Conclusion

Jessie floated in the air looking down on the water's surface. Sea Kings emerged from the waters and started eating Ledger's sliced-up body. A few of them rose from the waters and surrounded him.

"This isn't a good idea on your part."

He retook his human form and kicked the air to stay afloat.

"Do you know how many of you I've killed and eaten? I'm full now, so I'll let you go."

The Sea Kings moved closer to him. His eyes narrowed and waves of haki emitted from his body. The Sea Kings immediately submerged in the sea to escape. Jessie started grinning and headed back to the island.

On the island, the locals were cleaning up the invaders. With all their leaders gone, they started to panic.

"Get back on the ship! We have to-"

A pirate's head flew off his body mid-sentence. Caria walked past him breathing heavily.

"Why are you wearing yourself out? Just let the others handle it."

Tate spoke to her while sitting on the ground.

"Why aren't you taking this more seriously? We can't allow anybody to know the location of our island. We need to purge every single one of them."

"I know but you can leave it to Luka."

Tate pointed to Luka with his thumb. He formed giant mercury tentacles and was using them to crush and swallow the pirates before roasting them with boiling mercury.

"You're exhausted and took a lot of damage because you weren't at your peak when fighting. You need to rest."

"Luka took a lot of damage too."

"Yeah, but he's...Well, different so you don't need to worry about him."

Tate slapped his thigh.

"I can give you a lap pillow if you like."

"That's a disgusting offer."

"What? How? You used to love sleeping here when you were a kid."

"Keyword, KID."

"I'm 20 now. It's creepy you even offered."

"R-Really?"

Tate looked perplexed but in his mind.

(Good, she's taking a break to catch her breath. I just need to keep her distracted and allow her to rest.)

"By the way, Astrid said Frantz is on the verge of death. I sent some doctors but..."

"Huh? Frantz is?"

Tate nodded.

"Do you wanna go check on him?"

Caria looked around at Luka killing the pirates and nodded. She left to go into town. Tate watched her leave. The smile slowly left his face.

"Astrid."

"Yeah?"

Astrid was looking in a mirror and fixing his hair.

"There's a traitor on the island."

Tate said with a straight face.

"How do you know that?"

"The pirates said they listened in on a call saying we're going to Sabody to attack pirates gathered by Strawhat Luffy to enter the New World. That's a lie. Both we attacking Sabody and Strawhat Luffy gathering pirates."

"How do you know he isn't gathering pirates?"

"I'll tell you later."

Astrid looked at Tate's reflection in the mirror.

"I understand. So, what do you think?"

"Someone from the island purposely attracted the pirates here."

"Possibility of it being someone from the navy?"

"High but my instinct says the culprit is on the island."

"Possibility of it being one of the Supreme Five?"

"Zero."

Tate answered without hesitation.

"Then, the Sheriff?"

"Low."

"Low, not zero?"

"Felix is loyal to the World Government, however, he's more loyal to the people of this island. He would never endanger the people unless it's necessary for our long-term survival."

"Then, I take it what you're hiding is the reason why you said the possibility was low, not zero? It must be something outrageous if you think it could threaten our survival to the point the sheriff would step in."

Tate stayed quiet for a bit.

"It isn't the sheriff."

"How do you know?"

"Because who drew the pirates here don't know an important piece of information, one that proves they were lying about Strawhat Luffy's activities. The sheriff knows this information because I gave it to him two days ago."

"...I see."

Astrid returned to fixing his hair.

"So, what should I do if I find this traitor?"

"Purge them."

Astrid put away the mirror.

"Roger."

Meanwhile, Luffy was back on his feet.

"Damn it. That guy caught me off guard. I still don't know what happened."

"Luffy, if you want, I can go find and discipline him."

Hancock was circling Luffy checking for injuries.

"Nah, I sensed someone strong going after him. They'll deal with him."

"Alright, I'll leave it to them."

Hancock sighed in relief after not finding any major injuries.

"Are you okay, Hancock? You have a couple of wounds and is bleeding."

"It's so sweet that you're worried about me!"

Hancock's body wiggled like a serpent.

"Of course, I'd be worried. I've said it over and over again, you're important to me."

Hancock stopped wiggling after hearing Luffy's serious tone.

"A lot of people died today. I'm really glad you aren't one of them."

He looked at the Kuja girls.

"I'm glad none of you died."

The girls smiled at Luffy. He looked around at Hancock.

"Since I was useless this time, you get some rest. I'll help clean up the pirates."

Hancock opened her mouth and suddenly memories started flowing into her head. It was memories from the night before. She remembered drinking with Caria, partying with the bounty hunters, and most importantly, kissing Luffy.

"......"

As if she was hit with her own ability, she froze.

"What's wrong, Hancock? You look sick?"

Before she realized it, Luffy's face was in front of hers.

"Uwaa!"

She backpedaled as hard as she could and formed some distance between them.

"What's wrong with you? Did whoever you were fighting hit you on the head?"

Hancock shook her head vigorously.

"I-I'm alright. I just need to...think about some stuff."

"Is that so?"

Luffy turned his back to her.

"Alright then, I'm going to help out."

He flew at the retreating pirates and started knocking them down.

"Are you alright, Snake Princess?"

Cosmo asked Hancock.

"I-I-I-I'm fine. Don't worry."

Hancock's voice was shaky, and her eyes were spinning in her head.

(Granny, I need to talk to Granny!)

She screamed in her head.

"What should I do now?!"

While Hancock was having a panic attack, Jessie arrived at the shore.

"I'm back."

He landed gently from the sky with a smile on his face.

"How did it go?"

Tate asked him.

"He certainly lived up to his title of Supernova. His abilities were amazing."

"But you still defeated him easily."

"Well, yeah."

Jessie looked around at the bounty hunters taking out the pirates. He saw Niara, Shelly, and Panthera laying on the ground.

"Looks like you have everything under control."

He turned his attention to Luka who was gruesomely taking down pirates.

"He's lost control again."

He frowned.

"Cut the kid some slack this time."

Tate spoke up.

"He has all right to be angry."

"Hmm...I just you're right."

Several pirates were flung in his direction. He swung his leg and a blade of air cut them and stopped them in their tracks.

"Huh? That looks like the technique that Pigeon Guy and his friends used."

Luffy spoke while approaching them. Jessie and Astrid look at him with intrigue and indifference respectively.

"Who's this?"

Jessie asked.

"He's one of the castaways who arrived yesterday."

Tate answered.

"Then he's with that woman?"

Astrid started showing a bit more interest.

"Hey, do you have a friend with a talking pigeon?"

Luffy asked Jessie.

"Do you mean parrot?"

"No, pigeon."

Jessie looked at Tate.

"I thought pigeons can't talk. Were they ignoring me all those times I tried talking to one, or is he stupid like me?"

"Pigeons can't talk."

That was all Tate said about the matter.

"More importantly, did Ledger say anything?"

(I need to know the identity of the traitor before I go forward with my plans.)

Tate thought.

"He did. He said he sent pirates to attack from the opposite coast."

"Opposite coast? That's the residential area and where the orphanage is."

Tate thought about it for a bit and smiled.

"Then this thing is over with."

"What do you mean? Didn't he say there were pirates attacking elsewhere?"

Luffy asked.

"He did, but you don't have to worry."

Tate grinned.

"Because that's where our last boss is."

Near the hills that served as the residential area of the island.

"Haa...What a big waste of time."

Somebody was sitting and looking down on the shore where the battle took place.

"You guys got so swept up in your battles that you didn't think to question the invaders' strategy."

They sighed again.

"Ugh..."

A groan reached their ears. They pulled out a pistol and fired below them. The groaning stopped.

"Because of you guys, I had to leave the brats alone."

They started rubbing their head in irritation.

"I just know those brats are making a mess with nobody to watch them."

If someone had stumbled on this scene, they would see hundreds of bodies stacked into piles. Each body had the world government mark carved into them. Next to them were dozens of people nailed to crucifixes with the classic Jolly Roger designs carved into them. Until the bodies stacked together, they were still alive; although only barely. The person sat on one of the corpse hills. They stood up and a golden star with the word "Sheriff" became visible.

"How long do I have to clean up your mess, Tate?"

This was the Sheriff of Bounty Island, Felix Crouch.