One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

Five Days Later – Navy Headquarters

Aokiji had returned—but not in triumph. The Navy originally dispatched a team expecting that the Admiral had successfully captured Vane. They brought Seastone shackles and a Seastone cage to detain him, but they couldn't reach Aokiji by any means. It wasn't until early yesterday morning that they found him—unconscious, drifting on the sea.

His clothes were scorched away. His upper body—especially the more vulnerable areas—had suffered severe burns. His eyes were bloodshot, and part of his hair was singed. It was a shocking sight.

Vice Admiral Mole, who led the search party, was horrified.

He immediately contacted Navy Headquarters, and the top brass were shaken to the core. No one could believe what had happened to a Marine Admiral.

By this afternoon, Vice Admiral Mole and his team had returned to base. Aokiji was rushed to the infirmary. Although he remained unconscious, his life was not in danger.

The cause of his condition was a mysterious and powerful flame. Thanks to his strength, Aokiji was able to withstand the extreme heat—but only barely. What only Aokiji knew was that he had been pursued by that strange fire for a long time. He'd even attempted to escape by diving into the sea. While Devil Fruit users can sometimes survive brief contact with seawater, prolonged exposure weakens their abilities. In that vulnerable moment, the flames caught up with him.

And that's when disaster struck.

Sengoku and the others were dumbfounded. They had no idea what had happened.

They didn't suspect Vane directly. Instead, they wondered if someone had intervened to rescue him—someone powerful enough to take down Aokiji in the process.

A mysterious and formidable enemy. Possibly the person backing Vane.

It would explain everything—why Vane was so arrogant, acting as though some monstrous force was behind him, shielding him from consequences.

"So… who was it?" Sengoku muttered.

He was frustrated. "These past few days have been a nightmare. Just the day before yesterday, I reported to the World Government that Vane had been captured. Now this happens… and Kuzan is caught in the middle. What kind of opponent has flame powers strong enough to injure an Admiral?"

Akainu scowled. "There aren't many fire users of that caliber. Me, obviously. Then in the New World, there's Charlotte Oven and Fire Fist Ace. But neither of them has the strength to take down Kuzan."

Garp crossed his arms. "We'll have to wait until Kuzan wakes up. He might know who it was. It could lead us to whoever is backing Vane. A kid like him shouldn't have that kind of power just from training alone."

"Agreed," said Kizaru with a slow drawl. "That flame… judging by the burns, it was terrifying. Could someone that strong really stay hidden this long?"

No one suspected Vane himself.

Meanwhile, far from Navy Headquarters, a lone ship glided steadily through calm waters.

Aboard it—was Vane and his crew.

Over the past few days, Vane had been discussing ways to plunder Devil Fruits. Law had a theory: when an Esper dies, their ability may transfer to a nearby fruit. It's not guaranteed, which is why placing several fruits nearby increases the odds.

Still, Vane wasn't sure it would work—it was only a theory.

In the original story, Blackbeard stole Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi (Quake-Quake Fruit). The exact method is unknown. Maybe it had something to do with the special nature of the Yami Yami no Mi (Dark-Dark Fruit), or perhaps that mysterious black cloth they used during the process. Later on, the Blackbeard Pirates also stole the Suke Suke no Mi (Invisibility Fruit) and gave it to Shiryu. They were hunting abilities for every crew member.

How exactly did they transfer those powers? Was it the Dark Fruit? Vane didn't think so. More likely, it was due to placing the right fruit nearby when the host died. It's said that when an Esper dies, their ability reappears somewhere in the world—maybe the nearest fruit.

Only one way to find out: try it.

Vane planned to head to Sky Island and seize the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder-Thunder Fruit)—not for himself, but for Kalifa. If she didn't grow stronger, she'd become a liability in the New World. Right now, Kalifa played a valuable role in his crew—cooking, cleaning, navigating, combat support, and conversation. She was also, admittedly, pleasant to look at. Much better than a ship full of muscleheads.

If he could give her the Thunder Fruit, she'd become even more useful.

Vane had no interest in keeping the fruit himself. Controlling lightning was flashy, and the Thunder Fruit was indeed powerful and rare. But thanks to the [Investment System], he didn't need it. The Quake-Quake Fruit he had now was enough—and he hadn't even fully developed its potential.

As for killing Enel and taking his fruit, Vane didn't see it as a personal vendetta. From a moral standpoint, it might seem cruel. But from a larger perspective, he'd be liberating the residents of Skypiea. Enel was a tyrant, ruling through fear and brutality.

They probably wanted him dead anyway.

"Sir, it's time to eat."

Kalifa, ever respectful, had begun referring to Vane as "Sir." It was her way of acknowledging him as her master—like a maid serving her lord.

When Vane promised her the Thunder Fruit, she was moved to tears.

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