In the Amazon Lily forest, for Shirahoshi's safety, Viola led the Poseidon Unit to bring her here. If an irreversible situation were to occur, Shirahoshi could escape immediately. No living creature or machine in the sea could match the speed of a Fish-Man, let alone Shirahoshi.
Shirahoshi activated her power, using the Sea Kings to block the rebels from landing. Meanwhile, Viola used her Glare-Glare Fruit ability to observe the situation around Amazon Lily. Viola was stunned. The Captain and First Mate of the Golden Hair Pirates were fighting each other, and ships belonging to the Whitebeard Pirates had also slipped in.
Unfortunately, although her clairvoyance could see sights thousands of miles away, she couldn't hear sounds at that distance. Therefore, Viola didn't hear Lucky Roux's inciting comments. However, she was certain that the Whitebeard Pirates showing up here at this moment meant nothing good.
"Viola-sama, Sandersonia-sama just called on the Den Den Mushi and said Alucard-sama has set off," a member of the Poseidon Unit approached and reported.
"Huh?"
Viola exclaimed in an exaggerated manner. "It takes at least ten days to return from where he is. What good is a report now..."
"No, they said Alucard-sama is returning alone," the subordinate added.
"Alone? Vampires can't fly long distances over the sea, can they?"
Viola bit her thumb. Since Scarlett became a vampire, she had learned a little about vampires and knew they disliked the sea. Fragile vampires would even experience a decline in strength at sea, and even Alucard lacked the ability to fly for extended periods.
…
Meanwhile, in the sea surrounding Amazon Lily.
"Roux, I showed leniency for a moment. Don't push your luck..."
Ivalis, locked in a confrontation with Beckman, cursed inwardly. He tightened his grip on his saber, but after repeated hesitation, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to direct his sword at a former comrade from the Red Hair Pirates.
Lucky Roux's recent attempt to poach their crew had thrown the Immortal Pirates into chaos. This had a tremendous effect, especially on those who were already dissatisfied with Alucard's hands-off approach to the crew's affairs.
"That makes sense."
Suddenly, someone voiced this opinion, but the statement was immediately met with opposition from others. "Bastard! Are you thinking of betraying Alucard-sama?"
"What's so strange about that? That Captain hardly manages the pirate crew's affairs, does he?"
"Exactly! It was because he allowed that scumbag Zephyr to use despicable means to seize the Titan Fruit six months ago that our Captain missed the chance to become a Devil Fruit user! Otherwise, Zephyr's glory and bounty should all belong to Captain Exdeath!"
"Nonsense! Without Alucard-sama, you wouldn't have survived in the New World until now!"
The two sides immediately split into proponents and opponents, sparking a fierce argument.
Unknown numbers of Revolutionary Army spies were hidden among the dissenting members. After all, the Immortal Pirates could be described as "not choosy" when recruiting, otherwise, they wouldn't have grown to a size of over five thousand, nearly ten thousand pirates, in less than a decade.
Suddenly, a flash of light descended from the sky, slicing a pirate who was speaking out against the Kuja from head to crotch.
Whoosh!
The man was cleanly and beautifully split in a straight line from his crown to between his legs, as effortlessly as cutting tofu.
Everyone who saw who struck the blow was shocked.
Headscarf, blond hair, sunglasses, white gloves.
It was Ivalis, the Captain of the Golden Hair Pirates!
"Anyone who dares to utter another rebellious word will meet the same fate as this fool!" Ivalis flicked the blood from his saber, his face dark as he transmitted his Haki-infused threat into everyone's ears.
"Ivalis..."
Yasopp and the others were stunned.
Ivalis, the person most likely to betray Alucard, was the first to step forward and suppress the rebellion. The fact that this man was a former high-ranking executive of the Red Hair Pirates filled Yasopp and the others with mixed emotions.
But then, a man on Lucky Roux's ship stepped out and shouted, "The brutal murder of a comrade, something so vicious would never happen in the Whitebeard Pirates! Think carefully, everyone! Who is the right person to follow? If you are willing to join the Whitebeard Pirates, cut down the Immortal Pirates flag on your ship and sever your ties with Alucard!"
The man speaking wasn't actually a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, nor was he subordinate to Lucky Roux. He was a member of the Revolutionary Army. Due to his exceptional rhetoric, skill at stirring up crowds, and ability to read people's hearts, Dragon had sent him to assist the 17th Division.
His words, combined with Ivalis's recent violent action, were undeniably persuasive.
After a half-minute of deathly silence, a pirate, dressed like a ninja on one of the ships, suddenly pulled out a kunai and threw it toward his ship's mast.
In an instant, the four ropes holding the Immortal Pirates' flag were severed, signifying his intent.
"'Shadow Ninja' Tsukikage Shinji, Bounty: 243 million Berries."
Yasopp recognized the person, his surprise mixed with a hint of delight. "I didn't expect the first defector to be a captain with a bounty over 100 million Berries."
"Tsukikage... You scoundrel..."
Ivalis's already dark face instantly grew even darker. He unleashed a powerful sword slash, carrying a vast and unmatched sword slash, powerful enough to slice Tsukikage's pirate ship in half.
Clang!!
A grey afterimage flashed by, and Ivalis's sword strike was blocked, deflected into the sea between them, where it cut a long fissure in the water that struggled to close.
It took several seconds for the towering spray of seawater to barely subside. Ivalis said coldly, "Beckman... Are you truly determined to oppose me no matter what?"
Beckman propped his long rifle on his shoulder with one hand. "I have nothing to explain. Let's communicate through battle."
As the two men clashed, a second, third, and fourth ship also began cutting down the Immortal Pirates' flag, signifying their intention to defect.