When Morito returned to Marineford aboard Zephyr's flagship, the remnants of the Vulture Pirates had also reached a safe island.
Vulture was a subordinate Golden Lion valued highly. There was no way to hide the fact that the Marines had taken him down.
The Vulture Pirates' First Mate quickly got in touch with Golden Lion.
In the New World, atop a certain floating island.
Golden Lion was a Float-Float Fruit Ability User. He could free himself or objects from gravity and make them float in the air, and he could also make objects he had touched—that is, nonliving things—float.
The island floating in the sky was no naturally formed Sky Island. It was a floating island created by Golden Lion's ability.
When the news reached him, Golden Lion was celebrating with a banquet after just seizing Whitebeard's territory.
Battles between pirates were no less fierce than fights with the Marines—in fact, they were often even more brutal.
Golden Lion himself was Whitebeard's equal in strength, but he commanded numerous Pirate Crews and wielded the greatest power.
The Flying Pirates were the mightiest pirate force in the New World—no, in the entire sea.
Numbers weren't the deciding factor in a battle, but a large force could certainly give you an advantage.
Golden Lion was in high spirits today. He had defeated Whitebeard.
Whatever anyone else thought, Whitebeard had retreated first. That meant Golden Lion had beaten him!
The banquet hall was filled with celebration and lively chatter.
Just then, a Den Den Mushi began ringing.
Buru, buru...
Buru, buru...
Golden Lion pulled out the Den Den Mushi he always carried. Anyone who could reach it had to be the captain of one of his main fleets.
The Flying Pirates were a massive force with countless Pirate Crews under their banner. No mere underling could contact Golden Lion directly.
"Bad news, Golden Lion! Captain Vulture was killed by the Marines!"
"Who? Who was killed by the Marines?"
Golden Lion had been drinking heavily and was a little hazy. He hadn't quite heard.
The voice on the other end was frantic, with a hint of terror. The Vulture Pirates' remnants had no idea what would happen to them next.
After all, Vulture had been the heart of the Vulture Pirates. Golden Lion valued their captain, Vulture!
Without Vulture, the crew had lost much of its strength and could no longer serve as one of the Flying Pirates' main fleets.
"C-Captain Vulture!"
"Captain Vulture wanted to seize a Devil Fruit being transported by the Marines and give it to you, Golden Lion, to celebrate your victory over Whitebeard."
The voice on the other end paused, then continued.
"But the ship we encountered wasn't carrying a Devil Fruit at all, and the Marines aboard were far stronger than the intelligence suggested."
"We lost a lot of men, and Captain Vulture was killed by the Marine Kuzan!"
Kuzan hadn't graduated yet. He was still just a Reserve Navy cadet at the Naval Academy, but he had already made a name for himself across the sea.
The pirates Kuzan had captured numbered at least in the hundreds, if not a thousand.
As an Ice-Ice Fruit Ability User—a man of ice—the mere fact that he was a Logia was enough to make Kuzan famous throughout the Four Seas.
Besides, Kuzan himself was strong, and his Observation Haki and Armament Haki were steadily improving.
Golden Lion had heard of Kuzan, but in his eyes, Kuzan was just a snot-nosed brat.
"Kuzan? That ice brat? You're telling me he killed Vulture?"
Golden Lion clearly didn't believe Vulture could have died at Kuzan's hands.
Three years earlier, Vulture had nearly killed Kuzan. If Zephyr hadn't arrived in time, the Ice-Ice Fruit would probably have already reappeared.
Kuzan had grown over the past three years, but Vulture hadn't been sitting idle either.
Even if Kuzan was talented, there was no way he could take Vulture down!
"It's true!"
The Vulture Pirates' First Mate insisted again and again.
Among the Marines they'd fought, Kuzan had been the strongest. And he'd been the only one on the battlefield.
Morito?
He was just background scenery, wasn't he?
The remnants of the Vulture Pirates hadn't paid Morito any attention. Who could have imagined that a Reserve Navy cadet would take down Vulture, a pirate with a bounty of over a hundred million?
Everyone else—the Marines and pirates alike—had instinctively assumed Kuzan had killed Vulture!
Once Golden Lion had confirmed Vulture's death, the alcohol haze began to clear.
His voice turned cold. "Where are you now?"
He needed to know the Vulture Pirates' location before he could send support. He couldn't just let his men get wiped out without lifting a finger, could he?
Golden Lion valued Vulture's strength, but he could manage without him.
He didn't care about Vulture's death. Subordinates died sooner or later.
What he cared about was his own pride!
Taking a hit without striking back wasn't Golden Lion's style!
"We're on Stuart Island."
The world was vast, and there were far too many islands for Golden Lion to remember them all.
Aside from the more important ones, he couldn't place most islands just by hearing their names.
The Vulture Pirates' First Mate guessed Golden Lion might not know where the island was and quickly added, "Our next stop is Sabaody Archipelago."
Golden Lion had driven Whitebeard back in the New World and seized an island from him.
He was in high spirits and had summoned his subordinates from all over: first to celebrate, and second to discuss their next move.
The Vulture Pirates' original route passed through Stuart Island, then headed to Sabaody Archipelago before taking the undersea route past Fish-Man Island into the New World.
But along the way, Vulture had received a tip.
It just so happened that a Marine warship transporting a Devil Fruit was sailing near their route. The waters were fairly close to Marine Headquarters, but Vulture had decided to attack anyway.
The warship's strongest fighter was only an officer. Vulture could easily snatch the Devil Fruit and reach the New World before Marine Headquarters had time to react!
"Sabaody Archipelago? Where did you run into the Marines?"
"In the waters between Stuart Island and Marineford."
"So that warship may already have returned to Marineford?"
Golden Lion's voice rose several notches. He was arrogant, and his victory over Whitebeard had only made him more confident.
But picking a fight with the Marines—especially razing Marine Headquarters—wasn't something you could manage with a few big words!
To attack Marineford, he would need to gather at least the entire Flying Pirates and all the main fleets under his command!
"Y-yes, Golden Lion."
The voice on the other end grew weaker still, as if Golden Lion's fury could be felt even through the Den Den Mushi.
Golden Lion was indeed furious. He had planned to send someone to take out that warship at once!
"I've got it. You lot head back to the New World first!"
Click. The call ended.
Golden Lion's expression darkened. The banquet continued, but everyone's attention had shifted to him.
His anger was obvious. You'd have to be blind not to notice.
Pfft! Pfft!
A white-faced clown whose footsteps sounded like farts came over. "Golden Lion, did something happen?"
"Doesn't the Marine G5 Branch have a base in the New World?"
Golden Lion didn't answer. Instead, he asked a question.
The white-faced clown, Indigo, replied, "Yes. It's the Marines' bridgehead into the New World, backed by the G1 Branch beneath the Red Line."
"Good. We've got our next battle plan!"
Golden Lion slammed his glass onto the table and roared, "Flatten the Marine G5 Branch!"
"Roar!!!"
After a brief silence, the banquet hall erupted in cheers.
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