"Which Sky Island?"
Whiteflame asked calmly.
Sky Islands weren't unique—there were several scattered across both Paradise (the first half of the Grand Line) and the New World. Finding the right one wouldn't be so simple.
"There's no specific island noted. It's just a rumor, after all—no high credibility."
Shanks shook his head.
"A shame, really. If you hadn't killed Doflamingo, this might've been easy to resolve."
"Ever since you took him out, the entire underground world has fallen into chaos. Countless factions are now fighting over control. Right now, you can't even post a bounty or contract through the usual channels."
"Whiteflame… all this chaos? That's on you!"
Shanks burst into hearty laughter.
Whiteflame curled his lip slightly.
He had to admit—even though Doflamingo was a complete scumbag, the man had an undeniable talent for running the underworld. His black market operations spanned the globe.
And in the underground world, with enough money, you could buy anything.
Even if something wasn't for sale, money alone could spark wars over it.
Had Doflamingo still been alive, Whiteflame could've issued a bounty and had the Silent Fruit delivered right to his doorstep.
Even if someone had already eaten it, that wouldn't have mattered—it would've just made Whiteflame's task simpler.
But now, the black market was in shambles. Even gathering intel had become a nightmare, let alone arranging a contract.
"Boss, what's got you laughing so hard?"
Lucky Roux strolled over, gnawing on a chicken leg.
"Nothing," Shanks grinned. "I just heard a joke so stupid, I couldn't help myself!"
Apparently, the idea of Whiteflame accidentally ruining his own intelligence network by killing Doflamingo was peak comedy to Shanks.
"Oh? Isn't that the Silent Fruit?"
Lucky Roux glanced over at the Devil Fruit encyclopedia and instantly recognized it.
"You know it?"
Whiteflame shot him a sideways glance.
"Of course!"
"That's gotta be the most useless Devil Fruit I've ever seen!"
"Sure, it might help you sleep better… maybe sneak around quietly or steal something. But in battle? Totally worthless! When I first heard about it, I laughed for days."
Lucky Roux chomped on his drumstick and continued, "In fact, that Sky Island marked in the book? I'm the one who reported the rumor!"
"Perfect!"
Shanks' eyes lit up.
"Roux, Whiteflame's looking for that Devil Fruit. Tell him—which Sky Island are we talking about?"
"I dunno."
Roux shrugged mid-bite.
"All I heard was that someone once followed another pirate crew up to a Sky Island and saw the Silent Fruit there… along with a so-called 'god.' A terrifying one. Most of his crew got wiped out—he barely made it back alive."
As soon as he heard that, Whiteflame immediately understood.
The "god" Roux mentioned could only be one person—Enel, wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi).
And if Enel was there…
Then Whiteflame now knew exactly where to find the Silent Fruit.
After learning all he needed, Whiteflame considered his debt to Shanks repaid in full.
The very next day, the Red-Haired Pirates departed from Cocoyashi Village without lingering.
The village returned to a peaceful silence.
However, yesterday's battle had devastated much of it. Were it not for Shanks' quick actions in evacuating civilians, there would've been countless casualties. Now, the villagers had no choice but to focus on rebuilding.
As the one who nearly obliterated their home, Whiteflame also did his part.
But his "part"?
Completed years' worth of rebuilding in a single afternoon.
By combining the powers of the Float-Float Fruit and the Stone-Stone Fruit, he reconstructed an entirely new town—in less than half a day.
The residents stared blankly at the rebuilt Cocoyashi…
Or rather, what was now more fittingly called: Cocoyashi City.
Whiteflame had modeled it after the luxury architecture aboard the Grand Tesoro—gold, marble, and gleaming stonework everywhere. The ultra-modern design clashed hard with the village's old style… but no one complained.
On the contrary—they were ecstatic to be living in such luxury.
Day Three.
"This island will do."
Whiteflame scanned the sea from above, his body flickering through the air like a photon. After nearly two hours, he found it:
A completely deserted island—uninhabited, and exactly to his liking.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!!
With a single touch, Whiteflame lifted the entire island into the sky!
He even brought up the surrounding sea water, creating a ring of floating ocean around the airborne island, forming an awe-inspiring sky garden.
"Uwaahhh! Gold! It's all gold!!"
Back in Cocoyashi, when Nami saw the new palace, built from gold, rare woods, and dense seafloor stone, it shimmered brilliantly under the sun—her eyes instantly turned to stars.
"It's even prettier than before!"
Rebecca, Baby-5, and Monet also gazed in awe.
"Pack your things," Whiteflame said flatly.
"We depart tomorrow."
"Where to?"
Baby-5 asked curiously.
"Sky Island."
Whiteflame's eyes gleamed.
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters...
In the central command hall, silence reigned.
All eyes were downcast. All expressions dark and grim.
Murderous intent hung thick in the air.
Moments earlier, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had delivered a chilling announcement—
Admiral Kizaru was dead.
The report carried a black seal: internal only, until the Five Elders green-lit a narrative. Even truth was on a leash.
And the one who had killed him?
The man in the portrait displayed in the center of the room—his gaze cold, piercing—
Whiteflame.
The Marines' Fury!
Even now, they found it hard to believe.
That a young man—barely in his teens—had slain one of the Navy's proudest forces, Admiral Kizaru.
But the truth was undeniable.
No matter how much they resisted it, no matter how much they wanted to deny it…
Kizaru was dead.
"Comrades,"
Sengoku's voice cut through the silence.
"I know the pain and sorrow we feel now is the same."
"Admiral Borsalino served the Navy with distinction. He saved countless innocent lives. He was one of our greatest heroes."
"This time, he sacrificed his life for the honor of the Navy—for justice. To apprehend a threat who could bring ruin to the entire world…"
"And yet… he fell."
"But his sacrifice will not be in vain!"
"A man who gave everything for the Navy—even his life—deserves the highest honor!"
Sengoku's voice grew firm.
"From this moment on, I will personally lead a task force to capture Whiteflame."
"I will serve as the commander of this force."
"Admiral Aokiji, Admiral Akainu, and Vice Admiral Garp will be the vanguard!"
"Vice Admirals Tsuru, Bastille, Maynard, Dalmatian, Momonga, and Onigumo will form the second wave."
"Vice Admirals Mozambia, Strawberry, Kesha, Gumir, Doberman, Burning Mountain, Stainless, Stokaberry, and John Giant will comprise the third wave."
"Rear Admirals will serve as the fourth wave."
"Commodores as the fifth wave."
"And one elite Marine force of 10,000 from Marineford will serve as the sixth."
Sengoku listed them all in one breath.
From Fleet Admiral to Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, Commodore, and tens of thousands of elite Marines—
All mobilized.
This wasn't just an arrest.
This was retribution.
A full-scale military campaign to eliminate Whiteflame once and for all.
"Comrades—this is not merely the pursuit of a single criminal."
"This is a battle to restore the dignity of the Navy—to protect the world's people—and to honor Admiral Borsalino!"
"For Justice!!"
Sengoku roared.
"FOR JUSTICE!!"
Everyone in the hall responded in unison.
The walls trembled with their voices.
After issuing detailed orders and outlining the operation plan, Sengoku returned to his office.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku… are you really going to pick a fight with that guy?"
A deep, unshaken voice spoke up.
Sengoku turned his head slightly.
A tall man stood behind him, wearing a white vest over a dark blue shirt, a green sleep mask pushed up on his forehead.
Admiral Aokiji.
"Borsalino's death… We've kept it under wraps for now. But the world will find out soon enough."
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