Marine Headquarters – Marineford.
Inside the grand Fleet Admiral's office, the atmosphere was typically calm—papers stacked in neat rows, the sound of a pen scratching softly as Sengoku worked through reports. That silence shattered as the doors suddenly burst open, a Marine lieutenant stumbling in with sweat on his brow and panic in his breath.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" he gasped, snapping a shaky salute. "Urgent intel from Sabaody Archipelago—Zone 40s!"
Sengoku looked up sharply, brows furrowing beneath his cap. "Report."
The lieutenant swallowed and spoke quickly, "The Orca Pirates have arrived, sir. Docked somewhere in the 40s. Eye-witness accounts confirm crew members seen moving about the tourist groves."
A long pause followed. Sengoku slowly set down his pen.
"So... they've finally arrived at Sabaody."
He rose from his chair, walking over to the window. "We cannot let them pass into the New World. Zino and his crew are too big a threat to be allowed further growth. Do we have enough men stationed in the area to hold them?"
The lieutenant shook his head. "No, sir. If we're comparing to the total deployment during the Enies Lobby Incident, our current presence at Sabaody is significantly smaller."
"Tch..." Sengoku clicked his tongue. "Then we'll need to deploy ships from here. And not just any soldiers—we need those capable of fighting against the Orca crew."
Before he could list potential candidates, a calm, drawling voice cut through the room.
"Sengoku-san," said the man seated at the side, slowly sipping a cup of tea, "why don't you leave that One Billion Bounty brat... to me?"
Sengoku turned. "...Kizaru."
The Admiral of Light placed his cup down and stood leisurely.
"That Zino, he is a daring brat. He challenged the Enies Lobby. Fought an Admiral. The odds of him clashing with a Celestial Dragon are... quite high, wouldn't you say?" Kizaru said, smiling ever so faintly. "Better to intercept him now. Before the situation escalates."
Sengoku was silent for a long beat.
Then he nodded. "Very well then. I will let you handle the operation. Stop him, and if possible—capture him."
"Understood," Kizaru replied.
The lieutenant, still standing, hesitated. "Sir—if I may, there's more."
Sengoku glanced back at him. "Go on."
"According to intelligence, it's not just the Orcas. At least eleven Supernova crews have entered Sabaody. Each captain has a bounty exceeding 100 million berries."
He quickly pulled out a list. "The groups include: Eustass Kid, X Drake, Trafalgar Law, Urouge, Scratchman Apoo, Basil Hawkins, Jewelry Bonney, Capone Bege, Daz Bones, Monkey D. Luffy... and of course, Monkey D. Zino."
The weight of that list caused Sengoku's brow to twitch.
"So many of them... why now? What are they after?" he muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Perhaps it was coincidence for them to come together," the lieutenant added nervously.
Kizaru smiled. "It's simple then. Since they've all gathered, I'll just go and capture them all. One sweep. Simple and easy."
"Will you need backup?" Sengoku asked.
Kizaru stopped at the threshold and tilted his head slightly. "No need. I'll just bring my nephew. His Pacifista units should be more than enough to test these rookies."
Sengoku gave a final nod.
Without another word, Kizaru left, walking with the same relaxed stride he always had.
...
Grove 32 – Sabaody Archipelago.
The sun glinted off the dazzling lights and reflective surfaces of Sabaody's premier amusement park, a massive complex filled with laughter, music, and the sounds of thrilling rides in motion. In the midst of it all, a group of *Orca Pirates* were exploring the area with childlike wonder.
"Whoa! Look! It's a giant Ferris wheel!" Usopp pointed, his eyes sparkling as the massive wheel turned slowly, giving riders a grand view of the archipelago.
"Should we try riding that one next?" asked Binko, nodding toward the roller coaster whose tracks twisted and curled above the crowd.
"That drop tower looks fun too," added Mikita, tilting her head at the towering structure that launched people screaming into the sky and back down again.
With no need to hesitate, the group dove into the experience. Roller coasters, drop towers, spinning teacups—one after another, they tried them all, shouting in exhilaration or gripping their seats for dear life.
Chloris and Moris, quiet as ever, seemed to enjoy the haunted house the most, moving through it with no fear while the others screamed and stumbled.
While enjoying themselves, they spotted a familiar crew in the distance—The Straw Clown Pirates, led by Monkey D. Luffy. Though their paths briefly crossed, the amusement park was vast, and the two groups naturally drifted to different areas without interaction.
Eventually, after exhausting themselves on the rides, the Orcas settled on a bench under the shade of a decorative bubble tree, happily munching on ice cream cones, cotton candy, and skewered snacks from street vendors.
"Ahh… This is the life," sighed Marianne*, savoring a bite of frozen fruit.
Just then, Nojiko leaned forward, squinting into the distance. "Guys, look over there."
The others turned to follow her gaze. Down one of the less-crowded alleys near the park's edge, they saw a tall, shady-looking man dragging a sack over his shoulder. A pair of flippers stuck out from the end.
"Wait... is that a mermaid?" Hibari asked, blinking.
"It really is!" said Binko, standing. "That tail… she's definitely a mermaid!"
"Don't just admire her," Nojiko snapped. "She's being kidnapped! We have to stop him!"
Hibari didn't wait for another word. With calm precision, he drew his long rifle, adjusted the sight, and—Bang!
A clean shot rang out.
The kidnapper—Peterman, leader of the notorious underground slave-catching gang, Hound's Pet—was hit in the leg and stumbled forward, dropping the sack. The bag tumbled to the ground, and a muffled voice cried from within.
The gunshot echoed loudly, catching the attention of the nearby Straw Clown group.
"What was that?!" Brook exclaimed, jumping in alarm.
"Sounded like a gunshot," said Chopper, scanning the area.
They turned and spotted Hibari lowering his rifle.
"Someone was trying to kidnap your crew member," Hibari said plainly.
That snapped them to attention.
"Camie!" cried *Pappag*, spinning around frantically. "Where's Camie?!"
"She's inside that sack!" Binko pointed to the fallen bundle.
The Straw Clowns rushed over and untied it. Out came Camie, tears in her eyes, breathing hard from panic.
"Camie! Are you alright?!" Luffy crouched down, checking her over.
"That man tried to take her," Usopp said, pointing at Peterman, who was now clutching his leg and trying to crawl away.
He didn't make it far.
"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"
Luffy's punch rocketed forward and struck Peterman square in the back, sending him flying into a nearby wall before crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
"How dare he try to kidnap Camie," Luffy growled, standing over him.
The two pirate crews exchanged looks—one of silent appreciation, the other of shared understanding.
"You saved her. Thank you," Pappag said, bowing.
"No problem," Nojiko replied. "We couldn't stand by and watch something like that happen."
Camie also came forward, bowing honestly at the Orcas.
"Thank you for saving me."
...
Grove 13 – Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
The sun-dappled light filtered through the floating soap bubbles that drifted lazily above the streets of Sabaody. The area was quieter compared to the bustling amusement zones and trade groves, with fewer pedestrians and a more subdued atmosphere. After walking leisurely through the scattered pathways, Zino finally arrived at the modest, somewhat hidden building marked "Rip-off Bar."
He pushed open the creaky wooden door. A soft chime rang above his head.
"Hello, anyone here?" Zino called out casually as he stepped inside.
The bar was dimly lit, with only a few tables scattered around. A gentle breeze stirred the scent of aged liquor and fresh wood polish. Behind the counter, a woman with short dark hair and a cigarette between her fingers raised her gaze to meet his.
"Monkey D. Zino. You've come." she said with a knowing smile.
Zino blinked, surprised. He recognized the woman—Shakuyaku, known simply as Shakky. She was no ordinary barkeep. But what caught him off guard was her familiarity with him.
"You know me?" he asked, stepping closer.
Shakky exhaled smoke, then tapped her cigarette against the ashtray. "Of course. I've been following your story for quite some time now. The boy with the One Billion Berry bounty who caused waves even before setting foot in the New World. You've become quite the talk among certain circles."
Zino chuckled lightly. "Seems like everyone's watching me nowadays." He pulled out a stool and sat at the bar. "I came here looking for information."
Shakky nodded. "That's what this bar's for. Depends what you want to know."
Zino's tone shifted slightly, more serious now. "Do you know anything about Portgas D. Ace?"
Shakky's eyes narrowed slightly at the question. She leaned her elbows on the bar, peering at him curiously. "Ace? Hmm… what's your interest in him?"
Zino paused a moment, then said plainly, "He's my older cousin."
That clearly surprised her. She raised an eyebrow, taking another drag from her cigarette. "Oh? That's interesting. Seems the D clan is full of connections. You're also a cousin to Luffy."
"You know?" Zino asked, surprised.
"He came earlier and told me about your family connection," Shakky said.
She exhaled slowly for a moment. She then continued, "Well, your older cousin is in serious trouble."
Zino didn't flinch. He simply waited.
"Ace was captured. He's currently imprisoned in Impel Down. The one who caught him was Marshal D. Teach."
"Blackbeard." Zino muttered.
"Right." Shakky said. "He used Ace's capture to secure himself a position as a Warlord of the Sea. Quite the opportunist."
Zino fell silent, his eyes fixed on the counter. Inside, his mind raced. ASo Ace's fate is still the same as the original timeline. If this world follows that path… then the Marineford War is coming. Can I change it? Can I prevent his death this time?
"You're taking it quite well," Shakky commented, watching his reaction closely. "Most would panic if they learned a family member was locked away in the deepest prison in the world."
Zino gave a faint smile but didn't respond.
Just then, the quiet atmosphere of the bar was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Come in," Shakky called out, casually glancing toward the entrance as she set down a cup of tea in front of Zino.
The door creaked open, and a group stepped inside—Daz Bones, tall and imposing, led the way. Behind him were familiar faces: Zala, Bon Clay, Mr. 4, and Drophy—the newly formed Numbers Pirates.
Shakky gave a relaxed smile. "Oh, new guests. Busy day today."
Zino, who had just taken a sip of tea, glanced up and raised an eyebrow. "The former Baroque Works agents. What a surprise."
Daz Bones narrowed his eyes the moment he recognized Zino. His crew also tensed, their expressions tightening. Though they had never met face to face, Zino's reputation preceded him*—captain of the Orcas, the One Billion Berry man, and more importantly, the one responsible for derailing Crocodile's ambitions in Alabasta.
"Monkey D. Zino..." Daz said coldly.
"You're here too?" Bon Clay muttered under his breath, slightly unnerved.
"Why are you here?" Daz Bones asked sharply, his gaze fixed on Zino with cautious suspicion.
Zino smiled calmly, unbothered by their tension. "Probably for the same reason as you. Looking for information. This place is famous for it, after all."
Daz Bones didn't answer, but his silence was telling enough. Zino had guessed right.
Shakky leaned back behind the counter and smiled. "Come sit down. Seems I'm popular today. I'm in a good mood too—maybe I'll even offer a discount, and not rip you off."
The Numbers Pirates exchanged wary glances, sweat forming on a few brows.
"Oi, lady... don't you think ripping people off might cause you some trouble someday?" Bon Clay asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She's not worried." Zino chimed in, sipping his tea. "There aren't many around here capable of threatening her."
Shakky chuckled at that, giving Zino a sideways glance. "Fufu... looks like you know a bit about me."
"Just a little." Zino said casually, not offering any more details.
Daz Bones turned to Shakky, his tone more serious now. "Lady... we need to know something important. Do you know a way to reach Impel Down?"
That question made the air grow slightly heavier.
Shakky's eyes narrowed as she studied him. "Impel Down? That's not a place people usually want to go."
"We have our reasons." Daz said firmly.
"You're planning to break someone out, aren't you?*" she asked, though it was more a statement than a question.
None of the Numbers Pirates responded immediately, but their silence confirmed her suspicion.
"Let me guess—Crocodile." Zino spoke up again, placing his empty teacup down on the counter.
The atmosphere tensed slightly, but no one denied it.
"You want to go all the way to Impel Down to rescue him? That's a suicide mission if you don't have a perfect plan." Zino added, his tone calm but pointed.
"We would not think of doing this if you didn't destroy our plan in the first place." Zala said from the back, eyeing Zino with accusing eyes.