One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

Soon, Vane returned to Shakky's rip-off bar. Inside, only Shakky and Kalifa remained. Normally, the bar would be bustling at this hour, but because Vane and Akainu had caused quite a scene earlier—and with the Celestial Dragons now dead—the Sabaody Archipelago was under martial law. Few people, especially pirates, remained. Those who could escape had already done so.

"You're incredible. So, you actually defeated an admiral?"

Kalifa was shocked to see that Vane showed no visible injuries. Although there was a circular burn mark on his chest area of clothing, there was no actual wound. Shakky was stunned, but Vane didn't seem to care.

Vane had a calm demeanor that could quell anger. Defeating a Navy admiral at such a young age was an achievement worth boasting about, yet Vane returned as if nothing had happened.

"It's time to go, Kalifa."

Vane dropped the bottle of drink on Shakky's counter and told Kalifa to prepare to leave.

"Leaving already? Don't you want to stay one more night?" Shakky asked in surprise.

Kalifa looked confused. "I haven't even bought anything yet!"

"We have to go. We won't be able to leave if Garp shows up ."

"Oh."

"Goodbye, little sister," Shakky smiled.

Vane said, "If fate lets us meet again, tell Rayleigh I still owe him a big favor."

Under the moonlight, Vane walked toward the Rayleigh-coated harbor, with Kalifa following behind.

The streets were empty.

When they arrived at the harbor—a place crowded with pirate ships—there were still about twenty or thirty Marines guarding the Sabaody Archipelago under martial law. To clear out these scattered soldiers, Vane used his overwhelming presence and domineering aura. This was his usual way.

Vane wasn't reckless enough to kill without reason.

"Are we heading straight to the New World?" Kalifa asked, puzzled.

Vane thought for a moment, then replied, "The first stop when entering the New World is Fish-Man Island."

"Fish-Man Island? I heard the princess there is as beautiful as Boa Hancock!" Kalifa sighed, watching Vane's expression for any sign of admiration toward the Fish-Man Island princess. But Vane's tone was neutral, neither excited nor dismissive. "Good."

What's there to admire about fish? The ancient weapon Poseidon, King of the Sea, is far more valuable than Pluto. Whoever controls Poseidon has almost the power to dominate the seas. The largest Poseidon in the world—many times bigger than Fish-Man Island—guards the island, waiting for the princess to awaken and join the Sea King in conquering the seas. These ancient weapons are coveted by countless giants of the sea, but only the people of Fish-Man Island truly know about them.

"Good? She's very beautiful!" Kalifa insisted.

"I'm not interested in fish."

"Let's board!" Vane urged.

What was this woman thinking? Vane was already detached from this world. Falling in love with a mermaid was out of the question.

Besides, what about the size of that White Star Princess?

"Adults are really different!"

They boarded the ship.

As the ship left port and Vane prepared to spread his Rayleigh-coated aura, a yellow light suddenly appeared. Under the night sky, the light dazzled intensely. Vane's eyes, sharp like torches, immediately detected it. His right hand, covered in Armament Haki , deflected the light.

About two hundred meters away on the sea, Vane saw a warship lit up.

"It's Kizaru and the others," Kalifa said quickly, pulling out a telescope and confirming who was aboard the ship.

"Admiral Kizaru! And the Navy hero Garp! What a lineup…"

Kalifa grew a little panicked.

"Are you leaving?"

On the other side, Kizaru was observing Vane through his telescope.

"We just discovered them."

Kizaru sighed helplessly. Standing on the deck, he condensed a strong light with his right foot, kicked forward, and unleashed a powerful light blast. The attack could have blown Vane's ship to pieces. The power was terrifying.

"I can't believe he's grown strong enough to defeat Sakazuki!" Garp exclaimed, his expression serious. Once a monster like Vane enters the New World, endless trouble follows. It will vex the Navy Headquarters, and accidentally bring another Emperor into the New World.

Unimaginable. The Emperor of Pirates is only slightly stronger than an admiral. The reason the Four Emperors hold their status is because of their massive strength and the dozens of pirate crews under their command—like Whitebeard, for example.

"We can't let him leave!"

It was rare to see Kizaru so serious.

The flash of light flew across the sea and reached Vane in seconds.

Vane had long been standing on the deck and kicked the flash bomb away with ease. An explosion erupted far away on the sea.

"He actually blocked it again. It would have been better if it was closer."

Kizaru sighed helplessly.

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