Chapter 222 - 222. Criminals

The whole office fell into a deadly silence.

Akainu was holding the speaker with a stunned expression. His face kept changing several shades of blue.

The officer behind him didn't dare to breathe.

After a while Akainu grunted and crumbled the speaker. He stood up and ordered, "Leo Heart and Kocho Shinobu are charged for the crime of assaulting a celestial dragon."

"Vice admirals Momonga, Strawberry, Onigumo and Doberman will set out immediately to capture the criminals!"

The officer behind him was startled. He couldn't believe what he just heard.

"What are you standing here for?! Go!"

Akainu said towards the officer.

Saluting Akainu the officer left.

Soon the entire HQ knew of Leo's arrest. All of them were stunned and in disbelief.

"How could this happen?"

"Vice admiral Leo is charged with the highest penalty?"

Voices of doubt were raised among the marines.

The four vice admirals had a short discussion after they got the order.

Momonga had a strained expression on his face, "The situation is complex."

Doberman scoffed, "Complex? No, it's very simple. A celestial dragon tried to take away a vice admiral's companion and a vice admiral herself. It's as easy as that."

Strawberry shook his head, "Doberman, what that celestial dragon did is very wrong, that I agree. But Leo and Shinobu were too impulsive."

Onigumo nodded, "They could have just repelled them and left, but they killed off the other party's crew and poisoned that celestial dragon. And that too with a devious poison, I heard that the celestial dragon is in tremendous pain every waking second. Even breathing is painful for him."

Doberman was slightly anxious, "What should we do?"

Strawberry thought for a moment and said, "We follow our order."

"Strawberry!"

"You want to move against a model marine?!"

Momonga spoke up, "Calm down Doberman. What Strawberry said may be a good way for us."

Doberman looked at Momonga for an explanation.

Momonga continued, "Leo's island has been modified by lady Shinobu. Without permission no one can enter, otherwise you will be poisoned. Only top powerhouses can step into the island without getting poisoned to death."

"And considering the situation the celestial dragons would definitely want her alive, so an attack on the island itself is out of the question."

"We don't have to capture anyone. We can just patrol the island and report back that we can't enter because of the poison."

Doberman's eyes brightened up.

Strawberry and Onigumo also had a smile on their face. They had been marines for a long time, they have seen the ugly side of the celestial dragons.

They have tolerated them for all these years. But now they want to move against a future admiral candidate? One that may become the strongest admiral in all of history?

...

Mariejois.

The pot bellied celestial dragon was looking at his son who was laying on a bed. He was being fed with the most delicious food in the world. But the painful expression on his face showed how much he was hating this moment.

"Why haven't you caught those imbeciles yet?!"

He suppressed his anger and asked the CP agent standing behind him.

The CP agent replied respectfully, "Lord, the island they are living on has been modified to be poisonous, without an antidote very few individuals can enter and leave."

"So what?! Get me that wretched woman! Can't you see how much pain my son is going through?!"

The CP agent looked at the young celestial dragon and drew in a cold breath. He knew the condition he was in.

A poison that retained every bodily function but brought immense pain even with the slightest movement.

"Lord, the Gorosei and the Navy HQ has already declared them as criminals. It's only a matter of time before they are brought infront of you in chains."

The pot bellied celestial dragon slightly calmed down after he heard him. However his mood worsened again when he saw his son's condition.

"Be fast with it!"

The CP agent nodded and left.

...

On Dragon-tiger island.

Leo was practicing some fist techniques when Shinobu walked out of her laboratory.

"Wanted criminals. This is a new feeling."

She commented.

Leo finished a round before stopping and said while shrugging, "It is what it is."

Shinobu sat down on the green grass and asked, "You really plan on making this big?"

Leo walked to her side and sat down before replying, "It's a good distraction, don't you think?"

Shinobu curled her lips into a smile, "I knew you wouldn't do something so silly."

As they were speaking Leo's den-den mushi rang. He picked it up.

"Arara, Leo, looks like you are in a mess."

Aokiji's voice rang from the other side.

Leo laughed, "Haha, Aokiji-san, are you calling to gloat?"

"Hm, if I hadn't know you any better I would be worried for you."

"And you aren't?"

Aokiji asked back, "Should I be?"

Leo shrugged and didn't comment. He asked, "Why the sudden call?"

Aokiji's voice suddenly turned serious, "Should I...

Before he could finish Leo cut him off, "No. This is a good distraction. Anyway, it's just some monkeys jumping around."

Aokiji spoke after several seconds of silence, "If you are so confident then I'll ask no further. Take care."

Kachak.

The call ended.

Leo smiled and just put down the den-den mushi when it rang again.

"Hm, two calls back to back? Who is it this time?"

Curious as to who it was Leo picked up the call. Shinobu also listened in.

As soon as he picked up the call two imm.a.t.u.r.e voice came from the speaker.

"Big bro Leo, Big bro Pedro left!"

"Big bro, Pedro left!"

Zeke? Zena?

Leo recognised the voice, "Slow down you two. What do you mean Pedro left?"

It was Zena who explained, "Big bro Pedro left with Luffy-san. He was going to help them get something from Big Mom!"

Leo's expression turned grave when he heard Zena.