120 Six Years Later
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After the meeting, the CP agents went to report today's events to Brontes. Brontes scowled as he remembered the events of the day. Despite this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride about Vivi's reaction.
"Sir, should we do something about it?" One of the CP agents suggested, looking at Brontes.
"There's no need." Brontes responded dismissively: "Since Vivi and Cobra are not making a big deal of it, we'll let it be. The Five Elders won't let anything come of it after the World Conference."
What many didn't realize, but Brontes did, was the heritage of Cobra's family. The Nefertari family was one of the twenty founding families of what is now known as the World Government. Unlike the World Nobles, they chose to remain in Alabasta, ruling over their desert kingdom.
By accepting Vivi, Brontes was seen as offering her protection, which the Five Elders interpreted as an act of defiance against the World Government.
Although they didn't voice their concerns, Brontes expected they would cause problems for him in the future.
However, Brontes was unbothered by this. He had already put up with the Five Elders more than he cared to and decided he would continue to act according to his own judgment without concern for their opinions.
The World Conference went on, with the incident involving Vivi and Wapol becoming just one of many discussions.
For his part, Wapol did not attend the later meetings. He claimed he was ill and stayed in his room.
This sparked curiosity among the other kings. The Drum Kingdom, a small island nation known for its harsh winters, was famous for having the best medical expertise in the world.
It seemed strange that Wapol would fall ill so suddenly, leading many to wonder about the true nature of his condition.
...
Seven days later, the World Conference came to an end.
The kings were accompanied back to their lands by the Marine. Brontes shared a heartfelt goodbye with Vivi, encouraging her not to be disheartened as he would visit her whenever he found the time in the future.
Vivi hadn't encountered anything troubling in Mariejois, other than the incident involving Wapol, which concluded without further ado.
Brontes took it upon himself to see Cobra and his entourage off from Mariejois, escorting them personally to Marineford.
This gesture didn't go unnoticed by the marine personnel, whose curiosity was piqued by Brontes's attention to Alabasta.
Once they understood that Brontes had taken Vivi under his wing as his daughter, everything clicked for them. No further explanation from Brontes was needed; his actions spoke volumes, leading them to infer that his daughter was the princess of Alabasta. This realization signaled to them that Alabasta required special consideration in their future dealings.
"Thank you very much, Brontes." Cobra said, filled with gratitude, as they were on their way back under the vigilant eyes of Brontes.
They finally departed from Marineford, overseen by Brontes's watchful gaze.
...
Time flew swiftly, and six years passed in the blink of an eye.
In the sacred land of Mariejois, a unexpected situation unfolded.
"Sir, we couldn't find Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok!" Said a Marine Rear-Admiral, visibly exhausted, before the Five Elders.
The atmosphere was thick with tension as the Elders' solemn gazes bore down on him, adding weight to the already heavy air.
Having recently transferred from the Sabaody Archipelago, the Rear-Admiral hadn't anticipated being thrust into such a predicament. The intense scrutiny of the Five Elders felt like a tangible force, overwhelming him with its invisible weight.
"Dammit! What exactly is he planning to do? Does he not understand his own status, to just leave without permission?!" The frustration in the room was palpable, as bewildered by Brontes's sudden disappearance.
The Elder in the black hat spoke with serious voice: "Things are getting out of our hands , he left without notifying anyone."
"What can we do now? Our priority is getting him back."
"We need him back fast; it looks like the pirates also noticed his disappearance."
"We can keep this quiet for now, but he needs to return quickly."
"Let's reach out to Marineford right away. I can't believe Vegapunk made something like that for him."
The Five Elders were deep in discussion, all eyes fixed on the Rear Admiral kneeling before them.
"Go inform Sengoku, tell him to locate Brontes quickly."
"Right away sir!"
The Rear Admiral exhaled in relief and hurried off to contact Sengoku.
...
Sengoku, now in his late sixties, stayed busy daily, even dyeing his hair to keep up appearances. Luckily, his hair remained full, maintaining his signature afro.
Unlike Garp, who had embraced his white hair in his fifties, and Tsuru with her white hair, Sengoku also had white hair but chose to dye it to stay vibrant, a routine he started a decade ago.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, a communicator officer burst into Sengoku's office, shouting loudly: "Sir!"
"What's wrong? Why are you in such rush?" Sengoku asked, handing a document to a nearby goat.
The goat swiftly devoured the document in two bites, like a shredder.
"Urgent message from Mariejois!" The officer reported urgently.
"What's going on? Is it about the World Nobles?" Sengoku's tone turned serious.
"No, it's Fleet-Admiral Brontes. He left Mariejois on his own, and we don't know where currently he is." The officer said hurriedly.
"What?" Sengoku exclaimed, surprised by the news.
...
Soon, Tsuru, Garp, Borsalino, and Kuzun arrived at Sengoku's office together.
"Brontes has left Mariejois without a word. Could he have actually defected?" Borsalino said with a chuckle.
"No time for jokes. His sudden departure has left the Five Elders on edge." Tsuru said sternly, giving Borsalino a serious glance.
"Hahaha! Maybe he finally cracked, huh? Having that kind of power doesn't mean much if you're stuck in one place. After all those years in Mariejois, he probably couldn't take it anymore and slipped away." Garp chortled heartily.
"Shut up, Garp! We need to get him back as soon as possible. It's unbelievable that he would just vanish like that. I get he wanted a break, but sneaking away quietly is unacceptable!" Sengoku scolded, his voice filled with frustration.
"For sure, we have to bring him back. But the world is vast, and word has it that Dr. Vegapunk set him up with another flying ship. By now, he could be anywhere." Kuzun said calmly, lounging back on the sofa.
"Sneaking out because he couldn't get time off? That's quite the bold move. No wonder the Five Elders are all riled up. Should we issue a search order?" Borsalino asked lazily, a smirk playing on his lips.
"No, this isn't something we can let slip out to the public. If news spreads that he's not in Mariejois, who knows what chaos could ensue. Let's not take any chances here. Notify the base commanders discreetly. Keep an eye on the sky for any flying ships. Since he used one to escape, it'll make him easier to track. Have the CP agents handle the search; they're more adept at operating covertly in this aspect." Sengoku directed firmly.
"That's our only option. He's left us quite the predicament." Kuzun sighed in resignation.
...
Two years had flown by since the last World Conference, and on this significant year, Luffy will embarke on his journey across the seas.
Brontes, after sneaking away from Mariejois without a word, he didn't know about the chaos that had unfolded within the Marine ranks.
Right now, he was enjoying his leisurely travels, free from the burdens of Mariejois.
Having spent numerous years in Mariejois, dealing with the daily troubles caused by the World Nobles and constantly training without respite, Brontes had grown weary.
Since the World Conference two years ago, he had been yearning to explore the world, to take a well-deserved break.
However, the Five Elders had kept a close watch on him by stationing him in Mariejois, so how could they allow him to leave.
Despite feeling frustrated and trapped, Brontes bided his time for another two years until Vegapunk crafted another flying warship for him.
Utilizing his Rumble-Rumble fruit abilities, Brontes discreetly departed Mariejois, embarking on his new airborne warship to venture across the globe.
"As I decide my course, I recall that this is the year Luffy starts his own journey. With over three decades in this world, my memory seems to fade. Perhaps I should have kept some notes; now I possess only scant details without concrete plans. Well, if plans had been made, I might not be unattached right now. It has been two years since I last saw Vivi; I miss her dearly. Perhaps it's time a visit to Alabasta along the way." Brontes mused on board his flying warship, contemplating his vacation route.
Six years had come and gone, yet Brontes remained unchanged in appearance.
The intricate tattoos etched across his body had grown more elaborate over time, the once vibrant hues now deepening into a rich, dark red shade.
To order to avoid detection, Brontes changed his formal attire into a more casual clothing.
His new warship, not overly spacious, sported an oval rugby ball shape with swirling patterns adorning its top and rear, equipped with four propellers underneath for both landing and diving beneath the waves, transforming into a submarine. Alternatively, it could soar into the skies as a flying ship.
The power source for this unique warship still stemmed from Brontes's lightning abilities, obviating the need for manual control—electrical charge was all it required to propel forward effortlessly.
Following the denial of his vacation plea by the Five Elders two years prior, Brontes enlisted Vegapunk to construct a new warship tailored to his specifications.
However, due to Vegapunk's involvement in a crucial experiment, the crafting process spanned two years. The day after receiving his new warship, Brontes left Mariejois right away.
