Time trickled by, like sand slipping through fingers.
A week had passed since Roya's intense fight with Vergo. The moment Roya emerged from the medical room, looking as good as new, the marines of the 11th Division erupted in cheers.
"Colonel Roya is all better!"
They had been genuinely worried. If something were to happen to Roya, who else would be able to wrangle their chaotic bunch? Although, a few secretly thought it might not be the worst thing.
Even the G-5 Branch people showed up to celebrate Roya's quick recovery. They felt responsible because Roya's injuries came from sparring with Vice Admiral Vergo. If he hadn't healed, they would have been consumed by guilt.
After a brief celebration, the officers gathered in the conference room. Commodore Overhead was also there, eager to take his men and join the 11th Division for some action.
Everyone looked at Roya, their faces filled with anticipation.
"Colonel, where are we headed next?" someone asked, barely containing their excitement.
"Hold your horses," Roya said with a grin. "We've already rounded up quite a few of those pirates who just sailed into the New World. I bet you're all getting bored with it. This time, we're going for something big!"
Roya pointed to a specific island on the sea chart, marked with a striking lightning bolt.
"Thunder God Island?!" Someone gasped, the name hanging in the air.
Thunder God Island was one of the first stops on the New World's three main shipping routes. It was also the most dangerous. The terrifying storms and constant lightning were enough to scare off most pirates.
But because of that, the pirates who dared to venture to Thunder God Island were usually very confident in their abilities. The pirates there were stronger and more ruthless than on other islands. Many had bounties over 100 million!
"That's right, Thunder God Island!" Roya confirmed, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
The islands along the shipping routes were essentially lawless territories teeming with pirates, providing plenty of targets to take down. He had two main reasons for choosing Thunder God Island.
First, its harsh environment. The island was perpetually shrouded in thunderclouds, with lightning striking constantly, making it the perfect place to get rid of bodies and cover their tracks.
Second, Thunder God Island was close to the G-5 Branch, but far enough from Dressrosa. If a fight broke out, Vergo, stationed at G-5, would be more likely to provide support. There was no turning back now!
"Resupply and prepare to set sail!" Roya commanded.
"Aye, sir!" the officers responded in unison.
Two hours later, the warship left G-5, cutting through the waves.
In the Base Chief's office, Vergo watched the warship disappear into the distance, a smirk playing on his lips. "Thunder God Island, huh? He's really asking for trouble."
He had total control over the G-5 Branch. Knowing Roya's destination was easy, especially since some of his clueless subordinates had joined the warship for "fun."
If it were any other island, the Family's assassination attempts would have to be subtle. But with Thunder God Island's brutal environment, there was no need for restraint. Everyone has to die! They only have the Black Hair to blame for provoking the Don Quixote Family!
Vergo pulled out a special Den Den Mushi.
"Brrr Brrr~"
"Katcha!"
"Fufufufu~" Doflamingo's voice echoed through the snail phone.
----
Two hours later, in the southern sea near Thunder God Island, the 11th Division's warship sped towards the terrifying island.
"Are we really landing on that island?" Barto asked, his voice shaking. He and some of his buddies were huddled at the edge of the deck, their eyes wide with fear as they watched the lightning-filled island loom closer.
Coming from the peaceful East Blue, they had never seen anything like it.
"We're gonna die!" someone wailed. "I have a disease that prevents me from going ashore!"
But no one paid them any attention.
A messenger arrived at the conference room. "Colonel, we're about to reach Thunder God Island!"
"Understood," Roya replied, putting down the Den Den Mushi.
He walked onto the deck, where his subordinates were already preparing to disembark. The only exceptions were the two companies led by Smoker and Barto, and the G-5 Marines under Commodore Overhead. In total, they had nearly four hundred men.
Barto, tears streaming down his face, grabbed Roya's arm and slumped to the ground. "Roya Boss, can't we go to a different island?"
"Of course not," Roya said, shaking his head in exasperation. Couldn't he show a little bit of courage?
"Senior," Lu Yun said, handing Roya a thunder-resistant cloak. "This is essential for being on Thunder God Island. If you don't like the cloak, you can use an umbrella made of the same material."
Roya put on the cloak and pulled up the hood.
"Katcha!"
A lightning bolt struck the seawater near the warship, momentarily illuminating Roya's face.
He drew his sword and pointed it forward. "Bring the ship closer!"
"Yes, sir!" the crew responded.
The warship bravely sailed through the thunderstorm and quickly approached the shore.
The people at the port frowned when they saw the warship. Thunder God Island was a haven for pirates, and they didn't exactly welcome marines.
The marines quickly disembarked.
"Katcha!"
A blinding lightning bolt struck Bartolomeo, sending him sprawling on the ground, twitching in fear.
"I'm gonna die! I'm being struck dead!" he screamed.
"Huh? I'm not dead?" he said a moment later, his voice confused. "My body's numb!"
After lying on the ground for a few seconds, Barto got up, his face full of bewilderment. He was sure he had been a goner.
"This Lightning Protection Suit is amazing!" he exclaimed, tugging at the material curiously. If it hadn't been for the suit, he would have been fried.
The others glanced at Barto and silently moved away from him.
"Boss, what do we do now?" someone asked.
"Don't rush," Roya said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
There was very little reliable information about Thunder God Island. Even the G-5 Branch Marines rarely ventured to this dangerous place.
Everything was unknown.
Roya turned to his subordinates. "Smoker, take Barto and head to the eastern area. Hina, you and Commodore Overhead go to the western area. Act according to the situation, and call for backup immediately if you encounter any danger."
"Understood!" they all replied, nodding in agreement, and then split up.
There was only one town on the island, where most of the pirates gathered.
Roya and Lu Yun walked slowly down the main street.
The island was dark, lit only by the almost constant flashes of lightning. The strange climate had created an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.
I feel like I've walked into a horror movie, Roya thought.
Sinister, terrifying.
"Even the ground is black," he observed.
The streets were covered in charred marks, and the buildings were constructed using special materials with tops covered in the same substance as the Lightning Protection Suits.
As if they had been warned, the shops on both sides of the street quickly closed their doors and windows, with people peering out at Roya from behind the curtains.
Only three kinds of people could survive on this island: pirates, pirate families, and shady dealers who preyed on pirate wealth.
Lu Yun seemed fascinated by the island's unique climate. She felt relaxed; knowing why this climate exists helps reduce fear, and she clearly understood the science behind it because of her Ability Awakening.
"Senior, what should we do now?" she asked.
"Let's find a place to rest," Roya replied, pointing to a brightly lit tavern ahead. "And then, we wait for our guests to come knocking!"
---
In Dressrosa, at the port, a pirate ship with a smiling skull hoisted its sails, ready to depart at any moment.
On the shore, a small boy wearing a horned hat raised his hands. "Diamanti-sama, take me with you!"
"Hahahaha, Dellinger," Diamanti chuckled from the deck, surrounded by the three top executives of the Fighting Corps: Lao G, Señor, and Machvise. "When you're a little older, you can come with us."
Señor, sucking on his pacifier, wore a smug expression. "Little brat, we're going to assassinate enemies this time. The fewer people, the better. You'd only be a burden."
"Señor! Are you looking down on me?" Dellinger protested, his face turning red. Even though he was only thirteen, he was already well-known in the arena. He was strong, okay?
"Hmph, Señor is right, you'd only be a burden," Lao G added, nodding in agreement. The target of this assassination was no pushover. They couldn't afford to bring a liability, especially since it wasn't an official Family operation.
"Stop arguing, let's set sail!" Diamanti commanded, and the ship moved away from the port.
*
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 313 PS
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]