"Y-You… who are you?"
The pirate held the shipwright hostage, dragging him backward step by step.
The shipwright looked terrified, raising both hands obediently as he retreated, whispering softly:
"Save me…"
"Where is your captain right now?"
Garp tore off his disguise and questioned him coldly.
"Ka… Karp?!"
The moment the pirate saw Garp's face, his body trembled violently.
Even the hand gripping the knife shook uncontrollably.
Standing before him—
Was Vice Admiral Garp!!!
He was nothing more than a small-time pirate.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that kidnapping a shipwright in Water 7 would lead to encountering Garp.
Realizing an opportunity had appeared,
The shipwright quickly broke free and ran toward Garp.
"Stop!"
The pirate snapped back to his senses and charged after the shipwright with his dagger.
"Help!"
The shipwright turned around in terror.
The pirate was already close—
And had made a stabbing motion.
Clang!
But suddenly,
Garp appeared before him.
Armament Haki coated his body.
The pirate's blade failed to leave even a scratch.
"How… how is that possible?!"
The pirate's hand holding the knife trembled.
His face filled with fear as he staggered backward and fell onto the ground.
The gap between them was simply too enormous.
He posed absolutely no threat to Vice Admiral Garp.
"Where is your captain, Byrnndi World?"
Garp asked calmly, his gaze cold.
"H-He… he's at…"
The pirate displayed astonishing disloyalty and immediately revealed his captain's location.
…
Mary Geoise.
"Ding. Excavation attempts have refreshed. Please excavate promptly!"
While Is was training in the backyard,
The familiar notification suddenly sounded in his mind.
At the same time,
His status panel appeared before him.
Host: Aurelius D. Virel Is
Excavation Level: 2 ( /500)
Excavation Attempts: 1 (15/15)
The number of attempts increases with excavation level.
Physique:
Advanced Taijutsu (100)
Creation Regeneration (25)
Increasing progress grants stronger recovery, cell activation, and enhanced vitality. Upon reaching 100, regeneration ability will be acquired.
Characters:
Madara Uchiha (68)
Tatsumaki (38)
Acnologia (43)
Unohana Retsu (33)
Yoriichi Tsugikuni (27)
Hashirama Senju (37)
Old Heavenly Master (32)
Rem (22)
Ram (21)
Abilities:
Paper Fruit Awakening (Burn Attribute) (1800/5000)
Flame-Flame Fruit Awakening (Purple flames, increased temperature) (500/5000)
Conqueror's Haki (800/2000)
Armament Haki (1300/2000)
Observation Haki (900/2000)
Inherited:
Susanoo
Sage Mode
Wood Release
Excavation Location:
(Can activate tracking)
Storage:
None
Is only glanced briefly at the panel.
Then, without hesitation—
He activated tracking.
"Activate tracking mode!"
"Ding. Tracking activated!"
As always,
After the system's voice sounded,
A virtual map appeared before Is.
"This time, the distance is rather far…"
Is murmured thoughtfully.
The marked location was in a kingdom somewhere in the North Blue.
Based on a rough estimate,
It was extremely far from Mary Geoise.
"I'll treat this as a trip."
Is muttered to himself.
If the location were nearby,
He would simply go alone.
But this destination was too distant.
Traveling alone might mean not returning for several days.
And if he disappeared that long,
Hashirama and the others would worry.
So this time—
He might as well bring everyone.
"Acnologia. Madara."
"Want to go out and have some fun?"
Standing beneath the shade of a tree,
Is looked toward Acnologia and Madara Uchiha, who were sunbathing.
"Go out?"
"Where?"
Acnologia sat upright and asked.
"The North Blue."
"It's pretty far from here."
"Want to come?"
"Of course."
"I haven't gone out to relax in quite a while."
Acnologia replied with a smile.
"And you, Madara?"
"Going?"
Is turned toward him.
"If all of you are going…"
"How could I not?"
Madara answered calmly.
"Good."
"I'll notify everyone else."
Is nodded.
After asking around,
He discovered everyone was willing to go.
So he contacted the World Government and ordered them to prepare a ship.
He intended to head toward the North Blue in the first half of the Grand Line.
…
Several minutes later,
News of Is's upcoming journey reached the Five Elders.
Recently,
They had been paying close attention to Is's movements at all times.
They feared he might show even the slightest sign of rebellion.
"Is is setting out on a long voyage."
"What do you all think?"
The bald elder sat upon the sofa, his expression grave as he looked toward the other four.
"The seas haven't been peaceful lately."
"Pirates and Marines alike have all returned to the first half of the Grand Line to search for Byrnndi World."
"And Is chooses this exact time to sail…"
"Could he have other intentions?"
The elder with long white hair stroked his beard and spoke solemnly.
At present,
Nearly all surviving members of the Rocks Pirates—
Whitebeard.
Golden Lion.
Charlotte Linlin.
Kaido.
John.
Wang Zhi.
Silver Axe.
Almost everyone—
Had returned to the first half of the Grand Line.
Even the Roger Pirates were included.
Their objective was obvious.
Find Byrnndi World.
Obtain Pluton's blueprint.
No one could resist the temptation of an Ancient Weapon.
"Could Is be trying to seize Pluton's blueprint during this opportunity…"
"And rebel using it?"
The scar-faced elder asked in a hoarse voice.
His words caused silence to fill the room.
An ominous feeling settled over everyone.
At present,
Is's strength, influence, and reputation had all reached unprecedented levels.
If he also obtained Pluton's blueprint—
Rebellion would no longer be impossible.
To say they weren't worried would be a lie.
"What should we do?"
"Although everyone on the seas seeks Pluton's blueprint…"
"With Is's current strength…"
"How many people in the world could truly oppose him?"
"If he encounters someone holding the blueprint…"
"Then without question…"
"Is will ultimately obtain it."
The elder carrying a sword spoke heavily.
His words made the atmosphere even more oppressive.
"Use protecting his safety as an excuse."
"Dispatch CP0."
The bald elder remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.
"No matter whose hands Pluton's blueprint falls into…"
"It absolutely cannot fall into Is's hands."
To them,
Is was a double-edged sword.
Bearing the title of God,
He could suppress the pirates of the current era.
But at the same time—
He had become a threat to the World Government itself.
His decision to sail toward the first half of the Grand Line had already been interpreted by the Five Elders as a sign of possible rebellion.
This matter had to be handled cautiously.
Once,
Is had been the man they believed capable of carrying the banner of the Celestial Dragons.
But now—
He was gradually slipping beyond their control.
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