Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 1. The Human Auction House entrance.
BAM!
RUMBLE!
A figure went flying, crashing through a stack of seats and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Sorry about that, everyone! I heard that if you punch this guy, it brings an Admiral and a Marine battleship down on you!" Luffy said with a wide grin, adjusting his straw hat.
"I only missed my cut because you punched him away!" Zoro grumbled, sheathing the section of his black blade Shusui he had drawn.
A moment later, the venue was in chaos. The crowd surged toward the exits, shoving and panicking.
"The Celestial Dragon is furious!"
"Run! Get outside!"
"Hurry and escape!"
"Don't push!"
"..."
"Guards, mobilize! Seize the pirates!"
Following that, large numbers of armored knights wielding lances and greatswords appeared, along with the auction house security detail—at least a hundred of them—charging to surround the Straw Hat crew.
In addition, the Marine garrison stationed on the Sabaody Archipelago, having received the news immediately, mobilized at once. They brought cannons and completely surrounded the entire auction house.
Striking a Celestial Dragon was an extremely serious offense, one that required the mobilization of a Marine Admiral to resolve, let alone the lower-ranking soldiers.
Soon, news of "Straw Hat" Luffy punching a Celestial Dragon spread, shocking the island's populace. Pirates also rushed to set sail quickly, fearing they would be caught in the inevitable Marine backlash.
Naturally, the residents were terrified of being caught in the attack of the incoming Marine Admiral. Some even claimed the entire island would be destroyed.
The Red Line, Holy Land Mariejois.
Clink! Clatter!
A teacup rolled across the floor.
"It's that brat again?! Non-stop trouble! What is wrong with that family?" Sengoku pressed one hand onto the large round table and covered his face with the other.
A Celestial Dragon was actually struck! Even when Aeridar the Golden Ring was here years ago, that man only used Conqueror's Haki to knock out a Celestial Dragon! Of course, Sengoku was unaware that Aeridar had actually killed that Celestial Dragon.
"The reports indicate the main culprits are 'Straw Hat' Luffy, the pirate Eustass 'Captain' Kid and several of his crew, and Trafalgar Law and several of his crew—a total of thirteen wanted individuals. Five of them are Super Rookies with bounties over 100 million. The main perpetrator, of course, is Monkey D. Luffy, for assaulting a Celestial Dragon!"
A nearby Marine Rear Admiral reported solemnly, "The human shop—no, the Public Employment Security Office guards are also out of contact. They must have been wiped out. In any case, the three Celestial Dragons being taken hostage is an unprecedented incident!"
"Do they have any demands?" Sengoku asked, eyes closed.
"None at the moment," the Rear Admiral replied.
"No matter what, when the World Nobles are attacked, we can't afford not to mobilize, can we, Sengoku-san?" Borsalino took a sip of his steaming tea, speaking in a leisurely tone.
"Kizaru!" Sengoku looked at him with some surprise.
"Furthermore, the Chris Pirates' Fourth Commander, Mountain Axe Diego Backan, has been on the Sabaody Archipelago. Before things get out of hand, I'll go. I'll be back shortly. Rest assured."
Borsalino put down his teacup, stood up, and strolled toward the door.
....
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 11.
Chris Pirates Headquarters Mansion.
In the mansion's courtyard, over two hundred garrison members had gathered.
Nazwe, dressed in a crisp suit, holding a nodachi about 1.4 meters long, stood at the front of the crowd, speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
A moment later, Nazwe hung up the Den Den Mushi and looked at Backan with a dumbfounded expression. "Backan-sama, the Straw Hat boy hit a Celestial Dragon!"
"It seems Eustass Kid and Trafalgar Law were accessories. Right now, the entire island has erupted. The Sabaody Marine garrison is mobilizing like mad. It's practically an all-out attack, and they're all headed to Grove 1."
"Plus, I estimate the Marines from Marineford or Holy Land Mariejois will arrive soon. We just don't know which of those three monsters—Akainu, Kizaru, or Aokiji—will show up."
"Hitting a Celestial Dragon. That takes considerable nerve," Backan raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
"You're right. It's exactly as crazy as the rumors say," Nazwe agreed, also in disbelief. To cause such a commotion so close to Marine Headquarters was truly insane.
"No matter which of those three—Akainu, Kizaru, or Aokiji—shows up, it's not our concern. We have our own business to attend to." Backan adjusted his dark-gold armor, swept his cloak aside, and strode toward the exit.
"Let's go! I've waited all these days. Let me have a meeting with this Straw Hat brat!"
....
Meanwhile, inside the Auction House.
"Fuffuffuffuffu…" Peals of laughter echoed out.
"This isn't a laughing matter!" Disco, the venue manager, yelled into the Den Den Mushi, blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Fuffuffuffuffu…"
The only reply was more peals of laughter.
"This is your establishment! Doflamingo-san! Where are you?! The reputation of the shop is ruined, and the Rosward family is involved! They are definitely going to come after us. You have to calm this situation down!" Disco shouted urgently.
It takes a long time to build the reputation of a business, but one bad incident can completely erase that credibility, especially for a human trafficking establishment like this.
"Fuffuffuffu… Oh, you! Human trafficking is a thing of the past, you idiot!"
"The age is smiling! Smiling!"
"Disco, I gave that shop to you! So stop calling me! Fuffuffufuhahaha…" Doflamingo's mocking laughter and bizarre squawks came through the Den Den Mushi.
"What?! You're abandoning me at the worst possible time?!" Disco was aghast, his voice suddenly rising.
"Shut up, you troublesome fool! While you're blaming your misfortune on me, a new era has quietly arrived, haven't you noticed, Disco?"
"I am—no, we are now under a mandatory summons from the Marines!"
"What do you think of this future, little Disco?"
"The Whitebeard Pirates versus the Seven Warlords of the Sea! Fuffuffuffu!"
Inside the palace on Dressrosa, Doflamingo grinned. "As a side note, Aeridar is currently hunting two people. He's chased them across three islands in the New World already, and he might come straight to the Sabaody Archipelago. Good luck surviving at that man's hands, little Disco! Fuffuffufuhahaha…"
....
An island near Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The Marine Science Defense Unit base, and secret Marine research laboratory.
"Admiral Kizaru has issued the mobilization order!"
"Move quickly! Stop dragging your feet!"
"We have Dr. Vegapunk's authorization! Deploy the Pacifistas to the civilian areas!"
"Ready the battleships! Deploy the Pacifistas!"
"Sentomaru-sama! You will take command of this operation!"
The base was a flurry of activity. Personnel rushed back and forth, and several Pacifistas, resembling Bartholomew Kuma, were activated and walked out of the warehouse.
"Ojiki, my people and I are heading out first!"
The man, who had the build of a professional wrestler, carried a large, wheel-bladed axe on his back and was speaking on a Den Den Mushi. His face and hairstyle resembled a young girl's, he had a stitched scar on his face, and he wore a red haragake, the bottom of which had a three-clawed shape and a symbol representing heaven.
Sentomaru, Captain of the Marine Headquarters Science Defense Unit and Dr. Vegapunk's bodyguard!
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