Feeling the lingering resentment radiating from Aokiji, Ezra D. Vale simply ignored it.
"Aokiji, take your team and sweep the area. Make sure no stragglers escaped," Vale instructed calmly.
Aokiji nodded. "Understood, Admiral Residual Flame." With that, he boarded another ship, leading a squad of soldiers toward the waters where Totto Land had once floated.
Gion, her eyes still red from tears, reluctantly left Vale's embrace. She guided Hina and another contingent of Marines along a separate path, approaching the devastated region from a different angle.
Vale, now completely unoccupied, pulled out a small packet of rice crackers and reclined on a deck chair at the ship's bow, savoring a moment of rare tranquility.
It was not long before a dog-headed Marine ship approached Vale's vessel at full speed. Garp, the canine-faced hero, teleported aboard, landing beside him in an instant.
"Vale! Are you okay, kid?!" Garp hurriedly asked, removing his mask.
"Yo, Uncle Garp," Vale replied lazily. "I'm fine. The mission's done. But what brings you here?"
Garp froze, disbelief etching his features. He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Wh-what did you just say?"
Vale tilted his head, expression neutral. "I said the mission is complete. Big Mom is dead, and Totto Land has been destroyed."
For a moment, Garp had no words. His jaw hung slightly agape.
"Uncle Garp, have you answered my question yet?" Vale prompted.
Garp regained his composure. "Sengoku asked me to come assist you."
Vale's mouth twitched. Assistance? After this? He kept his thoughts to himself.
Garp hesitated before asking, still worried, "Are you certain Big Mom is really dead? Did you find her body?"
Vale shrugged. "Well, she was reduced to ash. Do you expect me to dig through a pile of ashes?"
Garp drew in a sharp breath. "You… burned her to ashes?!"
Vale simply nodded. Garp went silent, taking out his Den Den Mushi to call Sengoku.
"Hello? Garp! Have you reached Totto Land? Is Vale safe?!" Sengoku's voice was urgent.
Garp glanced at Vale, sunbathing casually on the deck, and replied dryly, "Safe? More than safe he's downright relaxed."
Sengoku froze. Garp continued, "He finished the mission. Big Mom is gone. Totto Land? Obliterated."
Sengoku fell back in shock, inhaling sharply. It took him a long moment to regain his composure.
"Garp, this is a matter of the utmost importance. Ensure Big Mom is truly dead."
Garp shook his head, frustrated. "She is. Even the ashes have been scattered."
Sengoku paused, absorbing the confirmation. "Understood, Garp. Just stay with Vale for now. Once this is settled, return to Marineford immediately. The Five Elders have assigned a new mission."
Garp's expression tensed. "The Five Elders? Again? Another Celestial Dragon to guard? I'm not going!"
Sengoku shook his head. "It's not a protection mission. It's a long-term assignment."
Garp's pupils constricted. He said no more. "I understand. Vale, will you be involved?"
There was a pause before Sengoku responded, "We'll discuss it when you return. The candidates haven't been finalized yet."
Garp nodded and hung up. Every word of the conversation had been broadcast directly into Vale's ears.
"Uncle Garp, why a long-term mission?" Vale asked, curiosity lacing his voice.
Garp shook his head. Even he did not fully understand the purpose. The two of them remained silent for a while, sharing rice crackers.
Soon, Aokiji and Gion returned to Vale's ship.
"Report, Admiral Residual Flame. No pirate ships or crews were found in the entire area of Totto Land," Aokiji reported.
Gion nodded, confirming his statement. This confirmed the unthinkable: Totto Land had been completely annihilated.
"Good. Let's head back."
"Yes, Admiral Residual Flame!"
The aftermath of this battle left Vale's subordinates shaken. Witnessing their captain's overwhelming power both awed and terrified them. Many felt a burning need to train harder, to surpass their current limits.
Vale watched silently, knowing that a stronger crew meant less work for him in the future. He pulled out a Den Den Mushi and called Stussy.
"Master!" the voice on the other end exclaimed.
"Big Mom is dealt with. You can start securing the area," Vale said.
Stussy's voice trembled with excitement. "Understood, Master!"
Vale ended the call, a faint smile playing on his lips. He thought to himself, One of the future Four Emperors…
Garp, hearing Stussy call Vale "Master," was momentarily speechless. He had never imagined Vale would recruit someone like Stussy into his fold. Garp, ever protective of the new generation, refrained from asking too many questions. After all, he was still shielding Kaiku and Roger's son.
Stretching lazily, Vale watched the clouds drift across the sky, sinking into a comfortable nap. Meanwhile, the world outside reeled from the repercussions of his actions.
The next day, Morgan's World Economic News hit the presses with a shocking headline:
[The Navy's Strongest, Admiral Residual Flame, Eliminates the Big Mom Pirates!]
[Has Admiral Residual Flame Surpassed Whitebeard?!]
[Is There Still a Future for Pirates?!]
[The Man Who Rules the Seas!]
The news spread like wildfire. Civilians gawked in disbelief.
"Big Mom… eliminated?!" they whispered, trembling. The thought was inconceivable. Even the world's strongest pirates had a day of reckoning.
Aboard the Moby Dick, Marco lost all composure, rushing to Whitebeard in a panic.
"Father! Father! Something's happened!"
"Calm down, Marco… what now?" Whitebeard's voice was grave, yet he could not hide his shock as Marco thrust the newspaper into his hands.
"The Big Mom Pirates… defeated? That destroyer… killed?!"
Whitebeard's eyes darkened with concern. Previously, he had treated Vale as a talented junior. Now, he recognized him as a dangerous rival. Even Whitebeard could not imagine a single man taking on the entire Big Mom crew and winning.
"Father, what should we do?" Marco asked urgently.
Whitebeard paused, eyes narrowing. "Order everyone to train immediately. From this moment, no one can afford to fall behind."
Marco nodded heavily. "Understood, Father."
The world had shifted. The legend of Ezra D. Vale, the Admiral Residual Flame, grew ever brighter. The seas themselves had begun to tremble at the name of the man who had single-handedly erased one of the strongest pirate crews in history.