"You'll find out very soon."
"Now then... time to depart. Next stop—Sabaody Archipelago."
Author's Note (PS):
Been playing mahjong and cards with some friends—got a bit carried away! Managed to sneak in some writing, but couldn't quite finish five chapters. Apologies!
Today will be 6 updates, and tomorrow too—I'll make up for the missed ones. Full integrity guaranteed!
Marine Headquarters — Marineford
"Sengoku, don't stress yourself out. Here, have a senbei!"
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Garp casually munched on rice crackers,
watching Sengoku pace back and forth, visibly agitated.
"Garp, how can you still be smiling?!"
Sengoku snapped,
"As long as Whiteflame is missing, the Navy won't know a moment of peace!"
"We've spent months preparing for this—ten thousand elite marines assembled, fifty of the highest-grade warships ready to deploy—and right now, of all times, Whiteflame vanishes?! How am I supposed to stay calm?!"
This naval campaign to hunt down Whiteflame had been the biggest mobilization in years.
Ten thousand elite marines from across the globe
All ongoing missions canceled
Every Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, and Commodore recalled
Even the elusive Shichibukai—well, five of them—were all gathered
to see the man who had:
Slain Admiral Kizaru
Destroyed six ministers of the Big Mom Pirates
Defeated the Calamity Queen in one blow
But just as the final preparations were complete…
CP Intelligence reported that Whiteflame's whereabouts were unknown.
After launching his airborne island to Skypiea from above Jaya,
Whiteflame and his Nine Dragons Pirates completely vanished from radar.
And just like that, the Navy was in chaos.
The whole world had been waiting to witness this legendary confrontation—
and the man they were supposed to fight... had disappeared!
Sengoku immediately tripled intelligence operations.
"I don't care how—FIND HIM."
"Still," Garp shrugged,
"Worrying won't make him appear. You should relax like I do!"
"Garp! Don't you dare lecture me—look at what your grandson is doing!"
Sengoku pulled out a bounty poster.
It was Monkey D. Luffy—a massive 25 million berries, grinning like a fool.
Garp's smile instantly faded.
He had once dreamed of raising Luffy and Ace into the strongest Marines…
but both had become pirates, and now even the Navy had placed bounties on their heads.
"You realize, Garp, every day we delay this mission,
more civilians suffer at the hands of pirates."
"If this drags on, the entire operation could collapse,
and the Navy's credibility with it."
Sengoku's tone was grim.
"This is why I can't stop worrying."
"Alright, alright! I get it!" Garp waved dismissively.
Then muttered under his breath,
"Honestly, it'd be better if we canceled the whole expedition."
"What was that?" Sengoku narrowed his eyes.
"Hahaha! Nothing! I said nothing!"
Garp quickly scratched his head and made for the door.
"I'll go check on the rookies. Later!"
"That Garp…" Sengoku sighed, shaking his head.
His eyes drifted to the war plan pinned on the wall.
"Whiteflame... where the hell are you?"
Meanwhile — Skypiea
After defeating Enel, Whiteflame and his crew didn't immediately leave.
Instead, they stayed to search for the legendary Golden Bell and the true "City of Gold."
The Skypieans, finally free from Enel's tyranny, were overjoyed.
They showered Whiteflame and his crew with food, drinks, and praise.
Rebecca still hadn't had her fill of fun,
and Nami, baby-5, and the others agreed to stay longer.
Whiteflame, needing time to study the Silent Fruit and Thunder Fruit,
decided they'd stay a few more days.
BOOM!!!
A massive blast of light tore through the cloud sea,
leaving a gigantic crater in its wake!
"The fusion of the Goro Goro no Mi and Pika Pika no Mi is... terrifying."
Whiteflame hovered in the air,
watching light particles and electric arcs dance across his hand.
"That was just the first attempt at Electromagnetic Laser Beam—and it already has this much power…"
"If I keep refining it, it might rival the Ancient Weapon Pluton in destructive potential."
After days of experimentation, Whiteflame had successfully fused the powers of light and lightning
into a single devastating technique: Electromagnetic Laser Beam.
Even now, its destructive force exceeded expectations.
With enough refinement, it might one day be capable of obliterating entire islands—
maybe even entire seas.
"O Great God!"
Suddenly, from above the clouds,
a masked man with four bull horns and wings glided toward Whiteflame.
Removing his mask, he revealed himself—Wyper,
leader of the current Shandian warriors.
Upon hearing Enel had fallen,
they returned to reclaim their homeland: Upper Yard.
Their 400-year war was finally over.
Whiteflame, as the one who slew Enel and discovered the Golden Land,
was hailed as a god.
Whiteflame himself didn't care about titles—
but the Shandians, steeped in ancient beliefs, wouldn't stop calling him "Great God."
He couldn't be bothered to correct them.
"My lord, this is a newspaper from the Blue Sea!"
Wyper handed over a bundle of freshly delivered papers.
Even now, travelers from below occasionally reached Skypiea,
bringing news of the world.
Whiteflame had instructed them—
if they ever found newspapers, bring them to him immediately.
"You can go."
Wyper nodded and disappeared into the clouds.
Whiteflame opened the newspaper and scanned its contents.
"Looks like the Navy is ready to launch their war."
His gaze sharpened.
"But now isn't the time for that."
The Navy's Grand Expedition Force!
It was only a matter of time before Whiteflame clashed with the Navy.
But he had no interest in following their schedule.
He wasn't going to dance to the government's tune.
Let them search all they want.
Ten thousand elite marines.
Fifty top-tier warships.
Every Admiral, Vice Admiral, Commodore—ready to deploy.
Even the Shichibukai gathered.
And yet, if he never showed up—
How long could the World Government keep this act going?
War is costly.
You can't keep troops mobilized forever.
Even the World Government had limits.
And now the newspapers were reporting the Navy's intent.
If they failed to find Whiteflame…
it would be the most humiliating loss of face in history.
Which was exactly what Whiteflame wanted.
"Besides, the girls still aren't done playing."
He snapped his fingers.
Lightning surged from his hand and reduced the newspaper to ashes,
carried away by the breeze.
Five Days Later — Marine HQ
The Navy had reached its limit.
CP's last report said Whiteflame's airborne island had vanished above Jaya—
shot into the upper clouds.
Locals spoke of a massive floating island rising into the sky.
Now under pressure from the World Government,
Sengoku gave the order.
Fifty warships launched,
each packed with the Navy's most powerful combat units.
The Navy had tried to suppress the news—
but something this big couldn't stay secret.
The world began whispering:
What's the outcome of this great naval expedition?
Skypiea
"They've finally launched the expedition, huh?"
Whiteflame muttered, standing atop a pirate ship.
"The World Government must be bleeding resources. If they don't act soon, their image will completely collapse."
"I suppose… it's finally time to carry out my plan."
He levitated into the sky.
Down below, the pirates aboard the ship breathed a sigh of relief
as the humanoid IBM creatures disappeared into the mist.
But they weren't safe yet—
ZRAAANG!!!
A massive blast of thunder-light struck from the sky—
Electromagnetic Laser Beam.
In an instant, the ship, the pirates, and a hundred meters of cloud sea
were completely vaporized.
Later That Day
Whiteflame and the girls quietly departed Skypiea.
"Sir Benefactor, why aren't we taking the Nine Dragons ship this time?"
Rebecca asked curiously.
To be continued…
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