NOVEL WEB Chapter 75: Chapter 75
Hurrah!
Twin arcs of dark red flames carved through the sky, blazing like twin phoenixes in flight.
They intersected in midair, forming a fierce cross-shaped slash that roared forward toward the massive spiderweb descending from above.
Boom!
The moment they collided, the cross-shaped flame slash erupted with tremendous sword energy.
With a single clash, the dense front of the web was instantly sliced apart—torn into shreds by the sheer force of the flames.
Even the surrounding silken threads, too distant to be cut directly, were ignited by the residual blaze.
The searing fire consumed the rest of the web, reducing it to blackened ash.
A rain of scorched debris fluttered down, drifting through the air like a silent shower of cinders.
Having cleaved through the spider's nest created by Doflamingo, Bai Yu raised his eyes sharply in the warlord's direction.
But Doflamingo and Vergo had already taken advantage of the opening and escaped.
Seeing this, Bai Yu exhaled faintly and slid his blade back into its sheath with a metallic click.
That night, the naval soldiers who had been knocked unconscious by the burst of Conqueror's Haki gradually awoke.
Under Bai Yu's command, the warship resumed course back toward the 188th Branch.
As for the G-5 Marines Vergo had brought along, Bai Yu ordered them temporarily detained—citing "complicity in criminal conspiracy."
After all, they had assisted Vergo—now confirmed as a Donquixote Family plant.
Bai Yu reported Vergo's double identity to Navy Headquarters in a concise but firm memo.
What judgment the upper brass would pass down, however, was unknown to him.
That evening, Bai Yu sat alone on the bow of the warship, gazing silently at the wide-open sea. His mind was clearly occupied.
"Bai Yu," came a voice behind him.
Maya stepped lightly forward and settled beside him on the edge of the bow, mimicking his posture.
Now seated side by side with him, she broke the silence.
"I still can't believe you dared to go against a Warlord of the Sea on your own. That's... insane."
Her voice was half admonishing, half admiring.
The Seven Warlords, or Shichibukai, were pirates sanctioned by the World Government—an unstable alliance based on political convenience.
Even most Vice Admirals would hesitate to openly challenge a Warlord without orders from above.
"The higher-ups severely underestimate Doflamingo's ambition," Bai Yu replied coldly without turning.
"His cooperation with the Navy is a ruse—meant only to give him leverage and legitimacy. Once he no longer needs that facade, he'll burn the whole arrangement."
He spoke with conviction, his voice like steel.
To Bai Yu, entrusting pirates with legal power was madness. In time, their nature would always resurface.
In the official timeline, the World Government didn't revoke the Shichibukai system until far later. But Bai Yu didn't intend to wait for history to repeat itself.
"And now?" Maya asked, her tone softer. "You've made yourself his enemy. He's not the type to let that slide."
"Doflamingo isn't acting alone. He's backed by the full strength of the Donquixote Family—an entire criminal syndicate of elite fighters."
She glanced at him with concern. "And on our side? The 188th Branch doesn't exactly have the firepower to match. Your only real assets are a few loyal subordinates still in training."
"If he comes for you in earnest... you'd be standing alone."
Bai Yu remained silent for a long moment.
But his thoughts were already far ahead.
He wasn't planning to wait passively for Doflamingo's revenge.
On the contrary—he intended to flush him out, corner him, and take him down.
To always be the one chased was not his style.
Then a spark lit in his mind.
"Wait... why did I forget that guy?"
A gas-shrouded figure emerged in his memory—Doflamingo's scientific partner.
A former researcher of the Navy's Science Division.
A Logia-type Gas-Gas Fruit user with a 300 million bounty.
Caesar Clown.
The deal Doflamingo had mentioned earlier—with one of the Four Emperors, Kaido—centered on Caesar's research.
SMILE, the artificial Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
If Bai Yu could capture Caesar, he might be able to unravel the supply chain and force Doflamingo into the open.
And once Kaido realized his promised SMILE fruits were gone, Doflamingo would have nowhere to hide.
A dangerous plan. But promising.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Bai Yu's lips.
He had found a new angle.
"You've thought of something," Maya observed, catching the change in his expression.
Her tone shifted to relief.
"Yeah," Bai Yu replied, nodding confidently.
---
The next day.
Without delay, Bai Yu and his crew returned to the 188th Branch base.
"Welcome back, Commodore Bai Yu!"
As soon as they stepped ashore, dozens of naval officers and young recruits lined up at the gates, cheering loudly.
Bai Yu's fearless stand had earned him the admiration of the entire base.
He wasn't just a commanding officer anymore—he was the pride of the 188th.
Flanked by a wave of saluting comrades, Bai Yu made his way toward the base headquarters.
In recognition of his promotion to commodore, Bai Yu had been assigned a new private room on the top floor—reserved for general-level officers.
Knock knock knock.
Not long after returning to his quarters, there came a knock at the door.
Maya, Koby, and Helmeppo entered, one after another.
"Commodore Bai Yu!"
Koby and Helmeppo stood at attention and saluted sharply.
Maya, not formally a naval officer, offered a casual nod.
"Anything urgent?" Bai Yu asked, motioning them to sit.
"Commodore, Maya briefed us about the Vergo incident and Doflamingo's involvement," Koby began.
He handed Bai Yu a freshly-sealed file folder.
"This came directly from Navy HQ."
Koby continued, "As expected, your report matched their own investigation."
"The moment they summoned Vergo for questioning... he fled."
"Defected from the Navy completely. His current whereabouts are unknown."
Bai Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.
That was faster than expected.
Headquarters hadn't wasted any time—and Vergo had cracked immediately.
"But that's not all," Koby added. "The top brass is asking for your next move."
"They want to know your intentions going forward."
So they're turning to me already?
Bai Yu's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
The Navy rarely sought tactical input from commodores. Yet they were now asking for his lead.
"Commodore," Helmeppo chimed in. "Everyone in the 188th is ready to mobilize at your command."
"Just give the word!"
Bai Yu blinked in surprise. "Mobilize? For what?"
"Well…" Helmeppo scratched his head. "Isn't it obvious?"
"Vergo just defected. HQ is asking for your plan. Doesn't that mean we're going after him?"
"Do you know where Vergo is hiding?" Bai Yu asked bluntly.
Helmeppo froze, mouth open but speechless.
The room went quiet.
Clearly, no one had that answer.
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