Naval Headquarters, Marineford
Inside the Conference Hall
As Garp stared at the live broadcast screen, he nearly forgot about the senbei in his hand, bursting into a hearty laugh.
"Pfft, hahaha! That guy Buggy really did a good job!" He wiped a tear from his eye. "I remember reading the World Government's newspaper earlier, and I thought Wanokuni was completely ruined by him!"
Akainu's face darkened, his expression as grim as charcoal. He silently cursed himself for inviting this old man here. If I had known... He gritted his teeth. But to be fair, it was impossible not to bring in these veterans for something like this. After all, they had experience dealing with the Four Yonkos.
Crane, propping her chin with mild surprise, spoke up. "I never expected a mere pirate to possess such administrative talent. But now is not the time for such idle thoughts. We need to focus on gathering information about Buggy's Crimson Empire."
She paused, glancing at the others. "You all watched the broadcast. The first six counties of the Crimson Empire are essentially the same as the original six counties of Wanokuni but with vastly improved infrastructure and beauty. Have any of you noticed anything unusual?"
The room fell into silence, the others exchanging confused glances. They had no idea what she was referring to.
Kizaru, frowning slightly, shrugged. "Vice Admiral Tsuru, if you've got something to say, just say it. We're not really the best at thinking through these things. Just hit us with your analysis."
Crane's face darkened, her gaze snapping toward Sengoku. When she saw that he seemed lost in thought, barely noticing her words, she slammed her fist on the table.
"Sengoku! What the hell are you silent for?"
Akainu smirked, secretly pleased. Good thing we brought Vice Admiral Tsuru. Without her, I'd never be able to control these two old veterans—Sengoku and Garp. He smirked, but his expression quickly shifted to one of surprise as Sengoku spoke up.
"I found a very serious problem." Sengoku's voice was grave, his usual calm replaced by a somber tone.
"You've all seen the reports on Kaido and Wanokuni that the Marine gathered, right?"
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.
"According to the information we gathered earlier," Sengoku began, his tone serious, "more than half of Wanokuni has been contaminated by Kaido's Smile factory. There's a reason we didn't pay much attention to him at first." He paused for emphasis. "We believed Wanokuni wouldn't be of much use, and that Kaido would dispose of it— and him— in no time. At that point, the water, the soil, the vegetation, and even the wild animals' meat would be poisoned. Essentially, it would become a country heading towards slow death."
He let that sink in for a moment before continuing, his expression grim. "But now, after seeing what's happened to Wanokuni— or rather, to the Crimson Empire— it's nothing like we anticipated. It's completely different from what our files are saying."
After Sengoku finished speaking, Garp let out a carefree chuckle. "Is this information from those CP0 agents? Are you sure they didn't make a mistake in their judgment?"
Sengoku scowled, irritation creeping into his voice. "Do you think those CP agents are like you?" he snapped. "You can call them dogs of the Celestial Dragons, but you can't question their professionalism!"
Garp smirked. "Sengoku!"
"Ah—cough, cough...!" Sengoku quickly cleared his throat, realizing his slip.
"Pfft, ha ha ha, Sengoku, you—" Garp continued, his laughter unrestrained.
The others in the room, Akainu, Crane, and the others, couldn't hide their darkened expressions. Only Garp seemed to find amusement in the situation.
Sengoku immediately regretted his words, his face flushing slightly. He coughed again, hoping to recover. "Ahem. Anyway, Vice Admiral Tsuru, didn't you have something to say earlier? Go ahead."
The others stifled their laughter, knowing exactly what had just happened. Sengoku, now retired, seemed to be speaking his mind without restraint, and it was only a matter of time before his old habits caught up with him.
Akainu sighed inwardly, feeling the weight of the situation. The Marines were becoming more difficult to manage with each passing day.
Just then, one of the Vice Admirals sitting further down the table, Momousagi, chimed in. "It should be the Devil Fruits," she suggested.
Crane snapped her fingers and flashed a grin. "Ah, it always comes down to our careful attention, doesn't it? Tell me what you found, Momousagi."
The room fell into a brief silence, and the others exchanged looks of discomfort at Crane's teasing, unsure how to react.
Momousagi didn't mind the attention, and after a brief moment of contemplation, she spoke up.
"I think, first of all, transforming the 'poison of Wanokuni—into the thriving Crimson Empire we see today is beyond the capability of ordinary people no matter how hard they work." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "In my opinion, only a few abilities could dispose toxins on such a massive scale."
She looked around the room, her gaze steady. "One possibility is Magellan's Doku Doku no Mi, but we all know that's not the answer." She waved her hand dismissively. "The second possibility is a former government scientist, Ceaser Clown, who now resides among the God Slayer Pirates. As far as I know, he's a user of the Gasu Gasu no Mi, a Logia-type, which could potentially absorb toxins."
Momousagi's eyes narrowed as she moved to the final possibility.
"As for the third," she continued, her voice full of intrigue, "I believe it could be the power of the Mori more no mi. You're all familiar with it, I assume. Admiral Green Bull's ability to absorb strength and vitality has certain parallels."
She paused, letting the room absorb her words. The others leaned forward, eager to hear what she had to say next.
"If the Mori Mori no Mi was further developed, I think it might be capable of absorbing toxins. It could be a more refined form of absorption, one that draws out the toxins from the land, rivers, and vegetation of Wanokuni. Not only that, but it would have an enormous range."
Momousagi's eyes gleamed as she continued, her excitement growing. "The scale of this absorption—removing toxins from such a vast land—could only be possible with an extraordinary ability. Ordinary people wouldn't be capable of it."
She glanced at the table, making eye contact with each of them. "Among the God Slayer Pirates, only a few could pull this off—Buggy, Gabban, Bullet, Enel, Doring."
She raised her eyebrows, emphasizing her next point. "But looking at their Haki and strength, none are as powerful as Buggy. So, it stands to reason that the Mori Mori no Mi is the most likely candidate for this kind of feat. It has the potential to clear all the toxins, and that's the most likely explanation I can think of..."
Before she could finish her thought, the conference room erupted into noise—not because of her analysis, but because of a sudden change in the live broadcast.
Momousagi, along with everyone else in the room, stood up in shock. Their eyes were glued to the screen, disbelief written on their faces.
In the live feed, Uta and her group were seen boarding bubble cars at Mangrove Island's port, heading directly into the water.
The underwater scenery left everyone completely awestruck. What should have been a dark seabed was now illuminated by an array of radiant lights, casting a mesmerizing glow that revealed the hidden wonders beneath Mangrove Island. Fluorescent plants and vibrant coral reefs flourished in every direction, while schools of beautiful small fish swam gracefully through the clear waters.
Occasionally, a stunning Fishman, carrying a basket, appeared among the coral, moving with effortless elegance. As the group gazed ahead, their eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of three enormous Yarukiman mangroves standing tall in the deep sea, their roots reaching down to the ocean floor, while a massive bubble island floated serenely between them.
Sunlight filtered down, casting a golden glow below the two towering Yarukiman mangroves that stretched from the water's surface to the sky above the island. These trees were unique, their trunks absorbing daylight and channeling it deep into the sea, illuminating the entire area below. In places where Yarukiman trees were less common, the sunlight was faint and uneven, contributing to the surreal beauty of the scene.
The Fishmen Island lay directly before these two massive mangroves, basking in the full radiance of the sunlight. It almost appeared as if a giant spotlight hovered over the island, casting its glow across every corner. Despite the looming darkness of the deep sea around them, the sight felt incredibly secure, thanks to the Fishmen soldiers patrolling the area, riding the massive Sea Kings with vigilance and pride.
"Wow! It's so beautiful!" Uta gasped in amazement.
As the bubble car neared Fishmen Island, any lingering doubts she had vanished entirely. It was clear now—the World Government must have misled her. What lay before her was no illusion; this was the legendary Fishmen Island.
She marveled at the sight of mermaids gleefully picking shells, their elegant forms glowing under the island's ethereal light. The dreamy Fishmen Island, wrapped in massive protective bubbles, looked like something out of a fairytale.
Gordon accompanying Uta, was equally mesmerized, his eyes wide with wonder. As the bubble car drew ever closer, the full grandeur of Fishmen Island became unmistakable. Against the backdrop of the dark, oppressive underwater world, the island gleamed like a treasure chest of jewels—each sparkling surface radiating beauty and life.
The sight of the enormous luminous pearls adorning the stone pillars on either side of Fishmen Island's entrance was enough to stir feelings of greed. These pearls, not only serving as brilliant sources of light, were also incredibly valuable for their potent medicinal properties. To see them casually used as mere decor was an extravagant display of wealth.
"Miss Kalifa!"
As soon as the guards spotted Kalifa, they immediately stood aside, saluting her respectfully, and allowed the bubble car to pass without hesitation.
Uta, sitting beside Kalifa, couldn't help but be intrigued. She glanced at her curiously and asked, "Kalifa, you're clearly well-loved here. I noticed it earlier with the villagers—they respect you so much. I can tell it's not just a superficial kind of respect, but something sincere. What's the reason behind it?"
Kalifa smiled softly, her expression warm as she responded, "It's probably because we genuinely care for this country. But the most important factor is that we are crew members of Buggy's pirate crew."
"Crew members?" Uta repeated, the word lingering on her tongue as she looked at Kalifa with a surprised expression.
"Yes," Kalifa confirmed, her smile never fading. "Buggy has never seen us as mere subordinates. In our crew, there's no strict hierarchy like in the other Four Emperors' crews. Everyone is equal. As for us Pirates… aside from Crocodile, none of us interfere with the empire's governance." She paused thoughtfully before continuing, "If you like, you could consider us the guardians of the empire."
Uta's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait… Crocodile? The former Shichibukai? He doesn't stay out of national affairs?"
As the bubble car came to a stop, Kalifa gave a slight nod and answered, "It's no secret. Crocodile is quite talented in this area, and his skills are invaluable to this country. Didn't you wonder how the villagers can afford such impressive two-story stone houses?"
"Yes! I've been wondering that!" Uta responded quickly, her eyes alight with curiosity. "Those houses look expensive—there's no way they're cheap!"
Kalifa chuckled at Uta's enthusiasm. "Exactly. The wealth here is real. That's why this area feels so prosperous."
"Hehe, those houses were all built by Crocodile after Buggy drew the blueprints," Kalifa said with a smile.
She paused for a moment before continuing, "To be precise, Crocodile used his Devil Fruit ability to enlarge them. This can only be done by someone who has mastered the awakening of the Sand-Sand Fruit."
Kalifa's eyes sparkled as she explained further, "Didn't you wonder why the roads are so perfectly flat or how they cut right through mountains? That's all Crocodile's work."
As soon as Kalifa finished speaking, the team with Uta erupted in surprise. Uta's jaw dropped, and she exclaimed in shock, "So the Sand-Sand Fruit can do that? Wait—what do you mean by 'fruit awakening'?"
Kalifa tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm... how should I put this?" she mused before explaining, "It's the power of the Devil Fruit. When someone develops their abilities to a certain point, they can hit a barrier. Some stop there, but others push forward. The ability to break through that bottleneck, allowing the Devil Fruit powers to influence the surrounding environment, is what we call awakening. It's not exactly a secret, but it's something known mostly among the world's strongest."
Uta's eyes widened as she processed the information, panic creeping in. She quickly bowed to Kalifa and apologized, "Sorry, Kalifa, I was live-streaming earlier. I'll shut it off immediately!"
Kalifa chuckled lightly, helping Uta back up. "Miss Uta, we were already aware of your broadcast. If Buggy didn't approve, Enel would have taken care of it the moment you started streaming."
Uta's eyes went wide. "Thunder god Enel!?" she gasped, still in disbelief. "Can he really do something like that?"
"Yes," Kalifa nodded with a small smile. "Enel is a Goro Goro no Mi user. His electrical waves cover the entire Crimson Empire. The moment there's any unusual electric signal, he notices it. The World Government tries to smear our reputation across the world because their spies can't infiltrate our country or spread any news. Originally, we wanted to keep the Crimson Empire under wraps for a while, to develop it in peace before connecting with the world. But now... you've helped us avoid trouble. So, no need for apologies, Miss Uta. We're even."
"Hee hee, well, now I can relax. I don't have to be so cautious anymore!" Uta said with a playful grin.
As she spoke, she turned around, flashing a "peace" sign to the audio-visual Den Den Mushi before casually placing one hand on Kalifa's waist and smiling brightly. "Hey, hello everyone! To all my wonderful audience and fans, I'm Uta! And today, I want to introduce the beautiful lady beside me, who's been shopping with us all day. Her name is Kalifa, and she's a fantastic secretary."
The shift in Uta's behavior caught everyone off guard. The people who had been watching, their expressions ranging from amazement to deep contemplation, were now momentarily stunned. After all, Uta hadn't acknowledged the camera the previous day, so her sudden interaction left her fans thrilled.
But for the powerful figures who had been analyzing the situation, this was a whole new problem.
They now understood why their spies couldn't infiltrate or escape the Crimson Empire. Was it the Goro Goro no Mi's ability at play? And now, with the Crimson Empire revealing itself to the world, it was clear this was a direct challenge to the World Government!
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, his voice thick with fury, slammed his fist onto the table, the sound echoing in the grand chamber. "This damn Buggy! Damn the Buggy Pirates!!!" His face was contorted in rage, his eyes seething with the kind of anger only the highest echelon of the World Government could muster.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nasujuro, not one to sit idly by, leaned forward with a sneer and snapped venomously. "They dare to mock the World Government like this! They must be Buster Called!" His icy gaze narrowed as though he was already envisioning their complete annihilation.
Saint Topman Valkyrie, ever the pragmatist, interrupted sharply, though his tone carried a trace of worry. "Don't slaughter them yet. We can't even get on their ship! Think about tomorrow's headlines. We can't afford to look like fools in the eyes of the world."
A tense silence followed, broken only when Saint Marcus Mars spoke, his voice strained yet focused on damage control. "What else can we do? We have to bury this incident with some new scandal. Something to overshadow this... embarrassment."
"Damn it!" Ju Peter cursed again, his frustration visibly mounting. "Morgans is too slippery; we can't control him. He's always one step ahead of us!" His fist clenched as if crushing the phantom image of the elusive news king in his palm.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, who had remained silent until now, finally leaned forward, his calm voice filled with reluctant disbelief. "Such terrifying power... I never imagined Buggy could manage a country so effectively. The details of his actions are astounding..." He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as if to soothe the headache Buggy's antics had caused.
Ju Peter shot Saturn a sharp glare, his anger unabated. "Is now really the time to admire him?" he muttered, exasperation dripping from every word. "We're on the verge of a crisis, and you're impressed by his... 'efficiency'?"
Saturn sighed deeply, the weight of their predicament pressing down on him. He closed his eyes briefly before uttering a bitter truth. "Right. He's Buggy the Clown... What were we even expecting?"
They couldn't refute the reports or spin the news, so all they could do was sulk in silence, stewing in their own frustration. The Naval Headquarters officials weren't faring any better. Before they could start shouting, Uta's next question snapped their attention back.
"By the way, Kalifa," Uta said with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, "Can I ask you a more... sensitive question?"
She clasped her hands together and looked at Kalifa, her expression now one of curiosity.
Kalifa, who had long been used to absurd situations wasn't easily rattled. As long as the secrets of the Buggy Pirates weren't in question, she could usually brush off any concerns.
"Go ahead," she said with a calm smile.
Uta hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "So, if what you said is true—that Crocodile's abilities were used to build those houses and roads...," she trailed off, gauging Kalifa's reaction before continuing. "Aren't you worried that his growing prestige might overshadow Buggy's rule? Won't that be a problem?"
The moment Uta's words left her mouth, the air around them seemed to crackle with a new energy. The people listening intently, both fans and the powerful figures watching from afar, perked up. Was this the moment they'd been waiting for? A crack in the armor? An opportunity to exploit?
Yes! This is it! They thought. A perfect opening to challenge the status quo!
The tension among the audience was palpable. This could be the golden opportunity they had been waiting for, a chance to find a chink in Buggy's empire. As they continued watching, some of the higher-ups watching the broadcast began to nod, a gleam of triumph in their eyes.
It seemed like today's live broadcast might just be more significant than they originally thought.
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