The Pirates Movement (2)

"I sent some of our agents in the north to scout what is happening there when we got a piece of information from our agent, who is acting undercover as a pirate captain. He told us that Don Krieg, the captain of the Krieg Pirates is hosting a pirate gathering..."

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

He explained what had been happening in the past few days and how they got alerted about the pirates gathering from a combination of reports from their agents and intel from their undercover agent, who were able to get the gathering location.

After learning about this news, he and LittleFinger swiftly dealt with the spy, and then they determined it would be best to send a fleet of ships to Check the surrounding area of the Pirate gathering site while they prepared to invade it.

But before even arriving near the gathering site, the fleet of ships was obliterated one after the other without getting any information...

This surprised Bryan, who didn't think the pirates would be this prepared for them since they couldn't get any more information from their spy.

"After discussing this issue with Damien and LittleFinger, we decided to send another fleet, but this time, only one empty ship will voyage at a time while carrying a Cameko to transmit everything they could see before the vessel is obliterated." (A.N: Visual Den Den Mushi, Cameko to transmit everything they could see.)

"What the Cameko showed us is that the surrounding area of the island is filled with fog and many destroyed ships making it difficult to get near the island, and we were able to catch a glimpse of the thing that destroyed our prior fleet..."

"And it is," Masterson asked with a solemn expression. Zoro and Zeff were also carrying a similar look on their face.

"It's a large cannon that fires a special cannonball that, from what our spy could gather, the pirates calls it Buggy Balls."

"Buggy Ball?" Masterson asked.

"Yes, Buggy Balls, it used to be something that Buggy the Clown, the Captain of Buggy pirates, was secretly preparing for his voyage to the Grandline, but because of us, he was forced to join hands with Don Krieg and manufacture it on a large scale..."

"..." Zoro, Masterson, and Zeff's expressions darkened after hearing what Bryan said.

"With those cannonballs and the surrounding terrain, it made getting close to the island almost impossible."

"What if I-" Masterson got interrupted before he finished his speech.

"No, it's too risky for you to go alone since there are a large number of pirates gathered there, and from what our spy reported, their number is higher than 30 thousand, and with each passing day, it is becoming even larger. So for now, I order all our large ships to retreat and only leave the small ships to surround the area and gather information."

"I see..." Masterson's expression changed significantly after hearing about the number of pirates. With those

numbers, the pirates could start an all-out war with them.

"For now, it would be best if you two keep on doing what you've been doing. Until we have gathered more information about their plans and prepare for this incoming war." Bryan paused for a moment and then continued saying.

"I will keep you two updated on the latest news we've gathered. Until then, you two just need to focus on improving Zoro's strength since we will need to be stronger than ever."

The previous week, Zoro and Masterson's capture rate was hung up to be displayed on all the B.W bases to raise the morale and motivation of the agents.

Which has shown to work as the agent has been hunting even harder than ever before.

"Okay," Masterson said.

Thud!

"Bryan, you will need to sign those papers," Damien's voice could be heard through the Den Den Mushi as he placed a large pile of papers on Bryan's desk.

"Sigh... I have to go. See you guys later" Bryan's expression rapidly became ugly when he saw the large pile of papers he would need to sign. Sometimes he feels that Masterson took Zoro and ran away because of those never-ending papers, but he wouldn't do this to him, right?

"Hohohoho see your later, Clack!" Masterson closed the call while laughing at Bryan's expression. He felt it was the right decision to leave all this mess on Bryan's shoulders.

'It is good to have somebody this reliable working with you, Hohohoho.' Masterson thought with a big smile on his face. If Bryan knew his guess was correct, who knows what he might do.

Zoro looked at Zeff, who stood up and walked toward the window to look at the dark cloud above him while thinking.

'... Looks like a storm is brewing.'

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

The Next Day.

In Baratie docking area for their customers' ships, we could see the B.W ship filled with busy agents preparing the boat to sail.

Near the B.W ship's edge, we can see a man leaning on it and waving his hand, as he said. "See you later, Old friend."

"....Take care of yourself," Zeff blurt on accident after being silent at the beginning, making him regret it after processing what he said, which Masterson instantly used as a chance to attack.

"Huh? Hohoho I knew you cared about me!" Masterson had made a fake surprise and happy look on his face to irritated Zeff, which worked wonderfully as it made Zeff regret ever saying that.

Because he knew that Masterson would definitely use it whenever they met in the future. So he opened his mouth to curse at the B.W agents only for-

"Nami-sswannn! Carol Dear! Take care!" -Sanji to beat Zeff to it, as he cried loudly while waving his hand.

"Don't worry, Big Bro, we will take care of them."

"Yeah, so take care of yourself and old men Zeff too!" Johnny and Yosaku said as they waved at Sanji with tears in their eyes.

"If you are already this worried about them, then why don't you go with them, you Brat!" Zeff yelled as he angrily kicked Sanji into B.W's ship.

"I can't just leave you, Old Geezer!" Sanji yelled loudly as he jumped back into Baratie. He wouldn't-No couldn't leave the old man until he settled his debt, and besides, this is a turbulent time for the East Blue, making it even a more of a reason for him to stay here and help the helpless old man.

"Goodbye, Big brother Sanji, Uncle Zeff," Carol said as the ship slowly started to sail while waving her hand.

"Goodbye, Little One," Zeff said.

"Masterson, Take Care of them!" Sanji waved his hand as the ship slowly said away.

The ship slowly sails away, where everyone got occupied with their work, Nami navigating the vessel, Masterson commending the agents and training Johnny, Yosaku, and any agent who was free to join in while the agents were doing what they were told. Except for Carol, who was playing, and Zoro, who had gone back to training Soru and Tempest Kick since sunrise.

"Soru!" Zoro exclaimed as he kicked the ground 10 times with his tied legs, and it worked. He disappeared from where he was standing and reappeared a distance away.

'Huff... Huff... I need to grow even stronger and stronger for the incoming battles,' Zoro thought as he swung the two large metal slabs that compressed the air so much that it exploded and sent him crashing into the wall.

"Ahh!" Which knocked his breath out and made him fall to the ground.

'Huff... Huff... ' Where Zoro layed for a little while, then he stood up and went back to training.

"Tempest Slash!" Zoro once again swung the large slab of metal, which compressed the air to the right amount and sent an air blade toward the Dummy wearing metal armor.

Wosh! Ting!

The Air Blade flew swiftly and cuts the Dummy in half.

'Huff... Huff... In every 10 tries, Huff... only one comes out right...' Zoro thought as he breathed heavily with a satisfied expression on his face.

Just 4 days ago, he launched his first air blade, and now he found a way to gauge his improvement, so he is satisfied with the speed of his progress in Tempest Slash But...

"Soru!" Zoro shouted as he kicked the floor ten times, only for nothing to happen. He kicks it once more, but once again, nothing happens, and like that, he keeps on kicking three times, five times, 10 times, 20 times, but alas, nothing happens.

"Huff... Huff..." Zoro stopped to catch his breath, then wiped the sweat on his forehead in frustration.

Soru still gives him a headache because, until now, he can only lunch it randomly as he still cannot find a way to judge his progress. But it does feel like he is improving, even though it is slowly. Nevertheless, he is still improving.

And he didn't think he would need a rest until he took a moment rest and had some fun drinking with Masterson and Zeff yesterday.

Where it reminded him of how many things had changed those past two weeks since losing to Mr. 1. Many things have happened without giving him a moment of rest.

From joining Baroque Works, heading to Loguetown, meeting Masterson, finding out about Baroque Works' illegal trade, and fighting Masterson with Bryan as a partner to set out to hunt and get stronger in those two weeks, he had done more than he had done the past for 4 months.

Not only did he find ways to get stronger, he also met many great people and faced many challenges along the way.

He even got two new short-term goals: defeat all the pirates in East Blue and then defeat Mr. 1, whose word rings true even if it leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, even if he doesn't want to admit it.

He learned many things about this vast World from Masterson. From the types of Devil Fruits, Logic, Zoan, and paramecia. Learning how to get to the Grandline through the risky way, the Reverse Mountain, or the safe way by climbing the Redline through the Red port and into Redstone city. And everyone does indeed calls the East Blue the weakest sea, and even where he might find Mihawk...

Making his journey of getting stronger shorter than it would have been if he had joined, but he doesn't like how B.W does its business or how it recruits new members.