The sound of gunfire and clashing steel echoed through the alleyways, drawing the attention of nearby Marine soldiers. Within minutes, nearly all 500 Marines stationed in the Flower Capital mobilized toward the disturbance.
Meanwhile, the city's residents, startled by the commotion, hurriedly locked their doors and windows. Curtains were drawn, and the streets became eerily silent as they retreated into the safety of their homes.
At the Marine gym aboard The Stormbreaker, Luffy balanced on one finger, performing handstand push-ups with several tons of iron strapped to his legs. Beads of sweat rolled down his muscles, glistening under the overhead lights.
Suddenly, the loud, urgent ring of a Den Den Mushi broke the rhythm of the gym. Luffy groaned in mild annoyance. "Hina," he called out breathlessly, "can you check who's calling?"
Nearby, Hina was mid-training, blindfolded as she dodged and countered a barrage of solid white balls launched from two machines. One of the projectiles struck her shoulder, making her wince.
"Damn it!" she muttered, yanking off her blindfold. She quickly shut off the machines and rubbed her aching shoulder. "You can't handle it yourself?" she grumbled under her breath as she moved toward the incessantly ringing Den Den Mushi.
Picking it up, Hina examined the device closely. The unfamiliar appearance of the Den Den Mushi made her frown. Shrugging, she walked over to Luffy, still upside down on one finger.
"Hina don't recognize this number," she said, kneeling to place the receiver near Luffy. "Here, you deal with it."
"Thanks," Luffy replied with a nod, gripping the receiver with his free hand. His tone was slightly breathless but steady as he answered, "This is Monkey D. Luffy. Who's calling?"
Hina turned to leave, ready to resume her training. But the next words stopped her in her tracks.
"Vice Admiral Luffy! This is Captain Kotora, commanding the first temporary force stationed in Wano Country. We're in serious trouble here. May I ask, sir, when you'll be arriving?"
The words immediately sharpened Luffy's focus. His expression hardened, and he kicked off the heavy weights on his legs with a powerful motion. Flipping upright, he caught the several-ton iron block, setting it down gently before gripping the receiver with both hands.
"What happened? Is Kaido back?" he asked, his voice firm and commanding.
"No, sir," Captain Kotora replied. "It's worse. Yesterday, a rogue warrior caused chaos in the Flower Capital. When our Marines tried to apprehend him, they suffered heavy casualties. We lost 271 soldiers, and the remaining troops are severely injured. The city's defense force is nearly paralyzed."
Luffy's jaw tightened, his grip on the receiver firm. His usually calm demeanor gave way to simmering anger.
"That's not all," Kotora continued grimly. "The rogue claimed to be Kozuki Sukiyaki, the Shogun of Wano Country. He's even raised his flag, rallying local gangs and ronin to retake control of the region."
The receiver creaked under Luffy's grip as he ground out the name through clenched teeth. "Kozuki Sukiyaki…"
His anger boiled over. He knew the old man was still alive, but this betrayal cut deep. After everything the Marines had done—driving out Kaido, killing Orochi, and liberating Wano's people—this so-called shogun repaid their kindness with blood.
"That old bastard…" Luffy muttered, his voice low and venomous. His mind raced with memories of their efforts to save Wano. Sukiyaki's actions felt like a slap in the face.
"I'll handle this personally," Luffy declared, his voice sharp and unwavering. "Tomorrow morning, I'll be there. Take care of the injured Marines until then. I'll bring a way to treat them. And send me all the details about Sukiyaki's forces. Until I arrive, prioritize your safety."
"Yes, sir!" Kotora replied, his relief palpable.
As the call ended, Kotora quickly relayed orders to evacuate the wounded and prepare for Luffy's arrival. The situation in Wano was dire, but the promise of reinforcements brought a glimmer of hope.
Back on The Stormbreaker, Luffy handed the receiver back to Hina and let out a deep breath, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders.
Hina's sharp eyes took in the tension in his posture. "What's the situation?" she asked, her voice calm but serious.
"Wano's in trouble," Luffy replied tersely. "Get everyone ready. We're having a briefing in the conference room."
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