According to King's meticulous calculations, even with the forces divided, this expedition would take at least a year to complete. The objective was straightforward: the Beasts Pirates needed to conquer and occupy thirteen specific islands. Compared to their first outing, this was only an increase of two islands.
The workload was split unevenly: Kaido took responsibility for seven targets, while Yamato was assigned six.
In a remote corner of the Xilan Sea, there sat a lonely, uninhabited landmass known as Siguri Island. This desolate rock sat directly in the path of Yamato's fleet. As her ships cut through the waves of the Xilan Sea, drawing closer to the island's shores, they were unaware that a massive shadow already occupied the area.
A large Marine warship had reached the island first.
"Reporting to Vice Admiral Garp! We have arrived at Siguri Island," a Marine soldier announced, standing at attention.
Garp stood at the bow of the vessel, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Good. We'll wait right here."
"Vice Admiral," a Marine Commander asked hesitantly, "are we planning to launch a full-scale assault on the Beasts Pirates?"
"Of course not," Garp laughed, his boisterous voice echoing across the deck. "I'm just here to meet that brat from Kaido's family. Let's not go starting a war today."
The Commander blinked in confusion. "Is that so? But sir, even if she is a monster with an initial bounty of 1,300,000,000, surely it doesn't require a Marine Hero to handle it personally? And saying you're not here for a war while intercepting a Yonko's fleet... isn't that a bit contradictory?"
"Don't underestimate her. She's a genuine monster," Garp replied, letting out another loud laugh. "After all, I'm just a retired old man now, while these kids are just getting started."
His subordinates exchanged uneasy glances. You're the Hero of the Marines; is it really okay to stay stuff like that? they wondered.
"The brat's name is Yamato, right? I wonder what she's like," Garp mused, narrowing his eyes.
The reports saying she dared to swing a spiked club at Kaido's face had piqued his interest. Kaido was her father, yet she showed no fear. Most people knew Kaido wasn't exactly the "forgive and forget" type of parent, which made Yamato's defiance even more impressive.
"Maybe she'll be an interesting one," Garp muttered, his intuition tingling.
Two hours later, the Beasts Pirates' fleet finally crested the horizon.
"Siguri Island is just ahead," Maria noted, checking the charts. "Once we pass this, the next inhabited island isn't far."
Yamato walked to the bow, her golden eyes scanning the landmass. "Hmm?"
She suddenly felt a presence—subtle, yet incredibly dense and powerful. It was a pressure she recognized all too well.
"What a massive presence... it's just as heavy as the Idiot Old Man's," Yamato whispered, her pupils sharpening into slits. "Who's waiting over there?"
The source of the power was on the far side of the island, tucked away as if waiting specifically for their arrival.
"What's wrong, Yamato?" Maria asked, sensing the sudden shift in Yamato's aura. She looked toward the island but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"There's a big shot ahead, Maria. Someone no weaker than the old man in my family. It looks like we've hit the jackpot today!" Yamato laughed, a wild spark of excitement in her eyes.
"Are you serious?" Maria's face went pale. She knew Yamato didn't joke about strength; if she felt a threat, it was real.
"Yeah. There's a monster over there. Today won't be boring at all!" Yamato's Haki began to flare, vibrating the air around her.
"Yamato, you aren't actually going to fight them, are you?" Maria asked, seeing the battle-lust taking over.
Yamato turned back with a brilliant, toothy grin. "Of course I am! It's not every day you stumble across someone this strong. How could I possibly ignore them?"
"You're hopeless..." Maria sighed, knowing there was no stopping her.
Just then, a ship slowly rounded the coast of Siguri Island. It flew the Seagull flag of the World Government—a massive Marine warship.
"This is bad! It's the Marines!" a pirate shouted from the crow's nest.
"The Marines? Where?" Jack stomped onto the deck, his face twisted in a murderous scowl. But as his eyes landed on the ship's figurehead—a distinct dog-head—his jaw dropped. "No way... That's the Marine Hero, Garp!"
Even the arrogant Jack knew better than to be reckless here. "Why is Garp here of all places? This is a disaster," Haruko added, her face grim.
This was the man who had famously cornered the Pirate King. Back in those days, even Kaido wouldn't have been qualified to stand in his way.
"What's with the panic? Stop being so nervous," Yamato said, waving them off. Her Haki was becoming difficult to suppress now. "A legend like that is my perfect opponent."
She had heard of Garp—the man whose fists were said to be more powerful than any weapon. To Yamato, he was the ultimate whetstone.
"Yamato, you can't be serious. You want to scrap with the Marine Hero?" Jack stared at her as if she had lost her mind. He was bold, sure, but Yamato was entering a whole new level of insanity.
"I'm dead serious. He's clearly waiting here for me. Since he went to all this trouble, how can I turn him down?" Yamato pulled her spiked club from its holster on her back. "Stay here and watch the ships."
Before anyone could object, Yamato leaped from the deck.
Splash!
A violent curtain of water erupted from the sea as she sprinted across the surface, moving so fast she appeared to be flying. She headed straight for the shore of Siguri Island.
"Is she for real?" Jack muttered. For the first time in his life, he realized Yamato was actually crazier than he was.
"Don't just stand there! Full speed ahead! Prepare to dock!" Jack roared to the crew. He couldn't let anything happen to her, or Kaido would have his head. "Get moving! We follow the Young Master and show these Marines that the Beasts Pirates aren't to be trifled with!"
"Kill the Marines!" the subordinates cheered, their fear turning into bloodlust.
Jack, Maria, and Haruko shared a worried look but didn't say anything more. They had to catch up to Yamato before she picked a fight she couldn't walk away from.
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