OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#190+191: Arresting Vista and Ace! A Corrupt Marine and a Vice Admiral in Check! Whitebeard's Fur

"Flame Commandment: Fire Pillar!"

A pillar of fire erupted, sending a dozen Marine soldiers flying.

Seeing the Marines clashing with Ace, Vergo’s brow furrowed.

'That Yarisugi bastard…'

'If he arrests Ace, he’ll bring Whitebeard’s wrath down on all of us. Does he want us all wiped out? Stop him, now.'

"Sir!"

Yarisugi was one of the base’s unit commanders. He’d made an appearance during the Punk Hazard incident in the original story—a brutish, unreasonable officer who was known for falsifying reports to cover up the truth. He had dismissed the mass kidnapping of children as a mere "accident" to placate their parents.

He was the very definition of a thug in a Marine uniform.

Vista's belief that the Marines were just another large-scale pirate organization was, in part, due to the rotten culture of the G-5 base.

Jin glanced at the island where G-5 was stationed. It was a decent foothold for entering the New World. The Marine Headquarters had chosen this location for its strategic value—it was close to the New World's entrance, and not too far from islands like Punk Hazard and Dressrosa.

The moment he’d laid eyes on the island and the G-5 Marines stationed there, a plan had begun to form in Jin’s mind.

Take it.

He had scouted several target islands before entering the New World, but the Four Emperors were an insurmountable obstacle. The remaining options were all less than ideal. The good spots had long been claimed, and what was left were impoverished backwaters.

This island, however, was perfect.

But first, he had to deal with the G-5 Marines.

Of course, given his status, he couldn't just attack them outright. Some things had to be done... indirectly.

And for that, he needed a scapegoat.

'Time to shine, Whitebeard.'

Jin’s eyes narrowed.

Blood sprayed through the air, followed by a scream.

On the deck of the ship, Vista’s slash sent Doma flying, a gash on his chest so deep that the bone was visible.

The difference in their skill was clear.

With Doma out of the way, Vista spun and lunged at Jin, the sword-ki from his twin flower blades tearing through the air.

Hm?

He had only struck an afterimage.

Then, a shadow fell over him from behind.

"My turn."

Vista’s pupils contracted. He saw a silhouette, blade raised, descending upon him. Panic flickered in his eyes. He tried to dodge, but it was too late. He twisted, raising his twin swords to parry.

It wasn't enough.

The blade flashed, and a long, narrow wound opened on his body. Blood spurted, and he stumbled backward.

"Commander Vista!" one of the crewmen shouted in alarm.

Vista, gritting his teeth against the pain, tried to get up.

A foot planted itself on his chest. The tip of a blade pressed against his throat.

"Don't move," Jin said calmly. "I just wanted you to help me make a phone call. Why get so worked up? But now... I suppose that’s no longer necessary."

"Vista, sometimes your good intentions just make things more complicated. Like now. With their commander captured, Whitebeard’s code of 'honor' won't let him stand by and do nothing."

Vista glared at him, his breath ragged. "Why? You're not a pirate. Why leave your kingdom in Paradise to get involved in the mess of the New World?"

Jin smiled. "The world is a vast place. But when you factor in humanity's endless desires, its power struggles... it starts to feel a little small."

With Vista captured, the rest of his crew were no match. Jin called out Robin, Law, and Wyper, letting them get a taste of the strength of a New World pirate crew.

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"Vista's been captured??"

"By who?"

"Is he challenging Whitebeard?"

On the island, the news spread like wildfire, becoming the talk of the town. The implications were massive. Vista was a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the Four Emperors. His defeat was a direct slap in the face to Whitebeard himself.

And given Whitebeard’s strict code of honor, he would never let it stand. The very foundation of his crew was built on that code.

Every Yonko crew, every truly cohesive organization, has a core belief.

Freedom.

Honor.

Family.

Justice.

To challenge that belief was to challenge their very existence.

————————

"Dammit..." Vergo was sweating, his face a mask of anxiety. He saw the king’s ship approaching the harbor, preparing to dock.

"Report! Sir! A call from the Winter Blossom Kingdom! They are requesting permission to dock and resupply! They're asking us to lower the sea fence!"

"No! Stop them—! Tell them the gate is broken." Vergo was desperate. He knew what kind of monster the capture of Vista would attract. He had to keep that ship out of his harbor.

"They're refusing?" Jin stood at the prow of his ship. The island’s harbor was a U-shape, with high cliffs on the other sides. The cliffs had been hollowed out and fortified by the Marines. Two lighthouses stood at the entrance to the harbor, and between them, a massive, spiked iron net could be raised from the seabed, blocking all entry.

Jin didn't bother trying to break the net. He simply used the Kilo-Kilo Fruit, combined with a Wind Dial, and floated the ship right over it.

The Marines and the pirates on the island could only stare in stunned silence.

As the Empress docked, Ace, pursued by a group of Marine soldiers, burst onto the pier.

"You bastard!" he roared. "Let Vista go!"

He, too, had seen Vista's capture and had come to the rescue.

"Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor!"

A massive spiral of fire coiled around him, coalescing into a sun-like fireball that he hurled at the ship.

Jin raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

"Barrier."

The demonic carrier projected a shield. The fireball dissipated, leaving the ship completely unharmed.

"I'll handle him," Wyper said, leaping from the ship. He zipped across the pier on his wavers, raised his silver bazooka, and took aim at Ace.

A shell shot out. It wasn't an ordinary shell; it was a custom rocket from the Munch-Munch factory, faster and more powerful than a standard round. The tip was made of Seastone, and the warhead was laced with Seastone powder. Upon detonation, the powder would disperse, neutralizing any Devil Fruit user.

Ace, unaware of the trap, met the rocket with a Fire Fist. The shell was obliterated in a massive explosion.

But the Seastone powder from the blast rained down on him, and he was instantly weakened. The flames dissipated, and his strength left him.

Wyper was on him in an instant.

"Reject Dial!"

A ten-fold shockwave sent Ace flying.

Having awakened his Armament Haki, Wyper was now much more durable and could use the Reject Dial more frequently.

Wounded and weakened by the Seastone, Ace was out of energy. Wyper easily captured him with a pair of Seastone cuffs.

The sound of shuffling feet approached. Commodore Yarisugi and his men arrived on the scene.

Seeing the captured Ace, Yarisugi, eager for a promotion, bared his teeth. "Hey! Hand him over!"

Wyper just stared at him.

<><><><><><><><>

Commodore Yarisugi was a tall man. Instead of the standard Marine coat of justice, he wore a shaggy fur coat. On his head was a cap with a "5" on it, and he wore a shirt with "G-5" and the Marine insignia, along with a pair of pink shorts and knee-high golden boots. He looked... unique.

The soldiers behind him were a similarly motley crew, their posture sloppy, their uniforms a hodgepodge of styles. They looked more like a gang of thugs than a proper military unit.

Wyper ignored them and started to walk away with Ace slung over his shoulder.

"Hey! Didn't you hear me?? Put him down!" Yarisugi raised his flintlock and aimed it at Wyper.

"Yarisugi."

The voice was sharp, commanding.

"Sir!" Yarisugi instinctively snapped to attention.

The soldiers parted, and Vergo walked through, an amiable, refined, and approachable look on his face. He was tall and well-built, with short black hair and lightning-bolt sideburns. He wore a Marine coat of justice over a white, checkered coat, and a pair of sunglasses.

He glanced at Wyper and Ace. "Let them go."

"Eh?" Yarisugi was not happy. He was so close to being promoted to Rear Admiral. The difference in pay and prestige was huge. Who would want to pass up an opportunity like this?

But... "Yes, sir," he said.

"Wyper," Jin's voice floated over from the ship, a smile in it, "hand Ace over to them. What's his bounty these days? And Vista, and a ship full of Whitebeard's elite... all together, that should be about 1.5 or 1.6 billion, right? Hey, the Marines aren't going to stiff me on the bill, are they, Vice Admiral Vergo?"

This was a golden opportunity. 1.6 billion Berries.

Vergo was silent.

Ace and Vista were a hot potato he didn't dare to touch. But he couldn't refuse to take them, either. He was a Marine. If word got out that he'd refused to arrest pirates, he'd be stripped of his rank.

And this king... he was a Warlord, with close ties to Headquarters and the World Government. He had a direct line to the top.

Vergo suppressed his anger. "King Jin is a Warlord of the Sea. He has the right to deal with them as he sees fit."

"In that case," Jin said with a smile, "I'll take the cash. Hey, let's get a picture. Just in case you try to back out. I'll need some proof to show to the Fleet Admiral."

————————

The news that Jin had handed over Vista, Ace, and their crew to the G-5 Marines was quickly reported to Marine Headquarters.

"What??" Sengoku pressed his hand to his forehead, a headache coming on.

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU PROVOKE WHITEBEARD?

"Hey, hey," Borsalino drawled, "Headquarters doesn't have the spare manpower to deal with a Yonko in the New World right now."

His failure at Water 7 had drawn criticism from both Cipher Pol and the Five Elders. But Borsalino didn't care. He was just a salaryman. They could take his admiral position for all he cared. Faced with his laid-back attitude, the Five Elders were powerless. An admiral was the highest fighting force of the Marines. You couldn't just replace one.

"The incident at the Tequila Wolf," Vice Admiral Tsuru said, her brow furrowed, "though it was suppressed in the news... Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Garp, along with a Buster Call-level fleet, have been dispatched to the East Blue to pursue the revolutionary Dragon and the tyrant Kuma. A conflict with Whitebeard right now would be... unwise."

"Contact that king," Sengoku said after a moment's thought. "He's not a reckless man. He must have a plan."

"A plan? To make money," was Jin's reply. "And, incidentally, to meet Whitebeard."

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"If you don't want to die, you'd better get out of here now!"

On the island, some people had already figured it out.

"Vista has been captured."

"And that 'Supernova' who's been all over the news this year, 'Fire Fist' Ace."

"Huh? Isn't that a good thing?"

"Good? Good my ass! Have you forgotten the Whitebeard Pirates' code of honor? That old monster is going to be furious! Whitebeard will never tolerate his 'sons' being killed. Never. The Whitebeard Pirates are coming. If we don't get out of here now, we're all going to die with them..."

"Dammit, I almost forgot. This is the New World. This is the Yonko's territory. Wait for me!"

Panic and chaos began to spread.

Those who had ships fled.

Some of the more lawless elements took the opportunity to loot and pillage.

Fires broke out in the town.

The men of G-5, far from trying to stop it, joined in.

"Looking for a ride out? A spot on a Marine warship will cost you one million Berries per person!"

"Please... take my child..." a mother begged.

Commodore Yarisugi kicked her away. "Get lost, you broke bitch. The ships of G-5 don't take on passengers who can't pay."

He had come to his senses. He realized the danger he was in and was trying to get out, but not before making a little extra cash on the side.

The mother, refusing to give up, pleaded with him again. He kicked her to the ground and began to stomp on her. Her two- or three-year-old child, terrified, began to wail.

And this was just one scene, an insignificant moment in the world of One Piece.

The mother, now bloody and battered, still wouldn't let go. Yarisugi, enraged, raised his pistol to shoot her.

Swish!

A swift, powerful slash, and his gun and arm were both severed, blood spraying everywhere.

"Gah...!" Yarisugi screamed, clutching at the stump.

"You're a Marine!" Doma, his body wrapped in bandages, roared, leaping into the air and tackling Yarisugi, pinning him to the ground. "A Marine who carries 'Justice' on his back!"

"Commodore!"

"Commodore Yarisugi!"

The other Marine soldiers raised their guns.

"Stand down," Vergo's voice rang out. He was standing next to Jin.

Robin stepped forward and helped the mother to her feet. Maya comforted the child.

"Sir!" the soldiers said, confused.

"Headquarters has ordered that the G-5 branch is not to retreat," Vergo said, his face cold. "Prepare to engage Whitebeard."

"What??" the soldiers were stunned.

"Civilians, do not panic. Warships from the G-14 base will be arriving shortly. You will have time to evacuate to a safe area. There will be no charge. All fees that have been paid will be refunded. Commodore Yarisugi was acting on his own. His actions do not represent G-5. The Marines will see that he is severely punished."

"Really? That's wonderful!" the civilians cheered.

"Hey! Sir! What's the meaning of this?"

"You want us to fight Whitebeard?"

"Hey! That was our money...!"

"I'm not a Marine anymore!"

"Yeah! I quit...!"

The soldiers, furious, began to protest. It wasn't the first time they had defied orders from Headquarters. They were a long way from Marineford. They could get away with it.

Not just G-5, but Shells Town, the G-16 base in the East Blue... the Marines were full of corruption.

"Did you become Marines for justice?" Jin said with disgust. "No. Most of you did it for your own self-interest. You're a cancer on the Marines. These men are deserters. What's the punishment for desertion in the face of the enemy, Vice Admiral Vergo?"

"According to the regulations..." Vergo said, a cold glint in his eyes behind his sunglasses, "ah, I forget. I believe... it's summary execution."

"Need a hand?" Jin asked.

"No," Vergo said, taking out his bamboo staff. "This was my failure. I will execute them myself."

'Headquarters has already ordered G-5 to cooperate with Jin's operation,' Vergo thought. 'And more importantly... Jin knows I'm Doffy's mole.'

"EH??"

"WAIT... I'M NOT QUITTING!"

"VICE ADMIRAL VERGO!"

Vergo moved, and one by one, the soldiers fell, their resistance futile.

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On the deck of the Moby Dick.

Whitebeard stood outside the captain's quarters, his massive bisento striking the deck with a sound that seemed to crack the very air.

His face was a mask of fury.

"Jin?" he growled. "That little brat from Paradise! Change course! We're heading for the Marines' G-5 base! We're getting Vista and Ace back!"