In the Grand Line, the waters near Water 7 had recently seen an unusual increase in Marine warships patrolling the area.
Outsiders had no idea why this was happening, and rumors began to spread wildly. However, as a Marine Major, Gin knew the real reason behind this heightened security.
Over the past two years, several islands in the Grand Line had mysteriously disappeared. Some reappeared days later in entirely different sea regions, while others vanished without a trace. Now, yet another island had simply ceased to exist.
The Grand Line's climate was notoriously unpredictable, with natural disasters beyond the imagination of ordinary sailors—such as the Knock Up Stream near Jaya Island. For those who lived and fought in these treacherous waters, even the strangest occurrences rarely raised eyebrows and seldom alarmed Marine Headquarters. After all, most of the vanished islands were uninhabited by humans.
This time, however, was different. The disappeared island had been alarmingly close to Marine Headquarters itself.
Whether caused by human intervention or natural phenomena, the Marines had to investigate thoroughly and prepare countermeasures to prevent such an incident from threatening Marineford, their base of operations.
As an officer stationed near Water 7, Gin was naturally involved in the investigation. Privately, though, he remained skeptical of Headquarters' theory that the disappearances were man-made. Even after witnessing and hearing about countless extraordinary events in the Grand Line, the idea that someone possessed the power to make entire islands vanish still struck him as implausible.
Gin's role in this operation was limited to sealing off the waters and redirecting passing ships. The actual investigation was handled by higher-ranking officers and specialists, leaving no room for a mere Major like himself to voice his opinions.
For Gin, this was just another routine patrol—tedious and seemingly more ceremonial than practical. His warship traveled alongside another unfamiliar Marine vessel. Standing on the deck, Gin paid little attention to the other ship until the two vessels drew closer.
It was then that he noticed a familiar figure standing on the other ship's deck. His brows furrowed in recognition.
Yusolin Heller. Gin remembered the name clearly. He had been a close confidant of the late Captain Roy, and Gin had encountered him on multiple occasions. There was no mistaking his identity.
At that same moment, Yusolin Heller noticed Gin. He froze momentarily, but upon recognizing Gin—now a commissioned officer qualified to wear the Marine coat of justice—a look of unmistakable resentment flashed across his face. Without acknowledgment, Yusolin turned away and moved to the opposite side of the deck, deliberately avoiding Gin's gaze.
Gin contemplated the significance of this encounter. As Captain Roy's former confidant, Yusolin Heller likely possessed dangerous knowledge—Captain Roy's collusion with William, Nezumi's covert dealings with William, and perhaps even suspicions about the suspicious circumstances surrounding Captain Roy's death.
Gin concluded that William should be informed of this development. If trouble was brewing, they would need to be prepared.
Meanwhile, Cocoyasi Village had transformed into a sea of jubilation.
When William and his forces arrived with news of Arlong's defeat, the villagers erupted in celebration. They immediately began hosting a grand feast, with residents contributing their most treasured ingredients and finest wines. Local chefs prepared an abundance of delicious dishes for everyone to enjoy freely.
After eight long years of oppression, the villagers finally unleashed their pent-up vitality in unbridled celebration.
The festivities had continued for three straight days with no sign of ending.
William, who typically cultivated an approachable public persona, naturally participated in the celebration. However, unlike the locals who were experiencing true liberation from tyranny, his mood remained measured. He made brief appearances in the village and surrounding towns to maintain his presence, but soon returned to his ship to attend to more pressing matters.
The intelligence from Gin in the Grand Line was placed on his desk immediately upon arrival.
After reviewing the report, William showed little concern. Over the years, he had come to understand the Marine Headquarters' attitude toward the East Blue—one of near-complete neglect. Whether this stemmed from the overwhelming pirate forces in the Grand Line consuming all their resources, or simply from disdain for what they considered a "weak sea," remained unclear.
The Arlong Pirates had occupied over a dozen villages and towns in recent years and had even killed a senior officer of a Marine branch. Thanks to newspapers under William's control, these events had created significant local outrage throughout the East Blue. Yet, they barely caused a ripple at Marine Headquarters.
This indifference might have been partly due to Nezumi's conspiracy with local Marine officers to suppress information from reaching Headquarters. Perhaps it was also out of consideration for Jinbe, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. But ultimately, it stemmed from Headquarters simply not viewing Arlong as a significant threat.
The World Government and Marines were clearly focused on eliminating pirates who posed greater dangers. Once those threats were neutralized, someone like Arlong, with a bounty of merely 20 million Beli, would hardly register as a concern to the higher echelons of power.
Even if Yusolin Heller reported William's activities to Headquarters, William doubted it would generate much interest. The information Yusolin possessed was superficial at best. Based on such limited intelligence, William's perceived threat level would scarcely exceed Arlong's in the eyes of Marine leadership.
Moreover, whether Headquarters would even believe a Marine Lieutenant's unsubstantiated accusations against a high-ranking official of a World Government-affiliated nation remained questionable at best.
Therefore, William immediately rejected Gin's suggestion to eliminate Yusolin Heller.
The Grand Line was not like the East Blue—it wasn't William's domain where he could act with impunity. Operating recklessly there would leave dangerous loose ends. The Grand Line harbored countless powerful individuals and hidden dangers, making it far too risky to take action against a relatively minor threat like Yusolin.
However, William did approve Gin's proposal to monitor Yusolin Heller's actions and statements at Headquarters—a reflection of William's characteristically cautious nature.
After signing off on the documents, William practiced his swordsmanship for a while. By the time he finished, night had fallen. In the distance, the lights of Cocoyasi Village and surrounding towns still blazed brightly. Shaking his head slightly, William retired to his quarters for the night.
He had barely fallen asleep when his eyes snapped open. Moments later, a series of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, halting abruptly outside his door. Then came an urgent knock.
"Enter!" William commanded, immediately sitting upright in bed.
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A young staff officer pushed open the door, his face tense with barely contained alarm. "Sir, we've just received an emergency report. Lords Harden and Kuro, traveling aboard the steamship on their return journey from the Grand Line, have lost contact. Their current whereabouts are unknown."