Looking at Renji, Edward Newgate spoke again.
"This will also give you more experience in investigation and navigation at sea, and at the same time you can check on Ace's safety. It's killing two birds with one stone."
After saying that, Whitebeard slowly stood up.
"I hereby issue a captain's order. The Whitebeard Pirates' instructor and acting commander of the Fourth Division, Renji, will lead the entire Fourth Division to the Grand Line to search for the whereabouts of the Second Division commander Ace."
"Understood!"
After receiving the order, Renji immediately left the Moby Dick.
He gathered the Fourth Division and set sail toward the Grand Line.
"Instructor Renji, where should we search for Captain Ace?" one of the crew asked.
Although Renji was currently acting commander, his true position was still vice commander, so the crew mainly addressed him by his new title—Instructor.
"I've already thought about that," Renji replied.
After a brief moment of consideration, he spoke again. "Sabaody Archipelago."
The Sabaody Archipelago is the closest island to the Celestial Dragons' residence, the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
It is also located near a major Marines base.
Calling it the center of the world would not be an exaggeration.
"As the center of the world, Sabaody is full of all kinds of people, and information there spreads the fastest," Renji explained. "Ace is a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, practically a global figure. If there's any news about him, Sabaody will definitely hear it first."
Sabaody lies beneath the Red Line.
Although it is very close to the New World—separated only by a massive wall—crossing the Red Line between the New World and the Grand Line is not easy.
Generally speaking, there are only two ways.
The first is passing through Mary Geoise.
Even people working for the World Government must report in advance to the Celestial Dragons to do that.
For pirates like Renji, it was obviously impossible.
The second route is Fish-Man Island.
This island nation lies ten thousand meters beneath the sea.
Fortunately, it is currently under Whitebeard's protection, so aside from worrying about sea creatures in the deep ocean, there are few other dangers.
After a long voyage, Renji finally led the Fourth Division to the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Hm?"
Looking at the hurried crowds around him, Renji immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What happened here?" he asked a passerby.
"What happened?"
The man glanced at Renji, his face filled with anger, though clearly not directed at him.
"Some idiot attacked a Celestial Dragon. It's unbelievable!"
"I heard the Celestial Dragons have already called in a Marines admiral to capture the culprit. Sabaody is about to descend into complete chaos."
"You'd better leave quickly or find somewhere to hide."
"Straw Hat, you're really something else."
Trafalgar D. Water Law looked at the boy beside him with mild interest.
"You're just a reckless idiot," Eustass Kid added bluntly.
The boy they were talking about was none other than Monkey D. Luffy.
Luffy showed no hesitation. "He hurt my friend, so of course I had to punch him."
The Number One Grove had already been heavily guarded by the Marines due to the chaos.
On top of that, news had spread that eleven Supernovas were about to arrive on the island, so the Marines had set up an even tighter ambush.
The moment the three of them walked out of the auction house, they were surrounded by countless Marines.
"Damn it!"
"What the hell was that guy thinking?!"
Inside a tavern, a young girl was eating wildly while grumbling angrily.
She was Jewelry Bonney, one of the Supernovas.
"He actually attacked a Celestial Dragon. Is he insane?!"
Elsewhere, in a quiet corner, a man calmly played with a deck of cards.
After hearing his subordinate's report, his hand paused slightly.
This man was Basil Hawkins.
"Someone actually attacked a Celestial Dragon?"
His usually emotionless face showed a hint of surprise.
"That man is truly crazy."
"Hahaha!"
Urouge burst out laughing.
"They call us the Worst Generation, and it seems that title isn't wrong."
"We just arrived at Sabaody and already someone caused such a huge incident."
"If people like us are allowed to grow in the New World for a while, maybe the next Pirate King will really appear."
At Marineford.
Sengoku looked utterly exhausted.
"So what exactly happened?"
He had just accepted Blackbeard's surrender and was planning to make use of Ace for a political move.
Before anything even began, he received news from Sabaody.
Sabaody was already chaotic as the gateway to the New World, so Sengoku had originally planned to ignore the situation.
Unfortunately, this time a Celestial Dragon was involved.
"These damn pigs…"
Sengoku cursed inwardly.
"I already warned them that we're preparing a plan to lure Whitebeard out of the New World to Marineford. Why are they still causing trouble?"
Even without investigating, Sengoku already knew the truth.
With the behavior of the Celestial Dragons, there was almost no doubt they were the ones who caused the problem.
After hearing the full report, Sengoku glanced toward another figure.
Monkey D. Garp.
"Garp, if I remember correctly, that Straw Hat kid is your grandson, right?"
Garp's status in the Marines was unquestionable.
His actions were almost unrestricted. Unless the Commander-in-Chief Kong personally issued orders, even Sengoku as Fleet Admiral had no authority to command him.
Because of this special treatment, Garp's family background was well known among the Marine leadership.
Luffy being his grandson was no secret.
"Hahaha!"
Instead of feeling embarrassed, Garp burst out laughing.
"I've wanted to punch those bubble-headed bastards for a long time but never had the chance."
"That kid has more guts than I did."
"He really takes after his grandfather!"
"Get out of here!"
Sengoku had no good way to deal with his old friend.
He turned toward the other Marine officers.
"Even though we shouldn't divide our attention right now, a Celestial Dragon was attacked. We still have to respond."
Then his gaze landed on one person.
Borsalino.
"Kizaru, you handle this situation."
"Make sure the outcome satisfies the Celestial Dragons."
"Understood?"
"So troublesome."
Kizaru lazily scratched his ear.
Although he complained, he still stood up.
"Well then, I suppose I'll take a trip."
Back on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Renji's eyes lit up after hearing the situation.
"So it's a clash between pirates and the Marines?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"In that case… I'm interested."
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