บท 45: 45. Jinbei Boards The Ship
"Luffy, that's awesome! Save Boss Jinbei!"
Hatchan yelled loudly to Luffy, "He's been taken to Impel Down for not showing up at the mandatory summons for the execution of Fire Fist Ace."
"Ace?"
Luffy's face, once calm, changed instantly upon hearing Hatchan's words.
Meanwhile, the Vice Admiral felt a sudden, powerful aura pressing down on him like a heavy mountain.
"This feels like Admiral-level pressure," he thought.
As an elite Vice Admiral of the headquarters, Vice Admiral couldn't be overwhelmed by mere boldness, yet the weight of the pressure made his heart sink.
"I'm taking him with me," Luffy told the Marines flatly, then left with Jinbei.
"Hey, hold on, I haven't agreed to go with you, kid," Jinbei's expression darkened as he spoke quietly.
He couldn't defy the World Government, not with Fish-Man Island standing behind him.
Fish-Man Island sought legal recognition, and as a former member of the Sun Pirates who fought against slavery, Jinbei had bowed to the World Government to become a Warlord.
The same obligation applied to his mandatory summons this time.
He couldn't attend Ace's execution, so he accepted arrest and imprisonment in Impel Down.
That was his choice.
But Luffy, always impulsive and uninterested in explanations, moved faster than his thoughts.
Jinbei didn't finish his sentence before Luffy's hand had already grabbed his cloak, and another hand reached for the railing of the Oro Jackson.
"Let's go, Jinbei!"
Luffy yelled loudly, shooting out like a rocket in an instant.
"Hey, hold on a minute," Jinbei tried to resist, pushing against Luffy's grip with his legs.
But Luffy's strength, combined with the power of his rubber elasticity, was overwhelming.
The cloak snapped taut in an instant, freezing Jinbei for a moment before he was yanked into the air with a deep cry.
"That's classic, Luffy," Hatchan smiled, slipping into the crowd unnoticed.
This was 10,000 meters deep in the sea near Fish-Man Island, a place where even the Marines couldn't easily reach.
"Shouldn't we pursue them, Vice Admiral ?" a Marine soldier reminded.
Vice Admiral merely gave the soldier a cold look and said, "What's the point in chasing them?"
"Notify headquarters. Tell them the Straw Hat boy has indeed come to Fish-Man Island, snatched Jinbei, and is likely headed to the New World."
Once the soldiers departed, Vice Admiral let out a sigh of relief before muttering to himself, "That Straw Hat kid... such a formidable presence."
At the port of Fish-Man Island, atop a high vantage point, the mighty Neptune gazed towards the port with a nostalgic gleam in his eyes.
"Oro Jackson, it's been a while," he mused, recalling the first time the Roger Pirates docked at Fish-Man Island. Neptune had believed then that men could change the world, and in a sense, they did, though not as he had imagined.
While Neptune theoretically should harbour resentment towards Roger for ushering in the era of the Great Pirates, which posed great danger to Fish-Man Island, he couldn't help but admire Roger as a friend. Roger had indeed initiated a truly remarkable era.
"Let's go. Jinbei shouldn't encounter too many issues," Neptune declared, turning away. His sons followed suit.
"He's heading to the New World this time. Rayleigh should be with Newgate by now," Neptune pondered as they journeyed back. His bond with Whitebeard was stronger than with Roger, and he hoped Whitebeard would stay safe. The more support Whitebeard had in the impending war, the better.
Out on the sea, aboard the Oro Jackson's deck...
"You, kid," Jinbei's face contorted with anger. But when he spotted Rayleigh standing beside Luffy, his fury quickly dissipated, replaced by surprise.
"Mr. Rayleigh?" he exclaimed.
"Ah, long time no see, Jinbei. Why are you bound up this time?" Rayleigh greeted casually.
"Because I refused the government's summons for the Warlords. I can't bring myself to act against my brother Ace; it goes against my principles of honour," Jinbei explained calmly.
"My father has been kind to me and to Fish-Man Island, and Ace is my friend. Morally and ethically, I can't betray them. I'd rather face Impel Down," Jinbei's resolute words left a strong impression on those present. In this era, people of true righteousness were a rarity. Jinbei's willingness to sacrifice rather than compromise his values struck a chord with everyone.
"On another note, why are you here, Mr. Rayleigh?" Jinbei asked with curiosity.
He recalled that Rayleigh had retired completely. If it weren't for the Fisher Tiger incident, Rayleigh wouldn't have intervened.
"I'm here as a guide, also for Fire Fist Ace. Luffy is Ace's brother, and I'm helping him reach Whitebeard to discuss Ace's rescue," Rayleigh explained with a chuckle.
"Ace's brother? I think I've heard him mention that," Jinbei glanced at Luffy, the anger in his eyes softening into admiration.
"Since he's Ace's little brother, he's a friend of mine too," Jinbei, committed to the path of chivalry, admires Luffy's bravery in defying the World Government to rescue Ace.
"Hey, Jinbei, you're quite interesting. Want to join my crew?" Luffy asked with a sudden grin.
"You're too casual, Luffy," Nami and the others looked surprised.
"What a troublesome guy," Zoro sighed, shaking his head.
"Haha, I already have a ship to sail on, and I won't be leaving it for a while. I'm sorry, Luffy, but go find pops and rescue Ace. I'll do my best to assist you," Jinbei laughed heartily.
Behind him stood the remnants of the Sun Pirates, left by their former leader, Fisher Tiger. Although meeting Luffy for the first time was enticing, joining his crew wasn't a decision to be made lightly.
"Well, that's a shame," Luffy said, disappointment flickering briefly across his face.
Amidst laughter and conversation, the Oro Jackson sailed into the deep sea, passing through the massive hole beneath the Red Line, officially venturing into the New World.
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