"Time flies! Nothing much! You don't need to follow them anymore. I'll go to Sabaody Archipelago myself. Besides Luffy and the others, is there anything else about us?"
"Oh! We're all fine! Nothing's happened, but the World Government called last time, asking if you'd be interested in going to a meeting at Marine Headquarters to discuss which pirate could replace Crocodile's title of Shichibukai."
However, since you went into seclusion, Barnett refused on your behalf. Ultimately, the meeting decided to make Marshall D. Teach, who betrayed the Whitebeard Pirates, the new Shichibukai. I heard the Whitebeard Pirates even rioted over this!
"Marshall D. Teach!... Sigh! That's all for now. Don't let your training fall behind. See you on Titan Island!"
Vic had a bad feeling after hearing what Rebecca said next. He gave Rebecca a few instructions and then hung up the Den Den Mushi. He needed to confirm something.
After putting away the Den Den Mushi, Vic stopped his leisurely journey. A bolt of lightning shot out from his body, and he vanished from his spot in an instant. He was already quite close to Marine Headquarters, so he wanted to go there in Marine Headquarters to ask Sengoku about the whole story.
As a member of the Shichibukai, it wouldn't be a problem for Vic to meet Sengoku, especially since he came from the Navy. Sengoku would have to give him that much face.
"I need to see the Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Someone go and announce my arrival!"
Instead of barging into Sengoku's office, Vic appeared at the plaza in front of the Marine Headquarters headquarters' dock, a place with a large flow of people and many warships coming and going every day.
When Vic suddenly appeared in the square, no one noticed him. It was as if Vic appeared out of thin air, without making a sound. It wasn't until he stood still and spoke that he attracted everyone's attention in the square. Then Vic became the focus, and everyone couldn't take their eyes off him!
"Who is that person? He looks so imposing!"
"You don't recognize him? He's new here? This is Orence Vick, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. He shares the same Logia-type Devil Fruit power as our Navy's top Admiral, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. His nickname is Thor. Just from what I've said, you can imagine how strong he is!"
"This Shichibukai's aura feels even stronger than our Navy's Three Admirals! Only Vice Admiral Garp can compare!"
"Look, there's a strangely shaped thing floating behind that person. Is it a drum?"
"You new recruits don't know, do you? I'll tell you a secret: this guy used to be a Vice Admiral admiral in our Marine Headquarters, but somehow he became a pirate. He caused quite a stir back then, even Admiral Kizaru got involved. When he came back, he was covered in injuries, and I had to help him to the medical ward!"
"Wow! It's Lord Vic! He's so handsome! I want to have his baby!"
"Stop being so flirtatious. He's a big shot, why would he even look at you? You'd better just settle for me, stop daydreaming!"
"I'm just daydreaming, it's none of your business! I'd rather die alone than be with you, so just give up on that idea!"
"How did he get there? Didn't anyone see him? He's a pirate! What if he wanted to attack headquarters?"
"Don't worry, his relationship with the Navy is complicated, but he won't attack headquarters. Vice Admiral Garp valued him highly back then!"
Vic's words drew everyone's attention, followed by a flurry of discussion among recruits and veterans, men and women—this was inevitable, given how dazzling Vic was.
Moreover, this is the Marine Headquarters, and the intelligence the marines possess is far beyond what ordinary people outside can compare to. Apart from new recruits, there is no one who doesn't know Vic.
Vic has kept a low profile for many years, and now that he has come to the Marine Headquarters openly, it naturally raises many questions. However, some rational people have already left the plaza to report the situation.
" Mr. Vic! Please come in. Fleet Admiral Sengoku is already waiting for you in his office!"
Vic didn't have to wait long before a middle-aged man with the rank of colonel came up to Vic. Vic didn't recognize the man at all; he must have been promoted during the time Vic was away from the navy.
Vic didn't say much, just nodded slightly and followed the man into the headquarters building. Along the way, many high-ranking naval officers who had received the news stood at their office doors watching.
Not long ago, the Marine Headquarters held a meeting of the Shichibukai. They met many famous pirates, but none of them had the same sense of pressure as the person in front of them!
As Vic approached them, it felt as if a massive mountain was pressing down on them; the air itself seemed to thicken. His casual, indifferent gaze, however, was as sharp as a knife!
These high-ranking naval officers hadn't expected that just watching someone walk would cause them to break out in a cold sweat and their hearts to race.
" Mr. Vic! The Fleet Admiral is inside. You can go in by yourself."
The middle-aged colonel led Vic to the door of an office on the top floor of the headquarters building, gestured for him to enter, and left only after Vic nodded.
Once the colonel was completely out of Vic's sight, he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. His back was soaked with sweat, showing that leading the way for Vic had put him under considerable pressure!
He was inwardly blaming Fleet Admiral Sengoku for letting him lead the way; he almost peed himself just now. If he had actually peed, he would have become the laughing stock of the Marine Headquarters, and he would never be able to leave the house again, or he might as well apply for a transfer to a branch office to retire.
" Mr. Sengoku! It's been a long time! How have you been?"
When Vic opened the door, he saw Sengoku hunched over his Sengoku writing something and smelled a faint scent of hair dye. Seeing that the sound of the door opening did not interrupt Sengoku's work, Vic greeted him.
Don't let Sengoku's current full head of black hair fool you; he's actually a year older than Garp, turning 73 this year. He's quite an old man, and his black hair was dyed for the Navy's image.
The fact that Sengoku's hair turned white rapidly after he resigned from his position Fleet Admiral was not because he was no longer fighting on the front lines; it was simply because he no longer needed to dye his hair.
"I'm all right! Vic! You've finally come back to visit. You haven't changed much, just more mature, more imposing, and more manly. Come on, sit down, don't stand!"
Sengoku's feelings about Vic's sudden visit were actually quite complicated. He knew perfectly well why Vic had left the Navy, but there was not much he could do to help him.
If it weren't for Vic's own strength, he would have had a hard time surviving. He also deeply regretted the loss of such a talented person as Vic.
He was especially disappointed when he learned that Vic had defeated Big Mom. He got drunk all by himself that day. If his old friend Garp were at headquarters, he would definitely have dragged him along for a drink.