Chapter 109: Forces Converge on Battleship Island (Please subscribe, recommend, and vote!)

Buffon finished speaking, took out his nautical chart, and located Warship Island.

"If we go straight through the Calm Belt, it's not actually that far," Crocus noted after a careful look.

For other pirate crews, this would be a major obstacle, but with Laboon at their side and a captured Marine warship, crossing the Calm Belt was a simple matter.

At this moment, the Panda-man, who had been kicked away by Buffon earlier, found his way back. Seeing Buffon, he spoke up directly: "Captain Buffon, your aim is terrible!"

"Who told you not to be clear about it!" Buffon muttered to himself, though he said nothing aloud.

After the group discussed the plan, Buffon had Laboon swallow the *Juventus*, then steered Nelson Royale’s warship toward Warship Island, with Laboon trailing behind.

Shortly after they set sail, Nelson and a group of defeated Marines reappeared at the foot of Reverse Mountain. His orders were to secretly tail Buffon’s crew and maintain contact while awaiting reinforcements from an Admiral.

Just then, his Den Den Mushi rang. When he answered, it wasn't his direct superior, Jonathan, but Kizaru!

After reporting his position, he waited for Kizaru to arrive.

Half a day later, Kizaru arrived, riding a beam of light onto Nelson’s ship. Looking at the battered vessels, Kizaru frowned. "A truly troublesome guy. No wonder Konohanasakuya-hime couldn't capture him."

Nelson tentatively approached Kizaru. "Admiral Borsalino, they hijacked my warship and headed toward the East Blue via the Calm Belt."

"The East Blue? Why go there? Are they trying to hide? And tell me, why are you here?"

Facing the inquiry, Nelson hesitated before stammering, "It was all that guy Eric. He tricked me, saying the bones of a Millennium Dragon could grant eternal life. I wanted to obtain some to offer to the Celestial Dragons!"

His words were half-truth, half-lie; he did indeed want the dragon bones, but not for the Celestial Dragons.

"Eternal life? Does such an absurd thing really exist in this world?"

Kizaru’s tone was clearly skeptical, yet he pulled out his Den Den Mushi to report this new intelligence. Moments later, the response came from Marine Headquarters: capture Buffon, and if the dragon bones were found, bring them back as well.

"Do you know their destination?" Kizaru asked.

"Possibly near Warship Island. We caught that little girl with the Millennium Dragon's tooth there before," Nelson replied, not daring to hide anything from an Admiral.

"Warship Island, huh?" Kizaru stroked his stubble, deep in thought, before using his Den Den Mushi to inform Snow Colt of the current situation. He then ordered Nelson, "Stay here and wait for other reinforcements. I’ll head over to see if I can catch up with them."

With that, he dissolved into light and vanished from the deck.

Seeing Kizaru gone, Nelson wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long sigh. "Hopefully, Kizaru catches them and finds those dragon bones. That way, I might avoid being held accountable."

...

Buffon’s crew had already reached Warship Island. It was night, and they did not disturb the residents. Led by Apis, they went straight to the cave in the back mountains where the Millennium Dragon was hidden.

Seeing the massive creature lying in the cave, Buffon marveled once again at the wonders of the Pirate world; it truly was home to all kinds of life.

He and Crocus took turns examining the dragon. Both reached the same conclusion: the dragon was nearing the end of its life, and perhaps only finding the Dragon's Nest could bring a miracle. As for using a Healing Hormone injection, Buffon wasn't sure if it would have any effect on such a massive body.

After Apis communicated with the dragon using her ability, "Grandpa Dragon" trusted the group and agreed to reveal the location of the Lost Island, hoping they would help him fulfill his wish to go home.

After confirming the dragon's condition, the group stayed on Warship Island for the night, then followed the dragon's guidance toward the eastern side of the island.

An hour after they departed, Kizaru, who had been traveling through the night, arrived on Warship Island. After questioning the islanders about the group's movements, he chose not to pursue them immediately, but to wait on the island instead. According to the residents, Apis had gone with them, so they would likely return her eventually; waiting here would suffice.

He reported the group's movements and location to headquarters again, requesting further support.

The area was close to Loguetown. Since Smoker and Tashigi had left in pursuit of Luffy’s crew, the Marine Headquarters had yet to appoint a new officer to take charge. Thus, command of the arriving reinforcements fell to Kizaru.

Half a day later, fifteen warships from Loguetown were hidden to the west of Warship Island. Kizaru sent forces to the east to search, but they found no trace of the crew.

Meanwhile, Belo Betty, having received intelligence on the Marine movements, headed toward Warship Island without hesitation. As the Commander of the East Army of the Revolutionary Army, she never missed a move by the Marines. Such a large-scale mobilization smelled unusual, especially occurring so soon after the Revolutionary leader had left Loguetown. She wasn't sure if this would affect the Revolutionary Army's plans.

...

Elsewhere, Snow Colt and Fujitora had reached Reverse Mountain. Although Snow Colt had declined Hina’s request to join, Hina had still dispatched a warship to accompany them. Upon linking up with Nelson and learning the situation, Snow Colt disdainfully left him behind and ordered his fleet to cross the Calm Belt toward Warship Island. Facing another Admiral, Nelson dared not object and could only wait on the spot.

...

Guided by Grandpa Dragon, Buffon and his crew entered a mysterious sea area not far east of Warship Island and successfully found the so-called Lost Island. However, there was no sign of a dragon's nest on the desolate island.

Buffon wasn't sure if the timing was right. If they missed the once-in-a-millennium rising of the Lost Island, he would have no choice but to try a Healing Hormone injection and see if it could improve the dragon's state.

Just then, uninvited guests intruded upon the mysterious sea—the scouting warships commanded by Kizaru. After "stumbling" into the area, they spotted the warship Buffon had seized, and the entire fleet moved in. Within moments, fifteen warships had formed a blockade around them.

Kizaru, standing at the prow of the lead ship, spotted them and casually dissolved into light, reappearing on the deck right in front of the group.

"Yo! Cast Buffon, what an incredible person you are—to actually kill a Celestial Dragon." Kizaru’s tone was relaxed and lazy, as if the matter held no significance. He spoke this way because he didn't believe Nelson's report. Since Snow Colt had confirmed the death of Saint Chamuel, survival was impossible. The one Nelson had seen must have been a zombie created by Buffon after taking the corpse.

Buffon hadn't expected Kizaru, an Admiral with such ambiguous attitudes, to be the one pursuing them. But considering Kizaru’s Devil Fruit powers, he realized there was no one better suited for the task.

Seeing Buffon remained silent, Kizaru continued, "I heard about you from Sentomaru, and the Fleet Admiral and others have praised you highly. But why, of all things, did you have to kill a Celestial Dragon?"

Buffon didn't want to explain further. "Killing him was letting him off easy. He should have lived to experience the life of a slave."

Buffon’s ambiguous words left Kizaru slightly shaken. *Could he have actually rescued the Celestial Dragon?* Kizaru wondered, but said aloud, "If you surrender now and come with me, I can let your companions go."

Before Buffon could speak, Saul stepped out from the cabin.

Facing his former colleague, Kizaru looked surprised. "Weren't you killed by Kuzan? Why are you here?" As he spoke, an "unrealistic" thought flashed through his mind—that Buffon had brought Saul back to life. But he dismissed it, preferring to believe that Kuzan had shown mercy, secretly letting Saul go out of friendship.

"Borsalino, don't you feel that the Marines' current sense of justice is becoming increasingly twisted?" Saul rebuked him sternly. Although the power gap between them was immense, he stood like a fighter who feared no tyranny, bravely speaking up to uphold the justice in his heart.

"Saul, I don't care what your motives are for being with this guy. For the sake of our former camaraderie, if you don't interfere, I will let you leave. It’ll be my way of settling things with Kuzan."

Kizaru maintained his nonchalant expression, but his mind was swirling with questions. It wasn't just Saul's appearance; the people behind Buffon—Crocus, Reiju—none of them were pushovers. Intelligence indicated Buffon hadn't been at sea for long. To gather such a capable crew in such a short time... what was it about this man that set him apart?

And those Giants, whose origins he didn't know. Kizaru sensed that this capture operation would not go smoothly. If Konohanasakuya-hime didn't arrive, he might truly be unable to take this man back alive.

Thinking this, Kizaru decided to stop the chatter. Using his fruit powers, he condensed photons in his hand into a sword of light and attacked Buffon directly.

"It's the Ama no Murakumo!" Saul shouted, unleashing his Waxy-Waxy Fruit powers. His entire body was covered in hard wax armor, and he donned a pair of wax gauntlets, moving to intercept Kizaru’s blade.