Chapter 35

"Judging by the estimated location of the ocean where the ship—that I was on top of during my pursuit after Saul—sank, me ending up stranded on the island of 'Veto' would make sense."

Around 30 minutes have passed since Saul's departure by swimming. Now left among ourselves, Robin and I stood at the burnt shore of what used to be Ohara, looking into the map of West Blue.

"And since this island is far away from here, Ohara, I think I can fabricate a believable alibi. Due to the storm, I was sent flying in a random direction, miraculously survived, and landed in Veto. I was hurt and unconscious, and a girl named 'Orobi,' an orphan who wishes to become a marine, healed me. Upon regaining consciousness, I immediately looked for a way to communicate, and eventually managed to report my survival... how does that sound?"

Robin, who listened to my suggestion, replied in a monotone, "It's rough at best, and there are many variables that you overlooked. But in this situation, a plan can come later. We... have to get out as soon as possible, in order to avoid any risk of being sighted."

Then, Robin placed a compass on top of the map, and rotated the map, "And the rough direction to Veto, based on this map, should be that way. Question is, through what method will we travel?"

"Through smoke, of course." In response to Robin's inquiry, I opened my hand such that my palm was facing up, and generated a swirling mini tornado of white smoke on top of it.

As the swirl progressively became more dense and intense, and enlarged at every second, I then threw it right in front of the two of us. Said mini tornado of smoke, upon leaving my palm, suddenly morphed into a cloud-like shape, before sitting on top of the burnt shore.

"We'll travel above the clouds using this. That way, we would be able to evade being sighted by anyone throughout the entire travel."

Robin asked with wariness written on her face, "But... for how long can you maintain this flying nimbus?"

I shrugged, "Days?"

Robin looked at me in disbelief, "Days?" Immediately after, she crossed her arms at the next moment, and bloomed several hands around her.

"...I don't believe you." And she only lasted for a minute or so, not being able to maintain her ability intact for a long span of time, "I can't even keep my hands up for ten minutes, and you say that you can last for days?"

"The extent of one's fruit ability is proportional to one's physical prowess. It's natural that I, who's been undergoing a training routine for quite some time, am more proficient in this aspect than you, an 8-year-old." I explained while taking a seat on top of the prepared smoke-made 'flying nimbus.'

"...Huh, that's new," Robin muttered in deep thought, and eventually accepted my answer with a nod.

'And according to Kaidou in the canon, the fruit awakening occurs when one's body and mind fully catch up with his or her fruit.'

"Robin," I looked at her expectedly, "Just as you said, the sooner we leave this place, the better."

"...Yes, indeed." Nodding once more, Robin took a step forward. However, she then stopped, as if feeling attachment to this ruination.

Without any word, Robin turned around and gave a final look at the ruined island, which used to be her home for her entire life up until now. She, being a child who hasn't left the island even once, was now about to begin another chapter of her life.

I couldn't see what expression she held as she watched the devastating scenery, but there was no need for me to do so to know... that she was currently enraged.

'The devil of Ohara... huh.' I found this situation ironic. In canon, she was branded as the devil child and lived the life of the prey. However, here, she strives to become the devil of her enemies, the predator who mercilessly slays her targets.

'...Just like me, who has determined to differ from the original Smoker. Though the man's sense of kindness is praise-worthy, such is a useless quality without strength.'

This incident will forever be engraved in my memory. However, I will use this experience as the soil for my growth, and I promise—I will become the strongest, strong enough to break free from these chains around me.

And now, Robin turned back, looking calmer than ever. Walking over, she casually sat right in front of me, and tapped my leg, "I'm ready."

"...Add 'sir' at the end, 'Chore Boy' Orobi."

However, Robin sat still without any further words. Eventually, I sighed,

"How rebellious,"

Before we've begun our flight.

__________

[February 17th, 1502; Karai Bari, New World]

Within the island of Karai Bari, filled with numerous palm trees and mountains, hundreds of pirates were found. None of them seemed to be well, with them having sustained heavy injuries to the extent that they were no longer able to fight.

And in the middle of the group, there sat one man wearing a captain's hat. He, while out of breath, turned his hazy eyes at his front, where the marines were swarming their way in.

Tap.

And in front of them all, one seemingly old-aged female marine officer was found walking in an elegant manner. The usually warm and gentle environment of Karai Bari, at this moment, was filled with nothing but sharp coldness—her presence alone was enough to drive the pirates into fear.

"...Strange," The pirate captain, who wiped the blood off of his mouth, muttered, "I thought you've gone elsewhere, Admiral Ginkiji."

The grey-haired woman narrowed her eyes. As the marines now completely surrounded the fallen hoard of pirates, she stated coldly, "You underestimated me, 'Martini' Hook."

Leaning closer to the fallen pirate captain, who goes by the name Hook, Admiral Ginkiji, or Anastasia, placed her right hand right in front of the man's exposed neck. Subsequently, said hand morphed into terrifying blades of iron, ready to sever the flesh and bones at any moment.

"Strange, isn't it? For the higher-ups to order an admiral to capture the pirate whose bounty amounts to a mere 439 million Beli, and for such pirate to escape my pursuit for an entire month—it's as if he knew where I would be heading, every single damn time."

Hook gulped as he felt the cold sensation of iron against his neck. Disregarding the nervous man, the Admiral continued,

"I came to determine that you aren't a mere pirate. There is a certain connection... either someone within the ranks of Marine betrayed, or you successfully implemented a spy. Therefore, by speaking the false information regarding my destination to the headquarter, here I am, finally seeing you face to face."

Anastasia then leaned in further, such that her lips was now right next to Hook's left ear, "So you will tell me... who's the one?"

"F-fuck," Hook, whose breaths quickened and the sweats poured out of his trembling body, cursed. The nervousness overwhelmed him, and as the iron blades on his neck began to pave their way in, drawing blood from Hook's neck, he finally lost himself,

"Ha... haha... spy, you ask... hah, as if I am capable of doing that."

Anastasia, confused by the man's words, said stoically, "Then elaborate—"

"Oh, please, that information is off-limit for you, Admiral Anastasia." Then, a new voice suddenly entered. Anastasia swiftly turned her head to the direction in which the voice was coming from, and found—the orange-haired man, casually walking with his hands in his pockets and justice coat around his shoulder, all alone.

"...Huh?" One marine soldier, who was tying a pirate with a rope in his hands, froze upon sighting the man, "A-Admiral Seidohebi?!"

The others too looked at the orange-haired Admiral in shock. At this moment, they couldn't afford to process any thought but simply wonder, of what such man was doing here, at this time.

Anastasia, turning her head back at Hook, whose gaze was headed at Blaise with a sense of familiarity, remarked in a low tone, "...Of all possibilities, to think that the Admiral himself is involved in a lowly matter like this... since when did you betray the Marine?"

"Ah ah, you're thinking it wrong here," Blaise, smiling casually, said as he continued his steps toward Anastasia and Hook, "I didn't betray anyone, and I still am a Marine. If I were to comment, it is you, Admiral Anastasia, who betrayed us, by distrusting your colleagues and speaking false information."

Anastasia, without any hesitation, clenched her hand with the intention to sever Hook's neck. However, before she could do so, Hook suddenly sank into the ground, causing her grip to miss. Looking down, she saw... a huge zipper that was gaping open on the ground, with there lying nothing but darkness beyond.

"...Who are you?" Glaring at the orange-haired Admiral, Anastasia growled. Reflecting her attentiveness, her skin began to turn metallic gray.

In response, Blaise reached his hand into the inner pocket of the justice coat, and took out... a mask that depicted a smiling clown. Then, placing it over his face, he said as he now stood right in front of Anastasia,

"Why, that's a nice question to ask."

The marines, who were filling the sudden rise in the intensity of the atmosphere, watched with a mix of confusion and horror as Blaise bowed in a gentleman-like manner,

"As you know, I am Admiral Blaise of the Marine, who goes by the codename of Seidohebi. However, at the same time...

I am also known as the rib-tickling clown 'Pierro,' the chief of the Cipher Pol Aigis Zero."

Then, fixating his posture straight back up in an exaggerated manner, he clapped his hands twice.

Zip! The zipper on the ground then expelled Hook out such that he was sent flying in high up, before spontaneously closing and disappearing from existence.

Then, with a thud, Hook fell right on Blaise's left. Hook, surprised that he was still alive, huffed and puffed his breaths out as he hollowly gazed at Anastasia ahead of them.

"And unfortunately... I cannot afford to have you kill my fellow Martini. After all, he will be required for the upcoming plan by the World Government."

Without replying to Blaise, Anastasia raised her right hand up, which began to morph into a gigantic yet sharp blade. While doing so, she commanded firmly, "All marines, leave the pirates and retreat immediately. The man in front of us is not an ally but an enemy; a clash will be inevitable."

"Nope, and that can't happen either." Blaise pointed his right index in a particular direction covered by trees, "I apologize for resorting to this, but your underlings know too much. Today, within the island of Karai Bari, all of you will be facing death by the Martini pirates... oh, what a sad news to hear..."

Then,

"...Tobu Shigan: Ryuotachi."

An incredible wave of energy was blasted off of Blaise's finger, which flew into the dark forest ahead of the marines, before,

BOOOOOM!

a distant noise of the explosion was heard in everyone's ears.

"...Our ship...!!"

"S-shit!!!"

And the marines immediately realized, that the noise was the indication that their ship was destroyed, by a single technique of Blaise.

Simultaneously,

CLANG!

Blaise was seen to be blocking a huge blade of the grey-haired Admiral, with his Armament-Haki-coated left arm.

"CP0 or not, laying a hand on my soldiers or my ship is unacceptable." Then, as Anastasia's iron blade suddenly morphed in a bizarre manner, attempting to encase Blaise's arm that was in contact with, she declared, "Furthermore, by no means is allying with criminals acceptable to Marine; the one who will be facing death today, is you, traitor."

However, before the iron could crush the man's arm, the arm itself suddenly became flat and easily slivered its way out of the iron mass.

"Truthfully speaking, I doubt it."

With his facial appearance hidden by the mask of a smiling clown, Blaise said impassively,

BOOOOM!

before his fist met Anastasia's iron mass, thus marking the start of the battle between two powerhouses.