The Mix-Up and the Scapegoat

Above a certain stretch of sea in the New World.

At the center of a Floating Island, a banquet was being held inside a magnificent golden hall.

The members of the Flying Pirates drank, ate meat, and sang songs as they celebrated the great success of their latest plundering operation.

Yet Golden Lion was currently frowning, staring intently at the newspaper before him. He held a large bowl filled with wine, but showed no sign of drinking it.

"Sinful Child Rosha, an Azure Dragon Fruit user, has joined the Flying Pirates?"

"When did that happen? How the hell did I not know about it?!"

Golden Lion found this utterly absurd. As the captain of the Flying Pirates, he actually had no idea Rosha had joined his crew!

Could it have been because time was too tight, so no one had gotten around to reporting it?

Thus, he called over one of his men. "Hey, Ulter, did you recruit this Rosha? Nicely done. When did it happen? How come you didn't tell me?!"

"But seeing as you've rendered such a great service this time, I'll forgive you just this once! Zehahahahaha—"

Ulter: "?"

"Admiral, what are you talking about? Wasn't the Sinful Child recruited by you? I didn't recruit him. I've never even met him, so how could I have recruited him?"

"???"

"Not you?!"

Ulter shook his head. "Of course not. I don't know anything about it."

"Then it wasn't me either!"

Golden Lion's eyes widened as an inexplicable sense of foreboding rose within him.

"Huh? No way, Admiral. Are you joking with me?"

Ulter could not help feeling suspicious.

Golden Lion snapped, "I'm not joking! Wait here. I'll ask the others."

Very quickly, Golden Lion questioned several officers in succession, only to receive denials from every one of them.