Chapter 150: Navy Traitor, One Billion Bounty (Part 2)

"All of you, come back! Regarding this matter, Mary Geoise has already issued an order."

Without saying anything further, Sengoku gave a direct command.

"Understood!" Hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Kuzan immediately supported Borsalino, and together with Onigumo, boarded the warship. He knew that before long, this incident would spread across the entire world, for such a battle could not be kept hidden.

Meanwhile, back in his office at Marineford, Sengoku rubbed his forehead with one hand while tapping the desk with the other, his mind in complete turmoil.

"How is Zephyr?" After a moment of silence, Sengoku broke the oppressive atmosphere. What he feared most was that Zephyr might do something foolish.

"It's hard to tell. He stays in his villa all day long, and sometimes he goes to the back mountain, standing there for hours on end," Tsuru sighed, feeling utterly exhausted in both body and mind.

"Let's hope he doesn't do anything reckless!" Sengoku sighed.

"He won't. We all know what kind of person he is. The justice in his heart won't be broken that easily," Garp said with absolute confidence, trusting Zephyr implicitly.

"We should be figuring out how to deal with the situation concerning Xuanye!" Sengoku picked up a document from his desk.

"We can only carry out the orders from Mary Geoise. Since the matter cannot be undone, we must minimize the fallout," Tsuru mused.

"I have a way to capture that fellow." At that moment, Akainu sat in his chair with a gloomy expression, though no one knew the excitement surging within him at that very moment.

Everyone turned their gazes toward Akainu.

"Aren't that guy's subordinates still within the Marines? Especially that monkey. As long as we use them as leverage, I refuse to believe that fellow won't take the bait." Completely confident, it had to be said that as an opponent, Akainu understood Xuanye quite well.

However, at that moment, no one in the office spoke; everyone looked at Akainu with dark expressions.

"What? Is this method unfeasible? Trust me, knowing that guy the way I do, he will definitely take the bait," Akainu said once again, wanting Sengoku and the others to agree with his plan and put it into action.

"Akainu, are you trying to get yourself killed?" Garp stared fiercely at Akainu, making no effort to conceal his intense disgust.

"Akainu, you are a Marine Admiral. You must remember this. I don't want there to be a next time," Sengoku said in a suppressed, angry voice.

"What's wrong with this method? To capture that bastard, what does sacrificing a few Marines matter?" Akainu stood up, refusing to back down.

"Akainu, have you lost your mind? Do not bring your personal vendetta against that fellow into the Marines! If you want Zephyr to wipe you out without holding back, then don't you dare entertain this idea," Tsuru pounded heavily on the desk, her tone laced with anger.

"Personal vendetta? What about when that guy killed my subordinates back then? Didn't he let his emotions interfere with the Marines? Besides, that guy is no longer a Marine; he's a pirate, the worst kind of marine scum."

With a face full of disdain, Akainu sneered coldly.

"If you want to plunge the entire Marines into damnation, then by all means, go ahead and try. Or perhaps you possess the strength to evade that madman's pursuit?" Garp crossed his legs, looking at Akainu with utter indifference.

"Hmph, it has been a kill-or-be-killed situation between that fellow and me for a long time. As long as he dares to come, I dare to capture him," Akainu said with supreme confidence.

"Delusional," Garp scoffed dismissively, too lazy to speak to him any further.

"Akainu, I will ask you only one thing: if you kill those people and Xuanye doesn't show up, how will you clean up this mess?" Tsuru asked, her face stern as she gazed coldly at Akainu.

"If he doesn't come, it simply means that fellow is nothing special after all—just a coward."

"You make it sound so easy. You must realize that that fellow is currently completely on his own and possesses Admiral-level strength. If he decides to destroy a Marine stronghold, I doubt anyone can stop him. In comparison, people with power networks aren't nearly as terrifying; what's terrifying is someone who has both immense strength and nothing to tie him down."

"Furthermore, that madman's personality cannot be judged by ordinary standards. Therefore, we can only wait for an opportunity in the future. Besides, those people are also part of the Marines' strength. If we punish them for such a trivial reason, how will the other Marines view us? How will the world view us?"

Silence. Heavy breathing filled the entire hall, and even Akainu stopped talking.

"What a headache!" Sengoku sighed. This time, those three Celestial Dragons were entirely to blame for directly robbing the Marines of an Admiral-level combat force out of nowhere.

"A bunch of fools," Sengoku muttered curses under his breath, unable to help himself. He now loathed those idiots to the core.

--------------------------

The next day, a piece of news shook the entire ocean.

Across the seas, anyone with a little spare coin held a newspaper in their hands.

Marine traitor, Headquarters Vice Admiral, Xuanye Tang has defected from the Marines and brutally murdered three World Nobles—the Celestial Dragons—at the Sabaody Archipelago.

After fighting against a Marine Headquarters Admiral, he fled after being outmatched.

In the newspaper, a pool of blood covered the ground, and a single figure surrounded by flames, with glowing gold and red eyes, stood quietly upon the earth.

Moreover, right in the center of the newspaper, a striking headline shocked the entire world.

Bounty: Heavenly God Bird - Tang Xuanye, 1 Billion Berries.

In the New World, at an undisclosed location in a dimly lit room, several figures sat quietly. In the center, a newspaper lay flat upon the table.

"Doflamingo, that guy actually killed the Celestial Dragons. He's completely lawless! But since this guy is no longer a Marine, things will be easier for us."

"No, on the contrary. Since this guy is no longer a Marine, we have to be even more careful." Rubbing his forehead, Donquixote Doflamingo wore an ugly expression. He knew that as long as he became a Warlord of the Sea, Xuanye, being a Marine, wouldn't be able to make a move against him.

Yet, never did he expect this fellow to be so ferocious as to actually kill the Celestial Dragons and defect from the Marines. This meant that even if he became a Warlord, that guy could still come looking for trouble at any time.

Also in the New World, in uncharted waters, a massive ship sailed majestically across the ocean.

"pops, something major has happened in the Marines! That guy actually killed the Celestial Dragons and defected!"

"Oh? Let me see." A massive hand radiating overwhelming Conqueror's Haki reached out as a pair of piercing, sharp eyes scanned the newspaper.

After finishing the article, the man grinned broadly and laughed. "It seems the oceans won't be peaceful anymore. Sengoku, oh Sengoku, it looks like the World Government has begun to crumble."

Meanwhile, in the East Blue, at the Windmill Village, a certain tavern was open for business as usual.

"Makino, come quick! There's news about that kid!" A middle-aged man rushed into the tavern, holding a newspaper excitedly.

"Uncle Genzou, really?" With long, flowing hair and a look of pleasant surprise, Makino anxiously stared at the newspaper in the man's hands.

"See for yourself."

Hastily taking the paper, her eyes immediately landed on the person she had been yearning for day and night.

However, the more she read, the more worried her expression became. He had actually killed the Celestial Dragons and defected from the Marines.

Heart pounding with anxiety, Makino was filled with dread. What should she do? Is he doing okay right now?

"Don't worry, Makino. Doesn't the paper say he escaped? Maybe he'll come looking for you before long." Uncle Genzou sensed the worry in her heart and offered words of comfort.

Her eyes lit up, and Makino put down the newspaper, leaving her heart filled with longing and anticipation.

"Finally... finally I can see him again. I've missed him so much."

........................................