257. Undercurrent

'Marines captured Shanks!'

But...

"Vice Captain, what's our next move? Should we attempt to infiltrate Impel down?"

Someone inquired of Beckman, with a bit of uncertainty.

Beckman, the vice-captain, holds this position not only because is not much weaker than the captain but also due to his resourcefulness and intelligence.

With the captain absent, Beckman now stands as the undisputed leader.

"Don't fret, we will surely head there, but the time isn't ripe yet," Beckman reassured.

Waving his hand, Beckman's thoughts raced, contemplating strategies to free Shanks.

"Hold on, fetch the newspaper, let me have a look!" A sudden idea struck him, and Beckman uttered in a grave tone to the pirate.

Considering the present circumstances, breaking through the Marine's blockade and reaching Impel down seems utterly impossible.

They require assistance from external sources!

The presence of another individual at the scene during Shanks' capture holds significant importance. It, at least, provides them with hope and potential.

Teach from Whitebeard Pirates!

A tinge of surprise briefly crossed Beckman's eyes, but he maintained a composed expression.

Certainly, there's a way to turn the situation around.

"How are things going?" Lucky Roux and the rest turned their attention to Beckman, who raised his head suddenly and inquired with concern.

"The crucial factor is the Whitebeard Pirates, but they're clearly insufficient. The Whitebeard Pirates alone can only create limited chaos for the Marines."

"So..."

"We simply need to boost our chips," Beckman stated with depth in his eyes. He rose slowly, surveyed the room, and spoke with determination.

"Chips?"

"That's correct. Spread the word. We're heading to Sabaody Archipelago and back to Paradise!"

"Sabaody Archipelago? What's our purpose there?" someone asked with curiosity.

"We're looking for Mr. Rayleigh. He and the captain were both part of the Pirate King's crew. He won't sit idly by!"

Beckman asserted decisively, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

...,,,,,,,,

East Blue, Poya Island.

It's a typical island in East Blue, featuring a village with a modest population.

Residents here lead lives similar to those in most East Blue islands.

They work diligently from sunrise to sunset.

At times, passing pirates would stumble upon the island. If lucky, the hard-earned savings built over a lifetime could be plundered.

Unluckily, the lives of several villagers might also be at risk.

Even in East Blue, renowned as the 'symbol of peace,' pirate intrusions remained a nuisance, and robberies were all too frequent.

However...

That situation inexplicably vanished more than ten years ago.

In any case, the younger generation has never encountered what's commonly known as pirates. They lack an understanding of how detestable pirates can be.

Contrarily, they often express eagerness to set sail, become pirates, and uncover the legendary secret treasure of One Piece.

However, during those times, the village elders would typically scold them.

Even though pirates seldom visit the area now, most of the older folks have lived through that dark period, fostering a profound hatred towards pirates!

As for why this island has enjoyed over ten years of uninterrupted peace, they are not quite sure.

For more than a decade, nothing out of the ordinary has occurred on their island.

The sole distinction lies in the arrival of a man thirteen years ago.

The man, named Gaban...

At this moment, on the outskirts of Poya Village, a hut constructed from thick logs peacefully stood, surrounded by dense woods.

On regular days, few villagers ventured into this area unless there were those with strong self-discipline looking to prove something.

Powerful beasts frequently roamed in and out, serving as the forest's most effective protective shield.

A gust of wind passed, and a robust man sporting round sunglasses emerged from the forest. Spotted white hair was secured in a ponytail by a slim black rope, swaying behind his head.

With a bundle of firewood on his back and a sharp axe in his right hand, he walked purposefully.

Ignoring the other person's imposing physique, he might appear more akin to a regular woodcutter.

Thud!

Advancing with a firm stride, he reached the front of the wooden house. The firewood on his back tumbled to the ground one by one, emitting a dull sound and a cloud of dust.

"Time flies by so swiftly. I didn't anticipate that thirteen years would elapse. I wonder how everyone else is faring."

Observing the robust wooden house before him, a smile graced the man's lips.

It feels like reminiscing about the days of sailing, filled with passion, blood, adventure, and profound bonds forged in battle.

But those days are now behind.

The robust man shook his head slightly, a hint of nostalgia crossing his face.

Nevertheless, this current life isn't bad at all.

With this thought, the man brushed his slightly dusty left hand on his body, hoisted the axe with a glint of cold light on his shoulder, and proceeded slowly towards the wooden house's door.

Pere~Pere~Pere~Pere~!

Abruptly, a rushed den den mushi echoed, halting the man in his tracks.

"....."

Frowning slightly, the man deftly reached into his trouser pockets.

He had a den den mushi with him, and he was the sole possessor of the den den mushi's number.

The only individuals aware of this number were those old folks from the ship.

Kachak

Without hesitation, he retrieved the den den mushi and answered the call.

A voice, both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, emanated.

"Hey! It's me, Rayleigh..."

....

In the outside world, a message was relayed from Naval Headquarters to the seas.

Marines are set to execute a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marshall D.Teach, at Marineford headquarters!

The world is in turmoil!

Those astute enough will sense an unusual atmosphere prevailing.

Marines are gearing up to declare war on the Whitebeard Pirates!

Apart from being the most powerful figure on the seas, Whitebeard is renowned for fiercely safeguarding his "family," a defining trait of his character.

It can be asserted that family is Whitebeard's sensitive point!

The unequivocal objective of the Marines this time is to provoke Whitebeard.

Even though Whitebeard was aware that this was a trap, and the possibility of no return loomed, he had no intention of backing down.

Because...

He is Whitebeard!

And this era is also defined by Whitebeard!

Everyone senses the shift in the sea.

Significant changes are on the horizon.

But there's no doubt about it.

The Whitebeard Pirates are doomed this time!

Despite the reluctance of many pirates to accept it, the current Marines are undeniably overwhelming the Whitebeard Pirates!

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