While the world's major powers were stirred by the coup at Marine Headquarters, a large warship slowly departed from the port of Marineford, cutting through the waves toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
On the deck of the warship, Orion stood at the forefront draped in the coat of the Marine Fleet Admiral. Behind him were the three Admirals, each with their own thoughts. Gion remained a step behind Orion, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword as the sea breeze whipped her coat.
Beneath her calm exterior lay a heart filled with tension. This was only natural.
Although the World Goverment had made concessions, and Im, the shadowy figure behind the scenes, had chosen to meet with Orion, it didn't mean they were sincere. If the World Goverment went back on their word, it would undoubtedly lead to an unprecedented battle.
"Don't be nervous~" As if he could read Gion thoughts, Orion suddenly broke the silence on the deck, speaking with a calm and carefree tone.
"Even if the World Goverment reneges, they won't be able to keep us. More importantly, the current situation doesn't allow them to go back on their word. Not only us, but every move the World Goverment makes is now being closely watched by the intelligence agents lurking in the shadows."
Hearing this, Gion smiled faintly to herself.
From the day she met Orion, he had always seemed like the boy next door to her. Even though she knew he had made rapid progress over the years and was destined for greatness, she had never imagined that one day she would be comforted by him like a little girl in need of reassurance.
She was indeed a bit nervous, but she wasn't afraid!
Still, despite being much older than Orion, his sudden words of comfort warmed her heart. Unconsciously, the young boy who had once trained in swordsmanship under her had grown into a towering tree, exuding a sense of security.
Since Marine Headquarters wasn't far from the Sabaody Archipelago, the archipelago soon came into view. The warship didn't head for the Marine base on the Sabaody Archipelago but instead sailed directly toward the port leading to the Holy Land.
As the warship approached the port, the seemingly calm Sabaody Archipelago began to churn with undercurrents. Intelligence agents from various factions lurking on the island quickly mobilized, keeping a close eye on the large warship that had arrived from Marine Headquarters.
At the Sabaody Archipelago Area 13, in front of Shakky's Rip-off Bar, the owner Shakky held a cigarette in one hand and a telescope in the other, peering through the trees at the large naval warship sailing by on the sea.
The lens followed the movement of the warship. When she saw the young figure standing in front of the three Admirals and Gion on the deck of the warship, even she, who had once been the queen of the Kuja Kingdom three generations ago, couldn't help but exclaim.
"To possess such astonishing boldness at such a young age—this era will undoubtedly become his."
As she spoke, Shakky suddenly turned her head to look at an old man standing not far from her.
"Full of vigor and unstoppable!"
The old man standing beside Shakky narrowed his eyes, using his keen vision to take in every detail of the figure on the warship. He praised without hesitation.
"He surpasses even the one who once invited me to set sail and turn this world upside down."
Silvers Rayleigh, the former vice-captain of the Roger Pirates, known as the "Dark King" and hailed as the right-hand man of the Pirate King, was a top-tier powerhouse of the old era. After the disbandment of the Roger Pirates, Rayleigh, bearing a mysterious mission, stayed on the Sabaody Archipelago and became a coating craftsman.
To better conceal his identity, he often frequented the various gambling dens on the archipelago, sometimes even allowing himself to be captured by human trafficking groups and sold at slave auctions.
"Oh?"
Suddenly, a glint flashed in Rayleigh eyes, and his gaze shifted from the young figure at the bow of the ship to the three old men sitting in a circle on the deck of the warship.
"Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr?"
Shakky exhaled a puff of smoke and shook her head with a smile.
"The three highest combat powers of the Marine Headquarters, along with the three veterans Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr, appearing together—such a formidable lineup would make even the World Goverment think twice."
Hearing this, Rayleigh eyes lit up, and he said decisively.
"I'll go join the fun!"
Before his words faded, his figure vanished in a flash, disappearing into the nearby woods.
When he reappeared, he was already at the port leading to the Holy Land. The port was now filled with numerous Marine soldiers stationed on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Under the command of Vice Admirals Strawberry and Bastille, over a hundred Marines stood in two neat rows, their eyes filled with fervor.
As the Marine Headquarters' warship arrived, merchant ships that usually frequented the port to supply food to the Holy Land all made way, moving to the waters outside the port. At this moment, all the merchants gathered on the decks of their respective ships, eagerly watching as the warship slowly docked.
As the warship approached the shore, Strawberry and Bastille, who had been waiting at the port, immediately straightened their postures. Gion and the three Admirals were the first to jump off the deck. Gion stood alone on the left, while the three Admirals stood opposite her, waiting for Orion to disembark.
However, Orion, who had been standing on the deck earlier, was nowhere to be seen.
Rayleigh, standing in an inconspicuous corner in the distance, didn't pay attention to the three Admirals and Vice Admiral Gion disembarking from the warship.
Instead, he quietly released his Observation Haki, covering an area of a hundred meters. Through his Observation Haki, he detected all the intelligence agents lurking nearby, and every whisper was captured without missing a single word.
"With three Admirals, the former Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and the Navy hero Garp, Orion is clearly preparing to confront the World Goverment!"
"Orion has indeed made his move, but it seems the World Goverment has made some compromises. Otherwise, Orion and his group wouldn't have appeared in this manner, they would have led the Navy forces straight to the Holy Land."
"Where is Orion? He was just on the deck a moment ago—how did he disappear so quickly?"
"Now isn't the time to worry about his whereabouts. The real question is what will happen when he arrives at the Holy Land with the three Admirals, Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr!"
"What could happen? The World Goverment has compromised, and Orion has secured greater benefits for the Navy!"
"Or there's another possibility—the World Goverment might lower its guard to lure Orion and his group there, only to eliminate them in one fell swoop?"
"Are you serious? Not only is the entire Navy now under Orion control, but the Revolutionary Army five major forces, who received this intelligence before us, have also mobilized. If the World Goverment dares to go back on its word now, they'll face an unprecedented revolutionary storm!"
Overhearing these trivial discussions among the information brokers with his Observation Haki, Rayleigh shook his head dismissively and withdrew his focus, turning his gaze back to the warship deck.
Meanwhile, inside the warship cabin, Orion emerged from the restroom, took a towel handed to him by a waiting soldier, wiped his hands, and said decisively.
"Let's go."
With that, Orion strode out of the ship cabin.
Hmm?
As soon as he stepped onto the deck, a flicker of surprise flashed in Orion eyes. He subtly turned his head to glance in the direction of Rayleigh on the shore.
At that very moment, Rayleigh also retracted his Observation Haki and looked toward the warship. When he saw Orion, who had just stepped out of the cabin and onto the deck, suddenly turn his head to look in his direction, Rayleigh heart jolted.
From Orion reaction and gaze, it wasn't hard for him to deduce that he had been exposed.
If he were just an ordinary coating craftsman, being exposed wouldn't be a big deal. The crux of the matter was that he had completely concealed his presence upon arriving here, and with the cover of the leaves, not even the two informants lurking ten meters to his right had noticed him, let alone Orion, who was far away on the warship!
Yet, Orion had just stepped out of the cabin and immediately looked in his direction, which was enough to prove that Orion had already detected his presence.
Sure enough, just as Rayleigh heart jolted, a faint, almost imperceptible voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Since you've retired, stop stirring up trouble. Just live quitely 'Dark King' Rayleigh!"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sudden voice shattered Rayleigh composure, and his face turned pale with shock.
It was clear that Orion not only discovered him but also knew his true identity!?
-------------------------------
Read 60 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator