Chapter 19: CHAPTER 19

If it's the Beasts Pirates, then Vergo is not qualified to act.

To some extent, the Beasts Pirates and Kaido himself are the biggest backers of the Don Quixote family.

Doflamingo can flourish in the underworld, earning the name of the "Dark Middleman" Joker, and his deal with Kaido is a major factor.

"Guleta, you were not wronged in dying this time."

After considering his strategy, Vergo suddenly raised a hand and commanded:

"Stop advancing!"

"What? Stop advancing? Master Virgo, we're close to catching up with that pirate ship!" an officer asked in puzzlement.

Virgo's face was expressionless, and his voice cold:

"Stop the chase. Follow my orders."

Virgo was always stationed at the G-5 branch, so despite his confusion, the officer ordered the warship to stop advancing.

Another officer remarked, "Vice Admiral Guleta has died, so we need to report this to headquarters."

Virgo replied:

"Tell headquarters we were attacked by the Yonkos. To avoid a larger crisis, the G-5 branch was forced to retreat."

"As for Guleta's death, I'm very sorry. Please assign another mid-level officer to G-5 from headquarters."

At Naval Headquarters, Marineford.

Admiral Sengoku, known as a wise general, frowned as he read the report from the G-5 branch.

"What's going on, Sengoku?"

In the office, an old man with a white beard and a casual demeanor sat, munching on senbei. He didn't show the slightest respect for the prestigious Marshal.

"See for yourself." Sengoku tossed the report to Garp.

Garp took it, glanced over it, and his mouth dropped open, forgetting to swallow his senbei.

"Guleta from G-5 was killed by the Beasts Pirates? What… what is that devil Kaido planning?"

Sengoku responded in a deep tone:

"The Four Emperors in the New World have been quiet for years. For the Beasts Pirates to suddenly attack the G-5 branch without warning is very unusual. And there's something even stranger."

"What's that?"

"The one who killed Gureta wasn't one of the three disasters of the Beasts Pirates or even a member of the Tobiroppo, but a strange young man unknown to us."

Garp chewed his senbei slowly and said:

"It sounds like rookies are rising in the Beasts Pirates. Several new faces have entered the Grand Line recently. Hahaha, Sengoku, you're in for a headache!"

"You have some nerve, Garp!"

Sengoku suddenly erupted, tossing a bounty poster with a reward of 30 million berries at Garp's face, shouting:

"This 'Straw Hat' boy, Monkey D. Luffy, is your grandson, isn't he? He's turned the East Blue upside down, and now that he's entered the Grand Line, who knows what chaos he'll stir up!"

Garp pulled the poster off his face, looked at the wide grin of the boy on it, and laughed heartily:

"Well done, Luffy! You truly are my grandson!"

Sengoku was even angrier.

"Garp, you idiot! You can still laugh! If it weren't for your status as a naval hero, I'd have locked you up in Impel Down by now for your family's crimes!"

Garp shrugged and kept munching on his senbei, saying:

"This old man's life alone can't pay for all those sins."

In truth, it's not just Luffy causing trouble; his son, Monkey D. Dragon, is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, the world government's greatest threat, even more dangerous than the Four Emperors, and is known as the world's most wanted criminal.

Despite all this, Garp has managed to avoid accountability, living freely within the navy.

Although Sengoku looks furious, Garp's immunity is also thanks to his protection.

As expected, Sengoku only lectured him, taking no real action against him. He then said:

"Guleta is dead, and the G-5 branch, stationed in the New World, holds a vital position. We can't leave Virgo alone as the base commander. We need to assign a new vice admiral. Garp, do you have any suggestions?"

Garp actually has a candidate in mind.

This candidate is connected to Luffy—and also to his father, Dragon.

It turned out that when Luffy set off on the Grand Line from Loguetown, Dragon had actually been watching him from the shadows and saved him from Smoker's clutches.

Moreover, the lightning that struck just as Luffy was about to be executed by the clown Buggy seemed to have something to do with Dragon as well.

Garp, aware of his son Dragon's involvement, commented with a smile:

"How's Smoker doing? With his strength, he should have been promoted long ago. He must have gotten impatient being stuck in Loguetown."

Sengoku glanced at Garp and said angrily:

"Smoker chased your grandson into the Grand Line a long time ago. Right now, who knows where he is!"

"Hahaha!" Garp laughed. "That sounds just like Smoker! Luffy, you'd better stay on your toes!"

…

Somewhere in the New World.

Alastor stood on a boat loaded with supplies and looked back.

"The G-5's warship retreated on its own... Virgo, that's interesting."

Alastor's eyes glinted with intrigue.

As a time traveler, he knew about Virgo's undercover role and the illicit trade in artificial Devil Fruits between the Donquixote family and the Beasts Pirates.

The current state of Wano Country—the devastated environment and widespread poverty that leaves people starving—was largely due to Doflamingo.

Alastor intended to change Wano's condition, if only to ease the suffering of its people.

Partly, he did this for Yamato, and partly to prevent the Kozuki clan from regaining control of Wano.

For that goal, Alastor anticipated future clashes with the Donquixote family.

"Shichibukai are among the most powerful figures on the seas, far beyond the strength of any naval branch vice admiral. To confront them, I have to become stronger!"

This resolution strengthened Alastor's drive for power.

He was in luck. On his way back to Wano, he stumbled upon a Beast Island.

As the name implies, it was an island teeming with beasts.

Each creature was several meters tall, incredibly powerful, and could topple a small mountain with a single swipe.

With a brief scan using Observation Haki, Alastor sensed over a dozen highly dangerous auras.

"Good, this place is perfect for my training."

Alastor licked his lips, deciding not to rush back to Wano Country just yet.

After anchoring the boat and securing his supplies, he grasped the blade of his Sandai Kitetsu and entered the wild island, a look of excitement on his face.

Not long after he ventured in, several earth-shaking beast roars echoed from deep within the forest.

Flap!

Countless birds scattered, flapping their wings in panic.

Boom!

The ground trembled violently as dozens of massive trees in the center of the forest collapsed.

A shirtless young figure leapt onto a fallen tree trunk.

The sword in his hand glowed with an eerie purple light.

A dark mist swirled around his body.

In front of him stood three enormous beasts: a gorilla, a snarling lion, and a massive anaconda.

"Hey, hey, Mr. Gorilla, Mr. Lion, Mr. Python, I only tossed your little ones into the sea. Do you really have to be this mad?"

The beasts responded with a deafening roar.

All three attacked simultaneously.

The gorilla leapt into the air, clapping its massive hands together and bringing them down in a powerful smash.

The lion charged straight at him from the front.

The python slithered along the ground, flicking its red tongue and waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Alastor tensed his muscles, whispering to himself:

"These beasts are actually working together... have they developed intelligence?"

But there was no fear in his heart, only the thrill of battle and the excitement of growing stronger.

"Ghost Sword Aura: Black Bear!"

Alastor took the initiative, targeting the chimpanzee first, and with a swing of Sandai Kitetsu, unleashed a giant black bear-shaped attack.

Just then, the lion's razor-sharp claws came swiping towards him, putting Alastor directly within reach of the lethal strike.

"Armament Haki, full-body coverage!"

In an instant, Alastor's entire body turned jet-black with Haki.

Below him, the giant python opened its massive jaws, ready to swallow him whole.

At the critical moment, Alastor twisted his body into an improbable angle mid-air, swinging a jet-black slash downward.

The lion's claws struck him at the same time.

Alastor was sent flying, crashing into the mountainside a hundred meters away with enough force to make his internal organs feel as though they'd shifted.

[Host receives moderate damage, defense +15]

"Even with Armament Haki boosting my defense, I took moderate damage. These beasts are truly powerful."

Alastor pulled himself out of the rock, jumped back onto a tree trunk, and, facing the three beasts, grinned, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth:

"Not bad at all. I think I'll use the flesh of your young ones to recover from my next injury."

G-5 Branch Base.

After Virgo submitted a brief report to Navy Headquarters, he dismissed everyone around him and took out a stealth Den Den Mushi.

Porop porop~

After a few rings, a deep, sinister voice came through:

"Virgo, you rarely use this line. What happened—something big?"

Virgo double-checked to ensure he was alone before replying:

"Doffy, Guleta was killed by the Beasts Pirates."

Doflamingo on the other end was momentarily taken aback, then let out a chilling laugh:

"Heh heh... So the Beasts Pirates have started attacking the New World navy? Was it one of the three disasters?"

"No, it was someone I've never seen before. According to the sailors who witnessed it, this man had a monstrous physique and incredible defense. Guleta was no match for him at all."