The news of Souta Kiryuu's attack on the North Sea prison and the Navy branch, though not as earth-shattering as his declaration of war on the Celestial Dragons, still shook many factions across the seas.
His movements were unnervingly fast. Within a week, Souta had traveled from the West Sea to the North Sea, even assaulting the prison there. Such speed shocked even the crews of the Four Emperors.
It made people wonder: was the entire world Souta Kiryuu's playground now? Could he go wherever he pleased, unchecked?
What's more, Souta's alliance with the Tyrant Kuma seemed no less formidable than the power of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. This made the major pirate crews eager to watch this "experimental subject" wage war against the World Government and the Celestial Dragons—to see just how far his vengeance could reach.
The World Government responded by dispatching several CP0 squads, countless CP agents, and even issuing a mandatory order to the Warlords to hunt down Souta Kiryuu.
Yet, Boa Hancock and Jinbei completely ignored the command. Gecko Moria and Crocodile scoffed at it. Only Dracule Mihawk and Donquixote Doflamingo offered half-hearted responses, motivated by their own reasons.
···
In a certain sea of the North, a yellow submarine cruised across the waves. Souta Kiryuu and his companions stood on the small deck, gazing at the endless ocean.
"Captain Souta," Lafitte reported as he circled above on his white wings, serving as their lookout, "two days ago, the Germa Army, hired by the Breton Kingdom, waged war against the North Island Kingdom. They succeeded in breaching the capital. If we continue southward, we should be able to catch up with Germa 66's snail ships."
"In the North Sea, Germa's army is overwhelming," said Capone Bege, the mafia boss from the West. "Their strength is enough to venture into the New World, but instead, they've chosen to linger here to reclaim the so-called glory of a united Germa. Were it not for the World Government's interference and the alliance of its member nations, they might have already conquered most of the North."
Bege himself felt fortunate that Germa hadn't set their sights on the West Sea. Otherwise, his mafia syndicate would've stood no chance of unifying its underworld.
Vegapunk spoke up, explaining the situation further: "After Judge escaped with the MADS team, the World Government kept him under heavy pressure. Even though his power grew and he managed to revive the Vinsmoke family, the Government only allowed Germa to exist as a stateless kingdom. They would never tolerate the rise of a strong, unified North Sea nation."
He shook his head. "Judge's dream of restoring his family's glory is impossible. Unless he joins forces with several of the Four Emperors to overthrow the World Government, he'll never achieve it."
"The Vinsmoke family is too obsessed with unifying the North," said Wolf, a native of these seas. "But thanks to relentless propaganda, the Germa Army is branded as evil incarnate. The people here will never accept their rule. If Judge left the North to venture into the Grand Line or the New World, perhaps he would prosper more than he does now. But his ambition to rule the entire North Sea is far too grand. Neither the kings here nor the Government will ever allow it."
"Enough," Souta interrupted with a dismissive wave. "Judge's ambition is none of our concern. What matters is that I'm going to take what I want from him."
He looked to his crew. "Lafitte, Bege, Law—do you have confidence facing one of Vinsmoke's strongest modified humans?"
"They say Judge's children are invincible," Trafalgar Law answered gravely. "Their exoskeletons make them impervious to blades and bullets. Their strength is overwhelming. Even Armament Haki may not be enough to pierce their defenses."
"Three of you against one should be enough. Leave the rest to Kuma and me," Souta said casually. He trusted his own power—and Kuma's—without reservation. In fact, he looked forward to venting his strength in battle against Germa. He needed a fierce fight to test his abilities.
"Three against one… that should work," Bege muttered, his voice low. Though he felt underestimated, he didn't have full confidence in taking on the legendary modified warriors alone. Better to fight together, gauge their strength, and decide the next step from there. Law and Bege were both proud men, but neither would admit outright that these engineered humans might surpass them.
"Perhaps I should try talking to Judge first," Vegapunk suggested. "I still hold some favor among the former MADS members. He might listen to me."
"Negotiations require strength to back them up. We'll fight first, then talk," Souta replied flatly. He knew Judge's domineering nature—there was no chance of meaningful dialogue without first forcing him into submission.
"Your call," Vegapunk shrugged, then returned to treating Bonney, while Souta ordered the submarine to continue pursuing Germa. Together with Lafitte, he even took to the skies, scanning the horizon for signs of Germa's fleet.
···
Meanwhile, aboard one of Germa's snail ships, Vinsmoke Judge sat in his cabin, reading the news about Souta Kiryuu's attack on the North Sea prison. His interest in this rising figure grew.
"So this is Vegapunk's greatest creation?" Judge mused. "I wonder how he compares to my own works."
He was supremely confident in the abilities of Reiju, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji. In his mind, his technological prowess in creating modified humans surpassed even Vegapunk's. He even entertained the thought of pitting his children against Souta in battle.
But then another face flashed through his mind—Queen. His expression darkened.
That detestable man had merged all four genetic modifications—red heat, black invisibility, blue electricity, and green winch—into himself, thanks to the regenerative powers of his Ancient Zoan fruit. Worse, he often flaunted his abilities before Judge, mocking him, even using his status as one of Kaido's All-Stars to threaten him.
Judge loathed Queen with all his being. And yet, Queen had proven that combining multiple genetic abilities into a single body was possible. That made Souta Kiryuu, the so-called Experiment No. 88, an even greater point of interest—perhaps the perfect version of what Queen had attempted.
"If I can capture him, perhaps I can unlock Vegapunk's latest secrets for myself," Judge muttered. "Souta's appearance in the North Sea may be the opportunity I've been waiting for."
His eyes gleamed with ambition as his thoughts turned from curiosity to hunger.
···