Inside the G-5 Branch headquarters, in the Chief's office, seven wanted posters were tacked to the wall.
"Sand Crocodile" Crocodile glared from one.
Next to him was "Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock, her beauty striking even in a grainy image.
Then ca "Heavenly Yaksha" Doflamingo, a sinister grin plastered across his face.
"Moonlight" Moria, with his monstrous fra, looked like a creature from a nightmare.
"Sea Knight" Jinbe, honorable and strong, stood out among the more villainous faces.
"Hawkeye" Mihawk, his eyes piercing, exuded an aura of unmatched skill.
And finally, "Tyrant" Bartholow Kuma, silent and imposing.
It had been over two months since the big eting at Marine Headquarters, but the task of investigating the Seven Warlords of the Sea hadn't even started.
Roya stood, studying the posters, considering his options.
Ten months just isn't enough ti to check up on all these guys. I have to pick the right ones. At most, I can only handle two.
"Kuma, Jinbe, Hawkeye," he said aloud, pulling their posters from the wall and tossing them into the trash.
Kuma was a recent addition to the Warlords. Whatever he'd done before was in the past. Now that he was part of the team, those cris were basically forgotten.
Plus, Kuma was supposedly cooperating with the World Governnt, probably hanging out with Vegapunk. It was hard to imagine him causing trouble.
Wait a second... Could Kuma be seeing Vegapunk about Bonney's illness?
A thought struck Roya.
"Glutton" Bonney, one of the worst Supernovas, was supposed to be Kuma's daughter. She had so rare disease called "Blue Scale Disease" that would kill her before she turned ten if they couldn't find a cure.
Doing the math, Bonney would be almost ten now, and Kuma had joined the Warlords a few months ago.
It fits perfectly. It has to be! Otherwise, why would Kuma, who hates the World Governnt, ever work with them?
"Sigh," Roya sighed.
He actually liked Kuma, but fate was cruel.
Kuma was out. Jinbe and Hawkeye were also off the list. Jinbe was too honorable; finding dirt on him would be impossible. And Hawkeye? He was like a ghost, impossible to track down.
"That leaves four," Roya muttered, eyeing Moria's poster. He considered it, then shook his head.
Moria had been hiding in the Devil's Triangle Sea for nearly a decade, a total recluse. He was practically a model Warlord.
There's just no way to get anything on him.
Sure, so marines had lost their shadows, but they were still alive. All they had to do was get their shadows back. Not a big deal.
"The Pirate Empress could be worth a look," Roya mused, rubbing his chin. But he quickly dismissed the idea.
The Pirate Empress was the ultimate pirate, only attacking rchant ships and enemy vessels near Sabaody. After robbing them, she went straight ho.
Finding proof of her cris would be like winning the lottery.
And even if he did find sothing, she'd probably just cry in court, and the judge would forgive her.
Beauty was a weapon, after all.
"Looks like it's down to you two!" Roya declared, staring at the last two posters: Crocodile and Doflamingo.
Both were plotting coups.
Doflamingo had already succeeded, while Crocodile was still planning, but he was seen as a "Hero" by the people of Alabasta for his pirate crackdown.
Crocodile would be easier to deal with, but with the public on his side, exposing him before he launched his coup would be a monuntal task.
Doflamingo was more difficult, but as an Underworld broker, he was involved in all sorts of shady dealings. His biggest weakness was the "toys."
If Roya could capture Sugar, the girl with the Hobby-Hobby Fruit power, and undo her ability, Doflamingo would be powerless and would end up rotting in Impel Down with his family.
Plus, the G-5 Branch was close to Dressrosa, and Roya already had a grudge against Doflamingo. They were bound to clash sooner or later.
Mingo has to go down!
Roya made his decision.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Co in!"
"Tap, tap, tap!"
A figure appeared behind Roya.
"Headquarters Colonel Peacock, reporting for duty!"
"Mm."
Roya turned to face the spirited young woman. A smile touched his lips. The last Unit Commander had arrived.
"Have a seat. Let's talk."
"Yes!"
They sat down on the sofa.
Roya sized up Peacock. She seed more mature than a year ago, but her eyes still burned with a desire to hunt pirates.
"You have two years left in the New Recruit Camp, right?"
"I've finished all the courses," Peacock said, licking her lips, her eyes eager.
After losing to Roya, she'd thrown herself into training. In just a year, she'd graduated from the Camp.
She'd learned everything they had to offer.
Hearing that Roya had beco a Rear Admiral and about his adventures in the New World, she couldn't stand the dull courses anymore and applied for graduation.
As for why she chose the G-5 Branch...
She craved a more exciting life. She rembered the pain and pleasure of being whipped into shape by Roya. Following him wouldn't be a mistake.
"Mm."
Roya nodded.
Whatever her reasons, her arrival was a good thing. Overhead Commodore and the others were competent, but they didn't have what it took to be Unit Commanders.
In his plan, all ten Unit Commanders needed to be at least Rear Admiral level, maybe even Vice Admiral. Peacock had that potential.
"I've reserved a position for you: Commander of the Ninth Division. But right now, the Ninth Division only has you. If you want subordinates, you'll have to recruit them yourself. You can take people from other divisions or recruit from outside. Is that okay?"
"No problem!"
Peacock was pleased.
She didn't expect to beco a Unit Commander so quickly. In other G-System Branches, leading a squad wasn't easy.
Subordinates will co eventually.
Wait, sothing's not right.
Why is Rear Admiral Roya setting up like this?
Peacock looked confused. "Rear Admiral Roya, isn't Vice Admiral Maynard here?"
"Vice Admiral Maynard went fishing," Roya said calmly. "Rember, in this fortress, I'm the Base Chief."
"..."
Peacock gaped, speechless.
Roya raised his hand and summoned his secretary.
"...the general situation of the Branch," he instructed.
"Understood."
After they left, Roya lay back on the sofa, lost in thought.
The Don Quixote Family has been building their power for years. It won't be easy to move against them. I know the basics about Doflamingo's crew, but I don't know much about Dressrosa itself.
Sending people to investigate without my authorization would probably be a one-way ticket.
I have to find a way to make trouble!
----
anwhile, on Onigashima, in a secret room in the castle, Kaido sat on the main throne.
"Urorororo! If you dare to deceive , you know what the consequences will be," Kaido roared, his voice shaking the room.
"Fufufufu! Of course," Doflamingo replied, a wide grin on his face.
While Roya was off adventuring in the New World, Doflamingo hadn't been idle. He still wanted to eliminate Roya, but he had more pressing matters to attend to.
Soon, twenty Headliners gathered in the room.
Kaido pushed the treasure chest Doflamingo had brought toward his subordinates.
"Eat them!"
"This is... Devil Fruit!"
The Headliners stared at the neatly arranged Devil Fruit inside the chest. They were shocked, but also filled with excitent.
They wondered why there were so many Devil Fruit and were aware of the danger, but they didn't hesitate to grab a fruit and stuff it into their mouths.
Devil Fruit ant power!
"Aaaah!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Why am I laughing?"
Soon, those who ate the Devil Fruit burst into laughter, while two scread in agony.
One man's arm twisted and grew into a gorilla's, while another sprouted four legs like a scorpion.
"Haha! What's wrong with you guys?" the other Headliners cried, horrified, but their voices were filled with manic glee.
Kaido's eyes burned with excitent.
The odds of success were low, but it didn't matter. He had plenty of warriors. His dream of an army of Devil Fruit users was about to co true!
"Urorororo!" Kaido roared with laughter.
"Fufufufu!" Doflamingo echoed, cackling. After more than six months, he'd finally acquired twenty Artificial Devil Fruit samples from Caesar.
From now on, the Don Quixote Family would be firmly rooted in the towering tree that was Kaido. No one could challenge his reign as the king of the Underworld!
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[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - 322 ( 147 Chapters Ahead!)
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 511 PS
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-> Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise
-> One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!
-> Young Master, Please Beco Hokage!
Today's Chapter releases includes the 2 bonus Chapter(s)!
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➡️ /Boundless_Beacon
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