One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 487: Treatment

"Latest reports confirm: the Flying Pirates under Golden Lion Shiki have completely withdrawn from the New World. Shiki himself remains missing—status unknown," said Kong as he placed a stack of Marine intelligence on the table.

The great battle in the New World had captured global attention, and the Marines were closely monitoring it.

"Right now, the three major pirate crews hold a firm grip over the New World. We have no footing there," Tsuru added, laying another file in front of Kong. "Our next strategic priority should be cleaning up the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line."

"Since the Impel Down incident, escaped convicts have returned to the Four Seas and are forming pirate crews of their own—wreaking havoc across the world. The number of new pirates is growing daily, even worse than during the post-Roger era. Allied nations are constantly calling us for help—it's damaging our reputation."

The room fell silent as everyone digested her words.

Kong sighed as he read the document. His ambition to retake the New World flickered out.

"We'll have to hold off on the New World," he declared, setting the new course of action.

"Karp—focus on East Blue. Sakazuki, take the South Blue. Kuzan, handle the West Blue. As for the North Blue…" Kong paused and glanced at Zephyr.

But Zephyr sat slouched, eyes drooping, pretending to sleep.

Kong sighed again and turned to Tsuru. "You'll handle North Blue—and while you're there, send a warning to the Donquixote Family."

"Yes, sir," Tsuru replied without hesitation.

"Sengoku," Kong continued, "keep an eye on the three major pirate crews in the New World. Sow discord between them. If we can't interfere directly, we'll make them destroy each other."

Kong's personal resentment toward the loss of the New World ran deep. As he aged, the urgency to reclaim it grew.

He refused to be remembered as the only Fleet Admiral in history to lose territory under his command.

"Understood," Sengoku nodded.

Though the New World seemed calm, Sengoku knew it was a fragile peace. The three pirate factions had created neutral zones at their borders, but tensions remained high.

His previous plan to incite conflict between them had nearly succeeded—until the Rockefeller Pirates disrupted everything, invading Impel Down and shifting global focus.

The meeting ended shortly afterward. Most high-ranking admirals were not even present. It was simply a strategy session to realign priorities.

---

Meanwhile, in the Calm Belt…

A battered fleet drifted to a secluded island.

This was one of the Flying Pirates' secret bases—an island Shiki had torn from the Calm Belt using his Devil Fruit powers.

Had Shiki not been so thoroughly defeated and scattered, Indigo never would have dared return here.

Now, with Shiki crippled by unbearable headaches, Indigo had no choice.

"My head! My head's going to explode!" Shiki screamed, clutching his skull, rolling on the ground.

His Conqueror's Haki pulsed wildly in all directions, surging with his agony.

"Shiki-sama, please calm down! Don't move!" Indigo shouted anxiously, unable to approach.

Shiki couldn't hear him—his Haki was erupting chaotically, and anyone who got close risked death.

Many crew members had already been cut down by Shiki's uncontrolled sword swings. Anyone who approached was slashed without mercy.

The remaining pirates stood frozen in terror.

It wasn't cowardice. It was survival.

Indigo clenched his fists, desperate. Then, a thought struck him.

"Quick! Go to my lab and bring me Formula No. 3!"

His subordinate bolted.

Anything to get away from that suffocating Haki.

Soon he returned, clutching a small vial of shimmering purple liquid.

Indigo took it carefully, eyeing the sealed cap.

"No choice. Desperate times…"

He hurled the vial toward Shiki.

"WHO'S THERE?!" Shiki roared and instinctively slashed the bottle midair.

It shattered instantly, releasing a cloud of violet gas.

The mist enveloped him.

Indigo watched, holding his breath.

Shiki's agonized wails gradually weakened.

"What happened to the boss?" one pirate whispered.

"Keh keh keh!" Indigo laughed. "He's unconscious. That was a tranquilizer—just one drop can knock out an elephant. That was a whole bottle."

Gasps erupted among the crew.

"A whole bottle?!"

"Quit staring! Once the fog clears, carry the captain to the infirmary! We need to start treatment immediately!"

The pirates nodded and sprang into action.

As the mist dispersed, they carefully lifted the unconscious Shiki and rushed him to the medical bay.

---

Read up to 35 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin

[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]

*Thank you*