The next morning, on the streets of Fish-Man Island, Baron Tamago and Pekoms were purchasing various sweets as gifts for Big Mom.
Before they could figure out what was happening, they were suddenly attacked. Multiple identical copies of Speed appeared in the sky, drawing their bows.
"Mirage Burst Arrow!"
Countless arrows rained down, engulfing the two!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"
A chain of massive explosions!
Clearly, the arrows were equipped with explosives.
Speed landed on the ground, and the illusions created by the Teleportation Fruit vanished, but the damage they inflicted was very real.
True clones.
Not only that, but her equipment had also been upgraded several times.
The longbow in her hands was crafted from fresh branches of the Elbaf Adam Treasure Tree—so sturdy that even she couldn't fully draw it at her current strength.
The arrows were special ones manufactured by the Hoenn Research Institute, each with different functions such as armor-piercing, explosive, electromagnetic, smoke, and flash, depending on the type.
She also wore blue-striped goggles that aided in scouting and target locking, similar to the scanning system of the Pacifistas.
Additionally, she carried numerous combat gadgets developed by Judge and his team. Even her clothes and shoes were made of Shape Memory Metal. While not as comprehensive as a Battle Suit, they were still highly effective.
The woman looked heroic and dashing.
The poor rely on mutation; the rich rely on technology!
Hoenn's technology was rapidly advancing, and naturally, it needed to be field-tested. Besides, Speed's previous equipment had been embarrassingly shabby.
"You bastards, who did this?!"
Baron Tamago charged out of the smoke, covered in wounds, while Pekoms behind him remained unscathed. As a user of the Turtle Turtle Fruit, his defense was formidable.
The two glared furiously at Speed.
As combatants under the banner of Totto Land, they had almost forgotten what it felt like to be injured—no one dared to attack them under normal circumstances.
"You're... Speed of the Beasts!"
"And Jimbei!"
"What's the meaning of this?!"
Speed stood with her subordinates, Jimbei at her side.
Jimbei wore an apologetic expression as he explained.
"Sorry, Baron Tamago. I've joined the Beasts. Captain Gurd's orders—we're to drive you out of Fish-Man Island!"
"This island now belongs to the Beasts!"
"What?!"
Baron Tamago's face darkened.
They had just finished negotiations with Neptune, and the prospects for cooperation had been excellent. Now, the Beasts were trying to seize Fish-Man Island!
If they backed down now, where would Big Mom's dignity be?!
"Pekoms!"
"Got it!"
Pirate conflicts were settled with battle!
Meanwhile, at Fish-Man Bay.
"Wahhhh!"
"I found it!"
"This is All Blue!"
Sanji knelt on the shore, bawling his eyes out as he watched the mermaid ladies frolicking in the bay, his brain completely overwhelmed by lust.
"Pathetic as hell."
Gurd stood nearby, his face full of disdain.
What was the big deal about some mermaids? Why make such a fuss?
Chikara came running from a distance, clutching a stack of newspapers. "Lord Gurd, I found the news articles you wanted."
"Good."
Gurd took the newspapers, his face lighting up with a grin.
"Sanji!"
"What?!"
Sanji was instantly on guard.
He had boarded the Groudon Ship only to return to Sabaody Archipelago and reunite with his crew. Otherwise, he would have sneaked away long ago.
His gut told him Gurd was dangerous.
Gurd slapped the newspapers right onto Sanji's face.
"Take a look for yourself."
"Luffy?"
Sanji took the newspaper and was startled.
The paper carried news about Luffy—just two days prior, he had arrived at Marine Headquarters and rung the Ox Bell.
It seemed to be in mourning for Ace.
But this wasn't something Luffy would normally do. The "3D2Y" marked on his arm made Sanji realize the message Luffy was conveying.
The reunion time had changed from the agreed three days to two years later!
"Luffy, I'm glad you're okay."
His hanging heart finally settled. Since Luffy had sent them this message, it meant he had pulled through the grief of his brother's death.
"Alright, I've decided!"
Sanji's eyes burned with determination.
"I'll settle here and head to Sabaody in two years!"
"Bam!"
A fist smashed into Sanji's head, knocking him flat.
Gurd's fist smoked as he scowled. "Can't you think of anything else? How is staying here going to make you stronger?"
"Of course it will!"
Sanji sprang up, blood gushing from his nose.
"Beauty is the greatest motivation for a man to move forward!"
"..."
This guy was hopeless.
Gurd massaged his temples in exasperation.
For Sanji, he wanted to bring him back to the fortress to train as a logistics officer. The kid's culinary talent was genuinely impressive, and he could grow into a high-tier combatant.
The Flying Six were already beneath his notice—only the All-Star level could catch his interest now.
This kid just happened to have the right potential.
As for the future, two years could change too many things. And given Straw Hat Luffy's recklessness, he'd probably provoke Gurd sooner or later.
When that happened, he'd just kill him.
Without their captain, the Straw Hat crew would fall apart.
Principles were principles, and friendships were friendships.
Pirates drew clear lines between them.
Gurd glared at the lust-drunk Sanji and said darkly, "Come back with me. In just two years, your strength will increase a hundredfold!"
"Hah!"
"Oh, and Amazon Lily is right next to Hoenn Fortress!"
"Nani?!"
Amazon Lily?!
Sanji's heart pounded wildly.
The legendary island of women—a nation of nothing but women.
A golden, upgraded All Blue!
"Earlier, I heard Jimbei mention how the Fish-Man tribe wants to foster friendly relations with humans."
Gurd stroked his chin.
"Guess I'll talk to Grand Knight Neptune before leaving. I plan to establish a Fish-Man settlement near Hoenn Fortress and bring some mermaids to live there."
"I'll go with you!"
Sanji's nostrils flared like chimneys!
What an easy idiot to handle.
Gurd shook his head in amusement and sat down at a nearby mermaid café, flipping through the rest of the newspaper.
"New Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea: [Thousand-Li Clown] Buggy!"
"Germa Kingdom stripped of its World Government affiliate status!"
"Sengoku and Garp step down!"
"Next Fleet Admiral: Former Marine Headquarters Admiral [Akainu] Sakazuki!"
"World Government initiates mass recruitment!"
All earth-shattering headlines.
"Akainu became Fleet Admiral?"
Gurd stared at the paper, baffled.
What was going on? The war had only ended half a month ago—how had Akainu secured the position so quickly?
What about Aokiji?
Did he keep his other leg?
And the World Government's mass recruitment!
That part wasn't surprising. The Marines' battle with him had multiplied their casualties, and many who could've survived had drowned. Nearly half of the 100,000 officers were likely lost.
Recruitment was inevitable.
But Akainu's ascension seemed too rushed.
Wait, could it be that he forced this out?
The more Gurd thought about it, the more convinced he became.
Originally, the Marines had taken down Whitebeard. Although the losses were heavy, they were within acceptable limits. Blackbeard wasn't considered too much of a threat either, being just a traditional pirate at heart.
But Gurd was openly vying for supremacy, posing a far greater threat to the World Government than even the Four Emperors—so much so that not even the Revolutionary Army could keep up with him!
"Rustle!"
A bounty poster slipped out from the newspaper.
"Earth Calamity" Groudon Gud - Bounty: 4,120,000,000 Berries !
"4.12 billion Berries !"
Gurd looked at his own bounty poster, a grin spreading across his face.
"Chikara, what was Red Hair's bounty again?"
"4,048,900,000 Berries !"
Higher than Red Hair's bounty!
Such an astronomical bounty had previously only been held by the Four Emperors. This meant the Marines were treating him as one of the Four Emperors.
"Gyahahaha!!!"
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