At the training grounds in Dressrosa, everyone stood in silence as they watched the Den Den Mushi in Yoriichi Tsugikuni's hand fall into a dead tone.
After a moment, Kyros was the first to react. He looked toward Yoriichi and asked,
"Vice Admiral, what should we do?"
"Are we just going to leave it be?"
"I think the attack on Lodestar Island was quite large in scale. That scream just now was full of fear, and Vice Admiral Kuzan's voice sounded extremely fatigued."
Yoriichi looked up at the blue sky, silent for a moment before shaking his head.
"We can't leave it alone. Kyros, go prepare the supplies. I'm going to Lodestar Island."
"We and the ICE branch on Lodestar Island are supposed to support each other. Maybe Kuzan can't bring himself to ask for help, but if we ignore this, there will be serious consequences."
"This time, Issho, Mihawk, and Kyros, you three come with me. As for base affairs, leave them entirely to Borsalino."
As he spoke, Yoriichi grabbed his cloak and flung it over his shoulders, turning to leave the training grounds.
"Yes!"
Kyros saluted and hurried off, while Issho and Mihawk followed Yoriichi out.
Soon after, the naval dock at Dressrosa became a hive of activity. Civilians nearby noticed the Navy's hurried movements and gathered at the waterfront. As they saw large quantities of supplies and Marines boarding the Dawn, they quickly realized something was happening and spread the word across the port.
Dressrosa was a bustling nation, and the harbor was filled with traffic. It was inevitable that spies from various powers had mingled into the crowd, keeping an eye on the movements of the Marine base.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's name might have faded from public memory in the Four Blues, but in the New World, the Dawn Division remained a major focus of attention.
A powerhouse like Yoriichi, every step he took had the potential to shake the seas.
And with the achievements he had racked up so far, no one could doubt his capabilities. So the Navy's current movements quickly caught everyone's attention.
When Yoriichi appeared at the harbor and boarded the Dawn with Issho and the others, the news spread like wildfire.
"Pops!"
"We've got word, the Navy in Dressrosa is making a major move!"
On a certain island in the New World.
The Whitebeard Pirates were resting, and Edward Newgate was lying beneath a coconut tree, arms behind his head, eyes closed as he enjoyed a lazy afternoon.
Hearing his son's shout, Whitebeard frowned slightly, opened one eye, and glanced at the source of the voice. He grumbled,
"Oi, Marco, can you stop yelling?"
"Can't you see I'm napping?"
He shifted slightly, adjusting to a more comfortable position, and closed his eyes again.
"Pops, it's big news!"
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni's on the move!"
"That guy's been quiet for so long, and now he's making a move again!"
Marco rushed to Whitebeard's side, clearly excited. He was someone who loved the thrill of activity, and he was no longer the "trainee pirate" of years past, now, he was the number one figure in the Whitebeard Pirates.
After Roger's death, Marco had become more active. He wanted to help his admired father become the Pirate King, and he'd been working toward that goal ever since.
Though Whitebeard himself wasn't interested in the title, preferring to sail happily with his family, he never opposed his sons' ambitions. Whatever made them happy, he'd support them, success or failure didn't matter, he would back them all the same.
Over the years, Marco had gathered many like-minded companions within the crew who wanted to see Whitebeard crowned King of the Pirates. His reputation within the crew had grown considerably.
The surveillance on Dressrosa was Marco's idea, and as soon as Yoriichi made a move, he eagerly rushed over to report it.
"Eh?"
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni?"
"What do I care if that brat moves or not?"
"Marco, stop bothering me."
Whitebeard didn't even open his eyes, just turned his back to Marco.
"…."
Marco scratched his head, exasperated by his father's total lack of interest.
Pops was great in every way, except he lacked any ambition befitting a legendary pirate.
Yoriichi had been quiet for so long. He wouldn't suddenly take action just to chase some small-time pirates. It wasn't that Marco overestimated Yoriichi, it was that too many major pirates had fallen to Yoriichi since he first emerged.
Even though Marco didn't believe the Marines in Dressrosa posed any threat to the Whitebeard Pirates, this level of Marine mobilization surely meant a major pirate was about to fall.
His plan was simple: let Yoriichi take them down, then they would sweep in and take the territory.
It wasn't about protection money or anything like that. They just thought having more territory looked "badass" and showed their strength as a major pirate crew. It would help support Whitebeard's eventual rise to Pirate King.
Their idea of controlling territory was simple, "This is our turf. We protect these people. Anyone who messes with them messes with us. Prepare for payback."
That's all.
"Pops, this operation is massive. They've mobilized almost all the base's Marines, and they're loaded with supplies."
"It's clearly a targeted strike. With Yoriichi's strength, normal pirates won't stand a chance."
"Shouldn't we go check it out? Afterwards, we can claim the territory."
Marco pressed again.
"Small stuff like that, handle it yourself. Don't bother me."
Whitebeard waved him off, annoyed. Marco sighed and crossed his arms, but then his eyes lit up with an idea.
"Pops, can I go watch from a distance?"
That got a reaction. Whitebeard sat up, turned to look at Marco, and said sternly,
"You can do whatever you want."
"But this one thing, I forbid it."
"I don't want you contacting Yoriichi privately!"
"Did you all hear me? Not just Marco, every one of you!"
His voice rose as he shouted to the rest of the crew.
"Huh?"
"Pops? Why?"
"We're the Whitebeard Pirates. It's already generous of us not to hunt him down."
"Are we really supposed to fear him? Avoid him?"
Nearby, "Diamond" Jozu had been drinking under the shade of a tree. He overheard the conversation and couldn't help but ask.
Whitebeard's crew was filled with fearless types.
"Eh?"
"Jozu, it's not about fear."
"I just don't want you getting hurt."
Whitebeard said it casually, his stern expression softening.
"Pops, don't worry. I'll just watch from a distance."
"I won't get hurt."
Marco grinned, unable to hide his eagerness.
"No. I'm not comfortable with it."
"That brat doesn't play fair."
"Anyway, I forbid it. No more discussion."
Seeing that Whitebeard wouldn't budge, Marco scratched his neck in frustration. He deeply respected his father, so if Pops said no, that was that.
He trudged over to Jozu, grabbed his drink, and downed it in one gulp.
"Hahaha! Marco, if Pops said no, then that's that."
"Drink up! Hahaha!"
Jozu slung an arm over Marco's shoulder and laughed. The surrounding crew saw Marco's sulking and quickly came over to cheer him up.
With all the laughter and drinking, Marco's gloom vanished as he joined in, singing and partying with his crewmates like nothing had happened.
Whitebeard, lying under the tree, smiled at the sound of his sons' laughter, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile…
After the Beasts Pirates attacked Lodestar Island, Kuzan and the survivors had been sailing for nearly a week before finally arriving at Migo Town.
Fresh from a crushing defeat, having watched comrades die before their eyes, the Marines who arrived at Migo looked utterly broken.
The small boat pulled into dock. The Marines helped each other disembark.
Blood-stained uniforms, wounded bodies, when the townspeople saw their state, they rushed over in alarm.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan?!"
"Isn't that Vice Admiral Kuzan from the ICE branch?!"
A voice shouted from the crowd. Someone had recognized the defeated unit's commander.
Kuzan was supporting the unconscious Binji, his expression grim.
Binji's uniform was torn across the chest, soaked in blood.
He had taken a strike from a young swordsman of the Beasts Pirates. Unable to dodge in time, he tried to block with Iron Body, but paid the price.
Though first aid had been given, the blood loss left him weak, and he'd developed a fever during the journey. Kuzan knew, if treatment didn't come soon, Binji wouldn't make it.
"Doctor! Someone get a doctor for my men!"
Kuzan shouted at the crowd. Immediately, a middle-aged man pushed forward, checked Binji's condition, and exclaimed,
"It's serious, he needs a clinic!"
"Help me carry him to Dr. Dain's, now!"
The man was a porter, well-respected in Migo Town, having worked the docks for thirty years. On his call, the townsfolk quickly fashioned a stretcher and rushed Binji to the clinic.
The other wounded were also taken to the hospital with their help.
Soon, the entire dock crew had dropped their work to help the Marines.
Even their employers, seeing the scene, didn't complain about delays, they just stood by, worried.
Kuzan's group only had 23 survivors. Every one of them was injured. Kuzan himself was the least hurt, just exhausted.
After all the wounded were taken away, Kuzan finally collapsed, his tension broken.
Medical staff panicked and rushed him to a stretcher. After examination, they sighed in relief, it was just exhaustion.
"They're all seriously hurt, even Vice Admiral Kuzan fainted…"
"Something terrible must have happened."
Nurses whispered in the hallway, peeking into the wards.
The ICE branch was based on Lodestar Island, close to Migo Town. They often came here for rest or supplies, and had protected the town from pirates many times.
So the locals were familiar with Kuzan and his men.
Seeing even someone as powerful as Kuzan in this state, the townsfolk grew deeply concerned, and curious about what had happened.
Soon, the local Marines arrived. Hearing the survivors' reports, their faces turned pale.
The ICE branch had been wiped out by the Beasts Pirates. Nearly a thousand men, only a couple dozen survivors.
Unbelievable.
The base commander, seeing Kuzan still unconscious, didn't hesitate. He called Marine HQ.
Coincidentally, Admiral Sengoku was in his office when the call came through, ICE reported directly to him.
Learning the ICE branch had been destroyed shocked Sengoku, but he quickly recovered. Hearing Kuzan was alive, he gave orders to withdraw everyone from Lodestar Island.
Since Roger sparked the Great Pirate Era, the Four Seas had been in chaos, and the first half of the Grand Line was already awash in blood.
Sengoku knew the Marines were stretched thin. His best man, Borsalino, had been taken by Yoriichi's Dawn Division.
With limited strength, Sengoku had been forced to take a softer approach with major pirates. After this latest blow, he decided to abandon Lodestar Island completely.
The Marines needed to stabilize the Four Seas first. They had no spare strength for the New World.
As for Yoriichi Tsugikuni…
He wasn't the same as Kuzan. He couldn't be treated the same way.
"The Beasts Pirates, huh…"
"They dared to strike at us. If we let it slide, we'll only embolden them."
With that thought, Sengoku called Yoriichi.
When the call came through, the Dawn had already been sailing for a day. Yoriichi held a permanent Log Pose to Lodestar Island. They were on their way.
On deck, Yoriichi gripped the railing with one hand and the receiver with the other, quietly listening to Sengoku's intel.
"So Kuzan's group made it to Migo Town?"
"The Beasts Pirates wouldn't attack Lodestar Island without reason. If it were just for plunder, there are better targets."
"My guess, they plan to settle there."
"Before Laugh Tale, Lodestar Island was the so-called final island. Their target is likely the One Piece."
"They're probably searching for the path to Laugh Tale."
"Admiral Sengoku, if you can still reach Kuzan, tell him, Migo Town won't be safe for long."
"Lodestar Island doesn't have much farmland. Their leftover supplies won't last."
"Once they finish recording their Log Pose and use up those resources, the Beasts Pirates will likely move on Migo Town."
"Tell him to leave quickly. I'll handle the rest."
The sea breeze blew. Yoriichi's crimson hair danced in the wind.
Behind him, Issho, Mihawk, and Kyros stood side by side, all smiling as they heard his words.
"The Beasts Pirates, huh… I hope they have a good swordsman," Mihawk said, arms crossed, smiling as Yoriichi hung up.
Issho said nothing. He held his cane in one hand and gently shook a dice cup in the other, as if letting fate decide what came next.
Kyros, meanwhile, immediately left to adjust the ship's course, first, they'd stop at Migo Town to assist Kuzan.
After working with Yoriichi this long, Kyros understood his temperament. He didn't need Yoriichi to say it outright, he already knew what needed to be done.
✦✦---------------------------------------------------------------------✦✦
Support me by adding this fic into your library!
100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
For Advance Chapters, please visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon!
p(a)treon.com/_Aartemis
50 Advanced Chapters