Sailing away from Base G-F, Bill stood on the deck reading the latest issue of the World Economy News Paper.

Though a routine reader, Bill didn’t normally take the paper too seriously but this time the headline made him frown and call for Zephyr immediately.

It read:

         [Donquixote Doflamingo Leaves The Seven Warlords!!!
                                And Abandons The Royal Throne Of Dressrosa!!!]

Besides this, the paper described two new pirate alliances, one formed by the Straw Hate Pirates and Warlord of the Sea, Trafalgar Law.

And the other alliance formed by the Kid Pirates, On-Air Pirates, and Hawkins Pirates. Beginning what looked like the formation of a pirate ‘Grand Fleet’, which were known to sprout up from time to time.

But truthfully, none of those Bill cared about. In his mind, it would be their lucky day if they never crossed paths with him.

No, instead he kept reading the sentence [And Abandons the Royal Throne of Dressrosa!!!] over and over again.

Naturally he had searched for information about Dressrosa Kingdom before making the trip to the New World, and all he found referenced about a revolt that happened against King Doldo III about 10 years before.

It was odd, but Zephyr had told Bill that he knew King Doldo.

Zephyr had said that he also found it strange that there wasn’t more information about the recent Kingdom, but he knew King Riku back then, and knew he was a good ruler.

Furthermore, Zephyr had claimed that Dressrosa Kingdom hadn’t been involved in a single war in 800 years of its history, a claim that Bill found unbelievable and impossible, but the former Admiral stubbornly held it as a fact.

The World Economy News Paper would exaggerate but Bill knew that it didn’t typically flat-out lie.

Hence it seemed that at the very least it was a fact that the people of Dressrosa Kingdom had cast off the yoke of Doldo III – along with his entire family – and proclaimed a new King… a King who was also a Warlord of the Sea and Kingpin of the Underworld!

Furthermore, it was figure Bill knew about from raiding the pirates on Hannabal Island all those years ago, and then from the betrayal of the traitor Marine Vice Admiral, Vergo.

It was Warlord which had a bad history with Zephyr himself.

‘How Coincidental!’ Bill thought to himself, doing his best to stay calm, but with the notion that Zephyr was attempting to use him as a borrowed knife stuck in his head.

Thinking this while standing on the deck of his ship under a wide blue sky, Zephyr approached Bill casually and seeming to notice Bill’s mood, asked him what the matter was.

“Explain this.” answered Bill bluntly, tossing the former Admiral the paper.

Looking confused at first, Zephyr’s eyes looked down and then widened. He read for another few seconds before looking quickly back at Bill – who had been watching him the entire time.

Zephyr seemed to be at a loss for words, and if Bill had been a less principled person, he would have been reading his mind with his Observation Haki.

But Bill didn’t want to abuse that power when dealing with someone who had considered a friend, and after seeing Zephyr still not saying a word after several seconds, Bill asked harshly: “Did you know?”

This got an immediate reaction, shaking his head back and forth, Zephyr said: “No… no, Bill, I swear to you. I did not know, but… but now certain things make sense…”

Naturally, Zephyr knew of Doflamingo’s ancestry. He was still an active-duty Marine Admiral when [Saint Donquixote Homing] withdrew from the Celestial Dragons and was privy to [Donquixote Rosinante] being a Marine double agent.

Clutching the paper in his hand, Zephyr closed his eyes for a second and continued: “I did not know… but now we first have to go and find out what happened to Riku and his family…

And!” Zephyr took a breath…

“This opportunity is good! It’s really good!

The Joker is a known criminal, he’s committed an uncountable number of crimes! And we’re so close, we can’t pass this opportunity up… there are things I need to tell you, but don’t worry Bill. I’ll take full responsibility. I am the head of the Neo Marines; you’re my lieutenant who was just following orders…”

As the ship started to tilt from a wave the size of a hill – only not capsizing due to the seastone hull – Bill looked at Zephyr without any expression and asked again: “Tell me the truth, did you know the King of Dressrosa was deposed? Did you know who the new King was?”

Then, shaking his head slightly, Bill asked seriously: “Tell me the truth, did you plan for this?”

The thought of getting used was a bad feeling, but immediately Bill’s mind went to the possibility of heavy combat – which he had not come to the New World expecting.

Even with the formidable Monkey Minks as a part of their crew – all of whom could use Electro and the majority of who could properly use their Sulong Form – Bill would have never ever brought the young Marines in his department to the New World if there was any expectation of serious fighting.

Yoko, Rapanui, Carrot, Adelle, and Akisu were very promising young Marines but in a battle with a Warlord of the Sea – they were bound to be burdens.

Whether it was personal affection from watching them grow up, or simply the potential they each had, even if they were stronger than the average New World Marine, they simply couldn’t be treated like middle-aged Marines who had similar levels of abilities.

From either personal or organizational perspective, they were too important to casually throw into the battles of the New World!

But at Bill’s interrogation, Zephyr still shook his head and maintained his innocence.

“I haven’t been to Dressrosa since before I retired, it has to have been 15 years now… then, during the Whitebeard War when I was pressed back into active duty, I simply wasn’t operating in this area. Not that it matters, since Dressrosa Kingdom does not go to war, and I wouldn’t have had need for contacting Riku.”

Bill didn’t need to ask Zephyr anything foolish like: ‘If Riku was your friend how come you haven’t contacted him in 15 years’

The fact was that in the Marines it was hard to keep up with people. Most times people met and left with a smile but no promises for reunions.

To say nothing of people who Bill knew from the Science Division… old acquaintances like Samantha, Tom, Jerry, Smoker, Gin, or T-Bone, Bill had a hard time keeping in regular contact with his own parents and had only seen his two sisters once in their entire lives!

The world was big, and their obligations kept them busy over wide areas… that was the truth for either Marine or Pirate.

Still, even though he mostly believed Zephyr, Bill couldn’t get the feeling of being used out of his head and started shaking his head ‘no’.

“I’m not going to help you take out Donquixote Doflamingo. I also won’t let you take the crew with you. If you want, we can return to Base G-F and you’ll be able to organize with Vice Admiral Prodi. I’ll even supply you with enough Beli for you to recruit a ship.”

Hearing Bill say this, Zephyr looked him in the eye – both men standing about 9feet tall – and Bill could see the authoritative fury building behind a face that was thinking how to handle the situation.

He didn’t know, but Bill expected Zephyr to try and pull rank on him… but that would have been fruitless. The Neo Marine commission did not apply to the New World.

Bill would have refused no matter where they were, but refusing in the New World was easy.

What Bill did not expect was Zephyr coming at it from another angle.

“Riku had two daughters… one was very young back then… he lost his wife and decided to never remarry. He was my friend, and I have to go find out what happened to him and his family.

Bill… Doflamingo… this chance is too good to pass up… you need to see that… but… if you’re unwilling to take him down, I won’t try and force you.”

By now, as Bill and Zephyr talked on the deck of the Frontier Run, a lot of Marines happened to be ‘working’ close to them… though they were obviously listening in.

Stopping for a moment, Zephyr rubbed his face with his good hand and continued somewhat quietly: “I can’t force you. I don’t think I could’ve forced you even if I wasn’t an old man… but I have to go, I have to go to see what happened to my friend, and I need your help.”

Then, Zephyr said something that Bill couldn’t brush off. He said something that no one who understands loyalty could brush off.

“Bill, if it were you… I’d come for you too.”

Breathing in deep, Bill shook his head and looked to the side.

If nothing else, even if Zephyr was using him, Bill knew it wasn’t easy for the former Admiral to essentially plead for his help.

On the Grand Line, very powerful individuals only became strong due to possessing an immense spirit.

To become an ‘Admiral’ meant more than just being strong or good at administration. Admirals by definition had indomitable willpower. They did not easily take ‘no’ for an answer because they were always sure in what they did.

For an Admiral to plead for help on a personal level was not easy… and even if Bill suspected Zephyr, he couldn’t just say ‘no’.

Instead, he said: “Alright.

But we’re doing this my way. You will protect the ship and keep the crew together.

Ain and I will go on shore and ask around for the former King. We’ll use the Transponder Snails to keep in contact, but we won’t stay for more than a week.

During that time, you can contact merchants and ask what they know about the newly crowned King, and we can see if we still can’t organize something with the Neo Marines.

Alright?” Bill asked after giving his terms.

Not pausing to think about it, Zephyr readily agreed, and Bill just lightly nodded his head as he headed to his office.

Stopping briefly when Zephyr put his hand on his shoulder, Bill heard the old man say, ‘Thank you’, before going off to start his work for the day.

Sailing over hill-sized waves which almost seemed to be alive made paperwork nearly impossible, but the Neo Marines had constant inlays pertaining to diplomacy and recruitment that needed his approval or rejection.

Thanking heavens that at least New Haven itself was self sufficient with Nelson there, Bill was able to look over schematics for the Iron Wardens, schematics for new and improved cybernetic limbs, and alloys attempting to replicate [Wapometal].

Out of the giant cache of information sent to New Haven from Egghead Island, there was enough for Bill to look over for a decade and still find more interesting tidbits.

One example was a machine that could turn raw materials into fully cooked meals, another was a dehydrator that could mummify living beings while still keeping them alive in a sort of ‘bio-stasis’, and there were many others.

This was Bill’s favorite pastime on the ship, as they sailed for days, he, Ain, and Zephyr made their plans.

Just off Dressrosa there was a small island called Green Bit. That’s where the crew would be able to stretch their legs and, Bill figured, stay out of trouble.

‘Yoko and the Monkey Minks could treat it as a vacation’ he thought, and agreeing to practically whatever Bill said, Zephyr only mentioned that there was a school of Fighting Fish in those waters.

“It won’t be too dangerous with me here, but don’t underestimate those beasts. Depending on how many there are we won’t be able to anchor near the island and will have to find somewhere else” The former Admiral said.

Acknowledging this, the next couple of days passed by quickly, and as they got closer more and more ships could be seen, making the Kingdom’s trade appear bountiful if nothing else.

There were a few pirate ships here and there, but with a singular goal in mind the Frontier Run pressed on and wasn’t long before Dressrosa Kingdom came into view on the horizon.

Gliding effortlessly over the waves, when they finally came close to the harbor, Bill was astonished by just how busy it was; thinking to himself: ‘It looks lively for a Kingdom who’s King just abdicated the throne.’

Then without him understanding why, as he looked at the island’s high plateau, Bill felt something strange.

In that second that seemed to last longer than a second, Bill felt like he had when he was an old man back on Earth, the morning he walked into his house and felt his feet glued to the floor… on the day he found his wife dead.

It felt like that day when he was a kid, back in his old bedroom on Vallipo Archipelago… on the day he understood a part of his own soul and learned Life Return.

It was a feeling that, if nothing happened afterwards, would be forgotten… a simple trick of the mind.

Without him understanding why, as he looked at the island’s high plateau, Bill felt something strange.

He felt ‘still’.

UberNuber

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Dressrosa Island/Kingdom is a bit weird in terms of scale. I like the fan-made art better than the anime/manga's.

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