"….I see.." Garp said, his teeth stretched out into an ugly grimace as he pondered on the information that he had just received. He knew, if he had not been told this by Kuzan, that his close friend would more than likely keep the escapades of Ohara a secret for as long as he could. He knew that Sengoku would be more than happy to keep the entire navy in the dark of the consequence of their allegiance if he had the choice. Yet, Garp could not slight him for it, he could not call him out on it, merely because of how important the navy still was.
He still remembered, back when he had visited Ace and Luffy on the island of Foosha. He still remembered the raw veneration that the mayor held, if not for him then for his organization.
Regardless of what Whitebeard or Shanks did in the new world, not many pirates were as benevolent as they were. The navy was still needed, and with that need, Sengoku could be the only one to hold the post of the fleet Admiral.
Garp knew this, yet he could not help but grit his teeth. "Haah…..Kuzan report it in as per usual. There isn"t anything we can do without ripping apart the status quo. The world cannot lose one of its pillars so soon after Roger.. " Garp said into the mic, knowing full well that he did not believe his own words anymore than Kuzan did.
With a dull cough of a.s.sent Kuzan went off the line, definitely going to call in this information and report it to Sengoku.
With a dull sigh Garp slowly walked out of the room into the moonlit deck outside. A small alcohol bottle in his hand.
"G.o.d.a.m.nit Sengoku.. " he muttered silently as he took a deep swig of the strong brew in his hand before calling his men to change the course of the ship. He had lost them once the only thing he could do was chase as fast as he could.
His musings were cut short however, by another call. " GARP!" the other side roared in the unmistakable tone of a certain Buddha man.
"Your orders Fleet Admiral.." He said with a defeated sigh as he chose not to test his friends patience and damage the already straining bit of it that he had left.
"I don"t care anymore. I don"t care if they are children… I don"t care if they have done no wrong..Hear my orders! Search and Destroy!" He roared in a magnetic tone as Garp got a slight shiver down his spine.
By now all the men that had been asleep had already woken up. Awoken by the deep and commanding voice they could not help but stream onto the deck.
"Search and Destroy! Vice admiral Search and destroy!" and with a click he was gone.
Garp grumbled mutinously as he remembered the last time he had received those commands. It had been to tail a certain golden lion. And now Sengoku had been angered enough to give that command again to chase a rookie crew.
"It seems the crown is too heavy to wear.." Garp thought sadly as he looked over at his men. The easygoing crew had turned sharp at the call of that voice, ready to march like a pack of blood hounds.
"You heard him men.. Set coa.r.s.e for the island of what used to be Ohara!" And with that Garp went back into his cabin to enjoy the bit of alcohol that remained in the bottle.
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With a dull sigh I could not help but look at the setting sun wistfully. Next to me stood my entire crew as we set foot onto the burnt island.
The marines on the ship had long lost the resolve to continue battling and stood silently on their heavily damaged ship.
"You guys.. I don"t care how virtuous you were as marines, but now your life hangs in our hands… And with that we give you one order! Anyone who disagrees shall be shot! Pick up your guns, pick up your swords and dig…..
By tomorrow I want every soul on this island to have been given a good burial! Anyone who even so much as attempts to flee shall be dealt with your own marine martial law! As penned by your own vice admiral Sakazuki if anyone so much as takes one toe out of line you will be decapitated!" I roared at them.
Angella shivered next to me before looking up with teary eyes. " As Ohara lived it was a land of scholars and as it dies it shall remain a land of scholars. No one is allowed to touch a single thing on the island..
A platoon of you shall dive to retrieve all the bodies that drowned in the sea, met with your cruelty as the civilians attempted escape!
Another platoon will be in charge of matching the bodies together! No dismembered part shall be missed!" I roared out orders at the cowed force.
They had been beaten to an inch of their lives by us in the morning and were essentially our prisoners until we decided to deal with them. They had no choice in the matter.
"Angella.." I began in a softer voice as I looked concernedly at the haggard women. She looked back at me, her tears long having dried over her dirty face.
" Would you like to hurt the world for what it has done here?" With a hint of barely concealed malicious intent she could not help but nod..
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Ned sighed as he looked over at the information he had collected on his newest target. He was a bounty hunter and had been pretty successful in the new world for over a few years and was content with the coin that his latest haul had brought him. That being the case however, he could not help it when orders came from up top to take action. The only thing he could do was to follow it.
True the boss liked him, but regardless he had never taken it easy on him.
With a tired groan he slowly rose off the counter where he had been drinking.
Suddenly he heard the dry flat call of the transponder snail. He could not help but curse under his breath as he immediately got up, his brown beard held tinges of wooden shrapnel from the cracks in the counter as he made his way over to the bag in the corner.
His blue eyes could not help but light in curiosity as he looked over at the number of the caller.
With a click he answered the snail, and with a crisp and prepared tone he called out " What do you have for me Superbia?"