Chapter 136: Humiliated and Furious, Luffy Sets Sail Again

Words : 1129 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

"Big Bro, the Marines are about a day away from us, "Thatch returned and reported. "Have we packed everything?" Roy asked. "All set," Thatch replied. "Let's move out." Roy stepped outside the room, where thousands were waiting. The Whitebeard Pirates had sixteen divisions, though the Second Division was currently vacant, leaving fifteen. With roughly two hundred men per division, the entire crew numbered around three thousand. Four ships were ready and waiting at the docks. Roy was the last to board. Everyone else was already on the ships. Whitebeard stood on deck, waiting for him. "Ready? We're leaving." "Coming!" Roy climbed aboard, and the ships slowly set sail. Suddenly, four dragons soared from the decks, circling the vessels. Everyone's eyes widened at the sight. "Everyone, let's move out." The golden-scaled dragon, Kingdew, clenched a rope in his jaws and lifted the Moby Dick into the sky. The other three dragons, Blenheim, Curiel, and Atmos, did the same, each having eaten the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. They hoisted the remaining three ships into the air. The Whitebeard Pirates left behind nothing but an empty island. Not a soul remained. The dragons carried the ships toward the Calm Belt. Once they entered the windless zone, the dragons alone provided the momentum. Eventually, an island came into view, and they descended. "Is this the place?" Whitebeard gazed at the landmass below, a large island situated near the middle of the Calm Belt, close to the West Blue. They had discovered it during their previous crossings. The island was vast, teeming with wild beasts, ensuring a steady food supply. "Yeah. We'll stay here for a while. Once we're ready, we'll give the Marines a little surprise," Roy grinned. "I don't like running, but right now, there's no point fighting the Marines head-on," Whitebeard admitted. "No need for direct conflict. Just give me one more year," Roy replied. "Mm." The Whitebeard Pirates vanished into the Calm Belt, something the Marines never expected. When they arrived, they found nothing but emptiness. "The Whitebeard Pirates... ran away?!" Akainu roared in fury. Saturn was equally enraged. They had prepared extensively to crush them, only for the Whitebeard Pirates to flee. The World Government's massive mobilization had achieved nothing. This outcome was unacceptable. "Search! Flip every corner of this island and find the Whitebeard Pirates!" Saturn roared. "Yes, sir!" The Marines scoured every inch of the island and nearby territories, but the Whitebeard Pirates were nowhere to be found. "Where are the Whitebeard Pirates?!" On a nearby island formerly under Whitebeard's control, a local overseer was dragged in for questioning. "Three days ago, the Whitebeard Pirates started gathering their forces. I-I don't know what they were planning. Everyone pulled out. Some saw their ships leaving... probably headed somewhere else," the overseer stammered "Damn it! They escaped!" Akainu seethed. Had Roy been present, he would've laughed. Of course, they'd run. The Whitebeard Pirates had rarely clashed with the Navy. Even back during the war, it was only because Ace had been captured. And now, with the World Government joining the fray, what was the point of fighting? Faced with their escape, even Saturn could only sigh. Unless they ambushed the Whitebeard Pirates or forced them to show themselves, nothing could be done. "We'll have to draw them out," Saturn said. "Draw them out?" Akainu paused, thinking about how to make the Whitebeard Pirates come to them. "Arrest all their allied crews," Saturn ordered. "Yes, sir!" Those crews were Whitebeard's subordinates. As their captain, he wouldn't abandon them. "Find every pirate crew under the Whitebeard Pirates' banner. Capture them all!" Akainu ordered. "Report, Fleet Admiral! They've already fled; none remain in the New World!" "Not in the New World?!" "Yes. They've either retreated to remote seas or gone into hiding." "Damn those Whitebeard Pirates!" Akainu's rage boiled over. The Marines' mobilization couldn't have been hidden. And just recently, the Whitebeard Pirates had made it look like they were gearing up for battle. And now... they were gone. All that preparation and the other side simply chose not to fight. Unless the Marines chased them endlessly, there was nothing they could do. And the worst part? No one even knew where they'd gone. The failure dealt a heavy blow to the Marines. After three days of fruitless searching, Saturn ordered the destruction of every Whitebeard-affiliated island in the area. Buildings were razed, leaving nothing but ruins. The world laughed at the Marines' blunder. Without a compelling reason, why would pirates ever fight the Navy head-on? They had overestimated the Whitebeard Pirates, assuming they'd engage in a direct battle. Now, it was clear, the idea had been delusional. The Whitebeard Pirates simply left, and there was nothing the Marines could do about it. The incident soon passed.. The Whitebeard Pirates had vanished from the New World, their whereabouts unknown. Though their former territories were empty, no one dared touch them because the Whitebeard Pirates still existed. Who knew when they might return for vengeance? Of course, there were always reckless fools who tried to loot and run. But Ace remained in the New World. Even without the main crew's intervention, he acted as a guardian, clashing with powerful foes across the seas. He had earned a new title: "Flame Emperor" Ace. No longer just "Fire Fist," his bounty now stood at 2 billion Berries. ... Two years had passed since the Egghead incident. Still, there was no sign of the Whitebeard Pirates on their former territory. Ace stood at his outpost, more mature and confident than ever, his Haki radiating intensity. "Captain Ace, take a look at this!" A crewmate came running, panting as he handed Ace a newspaper. Ace glanced at it, then smiled. "You've finally come, Luffy!" The headline was loud and clear: [The Straw Hat Pirates Set Sail from Sabaody!] After two years, the infamous Straw Hat crew, the same ones who stormed Enies Lobby and Impel Down, had reappeared. They had reunited at Sabaody and were headed toward Fish-Man Island. Meanwhile, deep within the Calm Belt, on the Grand Line. Roy held a baby girl in his arms, only a few months old. "There, there... don't cry now!" he cooed. But the baby girl wailed loudly, despite his efforts. She had beautiful blue hair, just like her mother. "Foxie's here!" A fluffy, pink fox appeared, swishing its tail in front of the baby. The child blinked, then giggled, grabbing the soft fur with tiny hands. Roy chuckled. "Izo," he said without turning, "you're leaving?" ..... If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead. [email protected]/DaoistJinzu

Chapter 136: Humiliated and Furious, Luffy Sets Sail Again

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