This can't be…
It doesn't make sense.
Sengoku sat at his desk, holding his head in his hands, unable to comprehend the situation.
Wasn't this Loget Larvin guy just a scapegoat they picked from a bunch of pirates to appease the Celestial Dragons?
How did he end up actually attacking the Celestial Dragons?
"Could it be that he really did it back then?"
Sengoku scratched his head.
Did I wrongly accuse Vivian?
"Tsuru, what do you think about this?"
"I'm not sure…" Tsuru shook her head.
She was equally puzzled. She had thoroughly investigated this Larvin guy.
A lecherous pirate from the West Blue, with many women, who always ran away from the Marines, never daring to confront them head-on.
And such a cowardly, lecherous person, you say he dared to raid a Celestial Dragon's ship and free slaves?
She found it hard to believe.
"Do you think it's possible he was just pushed to the edge?"
"Pushed to the edge?" Sengoku looked at Tsuru, signaling her to continue.
"We've been sending forces to chase the Sharpshooter Pirates on the Grand Line for almost three months, capturing many of his crew and his two wives… Do you think he might have shot at the Celestial Dragons to retaliate against us?"
"Retaliate…" Sengoku adjusted his glasses, thinking for a moment, and felt Tsuru's reasoning made sense.
"But regardless, his actions this time have confirmed his previous crimes."
Now, even if he tried to explain that he wasn't the one who attacked the Celestial Dragons before, no one would believe him.
"By the way, where's Vivian?" Tsuru asked.
"Oh, I assigned him to Impel Down, with Magellan keeping an eye on him. If anything unusual happens, Magellan will report to me."
"By unusual, you mean… the Revolutionary Army?"
The office fell silent.
After a while, Sengoku stood up and said, "I just hope this is a misunderstanding."
After all, using Ace to lure out a traitor was too high a price to pay.
…
The scene shifted back to the Sabaody Archipelago.
Seeing a wall of black-clad bodyguards in front of Saint Rosward, Larvin steeled himself, ready to fire indiscriminately. But just as he pulled the trigger, a pink-haired woman with a green hat kicked him in the butt, sending him tumbling into a trash can on the street.
"Ugh!"
Spitting out the debris from his mouth, Larvin quickly aimed his gun upwards, but froze when he saw the woman's face.
"A… a beauty?"
"Hey, you're that sharpshooter Larvin, right?"
The pink-haired woman jumped down from the rooftop, grabbed Larvin by the collar, and angrily questioned him, "Do you know what you've done? You shot at a Celestial Dragon and injured him! Do you know an Admiral is coming to this island soon?"
"An… Admiral?" Larvin tilted his head.
Attacking a Celestial Dragon would attract a Navy Admiral?
This was his first time attacking a Celestial Dragon; he had no idea such a thing would happen.
"Damn it…" The pink-haired woman threw Larvin to the ground, then turned and ran out of the alley without saying another word.
"Hey, where are you going?" Larvin asked instinctively.
"Of course, I'm running away." The pink-haired woman turned back and gave Larvin the middle finger. "The ship's coating isn't even finished, and I haven't had a proper meal. I'll have to wait until next time to enter the New World."
With that, she didn't bother with Larvin anymore and disappeared around the corner.
"Pink hair…" Larvin watched the woman's disappearing figure, constantly recalling her flowing long hair and that incredibly wild kick.
"I think… I'm in love 'again'."
…
"Sorry, Miss Tashigi, I was too reckless just now." In an inconspicuous restaurant by the street, Kuto looked apologetically at Tashigi's bandaged hand, feeling guilty.
He had been told to be more tactful, but he still couldn't hold back…
"It's not your fault. As a navy with a strong sense of justice, it's normal to not be able to stand such things." Tashigi shook her head.
"But… if it were Vivian, he would definitely be much calmer than me…"
"No." Tashigi retorted, "If Vivian were here, he would definitely teach that Celestial Dragon a lesson without alarming the admiral."
Kuto: "…"
Why does it feel like I should be even more ashamed after hearing that?
"Listen, Kuto, we might have a chance to destroy the human trafficking organization on the Sabaody Archipelago."
Tashigi lowered her voice.
"Destroy the human trafficking organization?" Kuto was surprised.
"Yes." Tashigi nodded, "This was planned by Captain Smoker before we landed. Now that the admiral is on his way, it won't be long before this place becomes chaotic. Then we'll take the opportunity to rescue all the slaves in the auction house…"
Tashigi's plan was simple: while the arriving admiral was capturing the pirates on the island, they would quietly release the slaves in the auction house and capture the culprits organizing the auction.
With everyone's attention on the admiral and the Celestial Dragons, their task would be much easier. {Pirates!!}
"So what should we do now?" Kuto adjusted his glasses and asked, "Enter the auction house and participate in the auction?"
"Exactly." Tashigi nodded.
With that, they both put on their hoods and quickly left the restaurant without even finishing their meal.
…
An hour after the Celestial Dragon shooting incident.
Still on the Sabaody Archipelago, in the 22nd district.
Upon hearing that his father had been attacked, Saint Charlos quickened his pace to leave the public area and return to his private room in the auction house. On the way, he encountered three medical personnel transporting an injured person.
"Hmm?" Saint Charlos ordered his entourage to stop and cast his gaze over. "Mere humans, how dare you wander in front of me?"
"Hey, you guys, stop right there!"
The accompanying bodyguard immediately shouted at the three, "Seeing Lord Saint Charlos, why aren't you kneeling?"
"Sorry… We are transporting a critically ill patient and every second counts. Please let us go…"
The leading doctor bowed and pleaded with the Celestial Dragon.
But the next second, Saint Charlos mercilessly kicked the injured person to the ground, then pulled out a flintlock pistol and pointed it at the injured person's head, smiling:
"Since he's critically ill, let's just put him out of his misery."