I'm A Great Pirate, And You Say I Just Set Sail?

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Grand Line.

Marine Headquarters – Marineford.

A red-haired female admiral kicked open the Fleet Admiral's office door with a bang, slammed her palm on the desk, and demanded furiously:

"Yama-jiji! Why won't you let me go?! I just fought that bastard Magnus—no one understands his tactics better than I do!"

"Ahem... Rona, calm down," said Fleet Admiral Zou Yama, coughing lightly and gesturing for her to settle down.

"I already dispatched Sebas and Kū. Plus, this was an order from above. You just fought White Wolf Magnus and your injuries haven't even healed—"

"Those scratches? Long healed!"

"Yes, yes…"

Zou Yama looked at the furious Rona—hair bristling, hand on her sword—and felt a massive headache coming on.

How could he tell her that "above" believed she had been overwhelmed by Magnus in their battle and had doubts about her competence, so they decided to send more senior admirals instead?

Adopting a soft tone, Zou Yama said:

"Rona, you know how furious the higher-ups are about the Navy losing the Tenjōkin (Heavenly Tribute). They've already ordered that the Marines must recover it within a month."

After all, the Tenjōkin was the Celestial Dragons' tax, escorted exclusively by the Navy.

In nearly a century, no pirate had dared to touch it.

Now one had.

A pirate actually dared to rob the Heavenly Tribute—it was a direct slap to their face.

The Gorōsei (Five Elders) were absolutely livid, ordering that the Tribute be recovered within one month, and that the perpetrator be captured.

If not, the Navy would have to make up the shortfall out of next year's military budget.

Zou Yama was understandably annoyed.

Because it was impossible!

How were they supposed to know where Magnus had gone?

If he'd taken the entire cargo ship, they might have tracked him.

But now?

Magnus only took the goods, leaving the ship behind.

Tracking him on this vast ocean was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

And besides…

They couldn't send every admiral to chase one pirate.

The seas were still full of powerful pirates, even if no one had yet claimed the title of Pirate King.

"Rona, the Giant Shark Pirates have been active near Dressrosa lately. If you can take care of them quickly, I'll let you join the operation against White Wolf Magnus. How about it?"

"You promise?"

"Promise."

Rona flicked her red hair and left the office without another word.

Zou Yama rubbed his nearly bald head and sighed.

"You're over seventy, old man... Why come out here to cause trouble again, huh, Magnus? Couldn't you just retire quietly?"

He had infiltrated their territory without a sound… and robbed the Celestial Dragons.

Zou Yama massaged his temples as he read the report from Rear Admiral Robby of GL Branch 9.

"That kid Kū really drew the short straw this time."

New World.

Seven deep green Marine warships sailed across the sea.

Each ship was over seventy meters long, decks filled with armed marines.

Add a few more and they'd almost qualify as a Buster Call.

Technically, a Buster Call required ten warships and five Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals.

But even now, among these seven ships were three Vice Admirals, one Admiral candidate, and one full Admiral.

"Can't get a moment of peace…"

An old man, tall and wiry with a sleazy face, lounged in a beach chair on the deck of a warship, receiving a massage from two attractive female slaves, and grumbled:

"He never won even once before, but now he beat that little Rona when she let her guard down, and he's getting all cocky."

"Can't they just let me retire in peace?"

Beside him, a middle-aged man with hair like a sea urchin replied seriously:

"Admiral Jōma, White Wolf Magnus is a legend who has ruled these seas for decades. We should take this more seriously."

"Tch. He's just another old fart like me."

Jōma cackled and shamelessly groped the woman beside him.

"Besides, I'm better looking! Right, Kū?"

Kū glanced at Jōma's disgusting horse-face and thought of Magnus, whom he'd seen years ago. He simply couldn't bring himself to agree.

"Anyway, you're in charge of ship command, Kū."

Laughing, the old man walked into the cabin with his two collared slaves.

Kū and the other marines acted as if nothing unusual had happened—they were clearly used to it.

Kū looked out at the endless sea and murmured:

"Where are you now…"

"White Wolf Magnus."

Sphinx.

Located in the middle of the New World, Sphinx was not just an island—it was a full-fledged nation with tens of thousands of people.

But due to its remote location and barren land, it couldn't pay enough Tribute to qualify as a World Government member nation, and so had no Marine protection.

Magnus had visited this place over a decade ago.

Back then, the nation was already crumbling under constant pirate raids.

Using his reputation at the time, Magnus drove off many of the pirates and established the island as a pirate waypoint.

Gradually, it became a hub for fencing stolen goods.

Over ten years passed.

The people still lived hard lives, but it was far better than when they were just pillaged outright.

Still, Magnus wasn't satisfied.

Back then, he wasn't strong enough.

His name could scare off average pirates, but not those with titles like his own.

As he spent more and more time away from the island, power fragmented.

Multiple powerful pirates claimed pieces of the territory.

His flag no longer flew over the island.

But to say he took control of the island to protect its people—

That would be a lie.

He was actually looking for someone.

A man named Edward Newgate.

But a decade ago, he hadn't found him.

Because by the standard timeline, Newgate might have only just been born—still a child.

Now, Magnus didn't have high hopes either.

He only remembered that Charlotte Linlin had been abandoned to Elbaf a few years ago.

As for when Edward Newgate set sail—that he didn't know.

That man who, in the future, would be called:

"The World's Strongest"—Whitebeard, Edward Newgate!

(End of Chapter)

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