"Big Bro Jinbei, it's the Marines!"
A Fish-man shouted to Jinbei.
"I see them!"
Jinbei looked at the approaching warships and jumped to the bow of the ship.
A moment later, both the pirate ship and the warships stopped, facing each other.
"Shichibukai, why have you come to the East Blue?"
The speaker was a Marine Commodore, likely the commander of Loguetown.
He stared at Jinbei with a grave expression.
Because of the Shichibukai's status, the Marines could not attack them without cause.
This was an order from the higher-ups and the World Government.
But he couldn't just watch a Shichibukai enter the East Blue like this.
"I'm looking for someone. I won't attack the civilians of the East Blue!" Jinbei said after a moment of thought.
"Looking for someone?"
Jinbei's answer immediately made the Marine Commodore think of the group of Fish-men who had escaped from the warships' encirclement earlier.
If it weren't for that incident, the warships wouldn't be gathered here.
"Make way!"
The Marine Commodore thought for a moment and gave the order directly.
He had no choice.
The Shichibukai were all powerful pirates. A branch commodore like him was no match for them.
Besides, he couldn't make a move against a Shichibukai.
The warships slowly turned to make way, and Jinbei turned his head to give an order.
"Big Bro Jinbei, Hachi said Arlong is preparing to attack an island."
A Fish-man approached Jinbei from behind and said.
Jinbei's expression tightened. He felt worried and a little weary.
The death Shyarly had prophesied would probably happen during that attack.
Thinking of this, Jinbei ordered them to speed up.
The Marines watched the Shichibukai's ship leave, and the Marine Commodore immediately took out a Den Den Mushi to report to Headquarters.
This was no small matter.
A Shichibukai showing up in one of the Four Seas was something he had to report. The decision on how to handle it would have to come from Headquarters.
...
Marine Headquarters.
The intelligence officer who received the news didn't dare to delay, rushing to the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Come in!"
Sengoku was buried in paperwork and didn't look up when he heard the knock.
"Fleet Admiral, Commodore Tibs from Loguetown in the East Blue reports that the Shichibukai Jinbei has gone from the Grand Line to the East Blue."
Sengoku, who had been busy, suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp.
"Jinbei went to the East Blue? For what purpose?"
Sengoku knew Jinbei quite well.
Or rather, among the Shichibukai recruited so far, Jinbei was the one he approved of the most.
Compared to the other vicious characters, Jinbei, Knight of the Sea, hadn't done anything particularly evil.
In fact, he could be said to have inherited the aspirations of the former captain of the Sun Pirates, Fisher Tiger, dedicating himself to the coexistence of humans and Fish-men.
He also saved his fellow countrymen on the high seas.
A guy like that wouldn't suddenly go to the East Blue for a tour. Something must have happened.
"Well, Commodore Tibs said he's looking for someone. Previously, Commodore Tibs discovered a group of Fish-men entering the East Blue, but they escaped during the capture and interception."
Sengoku frowned in thought.
"I understand!"
Hearing this, the intelligence officer saluted and left.
Sengoku thought for a moment and picked up a Den Den Mushi.
Although he didn't think Jinbei would cause any trouble in the East Blue, just in case, Sengoku contacted Garp.
Garp was on his way back from Foosha Village to the Marine base in the Conomi Archipelago when he received Sengoku's call on the ship.
Seeing the Den Den Mushi transform into a likeness of Sengoku, Garp felt a little guilty.
He had come here to find someone, but he had gone off to see his grandsons again. That guy Sengoku must have found out.
"Garp, how are things going? With your status, you can't stay in the East Blue forever."
"Hahaha, I found the person, but I have to wait a bit. That kid went out to catch pirates again."
"Oh, he went to catch pirates?"
"Yeah, the kid had already set sail when I arrived. But while I was out at sea looking for him, this young man had already caught a whole bunch of pirates to collect their bounties. Ninety million Belly worth of pirates."
"Ninety million?" Sengoku's voice was clearly filled with astonishment.
"There are ninety million Belly worth of pirates in the East Blue?"
Sengoku was dumbfounded.
How did he not know about this?
"Hahaha, you didn't expect that either, did you? That young man caught a whole group of pirates, practically wiping out all the active pirates near Reverse Mountain in one go."
Garp laughed heartily.
"That's truly unexpected."
Sengoku was silent for a long while before replying.
"Don't worry, I'll do my best to bring him back this time, but I can't guarantee I'll succeed."
"Fine, do your best! I have another matter to discuss with you. The Shichibukai Jinbei has gone to the East Blue. He's probably looking for a group of Fish-men. Try to keep them from causing a big scene."
"Jinbei? That guy actually came to the East Blue."
Garp's smile faded, and he became serious.
Garp did not approve of the Shichibukai system, but he couldn't stop it.
"Yes, he just arrived in the East Blue. Find his location yourself. It's best to keep an eye on him."
"Alright, I got it."
Garp hung up the Den Den Mushi after speaking, then stood up.
"You guys take a break."
Garp instructed the few Marines operating the ship. "Oh, and hold on tight."
The few Marines were stunned for a moment, then, as if realizing something, their expressions changed drastically as they looked for something to brace themselves with.
Garp walked to the stern, clenched his fists, and threw a punch.
The powerful gust of wind he threw out collided with the air, creating a huge sonic boom.
The reactive force sent the ship beneath his feet flying, skimming across the surface of the sea at high speed.
...
On a pirate ship near the Conomi Archipelago.
"Big Bro Arlong, the Conomi Archipelago is ahead. There are more than twenty villages, but there's a Marine base nearby."
A Fish-man said to Arlong, looking at the sea chart in his hand.
"Shahahaha, my boys, the conquest of the seas begins here! Take this place!"
The other Fish-men were ecstatic.
The octopus Fish-man, Hachi, had a worried look in his eyes.
He knew what the consequences of this would be.
It might put Jinbei in a difficult position.
Jinbei had already arrived in the East Blue. He hoped he would make it in time.
"Big Bro Arlong, shouldn't we plan this out a bit more? We've already been spotted by the Marines, and now there's a Marine branch here. We might get surrounded and wiped out by the Marines."
Hachi thought for a moment, trying to persuade him indirectly.
"I'm not afraid of some damn Marines. Besides, the East Blue is the weakest of the seas, so its Marines are the weakest too."
Arlong turned to look at Hachi, his expression somewhat unfriendly.
This guy always liked to dampen their morale. He should have known not to bring him along.
As they spoke, the shadow of an island appeared on the horizon.
"Boys, grab your weapons."
Arlong drew his saw-toothed greatsword and pointed it at the distant island.
"Our goal is treasure!"
"Treasure!"
The cheers of the Fish-men echoed on the ship, and then the pirate ship sped up.
However, a cunning glint flashed in Arlong's eyes.
If there was a Marine base nearby, perhaps he could try a different method.
In any case, the goal was to accumulate power to dominate the East Blue. As long as the result was achieved, the process was the same.