"Insane, absolutely insane!"
"The Marines have gone mad!"
Somewhere on the Organ Islands in the East Blue, a pirate dressed as a clown with a bright red nose and a jester hat darted into a distant mountain cave, trembling with lingering fear.
"What's wrong with these Marines? Why did they suddenly issue a Pirate Annihilation Order?" he muttered.
This was Buggy, captain of the Buggy Pirates, formerly a trainee on the Roger Pirates. As a Paramecia-type Split-Split Fruit user, Buggy had left the Grand Line after the disbandment of the Roger Pirates and established his crew in the East Blue. He took pleasure in bullying the weak, firmly believing that true pirates should focus on plundering wealth—a pirate through and through.
"Captain, don't you read the newspapers?"
Following closely behind Buggy into the cave was Mohji, the Buggy Pirates' first mate, known for his lion-taming skills. Riding atop his fierce lion, he glanced back at the distant sea, where a Marine warship was relentlessly bombarding a pirate ship. His expression turned serious.
"Something big happened at Marine Headquarters. A Vice Admiral named Xayuki staged a coup and became the new Fleet Admiral. He even signed some treaty with the Holy Land called the Marijoa Treaty!"
"That's old news!"
Interrupting Mohji, Cabaji, the Buggy Pirates' chief of staff, approached on his unicycle with a grave expression. "The reason the Marines are acting so crazed is because the Arlong Pirates attacked the 16th Branch's warship, which enraged the new Fleet Admiral into issuing this Pirate Annihilation Order!"
"Those damn Arlong Pirates!"
Hearing that the Arlong Pirates were the cause, Buggy couldn't help but curse aloud.
"What were those idiots thinking, attacking a Marine warship? And why are the Marines targeting us too? I can't even continue my glorious treasure-hunting plans because of them!"
"Wait, what did you just say? Someone staged a coup and became the new Fleet Admiral? Hahaha, who is it? Who could possibly outshine the glorious Captain Buggy?"
"Captain Buggy, now's not the time to worry about that!" Mohji cut in anxiously. "The Marine warship is approaching the Organ Islands. What if they've discovered us?"
"Impossible, you idiot!"
Buggy leaped up and smacked Mohji on the head. Feigning calm, he declared, "We're hiding in such a magnificent cave. There's no way the Marines could find us!"
"We should move, just in case," Cabaji suggested coolly. "Even if they haven't found us, they'll likely search the island. We should leave before they land."
"Where to?" Buggy blinked in confusion.
Cabaji thought for a moment before suggesting, "I know there's a town on the Organ Islands called Orange Town. If we blend in with the crowd, it'll be harder for the Marines to spot us."
"No way!" Buggy's eyes widened. "The East Blue isn't safe anywhere right now!"
His eyes darted around, and suddenly, he slapped his thigh as if struck by inspiration. "I've decided! We'll make a grand retreat. I'll lead you all to the Grand Line!"
Nearby Waters of the Organ Islands.
The deafening roar of cannon fire echoed across the sea.
A pirate ship, relentlessly pursued by a Marine warship, finally succumbed to the bombardment. With a thunderous explosion, it collapsed into the sea, sending towering waves into the sky.
"Press forward! Press forward!"
As the pirate ship sank, a Marine officer aboard the pursuing warship drew his sword and shouted excitedly, "Eliminate every last one of those damn pirates!"
At his command, the warship accelerated toward the wreckage, where the cries of the drowning pirates echoed across the sea.
Just as the warship entered the area of the wreckage, another Marine warship sped up and overtook it.
Before the soldiers on the first warship could react, a barrage of gunfire erupted from the second ship.
"Damn it, Snaik! That pirate ship was my kill!"
On the deck of the first warship, a young Marine officer with iron knuckles glared at the opposing ship, furious. "I'm reporting this to the Fleet Admiral! You stole my credit!"
"Haha, Hepodi, you've worked hard!"
Snaik, the captain of the second warship, waved dismissively from his deck. "Leave this to me. You should head to another area. As a colleague, here's a tip: there's a pirate crew often spotted near the Moonlight Islands. They're called the Black Cat Pirates, I think. Better hurry, though—I heard Captain Morgan has been after them for a while!"
"Really?" Hepodi's eyes lit up with excitement. "Snaik, if I catch the Black Cat Pirates, I'll treat you to a meal at the Baratie!"
"No thanks!" Snaik waved him off. "Do you know why you're still just a lieutenant? It's because you don't understand the bigger picture. You used to serve under Vice Admiral Onigumo, right? If you don't seize this chance to shine during the Fleet Admiral's Eastern Tour, you might not even keep your rank!"
"Anyway, I've said my piece. I've got another mission. See you!"
Orange Town Waters.
On the deck of a pirate ship, surrounded by Marines, the pirates were trapped in a massive iron cage. Among them was their captain, huddled in fear.
Unlike other Marines who would have swiftly executed the captured pirates, the soldiers here stood silently, their rifles trained on the cage.
Inside the cage, the pirates dared not make a sound. Packed tightly together, their eyes were filled with terror and a desperate desire to live.
On the opposite deck stood a woman with long pink hair, clad in a purple outfit and gloves. She wore the coat of a Marine Headquarters Major and exuded a cold, commanding presence.
This was Hina, a Major of Marine Headquarters and a Paramecia-type Cage-Cage Fruit user.
Once considered a rising star by Garp and Sengoku, Hina was seen as a future pillar of the Marines. However, the sudden coup by Xayuki and his subsequent consolidation of power had left her shaken. Struggling to adapt to the rapid changes, she had withdrawn for several days.
It wasn't until news of the East Blue's turmoil reached her that she emerged from her slump and volunteered to join the Fleet Admiral's campaign.
To her surprise, Xayuki not only accepted her request but also entrusted her with independent command.
"Major Hina!"
Her adjutant stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Don't hesitate! The Fleet Admiral's orders are clear: during his Eastern Tour, no pirate surrenders will be accepted!"
"Do you understand the situation in the East Blue right now? Every officer who didn't participate in the coup is out here, hunting pirates like mad!"
"And besides, against pirates, mercy is never an option!"
Hina remained silent. Taking a drag from her cigarette, she exhaled slowly before extinguishing it. Standing up, she glanced at the caged pirates.
After a moment of hesitation, her resolve hardened. Turning sharply, she raised her hand and brought it down decisively.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Gunfire erupted.
Hina ignored the screams and cries behind her as she returned to her warship. Regaining her composure, she stared firmly ahead.
"Burn the pirate ship," she ordered. "We're moving out!"
To Be Continued...
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