In the blink of an eye, many years have passed.
I wonder how Junichi is doing now, it's really something to be missed.
Shano quickly snapped out of his thoughts and smiled: "It's the perfect season for cherry blossoms, everyone can enjoy the flowers along the way, refresh your spirits, and then we'll head to North Island and have a blast all day long!"
Everyone immediately cheered in celebration.
"Yay!"
"I want to ride the Ferris wheel! Who's with me?"
"That's too boring, let's go for the roller coaster and pirate ship instead!"
Amid the hubbub, the Endgame slowly docked at the pier.
......
At the same time.
Thor Island, North Island.
The usually bustling main street was dead silent, with only the heavy echoes of military boots striking the cobblestones.
Squads of Navy Soldiers kicked open the doors of casinos and taverns, dragging out panicked tourists and comparing them one by one against the Bounty Orders.
"Report! No targets found on Casino Street!"
"The theater has been checked, all are regular tourists!"
"The amusement park has been cleared, only two small fry with bounties of a few million were caught on the Ferris wheel!"
Disappointing reports flowed into the central fountain square.
In front of the fountain sculpture, Akainu was pacing with a dark expression, the marble beneath his feet showing slight cracks, evidently unable to suppress his mounting anger.
Behind him, six people were cuffed on the ground, crying bitterly, while next to them, a snowhound about a meter tall whimpered pitifully.
"We were wrong, we really know we were wrong!"
"We shouldn't have impersonated those dreadful Pirates and went around scamming meals and drinks!"
"Officer, please forgive us this once!"
The Navy Soldiers guarding them exchanged glances, wearing peculiar expressions.
This group was a set of professional cosplay enthusiasts, almost perfectly replicating the appearance of the Endgame Pirates.
Three men, three women; the leading black-haired man carried a long sword, while the white-haired man beside him had a band of cigars on his arm.
The cook dressed as an old man had his right leg wrapped in a layer of iron...
If they hadn't trembled and kneeled in surrender upon seeing the Navy, they might have truly fooled people.
In fact, they had indeed managed to do just that earlier.
The intelligence team stationed here by the Navy had been deceived by them.
After days of continuous observation without finding anything wrong, if not for that...
"I wouldn't have rushed over thousands of miles and arrived here at full speed."
Akainu finally turned around, coldly scanning the group: "Although you are not my targets, past records show that you were also habitual fraudsters, robbing and extorting."
"Of course, these aren't major crimes, a few years in prison would suffice, but this time, you just had to impersonate that group, wasting so much of my time."
Akainu slightly raised his right hand, his arm beginning to transform into magma, the intense heat distorting the air, "Such a heinous act, deserves no mercy."
Seeing this, the surrounding Navy Soldiers quickly stepped back.
The bound individuals, even more terrified, huddled together, snot and tears streaming as they screamed.
"No... please, no!"
"Help!"
"We really won't dare again!"
Akainu ignored them, expressionless as he raised his hand: "Flame Fist!"
Boom!
Scorching magma flowed forth, engulfing the six and the dog in an instant.
Their agonized screams ceased in a flash.
Once the rising steam dissipated, the site was unrecognizable, only a scorched and indistinct mark remained in the bubbling magma.
Is this the style of Grand Admiral Sakazuki?
So ruthless...
The surrounding Navy Soldiers couldn't help but shiver.
Step, step, step.
Footsteps sounded from behind, and Akainu turned around to see the two Vice Admirals specially dispatched from headquarters to ensure the success of this mission.
"Mr. Sakazuki."
The Headquarter Vice Admiral at the front, chewing a cigar, spoke in a deep voice:
"The entire town has been searched, and it is now one hundred percent sure that this was a cock-up caused by these brazen people using the name of the Endgame Pirates to mooch and freeload."
"The real Great Blade Sword Master Shano and his crew never even set foot on this island!"
His name was Dalmatia, having been promoted to Headquarter Vice Admiral for many years, he was highly ranked in both seniority and capability, maintaining a half-human, half-beast form with the Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit Dalmatian Form.
"Indeed, but this time, it wasn't all for naught; in the mishap, we caught a few pirates with bounties, so it wasn't a wasted trip."
The tall, female Vice Admiral licked her lips, speaking playfully.
Her name was Bumaya, previously serving as Deputy Base Commander at G-2 branch, she had just been promoted to Headquarter Vice Admiral two months prior.
Not all for naught?
Akainu sneered, these insignificant small fry, catching them isn't worthy of being called a harvest!
What's the point? Can it conceal the embarrassing fact of his mission's failure?
The mighty Navy Grand Admiral personally leading a fleet composed of four large headquarter ships and over five thousand elite soldiers, advancing aggressively...
Only to find nothing?
Utterly humiliating, especially after leaving behind harsh words before his departure...
He could already imagine how Kuzan and Borsalino would react upon seeing him again.
"Dispatch a team to escort those idiots who sent false information to the Judicial Island Military Tribunal for a thorough trial."
Suppressing his annoyance, Akainu coldly issued the order, "As for the remaining soldiers, organize a retreat, bring those bounty criminals back to headquarters."
"Yes!"
The two Vice Admirals promptly saluted and turned to leave.
With the order given, the entirety of North Island bustled with activity; the well-trained Navy Soldiers began escorting captured pirates out of the town.
This process would take at least half an hour.
Not wanting to wait idly on the ship, Akainu chose to walk alone to the southern coast.
He planned to stroll by the seaside, relishing the ocean breeze, and use the beautiful cherry blossom scene across South Island to calm his mood slightly.
South Island was a sparsely populated rural area, and upon his arrival at Thor Island, he had specifically used Observation to sweep through, finding only local farmers at work, with no suspicious activities.
Now, naturally, there should be no differences... huh?
Akainu's pupils suddenly contracted.
In the last moment, he reflexively unleashed his Observation, sensing numerous unfamiliar presences, one of them tremendously powerful, approaching swiftly...
A presence already right before him!
He abruptly turned around.
...
"Not here yet? I'm already at the bridge."
Shano leisurely walked, speaking into the Radio Snail.
"Hehe, not yet, bro," Nami's mischievous voice came from the other end of the receiver, "We're planning to gather more petals so that Uncle Zeff can make cherry blossom cakes. It'll probably take another ten minutes, so hang tight!"
"Alright then."
Shano sighed helplessly, "I'll wait for you all at the bridgehead, and we'll head to North Island together."
"Sure!"
Just as he was about to hang up, a sudden prickling sense of danger crept up his spine, making him furrow his brows and instinctively look up.
A tall figure dressed in a dark red suit stood across the bridge, the white Cloak of Justice behind him fluttering in the wind.
The two of them, separated by a stone bridge only a few dozen meters wide, stared at each other in stunned silence.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.