One Piece: The Arm of Fate

In the blink of an eye, many years had already passed.

Shano couldn't help but wonder how Junichi was doing now. It really made one feel nostalgic.

Shano quickly pulled back his thoughts and showed a smile:

"It's just the season when cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Everyone can enjoy the flowers and the scenery on the way, organize your mood, and then we'll head to North Island together and have a fun, carefree day!"

Everyone immediately cheered.

"Yay!"

"I want to ride the Ferris wheel! Who's going with me?"

"That's so boring. The roller coaster and pirate ship are better!"

Amid the noisy chatter, the Falling Curtain slowly sailed into the dock.

…

At the same time—

Thor Island, North Island.

The usually bustling main street was now deathly silent, with only the heavy echo of military boots stepping on the stone road.

Squad after squad of Marine soldiers violently kicked open the doors of casinos and taverns, dragging panicked tourists out into the street and comparing them one by one with bounty posters.

"Report! No targets found on Casino Street!"

"The theater has been checked too, just normal tourists!"

"The amusement park has been cleared. Only two small-time pirates with a few million bounty were caught on the Ferris wheel!"

One disappointing report after another was gathered at the central fountain plaza.

In front of the fountain statue, Akainu paced back and forth with a grim face.

The marble ground beneath his feet already showed fine cracks—his anger clearly building and hard to contain.

Behind him, six people were handcuffed and kneeling on the ground, crying bitterly.

Beside them, a one-meter-tall sled dog also lay on the ground, whining pitifully.

"We were wrong! We really know we were wrong!"

"We shouldn't have pretended to be those infamous pirates just to get free food and drinks!"

"Please, Sir! Just forgive us this once!"

The Marines standing guard nearby looked at each other, their expressions a bit strange.

These people were clearly professional-level cosplay fans, perfectly imitating the Falling Curtain Pirates' outfits and looks.

Three men and three women. The leading black-haired man carried a long sword on his back, the white-haired man had a ring of cigars around his arm.

The fake old chef even had a steel-clad right leg…

If they hadn't immediately knelt and begged for mercy upon seeing the Marines, they might've actually fooled them.

In fact, they did fool them for a while.

The intelligence squad stationed here had been completely tricked.

They had watched for several days without noticing anything. If not for that…

"I wouldn't have crossed thousands of miles, rushing here at full speed,"

Akainu finally turned around, his cold gaze sweeping across the group:

"You may not be the targets, but based on previous records, you're repeat offenders—scamming, stealing, extorting."

"Normally, that's nothing. A few years in prison and you'd be out.

But this time, you just had to impersonate them… wasting so much of my time."

Akainu slowly raised his right arm, which began to turn into molten magma.

The searing heat distorted the air around him.

"Such a vile act—unforgivable."

The surrounding Marine soldiers quickly stepped back to both sides.

Those six people, handcuffed together, screamed and clung to each other in terror.

"No—don't!"

"Help us!"

"We really won't do it again!"

Akainu ignored them. Without any emotion, he raised his arm:

"Hellfire."

BOOM!

A torrential wave of blazing magma burst out, instantly engulfing all six people and the dog.

The screams only lasted a moment before going silent.

When the rising heat finally dispersed, there was almost no trace of human form left—only a pool of bubbling, scorched magma and a blackened mess.

So this is Admiral Sakazuki's way of doing things?

How ruthless…

The surrounding Marine soldiers all involuntarily shuddered.

Step, step, step—

Footsteps sounded from behind. Akainu turned around to face the two vice admirals he had specially summoned from HQ to complete this mission.

"Admiral Sakazuki,"

The one in front, a Vice Admiral with a cigar in his mouth, spoke seriously:

"The whole town has been searched. It's now confirmed 100%—

this was all caused by that group of idiots pretending to be the Falling Curtain Pirates and scamming for food."

"The real Swordmaster Shano and his crew never even set foot on this island."

His name was Dalmatian, a long-serving Vice Admiral from HQ.

He held the Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit, Dalmatian form, and always stayed in a half-human, half-beast shape.

"Indeed. Still, this operation wasn't completely pointless.

We accidentally caught a dozen pirates with bounties—it wasn't a total waste."

The tall, slender female Vice Admiral next to him licked her lips and smiled playfully.

Her name was Boomaya. She had originally been a Rear Admiral stationed at G-2, and just two months ago, had been promoted to HQ Vice Admiral.

Not completely pointless?

Akainu gave a cold laugh. Catching such small fry—was that even worth mentioning?

Could it cover up the embarrassment of his mission's failure?

An admiral personally led a fleet of four massive Marine warships and over five thousand elite troops, charging across the seas—

Only to come up empty-handed?

What a joke.

Especially since before setting out, he'd made bold declarations…

He could already imagine the smug faces of Kuzan and Borsalino when they next saw him.

"Send a squad to escort those fools who passed on the false intel to Enies Lobby's military court. Make sure they get severely punished."

Akainu forced himself to suppress his anger and gave the order calmly.

"As for the rest of the men, start organizing the retreat. Bring the bounty targets and prepare to return to HQ."

"Yes, sir!"

The two Vice Admirals saluted and turned to leave.

With the order given, all of North Island immediately sprang into action.

The well-trained Marine soldiers began escorting captured pirates and withdrawing from the town in batches.

The whole process would take at least half an hour.

Akainu didn't want to wait around on the ship, so he decided to walk alone to the southern shore.

He planned to stroll along the coast, feel the sea breeze, and maybe calm his mood while gazing at the beautiful cherry blossoms blooming across the sea on South Island.

South Island was a quiet countryside area.

When he first arrived on Thor Island, he had used Observation Haki to scan it—just some local farmers working the fields, no suspicious presences.

Now… still the same. Except—huh?

Akainu's pupils suddenly shrank.

Just a moment ago, he had instinctively sent out a wave of Observation Haki…

But unexpectedly sensed many unfamiliar auras—and one especially powerful one, rapidly approaching.

Getting closer. Closer…

Already within reach!

He suddenly turned around.

…

"I'm already at the bridge. Still not here yet?"

Shano strolled casually, speaking into the Den Den Mushi.

"Heehee, not yet, Onii-chan~"

Nami's playful voice came from the other end,

"We're still gathering more petals! We want Zeff-san to make sakura mochi! It'll take a few more minutes—wait for us, okay?"

"Fine, fine."

Shano sighed, "I'll wait here at the bridge then. Once you're all here, we'll head over to North Island together."

"Okay!"

Just as he was about to hang up—

Suddenly, a sharp tingling sensation climbed up his spine.

A dangerous feeling.

He frowned and instinctively looked up.

A tall man in a dark red suit stood on the other side of the bridge.

The white cape with the word Justice on the back flapped in the wind behind him.

The two of them, separated only by a few dozen meters of natural stone bridge, locked eyes in silence.

Time seemed to freeze.