Two days had passed since the betrayal within Beehive Island. Doran and the others emerged from the tunnels, carrying Wang Zhi's lifeless body. With solemn expressions, they surrendered to the Phoenix Pirates and pledged to become a subordinate pirate crew under Marco's command.
Marco's eyes scanned Wang Zhi's corpse, and the AI system's voice rang in his mind: "Mission complete. Great pirate Wang Zhi eliminated. Reward: 2000 attribute points."
Glancing at his available attribute points, Marco noted that they had now reached seven thousand. He chose to hold off, aiming to save thirty thousand points for a future upgrade of either his Armament Haki or Observation Haki.
With Doran and his men's surrender, Beehive Island officially fell under Phoenix Pirates' control. True to his promise, Marco awarded 2.5 billion Berries to the former Wang Zhi crew.
Still, Marco did not fully trust them. Pirates who could betray Wang Zhi might betray him as well. Following his prearranged plan, he dispersed the three thousand former Wang Zhi Pirates across forty-three subordinate pirate crews, effectively preventing any possibility of rebellion.
The news of the Phoenix Pirates' victory spread like wildfire through the New World. Their triumph over Wang Zhi's once-dominant crew further cemented their position as one of the Four Emperors. Under Marco's leadership, the Phoenix Pirates were no longer in the shadow of Whitebeard—they were reclaiming their former glory.
Soon after, the new bounties for the Phoenix Pirates were officially announced:
Captain Phoenix Marco, 3.5 billion Berries
First Division acting commander Saku, 492 million Berries
Second Division Fire Fist Ace, 1.38 billion Berries
Third Division Diamond Jozu, 1.22 billion Berries
Fourth Division Sea Knight Jinbe, 555 million Berries
Fifth Division Flower Sword Vista, 1.435 billion Berries
Sixth Division Blamenco, 695 million Berries
Seventh Division Rakyō, 787 million Berries
Eighth Division Namur, 820 million Berries
Ninth Division Blenheim, 594 million Berries
Tenth Division Curiel, 795 million Berries
Eleventh Division Kingdew, 819 million Berries
Twelfth Division Harta, 650 million Berries
Thirteenth Division Atmos, 602 million Berries
Fourteenth Division Speed Jiru, 783 million Berries
Fifteenth Division Fossa, 908 million Berries
Sixteenth Division Izo, 668 million Berries
Not only the captains but also the affiliated crews saw significant increases in their bounties. After all, the Wang Zhi Pirates had been a powerful, decades-long presence in the seas, arguably the strongest crew below the Four Emperors. Yet, the Phoenix Pirates had defeated them swiftly, with minimal loss—a testament to their strength.
A grand celebration was held to honor the victory. The Phoenix Pirates had proven that, even without their old patriarch, they could protect their territories and continue to expand. Beehive Island would now serve as their primary base, fortified by Wang Zhi's decades of planning and defenses. Without the internal betrayal, Marco knew this conquest would have been far more difficult.
Meanwhile, in Marineford, the new Fleet Admiral Sakazuki oversaw the recently relocated Marine Headquarters, now occupying the former G-1 Branch after the old Marineford Headquarters was damaged in the war. His mood was grim. Just as he had assumed his role, such chaotic events had erupted.
Only days earlier, Admiral Aokiji had submitted his resignation. Sakazuki knew that Aokiji had likely lost faith or felt ashamed after his defeat. There was nothing he could do, and he had watched as the admiral quietly left the Marines.
Sakazuki muttered under his breath, "The seas are more chaotic than I imagined. Even after Whitebeard's death, I expected the world to tighten control, not for the Phoenix Pirates to rise so quickly."
At that moment, a Marine lieutenant commander rushed in, saluting smartly.
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, the new Seven Warlords of the Sea, 'Thousand-Face Buggy,' has arrived at Marineford Headquarters."
Sakazuki snorted coldly.
"Hmph, that clown? Disgraceful." Buggy was a former member of Gol D. Roger's crew, but his strength was laughable. Yet, during the Marineford War, he had stolen a visual den den mushi and appeared frequently, creating the illusion of power. The World Government had taken note, granting him the title of Warlord to control public perception.
"Fine," Sakazuki muttered, irritation clear in his voice. "Send someone to receive him. And quickly, prepare recommendations for the remaining two vacancies in the Seven Warlords!"
Back on Beehive Island, Marco had made the island the Phoenix Pirates' main base. The decades-old defenses crafted by Wang Zhi gave the island a formidable underground network, making it nearly impregnable—an asset Marco now controlled.
On the island's surface, Law practiced swordsmanship and Haki under Vista's guidance. Other Heart Pirates trained alongside Phoenix Pirate experts, learning to harness their strength.
More than a month had passed since Law joined Marco's crew. During that time, he not only honed his skills in Haki and swordsmanship but also observed battles between true New World powerhouses. The gap between himself and these legendary pirates became increasingly clear.
Suddenly, a messenger from the Fifth Division arrived, running breathlessly.
"Commander Vista, Law! Captain Marco is calling for you!"
Vista smiled faintly at Law, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Come on, Law. Marco has probably decided it's time for you to face Doflamingo."
Law's eyes flickered with determination, though his expression remained calm. He followed Vista wordlessly, stepping toward the next challenge that awaited him under the tutelage of the Phoenix Pirates.
___
Send Power stones for bonus chapters
Read chapters ahead on patron
Affordable tiers with great benefits
👉 patreon.com/Zphyr