New World, Beasts Pirates territory. "Huh? What did you say?"
Kaido was holding a barrel containing dozens of liters of sake high above his head and chugging it down, momentarily missing what his subordinate had said.
The subordinate, who wore a horn decoration very similar to Kaido's own, had to repeat the statement.
"The Revolutionary Army was delivered to the Government by that Immortal bastard?"
Kaido set the barrel down, lay back on the stone floor, covered his mouth with his hand, and yawned. "They're just nobodies anyway. 'Dragon,' was it...? What a joke."
"Boss Kaido, while we don't know how the Revolutionary Army offended Alucard, it's very strange that he handed the man over to the Government instead of just killing him as he usually does."
"Now, rumors are running rampant across the seas, with countless theories about the incident." All they got in response were Kaido's loud snores.
The subordinates muttered to themselves, "He's just going to sleep after drinking again."
....
East Blue, Foosha Village.
THWACK!
Garp brutally tossed Luffy, Ace, and Sabo onto the dock, raging. "All of you better behave yourselves from now on! You got lucky this time, but the old man won't be able to save you next time!"
"Oww, that hurt!"
Luffy rubbed his head and glared at Garp. "What do you mean? Grandpa, you didn't even come to save us. You just found us, didn't you?"
"What did you say?"
Garp rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to strike again.
"Garp-san, please let them go this time. The boys must be terrified." Makino, who had been worried about the three brothers, came forward to shield them. Her face was full of relief, unaware of the hunt taking place in the New World as the Immortal Pirates pursued the Red-Hair Pirates.
"Hmph!"
Garp snorted, refraining from raising a hand. Recalling the news from Headquarters, a flash of worry crossed his eyes. He put on an annoyed expression and addressed the three brothers. "I have to rush back to Headquarters. I don't have time to beat you brats. Consider yourselves lucky."
With that, Garp turned and walked up the gangplank, preparing to leave. Suddenly, Ace's voice came from behind. "Old man."
BAM!
Garp couldn't help but land a punch on Ace, raising a large bump on his head. He roared, "I told you many times, call me Grandpa!"
"Old man."
Ace pouted defiantly, despite the growing lump on his head.
Then, Ace looked up and whispered, "While those pirates were holding us, we met a man with a tattoo on his face. Could he be...?"
Before Ace could finish, Garp grabbed the back collar of Ace's shirt, yanked him close, and his expression became stern. "Ace, for the sake of Luffy, and Sabo, everything you think and know about this, you must keep sealed away in your gut."
Facing Garp's intensity, Ace felt an unprecedented sense of awe. He swallowed and nodded. "Grandpa! Don't hit Ace!"
Seeing the situation on the gangplank, the idiot Luffy thought Garp was going to hit Ace again and quickly ran over to intervene.
....
New World, Alucard's main base, Arderay Kingdom ruins island.
As soon as Alucard returned to the island, he saw Zephyr training the pirates—a mix of new recruits and old crew members.
Zephyr also spotted Alucard and walked up to him to talk. "The business you caused has created quite a storm. There's endless debate on the seas about you handing Dragon over to the Government. Some are even calling you a Government dog, just like the Warlords of the Sea."
At this point, Zephyr was the only one on the island who dared to speak to Alucard in such a teasing tone.
"They are all simply loudmouth amateurs who can only express themselves verbally. Why should I care about them?"
Alucard replied. The unique poot, poot sound of Dr. Indigo's footsteps, like flatulence, came closer, causing Zephyr's brow to furrow. He couldn't help but snap, "Indigo! Can't you do something about those cursed footsteps of yours? Also, have you finished your training regimen for the day?"
Dr. Indigo bared his teeth at Zephyr. Five seconds later, he acted as if he hadn't seen anything and turned his head to face Alucard, making several gestures. Alucard took long strides toward the castle, continuing his departure. Only when he was about to disappear from Dr. Indigo's view did he speak. "Red-Hair Pirates' Yassop is locked in the laboratory dungeon. The assigned task has been completed."
Zephyr delivered a sweeping kick that struck Dr. Indigo's bloated body, sending him spinning 720 degrees in the air before he crashed heavily onto the ground. "If you can talk, stop acting like a mime! Also, finish today's training regimen immediately!"
"Poor guy..."
The pirates in training watched the scene, feeling sympathy for Dr. Indigo. However, they had all endured similar experiences, just not as severe. The main thing was that Dr. Indigo had dared to ignore Zephyr, which was asking for trouble.
"The former Marine Admiral Zephyr?" Law was stunned when he saw Zephyr kick Dr. Indigo.
Zephyr turned and stared at Law and Bepo's group. A few seconds of eye contact made Bepo and Shachi, the Heart Pirates crew members, feel uneasy.
"Why aren't you training yet?"
The single sentence carried a mysterious sense of menace, frightening Bepo, who had the weakest psychological tolerance, into immediately scrambling into the training group.
"You're too obedient, aren't you?" Shachi and Penguin grumbled.
Down in the laboratory, in the brightly lit interrogation room, which also served as a cell, the Red-Hair Pirates' sniper, Yassop, was covered in blood. Especially his hands—the fingernails on all ten fingers had been torn off, making the sight of him bloody and intimidating.
Alucard looked through the specialized transparent glass at Yassop's condition. On the other side, a researcher in a white lab coat approached Alucard and presented a piece of white paper resting on his palms for Alucard's inspection. "Alucard-sama, it's ready. Yassop's Vivre Card."
"Pulling off one fingernail might raise suspicion, but all ten shouldn't, right?"
Alucard took the Vivre Card paper. He could see the paper gently moving in the direction of Yassop.