ALL NOVEL Chapter 78: CHAPTER 78
Alastor had succeeded in the impossible—turning the Pirate Empress from a foe into an ally. From the moment he crossed paths with Saint Charlos, the detestable Celestial Dragon, Alastor had meticulously planned this outcome.
After all, no one in their right mind would kill a Celestial Dragon so close to Marineford, the Navy's headquarters, without a plan.
Now, the risk had paid off, and Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress and a Warlord of the Sea, was his first true ally.
For Alastor, the reward far outweighed the risk.
Extending his hand, a genuine smile played across his lips. "A happy partnership, Boa Hancock."
To his surprise, Hancock frowned. The idea of shaking hands with a man? Absurd.
Yet, as though against her will, her delicate hand moved toward his, her slender fingers meeting his rough palm.
For a brief moment, Alastor was struck by the texture—soft and smooth, almost jelly-like, as though it lacked bones. But before he could dwell on the sensation, Hancock abruptly withdrew her hand, standing tall and cold as ever.
"Although the concubine agrees to unite with you," she said, her tone sharp, "do not think this guarantees your safety. The concubine could turn you into stone at any moment, fool of a man."
With a toss of her glossy black hair, she exited the room, her elegant strides exuding pride and power. Her figure disappeared behind the door, leaving Alastor chuckling softly to himself.
"The world's most beautiful woman is as unpredictable as they say," he muttered.
Feeling the fatigue of his recent trials—ten grueling days of training on Beast Island, an exhausting chase by the Empress, and prolonged use of Moonwalk—Alastor glanced at Hancock's pristine bed. The silk sheets gleamed under the light, promising comfort.
He smirked. "You board my ship, I rest in your bed. Seems like a fair exchange, right, Hancock?"
Without hesitation, he flopped onto the bed, sinking into its softness. In mere moments, he drifted into a deep sleep.
On Deck
Unaware of the intrusion in her chamber, Boa Hancock stood at the bow of the Perfume Yuda. The twin serpents, Salome and Bacura, hissed in delight, nuzzling her affectionately.
The Kuja warriors noticed something unusual—Hancock was actually petting the snakes.
Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged astonished glances. Their elder sister, known for her untouchable demeanor, rarely interacted with the serpents despite their loyalty.
"Why is Sister in such a good mood?" Marigold whispered.
"I have no idea," Sandersonia replied, equally puzzled. "But it's strange. Very strange."
Neither dared to question Hancock directly, instead retreating to the shadows to speculate further.
Meanwhile: Marineford
In the Navy's headquarters, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
Inside a training hall, Smoker, the "White Hunter," wiped sweat from his brow after an intense session. Cigars clenched between his teeth, he exhaled smoke, his gaze determined.
The events in Alabasta still weighed heavily on him. His promotion to Brigadier General, earned through the Navy's crediting him with the defeat of Crocodile, felt hollow. The truth gnawed at him—Luffy and his crew had been the real heroes.
Nearby, Tashigi approached, her glasses glinting under the light. "Brigadier General Smoker," she said hesitantly, "congratulations on your promotion. At this rate, you'll soon be a Vice Admiral."
Smoker scowled, slamming his fist into the wall. "Don't call me that! This promotion is a disgrace. They're just covering up the truth!"
Tashigi stepped back, realizing she'd touched a nerve.
At that moment, a deafening crash erupted from the top floor of Marineford—the office of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Smoker's sharp instincts flared. "Something's happened. Let's go!"
Together, they raced to the source of the commotion.
The scene was shocking. The doors to Sengoku's office were obliterated, splinters scattered across the floor. Inside, the once-sturdy desk lay in ruins. Sengoku himself stood amidst the chaos, his aura radiating fury.
Smoker froze. Sengoku's uncharacteristic loss of composure was alarming, his Conqueror's Haki rippling through the air. Smoker couldn't recall ever seeing the calm and collected Fleet Admiral this enraged.
"What could possibly provoke Sengoku like this?" Smoker muttered, his fists tightening.
Tashigi, standing beside him, trembled. "What's going on? Who could've done this?"
The tension was palpable, the gravity of the situation unlike anything they'd encountered before.
Smoker stood frozen, his gaze fixed on Admiral Aokiji.
In the office, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was surrounded by the imposing figures of the Admirals—Aokiji and Kizaru. Unlike his usual laid-back demeanor, Aokiji wore a somber expression, a rare seriousness in his eyes.
"An earth-shattering event has occurred," Aokiji said in a low, deliberate tone. "A Celestial Dragon has been killed."
"What?!"
Smoker's voice trembled, unable to mask his shock. Tashigi, standing behind him, was equally stunned, her mouth slightly agape.
"Who did it?"
"It was Alastor," Aokiji replied with a sigh. "The same man from the Beasts Pirates we observed at Sabaody."
Smoker's memory flashed back to that moment—a fleeting yet intense gaze exchanged between Aokiji and Alastor, the latter exuding an aura that hinted at his bold nature. But even then, no one could have predicted this.
"To kill a Celestial Dragon…" Aokiji's voice trailed off. The implications were monumental.
Kizaru, ever enigmatic, leaned against the wall and commented in his usual drawl, "It's truly troublesome. Does he have any idea what kind of storm he's invited?"
The room fell into a tense silence as Sengoku spoke, his voice heavy with authority. "The Five Elders have issued a direct order. Alastor must be captured—alive or dead. He is to be publicly executed, alongside Portgas D. Ace."
Smoker's eyes widened further. "Ace? As in Fire Fist Ace? The commander under Whitebeard?"
"Yes," Sengoku confirmed grimly. "Ace is the son of Gol D. Roger. His execution was already planned to send a clear message to the pirates of this era. Now, the Five Elders want to use Alastor's execution to demonstrate the untouchable authority of the Celestial Dragons."
Tashigi swallowed hard, the weight of the situation dawning on her. Two public executions—one targeting the son of the Pirate King and the other punishing the slayer of a Celestial Dragon—were bound to provoke chaos.
Sengoku's furrowed brow revealed his unease. "This is no simple matter. Whitebeard will undoubtedly come for Ace, and Kaido…" He hesitated. "If Kaido acts to avenge Alastor, we could face the wrath of the world's strongest man and the world's strongest creature simultaneously."
The thought of Whitebeard and Kaido attacking Marineford was a nightmare Sengoku couldn't afford to ignore.
Even so, orders were orders. The Five Elders demanded results, and Sengoku had to act decisively.
Turning to Aokiji and Kizaru, he gave his orders:
"Each of you will lead ten warships and five vice admirals. Kizaru, search Sabaody and the surrounding islands. Aokiji, secure the waters leading to the New World."
His final instruction carried a chilling weight: "If you find Alastor, kill him on the spot. A public execution may be too provocative for the Beasts Pirates. Eliminating him immediately is the safer option."
Aokiji and Kizaru nodded, understanding the gravity of their mission.
Within hours, twenty warships, ten vice admirals, and the two admirals—Marineford's highest combat power—set sail from the Navy headquarters.
Across the World
The news spread like wildfire, shaking the world to its core.
"Two admirals? Ten vice admirals? Twenty warships? This is equivalent to two Buster Calls!"
"Even if they were hunting an Emperor, they wouldn't deploy such a force. The Navy's wrath is unprecedented!"
"They say the Five Elders issued the death order personally. Alastor is doomed."
"He's only twenty years old. Killing a Celestial Dragon? That's insanity!"
"Not even Gol D. Roger dared to do that…"
The world buzzed with speculation, awe, and dread. Major powers, from rival pirate crews to underground syndicates, braced themselves for the fallout.
All agreed on one thing—Alastor's death was inevitable. With Kaido thousands of miles away in Wano and no reinforcements in sight, the young pirate's fate seemed sealed.
Far from the chaos of the world's reactions, Alastor lay in blissful ignorance. The soft, fragrant bed of Boa Hancock cradled him as he slept soundly, a slight smile on his lips. Drool pooled onto her pristine pillow, completely oblivious to the massive forces converging against him.
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