NOVEL NEXT Chapter 71: 71
Three Days Later…
Following Gan Fall's guidance, Tony and his group embarked on a safe sea current route leading back to the Blue Sea.
Gan Fall, accompanied by numerous residents from Sky Island, held a grand farewell for Tony. This was part of his plan—to let all of Sky Island witness the departure of their new God, Tony.
"Safe travels, Tony!"
"Tony, don't forget to come back once your business is done!"
"Farewell, Tony! Bon voyage!"
The people of Sky Island were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, their voices blending into a chorus of well-wishes. Meanwhile, Gan Fall, with a wide grin and sparkling teeth, waved enthusiastically, his expression betraying the satisfaction of a well-executed scheme.
"That old fox! He's more cunning than I thought… Ah, what a pain," Tony muttered, shaking his head. He felt like he had been coerced into this role. Usually, he was the one tricking others, yet this time, it seemed he had been outmaneuvered by the old man.
Unwillingly, he waved back at the islanders, putting on a smile despite his mixed feelings.
As they journeyed on, countless Sea Kings from the White-White Sea surfaced, watching "Sea King Slayer Nami" in silence. Their low growls resonated across the waters, signaling their relief as they finally saw her leave.
For six long months, not a single Sea King had dared to appear in the White-White Sea. Who knows what she had done to them during her time there?
Tony didn't linger on Sky Island. He urged the crew to advance at full speed, eager to reach the Sabaody Archipelago. After a year away, he couldn't wait to reunite with his beloved mentor, Rayleigh, and Shakky.
However, what Tony didn't know was that, at that very moment, an unexpected guest awaited him at the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Buru-buru-buru... Buru-buru-buru..."
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku sat in his office, massaging his temples as the Den Den Mushi rang. He reached for it, his expression already weary. Over the past year, the Marines had been plagued incessantly by Golden Lion Shiki, adding immense pressure to his role as Fleet Admiral.
On the other end of the line, Kuzan's lazy voice came through.
"Moshi-moshi, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"What is it, Kuzan? Has something happened again?" Sengoku's expression grew serious as he braced himself for yet another disaster.
And as expected, bad news followed.
"The Golden Lion Shiki has once again destroyed a stationed Navy ship near the waters of the Sabaody Archipelago," Kuzan reported.
"Him again? What the hell does that guy want? This has happened so many times already—damn it!"
With a resounding bang, Sengoku slammed his desk in fury, shattering it into pieces. His bloodshot eyes and twitching cheeks revealed his barely contained rage.
From his words, it was clear this wasn't the first time such an incident had occurred.
Over the past year, ever since Tony had departed for Sky Island, Shiki had taken up residence in the skies above the Sabaody Archipelago, keeping the Navy at bay and preventing them from getting close.
The reason was clear—Shiki feared that if Tony returned prematurely, he might be intercepted. Moreover, Shiki had made a promise: not a single Marine would come near Tony within a year.
Now, with that one-year mark approaching, Shiki had ramped up his efforts, acting as a one-man security force for Tony. He was determined to ensure nothing went wrong, holding fast to his belief that Tony could heal his legs.
Using his Float-Float Fruit, Shiki kept massive Navy warships suspended at unreachable heights, rendering their forces powerless.
The Sabaody Archipelago, located at the midpoint of the Grand Line, was surrounded by water on all sides. For an entire year, despite the Navy dispatching large forces to subdue Shiki, their efforts had repeatedly failed. The immense versatility of the Float-Float Fruit allowed him to neutralize their warships with ease.
"Damn that Golden Lion Shiki! Why is he staying in the Sabaody Archipelago? What is he planning?" Sengoku muttered, his mind racing.
From his understanding of Shiki's personality, the man harbored ambitions of world domination. Sengoku couldn't fathom why someone like him would take such an irrational risk by lingering so close to Marine Headquarters. The memory of Shiki's imprisonment at Impel Down was still fresh in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku calmed himself before addressing the Den Den Mushi.
"Kuzan, pass down the order: for now, instruct our forces not to approach the Sabaody Archipelago. Station yourself there and ensure that Shiki poses no threat to the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons."
"This man… He's definitely plotting something…"
Sengoku's instincts screamed that Shiki's presence at the archipelago wasn't coincidental. Something deeper was at play.
"Understood."
With that, Kuzan ended the call and leaned lazily against a sofa. He was currently stationed at the Navy base near the Sabaody Archipelago, keeping a watchful eye on the situation.
…
For six long months, the pursuit of Tony had been completely stalled. After the Alabasta incident, Tony seemed to vanish without a trace.
No matter how extensively Sengoku investigated, not a single lead surfaced. Left with no other choice, he decided to abandon the search for the time being.
To make matters worse, the disruption caused by Golden Lion Shiki at the Sabaody Archipelago demanded urgent attention. Kuzan was sent back to protect the so-called World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, following Sengoku's orders.
Kuzan, however, had little fondness for the Celestial Dragons. Sighing and yawning lazily, he reluctantly fulfilled his assigned duty, keeping guard over the area despite his disdain for the nobles he was tasked to protect.
Meanwhile, a small, inconspicuous powered sailboat sped across the waves, heading directly for the harbor of the Sabaody Archipelago.
From the distance, four figures could be seen on the deck. It was Tony and his crew, finally returning.
Above the archipelago, hidden within the clouds, Shiki's pirate crew had stationed themselves. The moment the small vessel appeared, one of the crew members hurried to inform their leader.
"Admiral! Admiral! The pirates you mentioned have appeared!"
The ship's doctor, Indigo, burst into Shiki's quarters, gasping for breath.
Shiki was standing before a mirror, carefully combing his rooster-like golden hair with an air of self-importance.
"Oh? No wonder I'm in such a good mood today."
"They've finally arrived! That little brat is surprisingly reliable. It seems my patience over the past year wasn't in vain."
A smug grin spread across Shiki's face as he barked orders.
"Inform the others: let him dock at the Sabaody Archipelago unharmed. He's an honored guest, and I'll personally welcome him."
His laughter echoed through the room. "Gyahahahahaha!"
…
Unaware of the impending danger, Tony's group sailed smoothly into the harbor of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Returning to this familiar place after a year, Tony couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia. However, unlike his last visit, he was no longer alone.
Turning to the three women accompanying him, Tony chuckled to himself.
"Ah, what a blessed adventure this has been."
Despite his cheerful mood, Tony quickly noticed something unusual about the harbor.
It was too quiet.
Normally, even without a Marine patrol presence, the harbor would be bustling with activity—pirates recruiting crew members, traders peddling their wares, and ships preparing for their journeys to the New World.
But now, the entire area was eerily empty. Aside from their own small vessel, not a single ship was docked.
This was no coincidence—something significant must have happened here.
"Tony… something's off," Robin said softly, her voice laced with concern.
Tony nodded, his expression serious. "I know. Nami, Vivi, stay alert. This place… doesn't feel right."
Both Nami and Vivi nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting their unease.
Without wasting another moment, Tony led the group toward the familiar home of Shakky and Rayleigh.
His pace quickened as worry crept into his mind.
Could it be the Marines? Was this some large-scale operation targeting Dark King Rayleigh?
~-------------------------
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