Inside the ship's cabin of the Foxy Pirates.
A celebratory feast was underway, marking the victory in another competition and the assimilation of other pirate crews.
'Silver Fox' Foxy had absorbed numerous pirate crews and recruited many pirate elites through the Davy Backfight game.
Although they appeared to be an insignificant pirate crew with a bounty of only 13 million, only those pirates who had clashed with him knew how tricky his ability was.
Foxy raised his wine glass:
"Fufufufu!"
"Let's welcome our new members!"
"Cheers!!!"
Despite his despicable personality, that was towards outsiders.
Towards his own crew members, Foxy was quite generous and magnanimous.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have gained such quick obedience after absorbing and assimilating other pirate crews.
The newly joined pirates were unwilling, but the enthusiasm of those around them was irresistible. Even if they were reluctant, they raised their wine glasses and drank with everyone.
*Swish—*
On the large rectangular dining table, Carol suddenly appeared.
Carol, dressed in casual clothes, held a stack of documents:
"Silver Fox Foxy."
"Slower-Slower Fruit user."
Seeing this person who had suddenly appeared, everyone was stunned. The alert ones immediately ran to grab their weapons.
Looking at Carol holding the documents, Foxy's expression sank:
"Who are you?"
His hand beneath the table formed a specific posture, ready to unleash his Devil Fruit ability at any moment.
Carol looked at his small movement and shook his head:
"Too slow."
*Swish!*
Carol suddenly teleported behind him.
*Thwack—*
A sharp dagger instantly plunged into his heart, and at the same time, the Devil Fruit Recycler was inserted into his body.
The people on the ship were shocked:
"Captain!!!"
The pirates who had just lost today rejoiced; they could escape now!
Foxy, with his heart pierced and life rapidly draining, stiffly turned his neck backward. His mouth opened, but he couldn't speak. How... how could this happen...
Carol indifferently twisted the dagger.
Foxy's heart was instantly shredded. His head drooped, and he completely ceased to breathe...
The Devil Fruit in the Devil Fruit Recycler slowly took shape.
Casually pulling out the dagger, Carol wiped it with a tissue from the table. He glanced at the hesitant pirates who dared not approach.
He took out a cylindrical object, pressed a button on it, and threw it onto the ground.
The pirates around instantly retreated ten meters, watching Carol warily.
Carol chuckled at them.
*Swish—*
He vanished.
The crowd looked at each other, bewildered.
It was too fast. Appearing, speaking, killing, and disappearing took less than ten seconds.
Without any chance to react, their captain was dead, and the enemy had vanished.
*Sizzle—*
The cylinder Carol had thrown to the ground flickered with electricity.
*Crackle—*
The electric light instantly swept across the entire pirate ship.
The high-voltage current within the cylinder paralyzed all the pirates, and numerous flammable items on the ship began to catch fire...
Screams of agony echoed endlessly...
Afterward, some brave individuals went to investigate and discovered that on this vast pirate ship, there was not a single survivor.
A pirate crew of nearly a thousand people, not one escaped; all were burned alive on the ship...
Because everyone's faces were contorted in agony, lying on the ground in a tragic state.
As the story became more and more bizarre, it later became a widely known supernatural incident in the South Blue, the 'Ghost Fire Vengeance' incident.
----------
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
At Vice Admiral Tsuru's home, Vice Admiral Tsuru was reclining on a lounge chair in the courtyard, flipping through documents and checking the latest news from the seas.
Suddenly, a clear voice sounded from outside:
"Sister Tsuru—"
Gion pushed open the door and entered:
"Oh."
"Where are those two little ones?"
She was referring to the two little girls, Baby-5 and Sugar, brought back from the Donquixote family a few years ago.
Because they were originally from pirate families, after being brought back by Tsuru, not only were their wicked thoughts purged with the powers of a Devil Fruit, but they were also kept by her side for guidance.
Baby-5's "demand-granting" personality had also been significantly diminished by the Wash-Wash Fruit's abilities.
*Rustle—*
Flipping a page of the documents, Vice Admiral Tsuru said:
"They've reached school age."
"They're at the Headquarters Academy now."
Gion said in surprise:
"Eh—!"
"So soon?"
"They've already reached school age."
Gion walked to the rocking chair next to Vice Admiral Tsuru and lay down, stretching her arms:
"Sister Tsuru, when they graduate, let them join my ship."
"Such good children."
Gion, who had been promoted to Vice Admiral, was constantly worried about the combat strength of her fleet.
Vice Admiral Tsuru by her side said:
"Baby-5 can go with you, but Sugar cannot."
"Her ability is too terrifying; she must remain by my side at all times."
The peculiarity of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit lies in its ability to erase memories of people in this world.
Although some physical records might not disappear, no one dared to take that chance. If true malice were to arise, turning someone into a toy at will,
it would be impossible to detect. She must be kept close at all times, using the Wash-Wash Fruit's abilities for regular "brainwashing."
To ensure no problems arise.
Although one session was enough, such matters could not be taken lightly.
Gion sighed:
"Alright, alright."
"Then forget it."
"We can't split the two of them up."
"I'll go to the Marine Academy to see if there are any suitable newcomers this year."
----------
Marineford, Headquarters Academy.
In the principal's office, Morris sat on the sofa.
A large piece of paper was spread across the coffee table, with the names of this year's new students being written down one by one.
*Creak—*
The sound of the doorknob turning echoed. Zephyr walked in with a smile and sat on the sofa.
Morris became interested, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it over:
"Oh?"
"Why so happy today?"
"Not like you."
Zephyr smiled:
"Really?"
"Am I usually very serious?"
Morris shook his head and said:
"Your face is usually practically carved with the word 'serious'."
Zephyr didn't mind and smiled:
"There's a kid who enrolled this year, and they're very good."
"Great potential."
Morris chuckled:
"It's rare to get your praise."
"What's their name?"
Zephyr took a sip of tea:
"Drake."
Morris said:
"That kid."
"An ancient zoan type, the Allosaurus-Allosaurus Fruit."
"It truly suits your taste."
"The kid is good."
"The evaluation report is quite high. Firm stance, loyal, and more importantly, not pedantic, skilled at adapting to circumstances."
"Most importantly, astonishing strength."
"Hiss—"
"My goodness, apart from the 'not pedantic' part,"
"they're a perfect copy of you."
Zephyr let out a soft snort, implicitly admitting to the pedantic part.
Looking at the many names on the coffee table:
"What are you writing all these names for?"
Morris said:
"Just in case. The Paramecia-type ability that is considered 'rule-level' among this year's newcomers cannot be underestimated."
Zephyr's brow furrowed slightly:
"That little girl..."
"Is it necessary to guard against her like this? They're all allies."
For Zephyr, suspecting fellow soldiers like this felt uncomfortable.
Morris flipped through some papers:
"It's not suspicion. The effectiveness of Tsuru's Wash-Wash Fruit ability is universally acknowledged."
"But this kind of ability, we must guard against it."
"It doesn't care how strong your Haki is; it directly erases memories."
"She's just a little girl."
"The side effects of her fruit have frozen everything about her."
"There are plenty of glib, manipulative people on the sea."
"Even encountering someone who can hypnotize could turn into a big problem."
This bug-level ability, if used, must be guarded against.
If not used, a girl in her teens would be imprisoned in Impel Down until death, and the people at Headquarters, out of humanitarian concerns, couldn't agree to that.
Of course... Sakazuki would be an exception.
Zephyr sighed slightly:
"I suppose so... You handle it."
He stood up and walked out:
"I'm going to go see that kid again."
Morris smiled and shook his head:
"Go, go."
"You're so fond of him. Hurry up and take him as your disciple, or Kizaru will see him and snatch him away."
Zephyr let out a cold snort:
"He dares!"
But his steps heading out quickened slightly...
--------
Late at night.
Grand Line, a certain desolate island.
Sakazuki swept the area with his Observation Haki several times, confirming it was hidden.
He took out a Den Den Mushi and said to Carol on the other end:
"Begin."