It was because in Vergo's mind, his Young Master was the best of the best!
"What are you doing here, Vergo?"
Doll had a similar position to Vergo, so she didn't have to be polite.
"My base is close here, right? Why can't I be here? Instead, I am more curious about what you are all doing here. Is there anything that I can help with?"
While Doll wasn't sure, she felt this man was suspicious, and somehow along the way, Tsuru never talked and just remained quiet as if she tried to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Naturally, without being asked, Shinra also helped by helping to hide the Den Den Mushi that was connected to Tsuru.
"No, it's fine. Everything is over. You should go back to your base, and I will handle the rest."
Vergo didn't move even after Doll said those words, but his eyes landed on Monet, who was caught and beaten. "Who did this?"
"What is that?"
Only, his question was ignored as Shinra suddenly asked when he noticed a flying dot in the sky.
"Huh?"
The dot might have been a little small, but slowly it grew larger until it formed into the shape of a person.
No, it was a person!
The man seemed to walk on the sky, moving his fingers dextrously and in nimble ways as if holding something.
"...is that Doflamingo?" Doll asked with a frown, feeling even more confused.
"Huh? That Shichibukai?"
"What is that pirate doing here?"
"You bastard! Go home!"
While the soldiers under Doll were all in silence, waiting for Doll's order, the soldiers under Vergo were all so rude and directly mocked Doflamingo, but—
BANG!
Splash!
All of a sudden, the head of the soldier was blasted like a crushed watermelon.
Vergo, who held a long bamboo stick, smashed it on the head of his subordinate and killed him directly.
"It's Young Master. Call him by his name respectfully, you mongrel."
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, VERGO?!"
Doll looked at Vergo in anger as Vergo had killed his subordinate all of a sudden.
Also, why did Vergo call Doflamingo Young Master?
Wait!
Were they working together?
As Doll made such a conclusion, Doflamingo, who had arrived, directly used his strongest technique!
"TORIKAGO!"
As Doflamingo's voice fell, the island was surrounded by a gigantic cage of string that trapped all of them inside!