After the aftermath, Ezra didn't concern himself further.
Back in Marineford, he received a call from Garp.
"Uncle Garp, what's up?"
On the other end, Garp rubbed his slightly swollen head.
"Ezra, you don't have any missions lately, right?"
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing much recently. Why?"
"Well… it's like this. Could you… keep an eye on my grandson for me?"
"Grandson? Which one? Ace or Luffy?"
Garp's mouth twitched.
"Uh… both of them."
"Uncle Garp, my signal is weak. I'll hang up first!"
Hearing this, Garp panicked.
"Hey! Hey! Don't! Ezra, don't! One crate of snacks!"
Ezra paused, smirking slightly.
"Two crates."
"Deal!"
Ezra frowned.
"Huh… why do I feel like I'm getting the short end here?"
"Anyway, what's wrong with Luffy this time?"
Ezra had been so busy with missions over the years that he had barely kept up with Luffy. In fact, he hadn't met him at all. Judging by the time, Luffy should have already become sworn brothers with Ace and Sabo.
Sure enough, Garp continued:
"Those two brats, Luffy and Ace, have sworn brotherhood with another brat, Sabo. Now that kid is setting sail, and the three of them are causing a ruckus. I'm in the North Blue and can't go myself, so I'm entrusting you to handle it. Also… it's about time you meet Ace, isn't it?"
Ezra's lips curled slightly as he recalled Garp's old joke: "Make Ace your godson." He massaged his forehead.
"Alright, alright, I got it. Thanks, Ezra! Two crates of snacks go buy them yourself in Windmill Village!"
Ezra froze.
"I have to buy them myself?!"
Just as his anger rose, Garp hastily hung up.
Ezra muttered, "East Blue… haven't been there in years. Might as well visit Master Gengshiro."
With that, he headed toward the port. He preferred to travel by boat; flying was simply too dull.
Three days later, in Windmill Village, inside the secret base of Luffy and friends:
Sabo, with his short blonde hair and a missing tooth, stared at the sleeping figures of his brothers and made a firm decision to set sail.
Having experienced the uncertainties of life, Sabo felt ashamed of his noble lineage. It spurred him to seek freedom at sea.
"Sorry, brothers. I've decided to set sail first."
He left a prepared farewell letter on the table, donned his windproof goggles and large hat, and quietly departed the secret base.
"First… I need a ship capable of sailing."
Sabo walked toward the harbor, deciding to steal a fishing boat for his journey.
"Alright… you're the one!" he grinned at the vessel.
After finally setting the boat into the sea, several warships appeared before him.
"No… it can't be."
On the flagship, Charlmarco, wearing his square helmet, raised his binoculars and glared at the fishing boat.
"How dare this wretched boat block my path! Give me the cannons! I'll blast it to pieces!"
"Yes, Sir Charlmarco!" CP0 handed him the cannon, which erupted in a blast nearby. Sabo could only watch helplessly.
"Hmph… that's better! Now, let's head to the Goa Kingdom."
"Yes, Sir Charlmarco!"
Charlmarco acted as though this was a trivial task. Meanwhile, on another warship, the Navy crew scowled in disgust.
"Ugh… this is the Celestial Dragons." Doberman muttered helplessly. He was assigned to protect Charlmarco, and had known Ezra since the island incident years ago.
Over the years, Doberman had risen to the rank of Navy Rear Admiral thanks to his exceptional mission performance. But who could have expected his first task after promotion would be protecting Celestial Dragons at a conference in East Blue, even having to kill a civilian openly?
Doberman clenched his fists but relaxed, thinking of Ezra.
"If he were here… he wouldn't just stand by, right?"
At that moment, a warship with a knife emblem appeared. Doberman's eyes widened.
"Wait… no way!"
His subordinates whispered among themselves.
"That ship… it's him, right?"
"Definitely him! Look at the emblem!"
"That's his sword Ryujinjakka!"
"Who dares block my path?" Charlmarco shouted furiously.
CP0 hurried forward.
"Sir Charlmarco, that ship belongs to… that young master!"
CP0 had already exchanged intel with Mariejois, confirming Ezra's identity. Everyone knew to address him as young master.
Charlmarco trembled, memories of the past flooding back.
"Which young master?" he asked, shaking.
CP0 explained everything that had happened in Mariejois. Charlmarco paled.
"Impossible… how could this be? He was… already…" He stopped mid-sentence, almost revealing too much.
Then, a cold voice cut through:
"Oh? Already what?"
Charlmarco turned to see Ezra D. Vale standing on the deck in his black suit, crimson eyes blazing.
"It's you… it really is you!"
"No… impossible! You're a fake!"
Charlmarco screamed like a madman. Ezra frowned.
"Step aside."
He strode directly to Charlmarco. CP0 instinctively moved to block him.
"What? Trying to stop me?"
They hesitated, then all stepped aside.
Ezra's spiritual pressure surged into Charlmarco's mind, quickly uncovering the memories he sought. A rotund figure wearing a round mask became clear. A smirk formed on Ezra's lips.
"So, you're the one who stranded me on that island… Celestial Dragon: Kamael!"