Cleaning up Jaya Island

Soon, Merry started her journey toward Gaya Island. Because they didn't try to salvage the ship underwater, they didn't get in contact with the other salvager.

Instead, they reached Gaya Island ahead of time.

"So, what should we do now?"

Nami turned her head at Luffy.

Not to her surprise, Luffy simply scratched his head.

Finally, Nami sighed and turned her head at Liam.

"Nami, Luffy, Zoro, and I will go into the bar and look for any information we can. On the other hand, Miss Archeologist, you need to show your expertise here to find any clue about Sky Island."

Liam explained and simply told the plan and they basically nodded to his plan.

"So, what about us?" Usopp raised his hand and asked.

"Just stay in the ship and take care of it."

Liam simply gave him the task and finally left with Nami, Luffy, and Zoro.

Along the way, Luffy ate an apple but didn't explode. Liam believed his luck so he didn't interfere.

They continue walking toward the bar.

Upon reaching there, Liam found someone interesting. He was thinking hard at that moment so he basically ignored everything.

Luffy and the others kept eating and talking. Soon, a person called Bellamy appeared and smashed Luffy's head on the ground.

Only then, Liam finally woke up from his thoughts and realized that the person he was thinking about had already disappeared.

"Zoro, whatever you do, do not fight them!"

Only then, he heard Luffy saying his famous line. He turned his head and saw Bellamy standing in front of Luffy and giving his trash talk.

Because of Luffy's order, Zoro didn't do anything.

But, Liam wasn't the same. He walked behind Bellamy and puts his hand on his shoulder.

"Hey!"

"Who?"

Bellamy shouted out loud as he turned around.

Slap!

A crisp sound rang inside the bar which silenced the entire bar.

"Liam!" Luffy shouted loudly when he saw Liam slapping Bellamy on his cheek.

Zoro also frowned.

Liam knew that Luffy was angry because of disobeying the captain. He sighed and said.

"Luffy, I know that fighting back against trash like him is an insult to us. But, you have to understand two things first."

"First, the majesty of Straw Hat Pirates can't be destroyed by trash no matter how much trash that guy might be."

"Second, this guy is not a bandit but a pirate of a certain pirate group. Since it is another pirate attacking my captain, how can I not fight back?"

Hearing his words, Luffy suddenly realized something.

"So, that's how it is. He is a pirate. I am a pirate. Since he wants to fight us, then we should beat him."

Zoro on the side almost fell on the ground. He jumped on Luffy and slapped his head.

"Idiot, now you realized that he is a pirate."

"Sorry, Zoro! I thought about the wrong thing."

"You bastard!"

Suddenly, Bellamy who just realized that he has slapped on the face instantly burst out. His legs turned into spring as he tried to jump.

But against someone with Observation Haki, his action was pretty useless.

Liam simply grabbed him by his head and stopped him from doing anything.

He moved his hand to the side as he realized something and looked at Luffy.

"Luffy, if we forget about the identity of marines or pirates for a moment. Would you just be like your grandfather?"

Luffy didn't know why Liam asked this question. But, when he thought about it, he simply got one answer.

Yes!

If he hadn't become a pirate, he would be a marine just like his grandfather. So, even if the identity of the marine and pirates are removed, he would just be like his grandfather.

"Good!"

Crack!

Liam's hand suddenly turned black as he used immense force to crush Bellamy's skull.

He turned his head at Nami and said.

"Call Smoker and tell him that Straw Hats have dealt with all the pirates in Gaya Island except for one group. Ask him to come here and capture them!"

"Liam, what are you doing?" Not to mention Luffy, even Zoro couldn't understand Liam's actions.

After all, in his eyes, Liam shouldn't waste his time dealing with these people.

"Actually, Luffy, if weren't the fact that the Marines are simply dogs, I would've joined the Marines instead of becoming a Pirate."

"I don't hate pirates even if they are simply scums like Crocodile. Because pirates with dreams are still pirates just like us."

"But, pirates with no dreams are simply leeches sucking off the blood of people in the background. Because they are so small, they are often neglected by most people but they are the ones who suck the blood most."

"Just like Arlong"

When he said that, a bolt of lightning struck Nami's mind. She suddenly remembered her past with Arlong who terrorized her town for ten years.

Hatred flashed in her eyes as she clenched her fist.

"Sometimes I really don't understand you, Liam."

Luffy slowly lowered his head as he clutched his straw hat for a moment. Zoro didn't make any move as he watched his captain.

On the other hand, Liam was already kicking and punching the other pirates to the ground.

"Even though I don't understand you, I will still help you. Because you are my vice-captain."

Luffy raised his head with a bright smile. Next to him, Zoro also raised his swords with a smile and then their attention shifted toward those pirates.

Nami slowly forgot those memories with Arlong and turned her head at the bar owner.

She took out a pouch full of jewelry and gave it to the bar owner.

"This is for all of the destruction coming next."

Saying so, she turned around and took out the transponder snail from her pocket.

As she dialed a number, she waited for a moment.

"You bastard, why are you calling me right now?"

A voice came from the transponder snail.

Nami's face turned black for a moment but she quickly shook her head and said.

"Hello, my name is Nami. Liam is currently beating all of the pirates off Gaya Island. He asked me to inform you that you should bring your battleship here and pick up these pirates."

....

There was a momentary silence from the transponder snail.

On the other side of the transponder snail, Smoker was sitting with his face turning red. Next to him, Tashigi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright!"

After giving one word, he immediately put away the transponder snail.

"That bastard! Who does he think he is? Pirate or marine?" Smoker couldn't help but curse after putting down the call.

"But sir, identity aside, they haven't truly done anything bad." Tashigi spoke from the side.

"Are you guys really putting a conversation about a pirate in front of a Marine Admiral?"

A speechless voice rang from the other side.

There was a tall and thin man sitting on the chair next to Smoker.

"By the way, why did you visit me so suddenly?" Smoker turned his head at Admiral Kuzan and asked.

"Because Hina reported to me that you weren't acting normal. Besides that, I am also chasing after Straw Hat Pirates." Admiral Kuzan answered.

"Huh? Why is an admiral chasing a newly established pirate crew? It shouldn't be because of the pirate defeat of the navy, right?" Smoker couldn't help but frown.

Kuzan shook his head and asked.

"I am not that free. It's just that I want to confirm one thing. Besides that, why didn't you curse the World Government when they gave you the promotion for false achievement?"

Smoker got silent for a moment before answering.

"Because someone told me that without proper status and rank, I can't really do anything."

"Is that so?" Kuzan slowly stood up and walked away.

But before leaving the door, he said.

"Even with my status and rank, there are sometimes I can't do anything. By the way, I will be sleeping in your ship for quite a while."

Saying so, he finally left the room.

On the other hand, Smoker's expression turned ugly upon hearing that.

Although he knew that Admirals also have their hands bound by the world government, just hearing it from the admiral himself shook him for a moment.

But, a few seconds later, his expression calmed down, and the blazing fire of justice burned brightly in his heart.

Just because of Kuzan's words, he wasn't going to give up on his justice.

.....

On Gaya Island,

Liam, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami stood in front of four people. They were none other than Blackbeard, Jesus Burgess, Van Augur, and Doc Q.

Both teams had injuries on them, but Luffy and Liam were severely injured on their team while Blackbeard and Van Augur were severally injured on Blackbeard's team.

Before they continued fighting, Liam suddenly spoke.

"How about we stop fighting? Although you still have a greater chance of defeating us, we are not without our trump card. More importantly, we have more people."

Hearing his words, Luffy was rarely silent. He looked at Blackbeard with a stiff expression and said.

"You are Ace's opponent so I won't fight."

Hearing their words, Blackbeard was also hesitant. He also didn't want to get severely injured in this battle especially when there is a chance of his crewmates dying.

Although he didn't care much about his crewmates, he didn't want to lose them now.

So, he decided to compromise.

"Zhehahaha! You are right. There is no need for us to fight. Boys, let's leave right now!"

Blackbeard gave the order and turned around, leaving with his crewmates.