Sea Circle Calendar: 1520
North Blue, G-64 Marine Branch
"What happened?!"
Bai Ye's expression changed drastically.
"This is the station of the Marine's North Blue G-64 branch, just across the sea from the town where I live," he muttered.
No matter how rampant pirates were in North Blue, none would dare act so recklessly near a Marine branch flying the Marine flag.
After forty years of Marine service, Bai Ye didn't have the luxury to think things through. He immediately ordered the branch Marines to assemble and prepare to eliminate the "enemies."
However, just as the Marine branch rapidly assembled to depart, a heavy, authoritative voice interrupted them.
"The Marines of the G-64 branch must not be dispatched without orders from headquarters!"
The voice came unexpectedly, and shortly after, a Marine ran over holding a Den Den Mushi. The commanding voice had come from the device.
The gathered Marines froze in place, their expressions turning sour.
"Are you kidding me?!"
"They're bombarding the town right in front of us!"
"Are we just supposed to let the pirates run wild like this?!"
Many Marines looked frustrated, clenching their fists in disbelief.
Bai Ye's face darkened as he processed the situation.
The Den Den Mushi was silent for a moment before the voice spoke again.
"This is Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel from Naval Headquarters. Some of you may have heard of me…"
"What?!"
"A Vice Admiral?!"
"Flying Squirrel Vice Admiral?! Then why issue such an order…?"
The Marines at the scene were stunned.
Flying Squirrel was a Vice Admiral from Naval Headquarters. Yet he had deliberately issued such an order. The confusion among the ranks was palpable.
The Vice Admiral's voice continued from the Den Den Mushi:
"As for the reason, the Marines of the G-64 branch need to understand only one thing. The towns being attacked today are facing normal sanctions for failing to pay the 'Heavenly Gold' on time.
The World Government has issued this operation, and I am merely the messenger delivering the order via Den Den Mushi."
The voice fell silent.
The Marines on the scene were left stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief.
The attackers… were not pirates.
They were agents of the World Government.
A colossal force that had stood at the pinnacle of the world for over 800 years.
And the Marines? They were nothing more than an institution under the World Government's authority.
This wasn't a situation ordinary Marines could hope to interfere with.
The atmosphere grew oppressively silent.
Suddenly, a questioning, icy voice broke through the quiet.
"Are you telling me that just because they're part of the World Government, they can attack civilians without consequence? Even if the 'Heavenly Gold' is just an excuse?"
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
It was a gray-haired veteran, his strong physique untouched by the passage of time.
"Colonel Bai Ye!"
"Mr. Bai Ye!"
Bai Ye had served in the Marines for forty years and was the respected colonel of the G-64 Marine branch. Everyone present knew him well.
They also understood the reason behind the coldness in his tone.
The town being reduced to rubble by the World Government's artillery was the town Bai Ye had called home for over thirty years.
It wasn't just a town—it was where Bai Ye's relatives and loved ones lived.
The pain of witnessing the destruction of one's home was a rage unlike any other.
On the other side of the Den Den Mushi, Flying Squirrel hesitated.
Even if he didn't say it out loud, he knew the truth behind Bai Ye's accusation.
The 'Heavenly Gold' was nothing more than a pretext.
This operation was meant to send a message—a demonstration by the World Government to intimidate the disobedient kingdoms of North Blue.
Choosing a town near a Marine branch was deliberate.
The World Government wanted to make it clear: even under the Marines' watchful eye, they could destroy a town of innocent civilians without facing resistance.
Such was the unchecked arrogance of the World Government.
The oppressive silence stretched on as Bai Ye scanned the grim faces of the Marines around him. His gaze eventually landed on the Den Den Mushi.
"Fine. Since the Marines won't act…"
Bai Ye removed his Marine coat, the word Justice emblazoned across the back, revealing a pristine white shirt underneath.
The Marines around him gasped in shock.
Bai Ye turned to a tall, dark-skinned Marine.
"Kerry," he called.
"Yes, Mr. Bai Ye!" Kerry responded, standing at attention.
"From today onward, you're the Colonel," Bai Ye declared.
"W-what?!" Kerry stammered, disbelief written all over his face.
Excitement at his promotion was immediately overshadowed by dread. He had a sinking feeling about what Bai Ye was planning.
"Colonel Bai Ye…" Kerry hesitated.
"Watch your words!" The Flying Squirrel's voice snapped from the Den Den Mushi.
"Watch my words?" Bai Ye retorted, tossing his Marine coat to the ground.
He glanced toward the burning ruins of the town, where the World Government's artillery had left nothing but ash.
His once-cloudy eyes, tired of the world's injustices, now burned with resolve.
"The old man is retired. I'm no longer a Marine, so why should I care about cowardly orders?"
With that, Bai Ye made his decision.
He chose the 'Yamamoto Genryūsai' template without hesitation.
The legendary flames of Ryūjin Jakka awakened within him.