Phoenix Reborn In One Piece

"Hey!" 

"Are you going to eat or not?" 

"Fine, I forgive you, okay? Now come down and eat!" Nami pouted as she yelled at Ryuen, who was sitting at the top of the mast. 

Nami thought to herself: *So annoying. He's the one who messed up. Why am I the one apologizing? So frustrating!* 

But despite Nami's apology, Ryuen didn't react. His gaze seemed distant, as if he were deep in thought. 

"Look, I already apologized, and he still won't come down," Nami said, pouting and looking a bit upset. 

The others exchanged glances, shrugged, and made it clear they didn't know what to do either. They couldn't convince a sulking Ryuen. 

"Hmph~" 

"You're all spoiling him too much. Watch me!" Kuina said with a sly smile. 

"Hey~~~" 

"Hey, hey, hey~~~" 

"Kuina, what are you doing~~~" Ryuen protested, confused as Kuina grabbed him and brought him down. 

"What do you think?" 

"You've been up there all day. Nami's been worried sick about you. What do you think I'm doing?" Kuina said, clearly annoyed. 

Ryuen glanced at Nami, who pouted and let out a cold "Hmph!" before turning her gaze elsewhere. 

The rest of the crew had expressions that practically screamed "You're in trouble." Seeing this, Ryuen adjusted his demeanor. 

"Alright, alright~~~" 

"I get it. I was wrong. I didn't mean to ignore you all." 

"Actually, I spent the whole day talking to the birds flying by. They told me some news: three battleships are heading straight for us." 

"And they're coming specifically for us," Ryuen said, his gaze serious as he looked at everyone. 

"Marines?" 

"Why would they come after us?" 

"Normally, the Marines wouldn't bother with us. If they needed to, they'd just contact us through a Den Den Mushi." 

"But our ship's Den Den Mushi hasn't rung," Nojiko said, puzzled. 

Everyone felt the same confusion, not understanding what the Marines were up to. They didn't doubt Ryuen, as he wouldn't joke about something like this. 

"No~~~" 

"They're not tied to Marine Headquarters. They're working with someone else, and their target is us," Ryuen said with a grim tone. 

"Marines?" 

"Working with someone else?" 

"They've got that much nerve?" Daisy blurted out three quick questions, her face full of disbelief. 

The others felt the same. 

Since receiving the order from Sengoku the Fleet Admiral back in Loguetown, they hadn't thought the Marines would actually pursue them. 

Ryuen's expression darkened. 

"Nami, call Vice Admiral Garp using the Den Den Mushi," Ryuen said, turning to Nami. 

According to the birds, the three battleships were already nearing their location. A confrontation was inevitable. 

If the other side was coming with hostility, Ryuen wouldn't let them off just because they were Marines. 

But dealing with Vice Admiral Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku later? That would be tricky. 

"Got it." Nami understood the seriousness of the situation and didn't argue with Ryuen. 

She opened her dimensional space, retrieved the Den Den Mushi for contacting Vice Admiral Garp, and quickly dialed: 

"Blub blub blub~~~" 

"Wahahahaha~~~" 

"Ryuen, I thought you wouldn't contact me for a while! You made me lose three packs of rice crackers!" 

"When you arrive at Marine Headquarters, you'll have to pay me back!" Vice Admiral Garp's cheerful voice came through as soon as the call connected. 

But the crew aboard the Dreamship was confused. 

From what Vice Admiral Garp said, he already knew Marines were chasing the Dreamship. But why? Could it be because they swindled Crocodile out of 15 million? 

That didn't seem likely to anyone. 

"Vice Admiral Garp, this is Nami. Are you saying you already knew there were Marines chasing us? Aren't you worried we might wipe them out?" Nami asked calmly. 

"Oh?" 

"So it's Nami-chan~~~" 

"Where's Ryuen? Let him answer; I have something to discuss with him." Garp's voice turned serious over the transponder snail. 

Nami frowned slightly but still handed the transponder snail to Ryuen. "Here, he's specifically asking for you. I have no idea what Vice Admiral Garp wants~~~" 

"Vice Admiral Garp, just say it. What are you planning?" Ryuen asked as soon as he took the snail. 

But another voice responded instead. 

"Ryuen. Surname unknown, background unknown, currently 18 years old. Suspected ties to the World Government, able to make the Celestial Dragons follow orders, yet chooses to live in a civilian household. 

Your entire crew just became adults this year and set sail in the Sea Calendar year 1519 to map the world. 

The ship you're on was even built by a shipyard exclusively for the World Government. All this has been confirmed by Marine intelligence. Did I say anything incorrect?" 

The voice from the transponder snail was heard clearly by the Dreamship crew. 

None of them expected that after controlling the Celestial Dragons, the Marines would uncover suspicions of their ties to the World Government. 

 Ryuen narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "Ah, so it's Fleet Admiral Sengoku. What you said isn't wrong, but if you suspect I have ties to the World Government, how dare you still act this way?" 

"No~~~" 

"Those three warships weren't my doing. However, I'd like to ask for your help with something." 

"And that is~~~" 

"Destroy those three warships completely. Leave no one alive on board!" Sengoku's cold voice came through the snail. 

Hearing this, the Dreamship crew, including Ling, felt a mix of shock and doubt. 

The Fleet Admiral of the Marines was asking them to destroy three warships and leave no survivors? 

Something was definitely off~~~ 

"Just get to the point, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. What do you really want us to do?" Ryuen asked coldly. 

"It's simple. The people on those three warships are corrupt. I'm just hoping you can help execute these Marine scum!" Sengoku said seriously. 

"Pfft~~~" 

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, if you're going to make up a story, at least put some effort into it. This is something you should handle yourself. 

Goodbye, Fleet Admiral Sengoku~" 

*Click~~~* 

With that, Ryuen hung up the transponder snail. 

Neither he nor the rest of the Dreamship crew believed Sengoku's excuse about using them to clean up corrupt Marines. 

That excuse was just too childish. 

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford. 

*Crunch crunch~~~* 

"Sengoku, do you really think this will work?" Garp asked as he chewed on his rice crackers. 

"Of course it will. Based on his connection with Saint Lindgas, I'm certain this Ryuen is tied to the Celestial Dragons. 

As long as he takes action, whether or not he kills everyone on those three warships, we'll be able to figure out the forces behind him!" Sengoku replied with confidence. 

Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing nearby, nodded slowly in agreement. After all, this was her plan, and she had already considered all possible outcomes. 

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