The entire port was engulfed in steam, reducing visibility to zero. Most Marine officers wandered aimlessly like headless flies. However, led by Vice Admirals Strawberry and Dalmatian, those who possessed Observation Haki or other sensory techniques managed to track their enemies despite the visual obstruction, focusing their pursuit on Edmond and the others attempting to escape.
They were quickly intercepted by William, who remained their primary target. Fearing he might slip away in the dense fog, they immediately redirected their attention to him.
Vice Admiral Garp had also returned to the port, but unlike his colleagues, he made no move to pursue Edmond's group. Instead, he stood at the battlefield's edge, using his Observation Haki to maintain an unwavering lock on William. He watched as William struggled, unable to maintain his Overheat state after releasing such massive quantities of steam, yet Garp made no move to engage.
Cannon fire continued to echo from the shoreline, but none of the three Vice Admirals paid it any mind. They knew that capturing William would bring everything to a swift conclusion.
As the white steam gradually dissipated and figures became visible again, only William remained standing in the port's open area. Edmond, Kuro, Selkirk, and even Nezumi had successfully escaped, leaving William surrounded by Garp, Strawberry, and Dalmatian, with Smoker and other high-ranking officers maintaining the perimeter.
William's chest bore several deep claw marks—wounds inflicted by Dalmatian's Haki-enhanced attacks during their earlier clash.
With the situation firmly under control, Dalmatian pulled out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped the blood from his hands. "Morgan William, I thought you were just a rat hiding in the shadows. Surprising to see you act like a man, staying behind to cover your comrades' retreat."
"If I'm merely a rat, what does that make Marine Headquarters for mobilizing such resources to capture me?" William replied, shifting his gaze to include Vice Admiral Strawberry, who was slowly circling behind him.
His face still wore a cold smile, showing not the slightest trace of despair despite his dire predicament.
"That's only because rats are notoriously cunning. The extensive preparations were merely to prevent your escape," Strawberry remarked coolly, attempting to extinguish any hope William might harbor. "As we arrived at this port, Headquarters dispatched another warship to the East Blue carrying numerous mid-level officers—specifically to fill the many gaps you've created within the East Blue Marine branches. You've established a certain reputation in the East Blue, and we'd prefer not to see you completely humiliated. Surrender peacefully."
William scoffed. He understood why Strawberry and Dalmatian were speaking to him this way—they recognized his extensive influence throughout the East Blue. He had cultivated relationships with Marine officers, won hearts and minds, and used his financial leverage to control local pirates. Though Strawberry believed that William's capture would leave these networks leaderless, dealing with potential resistance would still require significant Marine resources.
But if William surrendered willingly, it would simplify matters considerably.
However, William had contingency plans in place. Even if truly cornered, his nature wouldn't allow him to surrender easily.
The remaining steam at the port rapidly vanished, drawn into William's body like a dragon absorbing water.
Veins bulged prominently on William's forehead as his entire body flushed crimson. Occasional wisps of white steam rose ominously from his skin.
"Attack!" Dalmatian shouted.
In the next moment, Garp, Strawberry, and Dalmatian charged at William simultaneously.
...
Gin paced anxiously in the narrow ship cabin. Not long ago, Marine Headquarters—which had been relatively inactive—suddenly mobilized personnel, summoning many ranking and junior officers, including himself, to board a warship led by Vice Admiral Doberman. Only after boarding did Gin learn their destination was the East Blue.
Gin suspected something significant had happened in the East Blue, filling him with intense anxiety. Fortunately, his naturally stern countenance concealed his inner turmoil, preventing unwanted scrutiny from his fellow officers.
As Gin had anticipated, during a meeting primarily attended by ranking officers, Vice Admiral Doberman revealed their mission.
Marine Headquarters had never truly intended to recruit William. All previous information suggesting otherwise had been carefully calculated misinformation designed to lull William into complacency, preventing him from making preparations that might destabilize the East Blue.
Once Vice Admiral Garp and the other two Vice Admirals captured William, Marine Headquarters would proceed to replace all East Blue Marine officers who had colluded with him. Even those who hadn't actively collaborated but had failed to report William's activities promptly would be gradually removed from their positions.
Gin and the other mid-level officers had been summoned to fill these vacancies, reclaiming control of the East Blue—a region once celebrated as a "model of peace"—from William's grasp and facilitating the subsequent dismantling of his network.
The officers attending the meeting exchanged meaningful glances. It was unprecedented for four Vice Admirals from Headquarters to converge on the East Blue, especially with one being the legendary "Hero" Garp, whose stature rivaled that of an Admiral. This marked the first such mobilization since the Great Pirate Era began following Roger's execution.
They knew it wouldn't be long before this extraordinary news spread throughout the world.
...
"Marines Destroy East Blue's Shadow Empire"
"Miracle Ends: 'East Blue Hero' Defeated by 'Marine Hero'"
"Kingdom Thief Imprisoned; Navia Kingdom Regime Restored"
...
Shortly after the battle at Kalmar City's port and William's capture, newspapers flooded from publishing houses like snowflakes. The reports ranged from meticulously factual to wildly exaggerated—some sympathetic to William, who had just defeated Golden Lion Shiki, while others supported Marine Headquarters' uncompromising stance against any pirate-related activities. These stories were distributed to every corner of the world.
The news of Golden Lion Shiki's defeat had barely settled when the victor was suddenly captured by the Marines. Since Roger's death, the East Blue had never received such intense global attention.
Whether it was the aerial battle with Golden Lion Shiki or the unprecedented joint operation by three Vice Admirals—including the "Hero" Garp who had repeatedly cornered the Pirate King—either event would have been significant even on the Grand Line. Yet all this was happening in the East Blue, with an East Blue native at the center. Could this still be the peaceful, stable sea that pirates from other regions dismissed as the weakest?
"Such a fuss over nothing," Gecko Moria sneered, tossing aside a newspaper with a sensational headline. "He merely got lucky against an aged and weakened Golden Lion Shiki. With just one noteworthy achievement to his name, he was immediately crushed by the Marines. Yet because he's from the East Blue, they're portraying him as the second coming of Roger. These newspapers will print anything that catches eyes."
However, Moria's expression soon shifted, his contempt giving way to a sinister grin. "Though if I were to turn his corpse into a zombie, I might discover whether these papers exaggerated his abilities or not." "Kishishishi!"
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