"I'll be discreet, don't worry, my partner!" Roger laughed, showing his big white teeth.
Rayleigh sighed, sweat beading on his forehead. "Roger, have you forgotten the commotion you caused a few years ago, attracting Garp and Sengoku?"
"..."
After another round of drinking, chatting, and idle talk, Grimm, Jiana, and Plank bid farewell to the Roger Pirates. Grimm couldn't help but sigh—it was good to have a dedicated chef on board; the dishes he made were incomparable to any magic hamburger.
Back on the ship, a news bird flew over the Sea King. After buying a newspaper, Grimm saw the latest updated bounties.
As expected, besides his own bounty, Plank's bounty had increased, and Jiana was also wanted.
Holy Light Pirates:
Alive or Dead:
[Ocean Calamity · Plank]: Bounty: 300,000,000 Beli
Alive or Dead:
[Frost Witch · Jiana]: Bounty: 120,000,000 Beli
After reading the newspaper for a while, the Roger Pirates' Jackson had completely disappeared from view. Grimm ordered Plank to steer the ship to follow. With the excellent perception provided by Wisdom Blessing, Grimm already knew that the Roger Pirates' landing spot was the southwest dock in Zone 55.
Rayleigh and the others had traveled back and forth between the New World and Sabaody multiple times, knowing that Island 55 was a place where craftsmen gathered, allowing them to find coating workers the fastest. Therefore, they chose to land here.
After confirming the Roger Pirates' location, the Sea King turned its bow and chose to dock in Zone 27, the furthest location from the Roger Pirates.
This was a pre-arranged plan between the two of them to divert the Navy's attention.
However, Grimm harbored a selfish thought: "Roger, don't blame me. I believe you have destiny on your side, so it should be fine!"
With that, Grimm disembarked. He ordered Plank and Jiana to stay on the ship, not to go anywhere, and wait for the coating.
Grimm, enveloped in a holy light, his body transformed into photons and then reassembled. When he reappeared, he had become a slightly chubby, ordinary-looking person.
"Let's go see what Roger and the others are up to!" Grimm, channeling his inner Baldy, began to mutter to himself.
...
As soon as Rayleigh stepped onto Sabaody Archipelago, he actively began preparations for the upcoming voyage to the New World. The first thing, of course, was the coating. If this process went smoothly, it might be completed in two or three days, but if not, it could take seven or eight days. It had to be done immediately; if the Navy discovered them, it would be troublesome.
Rayleigh divided the remaining crew members to purchase daily necessities, such as fresh water, food, and medicine.
Another group was led by Gaban, staying on the ship.
On Sabaody, where all sorts of people could be found, if they didn't watch the ship carefully, it would surely be gone when they returned. After all, not all ships were giant steel vessels.
Meanwhile, Grimm, after Rayleigh left, found the same coating workshop and asked them to go to Zone 27 to coat his ship.
Coating was a very important task. If it failed at a depth of 10,000 meters underwater, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Rayleigh and the others had multiple experiences diving into the underwater world. Choosing the same workshop as them couldn't be wrong, right?
Even the Roger Pirates became extremely low-key after entering Sabaody Archipelago. Being hunted by the Navy here would make entering the New World very difficult.
Grimm's ship coating was scheduled to take five days. On the third day, Grimm killed a Navy ensign who had secretly snuck out for some fun and snatched his Den Den Mushi, preparing to enact his plan when they left.
For these few days, Grimm and his two companions had stayed mostly by their ship, rarely leaving. If any Navy personnel or potential informants approached their location, they would be killed without mercy. It wasn't just Grimm doing this; the Roger Pirates were doing the same.
This approach kept Grimm's and Roger's whereabouts temporarily secret and allowed the coating work to proceed smoothly. However, the Navy wasn't foolish.
But their superior was an acting monkey!
Finally, on the fifth day, as Grimm's coating work was nearing completion, the slow-to-react Borsalino finally sensed that "something was wrong" and dispatched a small team of a dozen or so people to investigate Zone 27.
Grimm, disguised as an ordinary person, secretly followed this patrol team.
"Captain, I heard Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp's ships are already heading this way. Are they planning to deal with Roger?"
"That's right. And Grimm too. They say they'll be landing soon. This time, we'll definitely catch them all in one net."
"It feels like there aren't many people around here. Let's patrol elsewhere!"
Hearing these words, Grimm felt as if someone had deliberately spread the information to them, as the patrol team left after saying this.
It was very strange.
However, Grimm still returned to his ship and asked the shipwrights: "Uncles, how much longer until the coating is completely finished?"
A craftsman with a bandana tied around his head looked up and said, "About three more hours. Almost done, young man. Don't rush!"
Three hours. If they didn't take action, they would inevitably be surrounded by the Navy. If both Sengoku and Garp arrived, Grimm absolutely did not want to fight them.
As expected, he had to sell out Roger and the others.
Grimm took out the Den Den Mushi he had obtained from the Navy ensign a few days ago. After successfully dialing, he was surprised to find that the voice on the other end was…
"Moji Moji~ What is it, Ensign Rade? Haven't seen you in days" Borsalino's voice.
Uh…
How did it feel like Borsalino knew he had killed that ensign?
Never mind. Grimm continued, "Report, report! I found the Roger Pirates in Zone 55. Re-reporting, the Roger Pirates were found at the dock in Zone 55."
Upon hearing the words "Roger Pirates," Borsalino was silent for two seconds, then said, "The Roger Pirates How terrifying What's the situation on the ground~?"
Grimm smiled slightly and began to fabricate: "The situation is extremely dire. Their coating is complete. Captain Gol D. Roger, Vice Captain Rayleigh, and combatants Oden Kōzuki and Gaban have all arrived. They are likely to set sail soon. Please give your instructions!"
Hearing the "D," Borsalino felt that Grimm was becoming more and more like one of them. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "You hide well and don't move. This is very important We'll be there soon."
Immediately after, the call was hung up. Grimm casually tossed the Den Den Mushi into the sea.
"Now we should be safe, right? Sorry for selling you out, Roger, but consider this as interest for holding onto the Flame-Flame Fruit!"
...
Roger Pirates.
Gaban stood on the shore, looking back at the Oro Jackson, now wrapped in bubbles. He said, "Everything is ready. We just need Roger and Rayleigh to return."
Suddenly, a lookout from the Roger Pirates rushed over and reported to Gaban: "It's bad, Mr. Gaban! A large number of Navy ships are heading this way! Estimated at no less than 500 people!"
"What?" Gaban's expression hardened. Deploying so many Navy ships at once undoubtedly meant their whereabouts had been exposed.
But just then.
Boom!
The ground shook. A golden Buddha nearly a hundred meters tall appeared out of thin air a thousand meters away.
"Roger!!" The Buddha roared loudly.
Boom!
Then the entire island began to shake violently. It seemed Sengoku the Buddha had already started fighting Roger!
"Lads, prepare to face the Navy! Hold this ship until Mr. Roger and Rayleigh return!"
Gaban shouted to the sky!
Shanks, standing ready, immediately drew the rapier at his waist. Buggy, terrified and tongue-tied, stood back-to-back with Shanks!
"Shanks, we're finished!"
"Stop talking, Buggy. I believe the captain and the others will return!"
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a beam of light flew from afar, heading straight for the Jackson. Gaban's pupils under his sunglasses narrowed. He blocked the light with an aerial kick. Instantly, golden light exploded on Pier 55, like a small sun.
Seconds later, Gaban and the golden light landed simultaneously.
Gaban flicked his leg and chuckled, "Still like to play sneak attacks, little brat Borsalino!"
"Still as terrifying as ever, Mr. Gaban" Borsalino sighed. "Fortunately, those two guys, Roger and Rayleigh, are being watched by Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp. Otherwise, I would have been in trouble"
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