"Lance, take the Warhammer and return to headquarters. I'll continue searching for Hammer's whereabouts."
Sakazuki's voice was heavy, and his face dark, his heart filled with anxiety.
'If only I hadn't stubbornly tried to block that attack'
'Damn it! I wasn't strong enough.'
"With all due respect, Vice Admiral Sakazuki, I refuse. The one missing is my superior, how could I possibly return? My entire crew wouldn't agree either."
Lance, uncharacteristically assertive, stood firm. Behind him, wounded but upright, stood his men each one with a solemn expression.
They couldn't accept Hammer's disappearance.
Shirley's eyes were red with emotion, lightning sparking around her like a storm.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, we can't just abandon Hammer!"
"I said, I'll search for him! You all must obey orders!" Sakazuki shouted back.
"No, we're going together," Lance said firmly.
Shirley stepped forward, her eyes resolute and unwavering.
Sakazuki looked at these loyal warriors and felt a pang in his heart. But he knew the truth, this was a dangerous mission.
He couldn't let them throw their lives away for nothing.
"Fine. But listen, this is my personal decision. The Navy takes no responsibility. At the first sign of danger, we retreat immediately!"
Sakazuki finally gave in.
Thus, Lance led the Warhammer and its crew, setting off once more in search of Hammer.
"Woah~ Lance, so bold, Even Sakazuki backed down."
"Well, guess I can't just loaf around. Captain, I'll be staying on the Warhammer. Sakazuki, cool with that?"
Borsalino had just finished coughing up seawater when he woke up and witnessed the scene.
The image of Hammer being swept away inside a block of ice haunted him.
He clenched his teeth.
Sakazuki and Borsalino exchanged a look.
In each other's eyes, they saw the same unwavering resolve.
"Search the surrounding seas for Hammer!"
Just as Sakazuki issued the command, Lance spoke up again.
"Everyone, don't forget, Hammer is a Devil Fruit user. After falling into the sea, he'd be completely paralyzed… Even if he was on a piece of ice, that tsunami was massive, he likely didn't last long…"
His words were grim, but realistic.
No one replied, but their eyes were full of determination.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Sakazuki!"
At the same time, Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"Damn you, Whitebeard! Damn you, Sakazuki!"
The wall of the admiral's office exploded as Sengoku, in his glowing golden Buddha form, let out a furious roar.
Even his Conqueror's Haki was leaking uncontrollably.
"Communications officer!"
"Get in touch with all Marine leaders in the New World! Have them search for Hammer!"
"And tell Sakazuki, if he doesn't find Hammer, he'd better not come back! Let him guard Hammer's grave in the New World! If he returns, I swear I'll kill him myself!!"
"Prepare a warship! I'm setting sail! I'll shove my shockwaves right down Whitebeard's throat!"
His voice rumbled through Marineford like a thunderclap. No one had ever seen Sengoku this angry.
Hammer might've only been a Vice Admiral, but his inventions and weapons had greatly boosted Marine strength. He was a rare and brilliant talent, now lost at sea?
Worse, Sengoku had just found a rare golden ore perfect for Hammer to forge his personal weapon. And now the man himself had vanished?
Nearby, Fleet Admiral Kong bit through a spoon while eating.
Vice Admiral Tsuru's face was cold as frost.
Zephyr, mid-training, snapped his pointer in fury.
A chilling atmosphere swept through Marineford, Even the clouds scattered.
World Economic Newspaper headquarters.
"What did you say? Hammer is dead? Impossible!"
"It's true, boss. The News Coo took crystal-clear photos."
"Let me see… Whitebeard... Sakazuki... Borsalino. Hammer swept into the sea?"
Morgan stared at the photos, a greedy glint in his eyes.
"Heheheh… Swept out to sea or not, Hammer is my hottest money-maker. Can't let him fade away now!"
"Hurry and get today's headline out:
'Marine Master Blacksmith Faces Whitebeard Pirates, Retreats Without a Scratch!'"
"Even if he's dead, let him give me one more wave of traffic! Wahahahaha!"
The albatross's evil laughter filled the newsroom.
The search began immediately. Every Marine command in the New World was mobilized.
Fleet Admiral Kong elevated the search to the highest priority.
Sengoku himself departed, heading straight into the New World.
And on his ship was a massive man with short purple hair.
The very next day, the World Economy News spread across the globe.
The Marines read it too.
And when the related admirals saw the headline.
"MORGANS, THAT DAMN BIRD!"
Sakazuki burned the paper to ash.
"Damn it! How dare he!"
Sengoku and Zephyr were both seething.
The most furious, however, were aboard the Warhammer and the Moby Dick.
Lance immediately blew apart the News Coo that delivered the newspaper.
And on the Moby Dick.
"This article is pure nonsense!"
"Pops! Aren't you mad at all?"
Whitebeard took a swig of sake and laughed heartily at his fuming sons.
"Gurararara! Bratty sons… It's just some dumb article. Why get angry?"
"A man of the sea must have patience!"
"Gurararara! Let's throw a party!"
And as for the root of all this chaos.
Hammer, where is he now?
"Get it! Catch that fish!"
"Huh? What's that on its head? A person?"
"Whoa, wait, did that fish spear a guy through the gut? And he's still alive?!"
"What do we do? Quick, inform Chief Gancho!"
Yes, the poor soul was indeed Hammer.
The ice kept him afloat, but he got gored by a fighting fish.
Now he had both a chest wound and a puncture through the gut.
The tsunami had also stripped him of everything. Only his Marine pants remained… now torn into shorts.
"Reza, inform King Riku. We're short on medicine, tell them to come help, or this man will die soon."
Hammer (barely conscious): "…I'm still alive. Please don't write me off so fast…"
A group of tiny figures surrounded him.
Their leader: Chief Gancho.
The tsunami had flung Hammer from Raijin Island all the way to Dressrosa's Green Bit.
Whitebeard's Seaquake was terrifyingly powerful.
The ocean's wrath knew no bounds.
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu