The only problem was —
Arthur didn't want anyone to see him make all those crates of treasure vanish into thin air.
Even for a world as crazy as this, that would be too much.
He'd rather keep his secrets, well, secret.
"Waldo, Count — clear out everyone nearby," he ordered.
The two glanced at each other, confused but obedient.
Their captain's word was absolute.
Moments later, shouting and panic filled the air as they began dispersing the curious crowd by force — a mix of threats, intimidation, and sheer presence.
But one bystander, a plump, overdressed man, puffed up his chest and barked back:
"Who do you think you are? The street doesn't belong to you! You can't just—"
The others murmured in agreement, standing their ground defiantly.
Waldo's jaw tightened — he wasn't fond of bullying civilians, but this was getting annoying.
He hesitated, unsure how far to push it.
The Red Count, on the other hand, wasn't half as patient.
Without a word, he unsheathed his sword Rainstorm, and with a casual flick—
SHING!
A gleam of light flashed.
The earth itself split open before him, a deep fissure tearing across the cobblestone like it had been carved by a god's hand.
Hissss—
The crowd froze.
Most people who came to Sabaody Archipelago were rookie pirates or merchants — none of them had ever seen a sword slash the ground apart like paper.
The look on their faces was pure terror.
Before the dust had even settled, the plaza was empty.
Doors slammed shut.
Shutters clattered down.
Some shopkeepers, shaking so badly, even shattered their own glass windows trying to close up.
Waldo blinked.
"What the—? They ran faster than the captain…"
He gave Redfield a thumbs-up.
"Now that's what I call efficient."
But when they turned back—
Their jaws dropped.
The money was gone.
The twenty or so chests that had been stacked neatly behind Arthur were now… empty space.
"Wha—?! My money!" Waldo rubbed his eyes. "Where's my money?! That's my hard-earned— uh… body-selling reward! Wait, no, that sounds wrong!"
Arthur didn't even look back.
"Relax. It's all taken care of. Not a single coin's missing."
He started walking away calmly.
Waldo scratched his head in confusion, unable to comprehend how twenty heavy crates had disappeared in mere seconds.
Redfield, of course, already had a good idea.
Their captain was full of mysteries — and he knew better than to pry.
Everyone had their secrets.
By the time Waldo realized he was being left behind, Arthur and Redfield were already halfway down the street.
"Hey! Wait for me!" he yelped, scrambling to catch up.
In truth, Arthur had quietly stored the entire haul into his system's storage space the moment the crowd fled.
No witnesses, no risk.
Not even his own crew needed to know.
The three of them strolled casually down the sunny street, as though the chaos at the auction house had nothing to do with them, making their way toward Grove 13.
But over at Marine Headquarters, chaos had just begun.
"W-what did you just say?! A… a Celestial Dragon is dead?!"
Sengoku's roar rattled the walls.
The Den Den Mushi on his desk trembled under the force of his voice.
Veins bulged across his forehead and neck; he looked seconds away from a stroke.
"Don't tell me— was it him again?! Arthur?! That damn brat!"
He slammed a fist on the desk, making the snail shudder.
"He's lost his mind! Killing a Celestial Dragon—! That's it! I don't care what it takes!"
Sengoku stood, his voice shaking the entire office.
"Listen carefully! I want every Marine—
and I mean EVERY. SINGLE. MARINE.
deployed to Sabaody Archipelago!
Bring me that little bastard alive! NOW!"
"Y-yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!!"
The sentry by the door saluted so fast he nearly snapped his own wrist, then stumbled backward in terror.
"Move it!!"
The poor soldier tripped twice before bolting out of the office like his life depended on it.
Sengoku slumped onto the sofa, pressing a palm to his pounding forehead.
His temples throbbed.
"Of all the fools to provoke… he kills a Celestial Dragon?!
That's not trouble — that's suicide…"
He exhaled heavily.
"How's the World Conscription project coming along?"
"Uh, report, sir, the global draft—"
"I SAID ALL MARINES!" Sengoku roared, snapping his head up.
"WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?!"
The guard practically jumped out of his boots, crashing to the floor in panic.
"Y-y-yes sir!! Sorry sir!!"
He sprinted out again—
Only for Sengoku to sigh deeply and bark,
"Wait! Get back here. Continue your report."
The poor man froze mid-run, then jogged back awkwardly, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"R-right. The, uh, global conscription effort is proceeding as planned—"
Moments later, under Sengoku's orders, Marine Headquarters went to full alert.
Every available ship was mobilized.
Dozens of massive warships thundered away from the docks, cutting across the Grand Line like a fleet of steel leviathans.
Even the war against the Pirate King hadn't seen this kind of mobilization.
The sky darkened with the smoke of cannons being primed.
"Vice Admiral, what's going on? Why are we deploying so many ships?"
"They say a Celestial Dragon's been killed at Sabaody."
On one of the warships — a dog-headed vessel — a pink-haired young man turned to a towering, broad-shouldered old veteran.
Koby and Vice Admiral Garp.
Koby's jaw dropped.
"Someone… killed a Celestial Dragon?!"
Garp crossed his arms, eyes sharp beneath his wrinkled brow.
"That arrogant little punk… Arthur…" he growled.
"This time, I'm bringing him in myself."
Koby's heart skipped a beat.
"The same Arthur who escaped from Impel Down?"
Garp didn't answer.
His body trembled — not from fear, but from barely contained fury.
The look on his face said it all.
Koby sighed.
"To think someone would go that far… Killing a Celestial Dragon…"
"Looks like I still have a long way to go before I can stand among the strong."
The fleet surged forward, waves parting beneath their hulls, banners of justice flapping in the stormy wind.
The entire sea roared with the might of the Navy.
Meanwhile, on Grove 13, Arthur and his crew were already preparing to depart.
"Everything ready?" Arthur asked as he stepped aboard the Jinlin.
"All systems online! We're good to go anytime, Captain!"
The ship spirit's young voice rang out clearly.
Arthur nodded.
Turning toward the dock, he smiled and waved to Rayleigh and Shakky, who stood watching from the pier.
"Thanks for the help. Till we meet again."
Rayleigh raised a hand in farewell.
"Sail safe, kid. We'll be watching your journey from here."
"May the tides favor you," Shakky added with a grin.
Arthur smiled faintly, then turned to his crew.
"Alright, crew—
Dawn Pirates! Set sail!"
Just as the Jinlin began to lift anchor—
A lazy, mocking voice cut through the air:
"Yo~ yo~ yo~… My, my, isn't this a lively scene?"
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