An hour later, in Zone 21, a sergeant reported to Vice Admiral Kuzan: "Your Excellency, of the eighty-six people you brought, only four survived. Most had gunshot wounds. It's already a miracle they survived!
Furthermore, there are a total of seven pirate ships in this area, but Grimm's ship is not among them!"
"Where on earth did Borsalino go?" Kuzan muttered to himself. "Grimm—he's really walked the path of a pirate. What a headache!"
Just then, a golden light descended from the sky, gradually forming a human figure—it was Borsalino.
"Borsalino, where did you run off to?" Kuzan asked impatiently, without turning his head. If he had come earlier, he wouldn't have been endlessly humiliated by being turned into a sheep. Thankfully, no one saw it; it was too embarrassing.
"Ah, I heard from a captain who escaped that Grimm fled to Zone 23. Why isn't he here~?"
"Hmm?"
Kuzan heard this, turned to look at Borsalino, and asked, "A captain who escaped? What was his name?"
"He's from a local branch. How would I know him?" Borsalino deflected, as he wasn't his subordinate anyway.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, could it be… collaboration with the enemy?" the sergeant beside him guessed.
"We can't rule out that possibility!" Kuzan tilted his head. Collaboration with the enemy was a major taboo in the Navy!
"Continue the search!"
...
The next morning, at Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Although many pirates were captured and sent to prison, Akainu, the primary target of this operation, was not apprehended. Not only was he not captured, but Borsalino didn't even find the person and basically played a supporting role throughout.
As for Kuzan, he only reported information about the woman named Jiana to his superiors, but he didn't mention her "transform spell" at all—it was too humiliating.
General Sengoku sat behind his desk, his face ashen: "So, you suspect that branch captain of collaborating with the enemy?"
"Yes, the possibility is extremely high!" Kuzan nodded. However, because Borsalino said he couldn't clearly recall the captain's appearance, it was also possible that Grimm himself had taken off his uniform and worn it to deceive them!
Sengoku pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "Any other intelligence?"
Kuzan continued his report: "Oh, yes! His ship hasn't been coated yet, meaning he might still be around Sabaody Archipelago, or he's returned!"
"Is that so? This is truly a blessing in disguise!" Hearing this, Sengoku's tense expression eased slightly. He had to capture this arrogant guy. If Marine Headquarters were bombed again, the Navy's reputation would be completely ruined.
"Borsalino, regardless of the circumstances, being deceived is a serious issue. You are ordered to remain stationed at Sabaody Archipelago for two months, effective immediately!" Sengoku coldly commanded.
"Oh Oh Mr. Sengoku You look more terrifying than Professor Zephyr when you're serious" Borsalino agreed with a chuckle. He knew the purpose was to have him continue ambushing Grimm on Sabaody.
This suited Borsalino's intentions, as his true superior had told him that he greatly admired Grimm's "Eight Virtues of a Knight" philosophy!
So, he would continue his ambiguous justice, be a good acting monkey, and play with his life-preserving sword techniques.
After Borsalino left, Kuzan reported again: "There's one more thing worth our attention, General Sengoku!"
"What is it?"
"Based on the timeline, your good friend, Mr. Garp, and Gol D. Roger should be approaching Sabaody Archipelago…"
"Roger!"
Sengoku's brows furrowed. "To attract two troublemakers at the same time!"
After thinking for a moment, he said: "Keep Garp on standby. Of course, I'll also be heading out!"
For the first time preparing to advance to the New World, due to some troublesome matters, Grimm's plan ended in failure. For two consecutive weeks, Grimm sailed his ship around Sabaody Archipelago. Of course, the three of them occasionally went ashore to enjoy the food.
After all, eating magic hamburgers every day could get monotonous.
During these two weeks, Grimm felt very strange. Although he was cautious, the Navy seemed to be avoiding him. Even when they encountered each other, they acted as if they didn't see him.
This was too bizarre. What were the Navy up to?
But it was good for him.
However, recently, Grimm's ship couldn't find an opportunity for coating. For some reason, the number of Navy patrols near the normal ports had suddenly increased.
Grimm didn't think this was just aimed at him?
Until two more weeks passed, one afternoon, Grimm saw a pirate ship. Then, Grimm burst out laughing: The Roger Pirates.
Grimm ordered Plank to approach Roger, and twenty minutes later, a ship much larger than Grimm's great iron ship, also built by the world's greatest shipwright, met them.
Years later, people would call this meeting: The First Meeting of the Pirate King and the World King, also known as—The Twin Kings' Meeting!
Shanks, the navigator of the Roger Pirates, stood on the crow's nest, looking into the distance with his telescope. When he spotted Grimm sitting at the bow of the iron ship, he braced himself on the railing and said to Roger below: "Captain, it's Grimm's ship!"
Roger and the others, who were drinking fine wine, immediately got up and looked into the distance. Indeed, a very unique, sail-less, but smoke-billowing iron ship was approaching. Ten minutes later, both sides saw each other's faces.
Roger, seeing Grimm and Plank, and an unfamiliar young girl standing at the bow, laughed heartily: "Grimm, want to have a drink together?"
With that, Grimm jumped onto Roger's ship and instructed Plank to anchor and secure the ship!
"Grimm, who is this lady?" Roger asked, glancing at Jiana. "She looks quite suited for you, hahaha!"
Jiana's face instantly turned red. "Hello, Mr. Roger. My name is Jiana, and I'm a magician. I often hear Lord Grandmaster Grimm speak of you. I heard you are the Pirate King!" Jiana showed great respect to Roger.
Roger was surprised that Grimm thought so highly of him and felt a bit awkward. "Hahaha, not yet, but I will definitely be the man who becomes the Pirate King!"
Grimm took a sip of the sake handed to him by a subordinate, finding the taste quite good. "Roger, what did you mean by giving me the Flame-Flame Fruit last time?"
"Oh! Just keep it for me for now! I'll find you when I have time to get it back!" Roger laughed! "By the way, why didn't you enter the New World?"
Roger's question was also the inner thought of most of the Roger Pirates. The day Grimm returned, they happened to be holding a banquet in a bar in Water 7 and recruited twenty new crew members, so they didn't meet. They thought they would meet in the New World but didn't expect to encounter him here. What could have happened?
"Hmm, did something happen on the island?" Shanks speculated.
"Idiot, I can see it clearly. Otherwise, why wouldn't Grimm go up?" Buggy scoffed at Shanks.
Rayleigh thought about it and said, "After reaching Sabaody Archipelago, we still need to coat our ship. Based on our past experience entering the New World, this takes almost a week. And this is the closest place to Marine Headquarters. Once we attract the Navy's attention, it will be very difficult for us to enter the New World!"
"Everyone, pay attention. We must be very low-key once we reach the island!" Gaban also reminded them.
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