Chapter 7: Cyclone Eric and Van Auger
It's no wonder that Iron Fist Garp returned to the East Blue as if he were playing. There are safe, heavily-guarded sea routes near the Red Line on both sides of Marineford, escorted by powerhouses from the World Government and the Marines. With later-developed Sea Stone battleships, navigating through the Calm Belt became even safer.
For new pirates from the Four Seas, attempting to cross these Calm Belt routes or charge the Marine escort fleet is a death wish. Even the great pirates of the New World don't dare. Therefore, new pirates can only enter the Grand Line through Reverse Mountain, a perilous path that still offers a glimmer of hope. Similarly, pirates can only enter the New World through the Red Line's opening below Fish-Man Island. The bubble lift of Mary Geoise and the safe sea routes of the Calm Belt are heavily-guarded passages that no pirate is allowed to touch.
Kael studied the safe sea routes used by the World Government's Allied Nations. He realized it was incredibly convenient to travel directly from the East Blue through the Calm Belt to Mary Geoise, and then through the Red Line to the North Blue and West Blue. To reach the South Sea, one only needed to pass through the safe sea routes on either side of the Calm Belt. Garp likely used these same routes when he brought Ace back to the East Blue from Baterilla Island in the South Sea.
"After I've dealt with matters in the East Blue, perhaps I can make a trip to the South Sea first," Kael mused. This was a major benefit of being an Allied Nation; they could use the World Government's routes for global navigation, bypassing the dangerous Reverse Mountain, Fish-Man Island, and the Grand Line. This was one of the reasons Blackbeard was so desperate for Beehive Island to become an Allied Nation.
At Kael's command, countless officials and soldiers worked tirelessly for him. This was the true power of a king. Kael had been paying close attention to powerhouses in the East Blue. He instructed his officials to invite prominent mercenaries and bounty hunters in the name of the Goa Kingdom. Under the promise of a generous reward, these men rushed to the wealthy and beautiful kingdom, which was the best signboard in the East Blue.
After several days of preparation, a fleet was ready at Gray Terminal, the same port from which Sabo had once sailed, only to be shot down by Celestial Dragon Charloss Saint. On the most luxurious ship in the fleet, some mercenaries stood respectfully below Kael. Among them were two tall, slender, and aloof figures who were clearly skilled experts.
These two were the mercenaries and bounty hunters Kael had attracted with a high price.
Cyclone Eric, a Paramecia Sickle-Sickle Fruit user who can unleash wind blades with his scythe. He often operates between Loguetown and Reverse Mountain, and has accepted commissions from the 8th Marine Branch to kill new pirate crews.
Van Auger, a famous sniper who possesses the renowned gun "Chiluk." Hailing from the East Blue, Van Auger is only 23 years old and is currently a well-known bounty hunter, not yet a pirate in the Grand Line. His attire and demeanor suggest he comes from a noble background, giving him the capital to use sniper rifles.
Kael had heard of Van Auger's name back when he was in Edge Town. He originally planned to recruit him after going out to sea and was surprised to meet him this way. As Kael observed the two men, they also observed the new king of the Goa Kingdom. Van Auger merely sighed at Kael's luck, but Eric was jealous and resentful, believing Kael was a lucky pretty boy who had been favored by the princess. Looking at Kael's handsome face and luxurious attire, the ugly and thin Eric felt even more unbalanced.
"You've taken my money, and I expect you all to work hard. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe," Kael said with a faint smile. He could see Eric's jealousy and knew he couldn't subdue these men without a fight. Eric was the kind of person who would kill the 8th Marine Branch Commander, Nelson Roy, for the sake of the Millennium Dragon. Kael had already figured out how to use this kind of character.
"I only recognize money, not people. You give me money, and I will naturally do the job well for you," Eric said with a self-important look, not putting the King of Goa in his eyes. He was confident in his strength, even against a powerful pirate like Arlong. The Royal Guards on the ship watched Eric's arrogance, wondering if their demonic king would kill or exile the mercenary.
"Let's hope so," Kael replied, not teaching Eric a lesson just yet. He would make good use of him first, and then teach him a brutal lesson.
"I hear your marksmanship is very good, and I'm also very interested in it," Kael said, looking at Van Auger and drawing a golden flintlock from his waist. The Goa Royal Family's collection was rich, even having high-tech firearms given to them by the Celestial Dragons, such as golden flintlocks, sniper rifles, and cannons. Kael knew that his Toki Toki no Mi ability, combined with a bullet, would be quite effective. The hit rate would be almost one hundred percent—a perfect way to intimidate these weaklings.
"Just a little," Van Auger replied. He felt a fatal threat from the king and did not act as arrogantly as Eric. His attitude was gentle and steady, with a noble aura.
"I think highly of you!" Kael said, not hiding his admiration for Van Auger, a future cadre of the Four Emperors. This praise made Eric even more displeased. He was clearly the stronger scythe-wielder, so why did Kael value a sniper more?
At Kael's command, the Goa Kingdom's fleet, consisting of nine warships and over a thousand people, sailed out of Gray Terminal. Queen Sally did not accompany them; she was in charge of the kingdom's internal affairs and was preparing to take over the kingdoms Kael would conquer.
From the Goa Kingdom to the Conomi Kingdom, they had to pass through several other nations. These small, weak kingdoms were all Kael's targets, and they would be better off incorporated into his Goa Empire. As long as the celestial tribute was paid in full, the World Government would have no opinion. And if Garp had an opinion, Kael would have the World Government pressure him. He even wanted to cause trouble for Windmill Village!
After the fleet sailed out of the port, the first kingdom they encountered by heading west was the Yotsuba Kingdom, established on the Four Leaf Archipelago. Shells Town, where the 153rd Marine Branch is located, is on one of the small islands within the archipelago. Speaking of which, it's unknown if the 17-year-old moss-head Zoro has gone out to sea yet. The name of the bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro has not yet spread in the East Blue. Who knows how long he'll have to get lost in the nearby seas before he can make a name for himself.