After leaving the Mystery Island, Vic landed on an island in the East Blue not far from the Calm Belt. There was a bustling town on this island. Since he was visiting an old friend, he should buy something. Donkey meat alone wouldn't be enough, so he wanted to buy something here.
During the two years that Vic was being hunted by the God's Knights, he would terrify the ordinary civilians wherever he went, and they would turn pale at the mere mention of his name. But after arriving on this island, no one showed any fear. They all put down what they were doing and looked at him eagerly, whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that the wrongly accused navy officer? Wasn't he in the New World? What's he doing in the East Blue?"
"Why can't he come to East Blue? He's originally from East Blue."
"Yes! It's an honor for East Blue to have such an important figure come from our East Blue!"
"Yes! If he hadn't been wrongly accused by the World Government, he would definitely be the next Hero of the Marines."
"It's not bad now. The World Government has found out the truth and awarded him the title of ' Shichibukai ). That should be compensation for him!"
"What kind of compensation is this? The Shichibukai are still pirates! If he were still in the Navy, he would definitely be Marine Admiral by now, and I would believe he would become Fleet Admiral someday. It's all that stinking pirate's fault; he deserves to die!"
"But he's also killed quite a few people from the World Government. Returning to the Navy is definitely out of the question; it's already a miracle he's not wanted anymore."
"There must be a reason! How could he kill government officials for no reason? It must be that the World Government was hunting him down and he was retaliating. Until the truth is found, he has a lot of crimes on his record and will definitely be hunted down!"
Vic stood out on the street; he was currently the most newsworthy figure, even more sensational than the Straw Hat Boy a decade or so later. There was no one in the East Blue who didn't know him, except for those deserted islands without mail-carrying seagulls.
But this is a bustling town, and Vic's unique demeanor and face are his best calling card. Many people whisper and gossip about Vic after seeing him.
Most people felt indignant about what happened to Vic. He was a promising young naval star. If nothing had gone wrong, he would definitely have been among the last Marine Admiral promoted. More importantly, Vic came from the East Blue and was the pride of the East Blue!
However, they were framed by pirates and defected from the Navy. When they saw this news, they were heartbroken, but there was nothing they could do. Now that they saw Vic appear, they naturally gathered around and discussed it.
How did you know I became Shichibukai?
With Vic's hearing, their whispers were no different from talking right next to his ear, and Vic picked up on it. He was surprised; it seemed like everyone already knew he was going to become Shichibukai. Saturn hadn't even called him yet, and the contract to Shichibukai hadn't been signed. So Vic walked over to the edge of the crowd and asked.
"It's already been published in the newspapers! Didn't you know, Lord Vic!"
"Yes! That happened a month ago. Don't you read the newspaper?"
"Lord Vic is extremely busy with state affairs and cultivation. Isn't it normal for him to not read the newspaper for a month? Otherwise, how could he be so powerful?"
"Yeah, yeah! Of those five Shichibukai, only Lord Vic is truly popular; the others have been slammed and criticized!"
Vic was originally from the Navy, and now his brutality and bloodlust have been washed away. Vic has returned to the way he was when people first trusted him, so they were not afraid of Vic's approach and all chattered enthusiastically.
Although many people were talking, Vic still managed to glean a few key pieces of information: the Seven Warlords of the Sea system had been officially announced a month ago. At that time, Vic was still on Mystery Island, so it was understandable that he hadn't seen the newspaper.
Then there are five Shichibukai, not seven as in later generations. This is also normal. If Vic hadn't come to this world, the Marine Admiral would have been promoted one by one, not three at a time.
The Shichibukai certainly didn't start out with that many people. The number was gradually increased to seven as needed, and eventually stabilized at seven. The defeated Shichibukai were replaced by new Shichibukai, and this system continued until the Reverie abolished the Shichibukai.
Does anyone have that issue of the newspaper? Could I take a look at it?
Vic was curious to see who else had become Shichibukai besides himself. Crocodile and Moria were definitely among them, so who were the other two? Vic was quite curious.
"I have some in my shop, Lord Vic, please wait a moment, I'll go get it for you right now!"
"I have some in my shop too, Vic, please check mine out!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"There's no need for everyone to argue. It's all the same to everyone. I just spent over two months cultivating on a deserted island, so I don't know much about the outside world."
When Vic said he wanted to read the newspaper, the crowd immediately stirred, and many people who had come out of their shops to see Vic rushed back to their own shops to get their newspapers.
Some people had already used the newspaper to wipe their butts, and were naturally very annoyed. However, before wiping their butts, they cut out Vic's photo. This was not something to be used to wipe one's butts. He was a big shot in their East Blue, and it was something they used to brag about.
Soon a lithe, agile man ran back and handed Vic a newspaper. Many people who had just come out of the store immediately regretted their actions, for this was a newspaper meant for Vic!
Who is Vic now? He's on par with legendary figures. The value of any newspaper Vic has read has increased significantly. Even if he doesn't sell it, it's still a great topic of conversation and the envy of others.
"Oh no! Bellemere is in danger!"
The moment Vic saw the headline on the front page, he knew something was wrong. He dropped the newspaper and vanished in Inazuma, leaving the onlookers completely bewildered. What had he just seen? Why such a huge reaction? And who was Bellemere?
Vic was so agitated because he saw a picture of Doraemon in the newspaper, and he knew something was wrong. In the original series, Jinbe became Shichibukai on the condition that Arlong was released from Impel Down.
Now that Jinbe has appeared in the newspaper, it means that Arlong has most likely been released. Given Arlong's hatred for humanity, he will inevitably come to the East Blue to cause more harm. Even if the time has come forward by a few years, the mindset of the same person will not change much.
Bellemere of Cocoyasi Village is in mortal danger. A month has passed since then, and no one knows where Arlong is. Therefore, Vic must go to Cocoyasi Village to check on him.
In his past life, when Vic watched the anime, he always felt that Bellemere's death was a great pity. Bellemere was truly a great mother with a lot of personal charm. Bellemere's death was a huge regret for Nami and Nojiko was also a regret for Vic.
Now that he has come into this world, there are some regrets he must make up for, such as the untimely death of Kuina, and the murder of Bellemere by Arlong. He has always kept these in his heart!
This time, however, the incident not only happened earlier than expected, but it also coincided with his trip to the Mystery Island. He spent a month in the core space of the Soul Tree, a place completely isolated from the world, where even fluctuations in the laws of Laws could be blocked. He couldn't receive any news from the outside world, and even the Den Den Den Mushi) that went inside withered away.
It was a month later when he finally saw the newspaper. Vic could only pray that Arlong had been delayed somewhere and hadn't yet reached Cocoyasi Village.