Vice Admiral White Dragon of Marine Headquarters!

On the turbulent New World sea.

From a great distance, Storm could see a huge, bright yellow skull standing on the distant sea.

This skull has been meticulously carved to resemble a pirate wearing a bandana. Dense, uneven buildings surround the skull below, making it look at first glance like a pirate's rotten teeth.

This small to medium-sized island was once famous in the world of One Piece.

Hachinosu Island!

Storm gazed at Hachinosu Island in the distance, his mind racing through the three generations of owners of the island.

Decades ago.

Hachinosu Island is Paradise for pirates, and it is also the territory of the infamous Rocks Pirates!

However, after the God Valley Incident ended...

Rocks D. Xebec has been declared dead, Rocks Pirates have fallen apart.

This pirate island in the New World ultimately fell into the hands of another person, who was also a member of the Rocks Pirates.

Ochoku!

If we wait a few more years...

This pirate island will also welcome its third master, one of the future "Yonko" - Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach!

However, at this current time...

The owner of Hachinosu Island is still the same person.

Ochoku!

"Ochoku, this name... it's like he's from the same country as Sai and Hollysa... could he also be from that 'Flower Country'?"

A somewhat inexplicable thought flashed through Storm's mind.

Storm knew very little about Ochoku.

All he knew was that this guy was a member of the Rocks Pirates, the owner of Hachinosu Island, and most likely a powerful Devil Fruit User.

After all, Ochoku's strength is evident from the fact that he was able to firmly occupy Hachinosu Island under the noses of the Yonko for more than ten years during the Great Pirate Era.

However, Storm was not clear about other intelligence information.

'Should we consult a professional? We shouldn't fight a battle we're not prepared for...'

Storm was just about to go and find that "professional".

But just then, a very abrupt Den Den Mushi (transparent Den Den Mushi) rang.

Blue--Blue--

Storm frowned slightly and took out his personal Den Den Mushi from the side.

"Moshi Moshi... Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"

The person calling the Den Den Mushi at that moment was someone completely unexpected by Storm—

Fleet Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, Buddha Sengoku.

"White Dragon."

The Sengoku side, seemingly oblivious to what they were doing, asked in a completely businesslike, indifferent tone.

"Where are you now?"

"The New World."

Storm casually made a clay sofa, sat down, and replied nonchalantly.

"What's wrong?"

New World?

Inside the Marine Headquarters Building Fleet Admiral's Office at the Naval Headquarters, Sengoku frowned upon hearing where Storm was located.

Although he knew the mission and purpose of the "Sword Unit," he also knew that Storm himself was tasked with "rushing into the New World."

But now is clearly not a good time to carry out that mission...

"Well, that's how it is."

Sengoku cleared his throat and got straight to the point.

"The government and navy plan to publicly execute Pluton Rayleigh, whom we captured earlier!"

"Besides the government and the navy, the Shichibukai will also participate in this public execution!"

Because of Pluton Rayleigh's personal reasons.

The World Government and the Marine Headquarters did not pay much attention to this "Pluton Execution Incident".

After all, it was just the execution of an old pirate who had been retired for decades.

It's not like we're officially going to war with some Emperor Pirates from the New World!

Therefore, the World Government and the Marine Headquarters did not intend to invest too much resources in it.

Take the Summit War as an example.

At that time, it was to fight against the Whitebeard Pirates.

The Marine Headquarters mobilized 100,000 elite troops from around the world, including the Fleet Admiral, the three Admiral, Hero of the Marines, and many other top naval forces, all gathering at Marineford. Even the Shichibukai were forcibly summoned.

So much power has been gathered together to fight against the Whitebeard Pirates!

However, executing Pluton Rayleigh would eliminate the need to consider the Whitebeard Pirates.

Therefore, the navy did not mobilize its forces in a large-scale manner.

Just like that old man who took leave to go home before...

The Sengoku simply released him back to the East Blue.

If it's about fighting against the Whitebeard Pirates.

How could the Sengoku possibly let such a top-tier warrior escape?

But then again...

Pluton Rayleigh, is, after all, a legend from an Old Era.

Therefore, the Navy still devoted a certain amount of resources to this execution.

It's not just the strength of the Marine Headquarters.

The Shichibukai were also taken into consideration by the Navy.

At the recently concluded emergency meeting of the Marine Headquarters.

The Shichibukai and participate in the execution of Pluton " has been unanimously approved.

This is also the fundamental reason Sengoku sent a message to Storm.

"Shichibukai going to attend Pluton Rayleigh's execution?"

Storm's expression became quite strange.

Why didn't you tell me about this when I arrested him?

"Is this summons mandatory?"

The Shichibukai are officially recognized Great Pirate by the World Government. While they enjoy privileges, they also need to fulfill obligations.

Every so often, the Navy will convene the Shichibukai for a meeting to discuss major events in the pirate world and then assign tasks to each of the Shichibukai.

Of course, not all of the Shichibukai would care about such a boring meeting.

Many times.

Only a handful of people attend this so-called "Shichibukai Conference".

However, this only applies to "regular summons".

If the World Government and the Marine Headquarters issue a "mandatory summons" order for the Shichibukai.

Ignoring the forced summons of the Shichibukai could result in being stripped of Shichibukai status and power, or even being thrown into the Impel Down!

This is why Storm asked, "Is this a mandatory call-up?"

If the Navy needs to forcibly summon the Shichibukai to participate in the Pluton Execution Incident.

Storm needs to revise his previous action plan again...

"No, this is not a mandatory summons."

"Sengoku Period," he said in a deep voice.

"If Shichibukai can come, please do so. If you have other matters to attend to, that's fine too."

Storm instantly understood what Sengoku meant.

To put it bluntly...

It seems the Marine Headquarters didn't take the "Pluton Execution Incident" seriously enough.

"I might not be able to go to headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

Storm confessed directly.

"I'm almost at Hachinosu Island."

"Hachinosu Island!?"

The tone of Sengoku's voice instantly rose considerably.

But the next second, he forced himself to calm down.

"What are you doing going to Hachinosu Island? That's Ochoku's territory! He's a really troublesome guy!"

"I came to this island because Ochoku is on Hachinosu Island."

Storm thought for a moment, then finally asked.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku Guo, how much intelligence does the navy have regarding Ochoku? Would you mind revealing some of it?"

"... Wait a moment, I'll close the door."

Sengoku put down the Den Den Mushi's receiver, then closed the doors and windows of the Fleet Admiral's Office, and specifically found a white Den Den Mushi to prevent eavesdropping.

After doing all this, Sengoku picked up the microphone again.

"Rear Admiral Storm! You're not planning to attack Ochoku, are you!?"

"Rear Admiral? Oh, right, there's one more thing."

The mention of "Sengoku" immediately reminded Storm of another important matter.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! I have shed blood for the Navy, I have rendered meritorious service to the Navy, and I captured Pluton Rayleigh, for the Navy!"

"My current rank is still 'Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral,' isn't that a bit too low?"

These words were spoken.

The Sengoku was momentarily speechless.

Within the naval system, the simplest and most direct way to get promoted and make money is definitely through "military merit"!

The more pirates you capture, and the higher their quality, the faster you can be promoted in military rank.

This is perfectly reasonable.

Of course, there are exceptions.

For example, "World Military Draft"...

The kind of "World Military Draft" that can recruit and appoint two Headquarters Admiral at once...

But that was unconventional.

Let's return to the matter of Storm capturing Pluton Rayleigh.

Sengoku knew that Storm had used Pluton Rayleigh, to extort five or six Devil Fruits from the World Government.

Thinking about this, he felt a pang of jealousy (crossed out) – envy.

It would be incredibly difficult for the Navy to obtain Devil Fruit from the World Government.

But for pirates to obtain Devil Fruit from the World Government is that simple.

"Didn't you already get six Devil Fruits?"

The Sengoku directly reminded him.

"That's your 'reward' for capturing Pluton Rayleigh!"

"Hey, hey, hey, that's really unreasonable of you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

Storm responded with considerable dissatisfaction.

"My six Devil Fruits were obtained through a trade with the World Government! What does this have to do with the Navy?"

"I'm a member of the Navy, not the World Government!"

"Isn't Fleet Admiral Excellency afraid of hurting the feelings of the lower-ranking marines by doing this?"

Low-ranking marines...

You're nothing but a lowly marine!

Several veins bulged on the forehead of the Sengoku, and his face was extremely contorted.

"You've already obtained six Devil Fruits..."

"Is the Navy going to give me six more? I wouldn't mind at all!"

Storm pretended not to understand what Sengoku meant.

"A navy man made a great contribution."

"A promotion or a fortune—one of those needs must be met, right?"

Even during the Sengoku, Storm's words seemed to make no mistake.

If the navy didn't bear the inscription of "justice" on its back...

"Rear Admiral Storm!"

Sengoku, he earnestly and patiently advised (or perhaps casually) against it.

"The Navy captures pirates for the sake of justice!"

"So, is the Navy protecting the Celestial Dragons also for the sake of justice?"

"..."

"Is the navy's failure to protect non- Member Nations also for the sake of justice?"

"..."

"I've always felt that it's ridiculous to use a universal concept to package violent military institutions under the control of World Government."

"..."

"Of course, the Navy can be righteous! But a righteous Navy will never be a lackey to maintain the World Government's rule!"

Sengoku took a deep breath and looked up at the plaque beside him, the one that read "[Absolute Justice]".

"... Rear Admiral Storm-- "

"Wait a minute! Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

Storm coldly interrupted Sengoku.

"At Marine Headquarters, you can call me 'Rear Admiral'."

"But now I'm in the New World, a pirate, so you should call me 'White Dragon'!"

"Rear Admiral Storm!"

The Sengoku still stuck to his previous title.

"Capturing Pluton Rayleigh, is indeed a great achievement! He deserves a promotion!"

"Given your special status, your promotion and transfer order will not be publicly announced for the time being."

"However, effective immediately, in the name of the Fleet Admiral, you are hereby appointed as Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral!"

Vice Admiral White Dragon, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral!

Storm nodded in satisfaction.

He then skipped over the topics of "navy" and "justice" and started talking about the previous incident.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, how much intelligence does headquarters have about Ochoku?"

"Rear Admiral Storm —no, Vice Admiral, are you really going to attack Ochoku?"

"Certainly!"

"Storm said seriously."

"With 'Pluton Rayleigh' and 'Hive Ochoku', I should be able to secure my position as 'Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral,' right?"

Isn't your statement a bit too "utilitarian"?

The Sengoku was silent.

But after a moment, he honestly began to recount the intelligence information about Ochoku.

"Ochoku is a member of the Rocks Pirates, and his position in the Rocks Pirates is 'sniper'..."

"He possesses three types of Haki, especially [Observation Haki], which he has mastered very well."

"Of course, the most troublesome thing about Ochoku is his Devil Fruit ability."

"Ochoku is Devil Fruit User of the Paramecia Teleport Fruit!"

Regarding "Ochoku".

His prototype should be "Wang Zhi", a pirate during the Ming Dynasty who introduced cannons to "Wano Country".

Therefore, based on this, [the second hypothesis] states that Ochoku is a "sniper".

As for his [Teleport Fruit] ability.

It is a secondary creation based on Van Augur of the Blackbeard Pirates.

Van Augur acquired the [Teleport Fruit] within two years after the end of the Summit War.

When he appeared on Egghead Island, he wasn't very proficient with the [Teleport Fruit] ability, probably because he had only recently acquired it.

Considering the actions of the Blackbeard Pirates, the [Teleport Fruit] was likely acquired after the Rocky Port incident.

If that's the case, then Van Augur's [Teleport Fruit] most likely came from Ochoku.

Similar cases include the [Byo Byo no Mi] and the [Pegasus Fruit].

Blackbeard's "old crew members" likely acquired their abilities by hunting down other people's Devil Fruit.

Those who were brought out of the Infinite Hell likely already possessed Devil Fruit abilities.

If Hanafuda hadn't appeared in time, the author had previously considered making [The Avalon Pizarro] the Shichibukai who was defeated by Ace...

--

First update.

The fourth watch today.

There will be more tonight.

Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!