G5 is one of the Navy's biggest bases in the New World. Its commander, Vergo, is a fearsome man — his strength approaches that of a Marine Headquarters vice admiral. What nobody at the Navy knows, however, is that Vergo is actually one of Donquixote Doflamingo's highest-ranking men planted inside the Marines — a spy of the Donquixote family.
But Doflamingo was killed by Ro-star and Dressrosa was taken by the Beast Pirates. Vergo, who had been thriving inside the Navy, suddenly found himself rootless and adrift. Had Vergo simply abandoned his old identity and settled down as a loyal Marine, that would have been one thing — but his pirate nature and ambition would not let him. He wanted the throne of the seas; he wanted to follow whoever would take him to the very top.
At first he thought Doflamingo would be the one to take the crown — but now Doflamingo was dead. So Vergo turned his eyes to the man who had killed Doflamingo: Ro-star and the Beast Pirates. He decided he would attach himself to their rising power.
Vergo was not the hesitant type. He resolved to join the Beast Pirates and to prove his worth he would present them a signing gift: the man who had stolen the legendary Operation Fruit worth fifty hundred million Berries — Trafalgar Law.
Using his authority as the G5 base commander, Vergo scoured intelligence networks across Navy-controlled waters. Within days he found Law's bounty poster and, grinning coldly, set a plan in motion. He tapped the Navy's worldwide information channels and after a few days traced Law's exact location: an island in the first half of the Grand Line.
Vergo wasted no time. He mobilized all G5 vessels, left only minimal garrison forces behind, and under the pretext of hunting pirates sailed his fleet into the first half of the Grand Line.
Trafalgar Law and the Heart Pirates were blissfully unaware. They were having a feast on their island — Law had just caught several rabbits and boars and they sat by the fire grilling meat and drinking. Every so often Law would pet Bepo; for a man who'd lost a vendetta, the peace felt almost pleasant.
Suddenly a shrill alarm sounded from the shore. Bepo jumped up in alarm. A look-out sprinted back, out of breath: "Captain! Bad news — the Marines! The Marines are attacking!"
Bepo howled: "The Marines? How did they find us? This island's uninhabited!"
Law kept his calm. Even in surprise he showed the seasoned captain's head. "Forget how — that doesn't matter. Tell me how many ships and how many men."
"That's the point," the runner gasped. "Three warships — several hundred marines."
Hearing that, Law's normally impassive expression shifted. Three warships — that was extreme. The Heart Pirates were newly in the Grand Line and Law's bounty was only in the tens of millions; one Marine cutter was normal, two was overkill, three meant someone in the Navy was specifically targeting him.
"Who's targeting me?" Law wondered, brain turning quickly, but there was no time to think. He ordered, "Abandon all treasure and food. Take only weapons — board the sub, get out now."
Their ship was a submarine and could dive deep; if it could submerge fast enough the three ships might not be able to trap them. The crew scrambled and within five minutes were aboard and submerging.
Out at sea, the three Marine ships drew close. From one of those decks a figure made Law's eyes narrow: "It's him — Vergo! He didn't die with Doflamingo after all."
So that was who had it in for him: Vergo — of course. Vergo knew Law had eaten the Operation Fruit. Law forced himself to calm and barked the last order: "Dive!"
Below the waves the sub began its descent, but the Navy was prepared. Vergo raised a hand and ordered, "Fire torpedoes — force them to surface!"
Soon torpedoes streaked from the hulls. Explosions rocked the water and the sub. Bepo shouted in panic, "We're done for — they actually brought torpedoes!"
Law swore through his teeth: "Vergo, you bastard!"
A torpedo detonated less than a meter from the hull and the sub rocked violently. Someone yelled, "The hull's cracked — water's flooding in!"
Law lost it for a second and bellowed, "Seal the breach — now!"
"It's too large, Captain — we can't patch it!" came the answer.
If they dove deeper they'd sink; staying down would kill them. The only choice was to surface. Law was left with no option but to come up and beach the damaged sub on the island's shore.
The three Navy ships anchored and Vergo led his marines ashore, smiling like a cat playing with mice. He approached Law and said mockingly, "Law — long time no see."
Law's jaw clenched. "Vergo."
Vergo's smile hardened. "Call me Commander Vergo, if you please." He didn't linger on greetings; he barked to his men, "Arrest every one of them. Anyone who resists — shoot to kill."
A pitched fight broke out. The Marines outnumbered the Heart Pirates heavily. Law's crew were still unrefined rookies; from the start the battle was lopsided.
Law was furious. The only way to turn the tide was to strike at the head: take out Vergo, force the Marines to negotiate. He decided to act.
"ROOM!" Law shouted — his power expanded. In an instant he vanished from where he stood and reappeared behind Vergo, slashing with his blade.
Clang! Steel rang against steel — Law's blade did not pierce Vergo. Vergo turned calmly with a cold sneer. "You still haven't learned Armament Haki, Law? Pathetic."
Meanwhile, in Wano's Flower Capital:
Ro-star's group had rested a night and split up to handle the many tasks that come with running a country. Yamato, as Wano's commander, had a backlog of duties and left early. Zoro immediately found Wano's gravity training rooms — a treasure in his eyes — and dove into relentless training. His late masters, Kengsaburō and Kengshirō, met with old comrades like Tengu Yamafuku to reminisce.
Ro-star himself slipped quietly to Little Purple's private compound, carrying the Slip-Slip Fruit he'd taken earlier. The fruit made skin ultra-slick and could even let someone slide along the ground. Ro-star was curious what would happen if Little Purple ate it — would she be so slippery he could hold her in his arms without needing to move?
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442