The Fear Pirates' ostentatious search for Bege's whereabouts threw the New World into a state of panic. Gradually, the reason for their fury was revealed: Taku, the son of the Demon Lord of Fear, had been captured by Bege and was highly likely to have died a miserable death.
Taku was the beloved, only son of the Demon Lord of Fear. Almost everyone knew the Demon Lord was about to go berserk, and the Fire Tank Pirates were likely to face the most frenzied onslaught from the Fear Pirates.
Of course, those with some insight knew that the Fire Tank Pirates were exceedingly mysterious. They held no territory on the seas, or perhaps they had territory that simply hadn't been discovered. That being the case, it would indeed be quite difficult for the Fear Pirates to find trouble with the Fire Tank Pirates.
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Upon learning of the matter, Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately convened a high-level meeting.
The Three Admirals, Vice Admiral Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru gathered in the Fleet Admiral's office.
"You all know about Capone Bege killing the son of the Demon Lord of Fear, right? This is an excellent opportunity to provoke a death match between the two sides. We must capitalize on it," Sengoku stated first.
"That Capone Bege brat is incredibly cunning. Hiding out on a Sky Island, he's calculated that no major power would dare launch a full-scale assault on it. Old man Andrew will probably have a hard time dealing with that kid," Garp said casually, picking his nose without a care.
"The Sky Island is his greatest advantage. If he stirs up trouble, he just hides on the Sky Island, and no one can do anything about him," Kizaru chimed in, his tone somewhat reflective.
"Then let's find a way to get Andrew up there. Isn't the World Government's science unit developing flying vehicles? They've already made some minor achievements. Have CP agents anonymously deliver a flying vehicle to Andrew," Vice Admiral Tsuru said, a sharp glint in her eyes, her voice low.
"But that's the science unit's creation. Giving it to pirates… is that appropriate?" Akainu frowned, looking somewhat displeased.
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled. "The purpose of the science unit researching flying vehicles was precisely to ascend to the Sky Island and eradicate the Fire Tank Pirates. Providing a flying vehicle to the Fear Pirates now can achieve the same goal, and it can also reduce our Marine losses. It might even incite a large-scale war between the two.
"The key is that the flying vehicle still has issues. The Sky Island is too high; it's not certain it can even reach it. It's a perfect opportunity to let the Fear Pirates be the test subjects. We can also collect data and make adjustments to the vehicle."
"Four birds with one stone, truly worthy of Vice Admiral Tsuru," Aokiji praised.
"Little Tsuru, how does your brain even work? You're really something else," Garp said with an expression of admiration.
"I also think Little Tsuru's proposal is excellent. Does anyone object?" Sengoku pondered for a moment, then asked the others.
"Of course, I have no objections."
"I agree as well."
The Three Admirals stated their positions one after another, approving the proposal. Sengoku immediately made the decision: have CP agents deliver the flying vehicle developed by the science unit to the Fear Pirates.
"That old fool Andrew must be going mad after his son's death. If he can't find Capone Bege, he's bound to do something outrageous that will anger both heaven and the people. Garp, Akainu, you two head to the New World. Keep an eye on the Fear Pirates and don't let them commit atrocities like massacring islands," Sengoku added.
"Alright, I'll set off right away. It's been a long time since I've really gotten to fight, ever since Roger died. My hands have been itching. I wonder if old Andrew can even lift his blade anymore," Garp said, clenching his fists, a hint of excitement on his face.
A cold, murderous intent also appeared on Akainu's face. He had long harbored a killing intent towards the utterly evil Fear Pirates and wished he could send them to their graves sooner.
Bege soon learned that the Fear Pirates were frantically searching for him. He decisively chose to avoid their spearhead and returned to the Sky Island.
He handed over the ferocious beasts captured during this period to Ben Kosa, instructing him to fuse a powerful monster army as quickly as possible.
At the same time, he settled the Little People Tribe, allowing them to make their home in the most lush forest of Upper Yard. Bege hoped they could make the trees on Upper Yard and the rest of the Sky Island even more verdant.
And Bege himself began to prepare for the next phase of his operations: capturing Devil Fruit users.
Through his own intelligence organization, the information channels of Umit, the Shipping King, and intelligence from the Revolutionary Army, he had gathered a large amount of information on Devil Fruit users.
He first began his capture operations in the seas outside the New World. His powerful subordinate crewmen were all dispatched, spread out across various sea regions.
Bege also set out personally. His target was the most valuable one in this capture operation:
The user of the Slow-Slow Fruit, Silver Fox Foxy.
The Slow-Slow Fruit was hailed as one of the most heaven-defying Devil Fruits. Its user could emit slow-down light waves, and any living being hit by these waves would have their mobility greatly reduced for thirty seconds.
In duels between masters, victory or defeat, life or death, was often decided in mere moments. If this slowing ability were applied in battle, it would be an almost game-breaking existence.
It was just a pity that such a heaven-defying Devil Fruit had fallen into the hands of the ultimate waste, Silver Fox Foxy.
Silver Fox Foxy had only recently set out to sea as the captain of the Foxy Pirates, with a bounty of only four million. Even with such a ridiculously overpowered Devil Fruit, his bounty after more than a decade would only reach twenty-four million.
He was truly the epitome of a waste among wastes.
Bege headed straight for the South Blue and quickly found the Foxy Pirates.
"Captain! There's someone running in the air! He's flying towards us!" a crewman on Foxy's ship shouted in terror. The other crewmen looked over, their expressions fearful.
Someone who could run in the air was either a Devil Fruit user or a powerful individual.
The captain of the Foxy Pirates, Silver Fox Foxy, hurried over. Seeing Bege rapidly approaching through the air, his expression also turned grim.
"Fwefwefwefwefwe! He's coming straight for us! He's definitely up to no good! Behold my Noro Noro Beam! Let's see if you can still run in the air once I slow you down!" Foxy cackled strangely, extending his palm, curling his thumb, middle, and ring fingers, while leaving his index and pinky fingers extended. The three curled fingers were pressed together, and a white light wave emerged from their tips. Suddenly, a white light wave shot towards Bege from a distance.
Bege's reaction was incredibly sharp. He instantly dodged the light wave and landed easily on the Foxy Pirates' ship.
Foxy attacked again, another Noro Noro Beam shooting forth. This time, Bege didn't dodge, allowing the beam to hit him.
He wanted to experience for himself just how heaven-defying the Slow-Slow Fruit truly was.
After being hit by the Noro Noro Beam, Bege frowned. He could clearly feel his body, and even his spirit, being suppressed.
Although this suppression wasn't significant, it definitely existed.
The reason this weakening suppression didn't affect Bege much was likely because Foxy's mastery of his Devil Fruit ability was incredibly poor.
"Truly a heaven-defying fruit," Bege mused.
"Men! He's been hit by my Noro Noro Beam! His speed and reactions are greatly reduced! Get him now!" Foxy cackled loudly. His crewmen grew excited, grabbing their swords and guns and charging at Bege.
Bege looked at Foxy and shook his head, lamenting how such a Devil Fruit could have ended up with such a waste of a person.
He executed a Soru, his speed clearly reduced by about ten percent. But it was still astonishingly fast. In an instant, he knocked down all the crewmen and appeared before Foxy.
"Impossible! After being hit by my Noro Noro Beam, there's no way you can still be this fast!" Foxy exclaimed in disbelief, panicking and firing another Noro Noro Beam.