Chapter 5: Fusing the Hōgyoku, Marine Headquarters Shaken
"Master."
Extracted from the system, the Hōgyoku did not possess the strong self-resistance found in the original script. An illusory figure emerged on the polyhedron, with pitch-black pupils and a third eye on the forehead that also lacked any whites, acknowledging Bai Ye as its master.
"Begin fusion..."
Numerous Marines surrounded the room cautiously, guarding against Bai Ye doing anything dangerous.
Not far away, a Marine was frantically calling Headquarters to report the major upheaval at the base...
...
Marineford, World Marine Headquarters.
Along with Impel Down and Enies Lobby, it was known as one of the three great unassailable strongholds in the world!
In the conference room, a large number of active personnel were seated; even the lowest ranked among them possessed the strength of a Vice Admiral.
Seated at the head of the table were several particularly eye-catching figures—
With an afro and black-rimmed glasses, Sengoku the Buddha; with bulging muscles, a buzz cut, and angular features, Garp the Fist; with purple hair, sunglasses, and a fierce expression, "Black Arm" Zephyr; and the tall, astonishingly beautiful Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Sitting above the four of them was a man with yellow-brown skin, whose hair and beard were extremely distinct, shaped like a mountain range.
"Steel Bone" Kong!
A Zoan - Mythical Type - King Kong Form user, powerful and renowned throughout the world!
Many high-ranking Marines had gathered because, on the Grand Line, a certain pirate crew had been making constant moves recently, refusing to stay quiet.
"That guy Rocks, he's been sending his subordinates to stir up trouble continuously. In just three short months, four duchies have suffered devastation and sent out distress signals!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru looked grave as she spoke of the recent troubles.
"Rocks has made everyone on the entire Grand Line feel insecure. It is chaotic, and this has had a huge impact on the World Government's prestige!"
"That guy never..."
Sengoku had just started to express his opinion when he was interrupted by the sound of a Den Den Mushi.
Kong picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"This is Kong. What is it?"
"Fleet Admiral Kong, it's bad news! The G-64D Marine Branch has been destroyed!"
"Vice Admiral Ethan, who was stationed there, has sacrificed his life!"
"G-64D... the North Blue region?"
Kong reacted, his voice raising half an octave in disbelief.
"In a place like that, someone actually dared to attack the Marines? Was it Germa 66?"
Although dispatched Vice Admirals were weaker, they were not people ordinary individuals could defeat.
In the entire North Blue, the only ones with that kind of strength would be the recently technologically renowned and extremely brutal mercenary group, Germa 66!
A heavy voice came from the other side of the Den Den Mushi.
"No... it was a bounty hunter, Bai Ye!"
"A single person?"
Kong's voice carried shock. To destroy an entire branch with the power of one person, he was afraid only those stamina monsters famous in the New World could do it.
The name Bai Ye—he had never heard of it?
...If he was a bounty hunter, why would he attack the Marines?!
"Ye... Yes."
The Marine on the other end reported.
"Bai Ye wiped out Peakes and his group. When he brought them in to claim the bounty, he went into a frenzy and attacked the Marine Branch!"
"Tch..."
A sound of disdain suddenly came from the conference room. Garp curled his lips, sarcasm on his face. He and Ethan were students from the same batch, so he understood the other's character somewhat.
Greedy beyond measure. Eight out of ten chances were that the guy did something stupid to provoke the other party into turning hostile.
The others more or less realized this as well, but they didn't show it as bluntly as Garp.
"The brothers opened fire immediately, but a green light appeared behind Bai Ye, and all the bullets were easily blocked!"
"Bai Ye simply used his sword blade to reflect light, causing the brothers fighting him to become confused and controlled, killing each other."
The voice on the Den Den Mushi continued, reporting the battle situation at the time in detail.
"When Vice Admiral Ethan took action personally, Bai Ye controlled lightning. With a flash of electric light, Vice Admiral Ethan was nearly roasted into charcoal and lost all power to resist..."
A trace of horror flashed across everyone's faces. Ethan's strength was inferior to a Headquarters Vice Admiral, but he wasn't someone an ordinary person could easily crush.
"That guy is most skilled at using Tekkai (Iron Body), coupled with Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) coating. Under the double coverage, his entire body is like iron. Even a powerhouse of the same level would have a headache trying to break through."
Garp recalled Ethan's famous methods from when they were students, a hint of amazement on his face.
"To think that guy would be struck down by lightning summoned by a sword, losing all resistance?"
"A Devil Fruit user?"
Kong frowned and spoke.
"Isn't the Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi) user on Skypiea? Another one popped up?"
To easily kill a Marine Vice Admiral meant that such strength gave one the capital to protect oneself or even dominate a region even in the Grand Line.
The main topic of the meeting hadn't even proceeded yet, and now another troublesome figure had appeared. It was truly a headache!
Kong ordered an investigation into Bai Ye's information and quickly gathered the facts about him hunting nine great pirates and turning them in.
There were no issues with his previous turn-ins; he only suddenly took action this one time...
Everyone's expressions turned ugly as a guess in their hearts was confirmed.
Once again, because of the stupidity of certain people, a potential ally was pushed to the pirate's side!
"Oh, right..."
Zephyr suddenly spoke up with a serious expression.
"I have a student named Momonga under my command. He was recently sent to the North Blue for an internship. Perhaps he knows what happened."
Everyone had some impression of Zephyr's recent follower.
"That Mohawk guy?"
"Momonga's character is reliable. Unlike some people who can't be found whenever you need them!"
Sengoku laughed and teased.
Garp gave him a side-eye and threatened in a lowered voice.
"Who are you obliquely cursing?"
"Tsk, whoever answers is the one I'm referring to..."
"Enough, let's talk business first!"
Kong interrupted their argument and changed the subject.
"Ask him and see."
The Den Den Mushi vibrated with a buru buru sound for a moment before magically growing a purple handlebar mustache and transmitting a rigid voice.
"Teacher Zephyr."
Zephyr: "I put you in charge of clearing pirates in the North Blue as an assessment task. How is it going?"
"Recently, a new bounty hunter appeared in the North Blue, hunting pirates on a large scale. Over ten people with bounties above fifty million have been hunted. I only caught three."
Momonga reported the data strictly.
Zephyr nodded. Momonga's way of handling things was always reassuring. He then brought up Bai Ye.
"That bounty hunter is called Bai Ye, right? He killed Peakes and went to claim the bounty, but ended up destroying the G-64D Marine Branch. Vice Admiral Ethan died in the line of duty. Do you know anything about this?"
"Ethan... died?"
Momonga was slightly stunned. He thought things would get big, but he didn't expect someone would dare to provoke the prestige of the Marines to this extent!
"I was present when he killed Peakes."
Momonga's eyes released killing intent as he thought seriously, recalling that unique battle.
"He is a guy with terrifying strength."
"With one slash, the entire pirate ship was surrounded by a black coffin, and everyone was cut into corpse chunks!"