Kaido's "successful escape" caused no casualties or significant damage to the facilities on Punk Hazard.
Therefore, both the World Government and Navy Headquarters classified the incident as an accidental containment breach.
Moreover, since Vegapunk had already collected sufficient biological samples, the World Government imposed no severe punitive measures on the scientific team.
However, Navy Headquarters threw a fit over the incident.
Both Raleigh and Borsalino knew exactly what was going on—it was all political theater for the Five Elders' benefit.
The Navy had to look like they were taking accountability for losing a great pirate prisoner.
Eventually, the headquarters' punishment was handed down: both Vice Admiral Raleigh and Vice Admiral Borsalino were penalized with a six-month salary deduction.
This left Borsalino fuming for quite some time!
"Bro... are you really that hard up for money? If you need cash, I can spot you some."
Raleigh looked at Borsalino's utterly defeated expression as he spoke.
He scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.
Ever since Borsalino's pay was docked, he'd aged ten years overnight.
The man in his twenties now looked about as weary as Vice Admiral Garp.
"It's not about the money~ It's my life we're talking about!"
Borsalino lamented painfully to Raleigh, his sunglasses sliding down his nose. "It's the principle of the thing. My hard-earned compensation for diligent work... gone with the wind~."
"Alright then, suit yourself."
Just as Raleigh was about to put the stack of Beli notes back in his pocket, Borsalino demonstrated his signature speed—snatching the money from Raleigh's hand at the speed of light.
"But then again~ how could one refuse a little comfort from a good younger brother?"
Watching Borsalino instantly regain his vitality as he counted the cash, Raleigh shrugged without another word.
"I'm heading out. My business here is done."
...
Besides escorting Kaido to Punk Hazard, Raleigh had also requested a new model warship from headquarters.
It was the prototype class Vegapunk had developed in the North Blue—a warship capable of sailing through the Calm Belt without relying on the wind.
"Vice Admiral Raleigh, your new warship is ready!"
Vegapunk's enthusiastic voice came from behind.
Following his gaze, they arrived beside a massive steel behemoth.
It was a brand-new, unnamed vessel with a hull forged from the finest alloys and Seastone embedded in its hull.
This allowed it to mimic the ocean's energy signature, hiding it from the Sea Kings in the Calm Belt.
Meanwhile, Vegapunk had modified its propulsion system, tripling the original paddle-wheel efficiency to drastically increase sailing speed.
"I've named this ship myself!" Vegapunk announced excitedly, dancing animatedly.
"It's called the 'Golden Lion'! Do you like it, Vice Admiral Raleigh?"
Three black lines of embarrassment seemed to slide down Raleigh's forehead.
He looked at the tacky, golden lion figurehead adorning the warship's ram.
It was gaudy, loud and it was named after a pirate they had just helped kill!
He suddenly felt reluctant to accept it.
Vegapunk seemed to sense Raleigh's hesitation and stopped dancing.
"Vice Admiral Raleigh? You don't want it?"
Raleigh forced a strained smile.
"No... Yes. I really like it. It's... majestic."
There was no helping it—the warship Vegapunk had provided was currently the most advanced in the world.
Compared to the standard battleships, this vessel was superior in every aspect, except for its cringe-worthy name.
...
Three days had passed since the 'Golden Lion' left Punk Hazard.
The ship drifted across the vast, open sea of the Grand Line.
As one of the few Elite Vice Admirals at headquarters, Raleigh naturally had autonomy.
Essentially, wherever powerful individuals emerged, headquarters would dispatch him to capture them. Until then, he was on patrol.
Buru-buru-buru—
The irritating sound of a Den Den Mushi interrupted Raleigh's pleasant nap.
Yawning, Raleigh pulled the snail from his pocket.
Damn!
Seeing this particular Den Den Mushi, Raleigh's sleepiness vanished.
This wasn't the encrypted Marine communication channel, nor was it his personal line.
It was the anti-eavesdropping, one-way burner snail he had personally given to Nisan, his underground broker contact back in the East Blue.
Raleigh couldn't fathom why Nisan would be calling him now, but knowing the broker's character, he left the deck and entered his private office before answering.
Kacha.
"Hey, why'd it take you so long to pick up? Been busy lately, Mr. Marine?"
A carefree voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"What's going on, Nisan? Didn't we already settle our debts?" Raleigh asked, puzzled.
Back in the Totland Kingdom in the East Blue, Nisan and his partner Tree had handled the dirty work regarding the King's Guard and the corrupt nobles, clearing any owed favors.
"I'll cut to the chase. I have some intel here—about your Admiral. Interested?"
Raleigh fell silent for a moment.
Something related to an Admiral...
"How do you want to trade?"
Upon hearing Raleigh's question, Nisan let out a hearty laugh. "Back in the East Blue, I owed you a favor. How about I trade this information for a favor from you now?"
"Pick something else." Raleigh didn't want to trade a personal favor for a secret; he'd rather pay cash.
"No deal. I only want a favor from you."
Nisan wasn't foolish. Raleigh was the most prominent rising star in the Navy. Even if he wasn't an Admiral yet, a favor from an Elite Vice Admiral was worth more than gold.
"Fine," Raleigh finally agreed. "As long as your intel is truly worth it."
Nisan's tone dropped, losing its playfulness.
"Your Admiral, 'Black Arm' Zephyr. His wife and son are currently on Lokhmadi Island in the Grand Line. Yesterday, a few mysterious individuals approached the broker network, offering a massive bounty to have them eliminated."
"And from what I know, it wasn't just us they contacted. Many pirate crews were approached too. By now, plenty have probably already set out for the island."
After hearing Nisan's words, a sudden realization struck Raleigh.
'That's it.'
No wonder he had been feeling like he'd forgotten something recently—it was this event!
The tragedy that would eventually break Zephyr's spirit and turn him into "Z."
He hadn't been at Headquarters lately to see Zephyr, so it had slipped his mind.
"Thanks. I owe you one this time," Raleigh said seriously.
It wasn't out of saintly compassion, but rather pragmatism.
This matter technically had nothing to do with Raleigh, but if he intervened and saved Zephyr's family, he would earn the eternal gratitude of an Admiral and the current Chief Instructor.
"Bring me the sea chart!"
After hanging up, Raleigh shouted to his messenger.
Soon, the chart of the first half of the Grand Line was spread on his desk. Raleigh marked a location.
"I've just received intelligence that a coalition of pirates is heading to Lokhmadi Island. We must pursue them immediately. Top speed. We must arrive by noon tomorrow."
"Raleigh-sama, what's going on?"
Enel pushed the door open, eating an apple. He had overheard the commotion.
"Enel, there's something I need you to do."
Raleigh pointed to the island. "A massacre is about to take place here. Although this ship is fast, we might be too late. You and I will take the Ark Maxim."
"We fly now. To prevent... history from taking a dark turn."
Enel nodded obediently. "Understood."
...
Lokhmadi Island, originally a prosperous and peaceful trading hub, was now a landscape of bloodshed and violence.
The docks, once crowded with merchant ships, were now occupied by pirate vessels.
The civilian ships were engulfed in flames, their skeletons sinking into the harbor.
Brutal executioners stood over countless corpses. unlike other pirates who killed for plunder, these men were on a mission.
Most of the pirates held two crumpled, blurry photographs, searching through the terrified crowd.
"Not this one."
"Not this one either."
"None of these seem to match... but to avoid missing anyone, kill them all."
"Hurry up, you fools! We don't have much time—the Navy is already on their way!"
The pirates roughly tore children from their parents' arms, comparing them to the images.
"Forget it, just kill them!"
Even if they looked nothing like the people in the photos, the pirates raised their blades.
Better to kill by mistake than let a single target escape.
"Hurry! Is it really that hard to find a kid with purple hair? If you don't find them soon, I'll throw you all overboard to feed the sharks!"
An exceptionally brutal Pirate Captain roared.
This matter concerned his payday.
Mysterious backers had offered a deposit of millions, with a final payout of Five Billion Beli to whoever killed the targets.
Hidden in a secluded corner of a merchant ship's storage hold, a mother and child trembled in fear.
The mother held a Den Den Mushi in her hand, desperately calling for help, but the signal was jammed or unanswered.
Through the cracks in the wood, she overheard the pirates. Purple hair.
Suddenly, everything became clear to her.
The pirates outside were targeting her and her child.
Purple hair was uncommon, and on this ship, there was only one child with that trait.
She was the wife of Admiral Zephyr.
The boy in her arms was their son.
Tears streamed down her face.
She was just an ordinary woman; she had no combat skills.
She scanned the room and found a cabinet.
The top compartment was high and deep.
Carefully, she lifted her child into it.
"Stay here," she whispered, kissing his forehead. "Do not make a sound, no matter what happens."
She closed the cabinet door and ran to the other side of the cabin.
She had to create a diversion.
Click.
The door handle turned.
Now!
The woman gripped a sharp fruit knife.
As the door swung open, she lunged at the pirate, stabbing him in the shoulder, then shoved past him.
"She's here!"
Amid the chaos, she pushed open a window and leaped onto the burning deck.
Without hesitation, she vaulted over the railing and plunged into the sea.
She knew she couldn't escape.
But if she drew them away, her son might live.
"Fools! Catch her!"
At the Pirate Captain's command, seven pirates dove into the water like sharks.
Moments later, a cloud of crimson blood bloomed from the depths of the blue water.
A pirate emerged, dragging the woman's limp body.
"Boss! Boss! It's her! This woman is Zephyr's wife!"
"Hahahaha!" The Pirate Captain burst into maniacal laughter. "We're rich!"
But then, his eyes narrowed.
"Wait. Zephyr's wife is dead... but where is the brat? The bounty is for both of them."
He looked at the dead woman, then back at the ship.
"She jumped out of that room..."
"Search it thoroughly! The kid must be hiding in there! Tear the ship apart if you have to!"
"FIND HIM! KILL HIM!"