"Hey, are you listening? You're not thinking about how to brush me off again, are you?" The long silence from the other end of the den den mushi made Momousagi even more dissatisfied.
Vice Admiral Tsuru finally snapped out of it and comforted Momousagi with a kind voice,
"Little sister, don't worry. When he gets back, I'll definitely help you teach him a lesson... a double lesson!"
As she spoke, she didn't wait for Momousagi to react and turned her tone more serious,
"Now, help me look into what happened in Marijoa these past few days, especially the movements of CP0!"
Momousagi complained irritably, "You really are thinking of excuses to brush me off! That's too much! You're becoming just like that bastard, more and more annoying!"
After venting for a bit, she added,
"Hmph, fine. Just wait!"
Click
The den den mushi hung up directly. Vice Admiral Tsuru shook her head helplessly,
Then, she rested her chin on her hands and began to think.
The more she thought, the more uneasy she felt. After a long time, she picked up the receiver again,
"Garp, that kid might be in big trouble this time!"
...New World, Sicily Island.
This island is located on the southernmost route of the first half of the New World's waters. Its edge is the Calm Belt; if one passes through here, they can reach the West Blue directly.
It was a small island with a pleasant climate. Logically, it should have been very suitable for human habitation. However, there was only one town and a few villages on the island, and the population was pitifully small.
Because, since some unknown time, large swarms of bloodthirsty monsters began to appear frequently on the island, draining the blood of all normal creatures.
Eventually, everyone capable of escaping fled, leaving only some elderly people barely surviving on the island.
A small pirate ship docked on the north side of the island. Absalom, the lion-man, complained while dropping the anchor,
"Little Captain Wan Luo, how exactly did you offend those mad dogs? They chased us all the way from the central route to this godforsaken place!"
When the ship docked, Absalom noticed that the coast was filled with dilapidated ruins. As far as the eye could see, not a single soul was visible.
"Hee hee hee, Absa, this place makes me feel quite comfortable!"
Before Wan Luo could speak, Moria jumped off the bow first. The scent of corpses lingering in the air and the desolate autumn scenery here made him feel pleasant.
"I want to know too, but those white pigs don't give us a chance to talk at all. What can I do?"
Wan Luo said, his fingers constantly waving in front of him to leave island markers,
"The only thing I can think of is those reports of ours. Absa, you wrote those drafts, so you're involved in this too!"
Wan Luo's words made Absalom's face stiffen, and he muttered,
"Then we should have fled to another island. On this island, let alone women, you can't even see a man..."
After dropping the anchor, he went back to furl the sails, still complaining.
After the sails were partially furled, a patch of sky was revealed,
Absalom cried out in shock, his tone extremely surprised,
"No... way? Him again?"
Absalom's reaction startled the others. Moria, already standing on the beach, looked up at the eastern sky.
A black dot rushed out of the clouds at extreme speed, plummeting toward the island, trailing clouds behind it and leaving a long white line.
"This... this is that Marine named Taro!"
Wan Luo was dumbfounded and spoke out.
Feeling his girlfriend Wan Shi's hand tighten around his, he put away his shocked expression and gently stroked her arm,
"It's okay, don't worry. We have no grudge with him; he shouldn't be here for us..."
"Hee hee hee, who do you think he's here to fight this time?"
Moria was the least flustered. He was only briefly surprised before regaining his composure.
As he spoke, he actually sat down on the beach,
"Well, there's bound to be another good show to watch!"
...Taro dove down from high altitude. After landing, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings, using his Internal Energy to spread his Observation Haki and search the town before him.
Both G5 Branch and Dressrosa are on the central route of the New World. Vergo traveled all this way here; does he think a remote place is a good spot for murder and robbery?
The corners of Taro's mouth curled slightly as he walked toward the town.
The town wasn't large, with only two blocks. The architectural style was somewhat like the Tulou he had seen in scenic areas in his past life—overall circular with very small windows.
So small that they were less like windows and more like arrow slits.
Taro could sense people inside the Tulou peeping at him. From their presence, he could tell they were just ordinary people with ragged breathing and weak, unsteady limbs.
Quickly passing through the two blocks, he found a large area of ruins further in, telling of the island's former prosperity.
"Vergo, I'm here. Come out!"
Taro released his Internal Energy and shouted in a deep voice.
Bolstered by Internal Energy, the voice could travel far without significant weakening, spreading straight toward the interior.
Rustle, rustle~
In the forest, which had an air of solemnity and killing, birds were startled and flew panic-stricken into the sky.
Taro sat on the ruins and waited quietly. After about ten minutes, a figure walked out of the forest.
A checkered coat, sunglasses, lightning-shaped sideburns on both sides of his face, a bamboo stick in his hand, and a piece of meat residue stuck to his left cheek.
It was definitely Vergo!
"Vice Admiral Taro, I have heard much of your name. I finally get to see your face today!"
Vergo greeted Taro with poise, "I am Vergo. It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time!"
"Vice Admiral Vergo, for you to choose such a..."
"No, Vice Admiral Taro, please call me Mr. Vergo."
Taro's mouth twitched, and he said in a teasing tone,
"Alright then, Mr. Vergo. The location you chose to meet me is indeed very special."
Vergo walked forward a few steps and stopped about ten meters away from Taro, standing tall like a pine tree,
"My apologies, Vice Admiral Taro. I am currently pursuing a certain pirate, so I had no choice... please do not take offense!"
Hearing this, Taro thought to himself: Nowadays, villains are so damn gentlemanly; it's really hard to get used to!
Then, he chuckled,
"Pursuing a pirate? I'm a Marine; I have an inescapable duty in this matter. Mr. Vergo won't mind if I lend a hand, will he?"
Tch, pursuing a pirate? Who are you kidding? The pirate you're talking about is Doflamingo, right!
Taro thought Vergo would find an excuse to refuse or simply lay his cards on the table, but to his surprise, Vergo actually nodded,
"Of course I don't mind. With Vice Admiral Taro's strength, if you take action, it will be easier to catch him!"
Taro was slightly stunned and frowned, feeling that something was off about what Vergo said,
"Who is the pirate you want to catch?"
The sunglasses on Vergo's face seemed to flash,
"That pirate, Vice Admiral Taro should have heard of him, or perhaps even seen him."
"Patrick Redfield, nicknamed—'the solitary red'!"
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