Chapter 284: My Fortress Is Impregnable!
"What do you mean, 'so fast'?" the kimono-clad Elder said, not even bothering to open his eyes. "Although the idea to restart the Amusement Park Project came from the impulsive younger generation, it received our unanimous approval. The young ones have been cooped up for far too long. It's fine to let them blow off some steam."
This hunting game for the Celestial Dragons, held in a non-affiliated country, used to be a triennial event. Three years, one nation destroyed—it was far more frequent back then. It was only because of the God Valley Incident thirty-three years ago that the game was no longer held in the New World, and its frequency was drastically reduced. After all, many non-affiliated countries were in the New World. With so many potential venues gone, there simply weren't enough "prey" to hold it every three years.
As it stood, the hunting game hadn't been held for eight years. Combined with the impact of the recent Sabaody incident, many young Celestial Dragons were being confined to the Holy Land by their families, forbidden to go out. They were getting restless. They often complained that life was boring, some even claiming they were "worse off than the commoners"—after all, even commoners could travel. Yet they, the noble Celestial Dragons, were trapped, unable to even go down to the lower world to pick out their own slaves. It was unthinkable!
The Five Elders could sympathize.
"The location this time is in the North Blue. Although the prizes aren't as flashy as they were at God Valley, the number of prey is exceptionally large, making it the biggest one in recent years. It should be enough to satisfy the little ones," the blond Elder said flatly. "Sakazuki, your mission is to lead the Marines and ensure the game proceeds smoothly. Do not allow any incidents to interrupt this grand event. As for that man, Shane, you are to ignore him for the time being."
"You want me to stop hunting pirates and go babysit a bunch of… Celestial Dragon children?" Akainu said coldly. "How ridiculous. No wonder that old fool Garp refused to become an Admiral for decades. I'm starting to understand him now."
"Insolence!" Saint Jaygarcia Saturn slammed his cane. "The will of the Celestial Dragons is not to be blasphemed! Moreover, the Amusement Park Project is not merely for entertainment. It is also a deterrent to the non-affiliated nations!"
"Indeed," the white-bearded Elder put down his teacup, his tone icy. "You are getting out of line, Sakazuki! Do not forget your place! The first duty of the Marines is to uphold the dignity of the World Government and protect the Celestial Dragons!"
Uphold their dignity? Then what about my dignity?! Akainu's face was grim, but he knew the game was a done deal. Protesting further was pointless.
"Eliminating Shane and the Curtain Call Adventurers is, in my opinion, the top priority! Nothing should take precedence over it! If we continue to let this threat grow, sooner or later…" He turned and walked towards the door. Just before he left, he stopped and said coldly, without turning back, "Hmph, you will regret this!"
"We are gods. Gods do not regret, Sakazuki!"
SLAM!!!
With a deafening slam of the door, Akainu was gone, leaving the Five Elders to look at each other.
"Slamming doors in the Holy Land now," the kimono-clad Elder said, opening his eyes, a hint of displeasure on his face. "This Sakazuki… is getting more and more out of line." Sengoku would never have been so disrespectful.
"A fierce hyena is useful, but it tends to bark. However, as long as we hold the leash, it can be tolerated," the white-bearded Elder said calmly. "After all, of the three Admirals, he was the only one who accepted the position of head of security for this event, wasn't he?"
"That's not entirely true. Kuzan declined outright, but Borsalino hasn't refused. He's still 'considering' it."
"That Borsalino," Saturn snorted. "Always so ambiguous. He's been like that since he was a Vice Admiral. If he had gone all out during the Sabaody incident, it wouldn't have…"
"He has been punished. Let's not bring up old matters," the bald Elder said, shaking his head. "Since Sakazuki has accepted the mission, let him head to the North Blue. Aokiji will remain at Headquarters."
"However, this Amusement Park is in the North Blue, too far from the Holy Land to provide timely support if something goes wrong. To ensure absolute security, we need overwhelming force. One Admiral is not enough."
"If Borsalino agrees by tomorrow's deadline, that would be for the best. We can send him as well," the white-bearded Elder mused. "If he refuses, there's no need to force him. We have another, more motivated and reliable Admiral-level asset we can call upon."
"Motivated?" Saturn was surprised, but then he understood. "You mean that patrolman who defected to us… I see. He is barely qualified. I approve."
"I also approve."
"Agreed."
New World, Dune Island.
After the Curtain Call Adventurers took control of Whole Cake Island, the various islands situated between Whole Cake and the Galaxy Sea all chose to pledge their allegiance to the new Yonko. Dune Island was no exception.
The island was rather remote, half of it covered in sand dunes. It was poor in resources, and its twenty thousand residents were mostly concentrated near a river mouth in the south, making a living by fishing. Unfortunately, the fish in the New World were not so easy to catch. The seas were teeming with ferocious Sea Kings, and pirates would occasionally land to plunder. Though most would leave in disgust after finding nothing of value… it was no way to live.
Dune Island had once tried to ally with the Big Mom Pirates, but because the island produced no special ingredients, Big Mom had sneered at them and turned them away. Fortunately, the Curtain Call Adventurers were not so picky. After a simple background check, they were accepted. And the residents of Dune Island were pleasantly surprised to find that things changed much faster than they had expected.
First, the crew's flag was raised at the island's port and on its highest point. The Garrison Corps' Seventh Patrol Fleet, consisting of ten warships, also added the waters around Dune Island to its patrol route. The pirate problem that had plagued the island for years vanished overnight. The once-arrogant pirates who had plundered at will would now turn tail and flee at the mere sight of the Curtain Call's flag, not daring to come within a mile of the island.
Not only that, but the crew had also sent a team of agricultural experts to experiment with drought-resistant crops in the island's barren areas. Although the soil was poor, after a month of repeated trials, the specially modified seeds actually took root at the edge of the dunes. When the old-timers on the island saw the green shoots breaking through the soil, they were moved to tears.
"There, there, calm down. I told you, Lord Shane has decreed that no matter how small the island, no matter how poor the town, as long as they are willing to follow us, they will not be abandoned," the liaison officer from the Curtain Call Adventurers said with a smile.
The liaison officer was a young female cadre from the Infrastructure Corps. She was not yet twenty, lively and beautiful, and very popular. There were many rumors about her past. Some said she was a cold-blooded assassin from a great desert kingdom, while others said she was the owner of a very famous coffee shop chain in the West Blue. Regardless of her past, one thing was certain: a few months ago, after witnessing Shane's public execution of a Celestial Dragon on the live broadcast and his declaration of a new era, she had resolutely abandoned her old life and traveled thousands of miles to the New World to join the Curtain Call Adventurers.
"Once these crops are harvested, everyone's lives will definitely improve. Also, the head of our Infrastructure Corps' cafeteria is very interested in several types of fish from your island. From now on, you can ship your catch directly to Totto Land. The price will be thirty percent higher than what you used to get from the black market merchants."
"Th-thirty percent?!" the old-timers stared in disbelief.
"That's right. It's actually just a little higher than the normal purchase price. It's what you deserve. It's not a handout, so don't overthink it. It's just that those black market merchants were taking advantage of you because you had no one to back you up," the officer said, flipping through her planner. "Oh, and starting next week, we'll be opening a basic school on the island. The children can learn to read, write, and do arithmetic. And if they want to join one of the Four Corps later on, they're more than welcome… Hey, what are you doing? Get up, get up! Why are you kneeling?! Hey! Don't bow! I'm not worthy of that!"
She flusteredly tried to pull them up. "Even if you want to thank someone, don't thank me. You should be thanking Lord Shane! We in the Infrastructure Corps are just carrying out his policies."
Yes, his policies! Or rather, his beliefs. She was out of breath and covered in sweat from helping everyone up, but she felt a sweetness in her heart, happier than she had ever been. Hehe, I finally get it! No wonder when she first joined the Infrastructure Corps, even though her seniors were always busy and tired, they all had a look of fulfillment and happiness on their faces. And no wonder people would often stop and pay their respects to the two sentences carved on the wall of the headquarters in the Galaxy Sea—
"True justice is not a charity handed down from on high, but the ability for everyone to earn a living and live with dignity."
"This is the mission of the Infrastructure Corps."
She heard Lord Shane had written that too.
"I really want to see Lord Shane again," the liaison officer thought. After bidding farewell to the villagers, she opened her parasol and walked to the highest sand dune in the center of the island. It was deserted for miles around. The Curtain Call's flag was planted there. She looked at the setting sun on the horizon, then up at the flag. The orange glow of the sunset made the pure white flag shine. This flag is so cool! And I'm so cool!
"Hey! You're amazing!!" she couldn't help but spread her arms and laugh. "This is so much more fun than when I was with Baroque Works—!" Even though she wasn't strong enough to join the Combat Corps, she was so happy to be contributing in her own way! Her only regret was that since joining, she hadn't had a chance to see Lord Shane in person. Her impression of the now-world-famous man was still stuck on the terrifying pressure he had exuded when he beat up her former boss.
Just as she was about to lie down and enjoy the sunset and the evening breeze… Hmm? She suddenly noticed something. She rubbed her eyes and looked up at the sky in disbelief. Am I seeing things? A mirage?
—Hundreds of meters in the air was a figure she knew all too well, a figure she had seen in her dreams countless times. The handsome, slender young man was hovering with his arms crossed, his black coat flapping behind him. After a glance downwards, he began to draw his right fist back, and CRACK!, black-and-red lightning coiled around it, spreading out in all directions. In the next moment, he unleashed a full-power punch at the vast, barren desert!
"Galaxy… Impact!"
BOOM!!!
A violent, cross-shaped shockwave tore through the sky and descended!
"No!" The light was so bright it nearly blinded her, but the liaison officer didn't dare to close her eyes. She scrambled to her feet, waving her arms frantically at the sky. "No! Lord Shane! Look at me! I'm still here!"
Wait, it seemed Lord Shane had noticed her and had adjusted his aim slightly, so the shockwave wouldn't hit her. But what was he doing? Was he testing a new move? Why would he use it on his own territory?! Even if there were no people in the dunes, a punch like that would have a devastating impact on the island's ecosystem!
VWOOM!
Unexpectedly, just as the shockwave was about to hit the dunes, countless, tree-canopy-like, pale green barriers appeared in mid-air, blocking the attack! The force of the punch was clearly close to the barrier's limit; its surface rippled violently. But in the end, it held.
"Hoo, hoo…" The liaison officer collapsed onto the sand, her heart still pounding. The pale green barriers above her slowly faded away. What… what the hell was that? She looked around and saw that Shane's figure had vanished, and on the horizon, the sunset was as peaceful as ever. It was as if it had all been a hallucination.
Until… a rather satisfied voice came from behind her. "Hmm, it can even barely block my Galaxy Impact. The effect is quite good. It seems that trip to Impel Down was not in vain."
"From now on, my fortress is impregnable, easy to defend and hard to attack! No one can get in!"
The liaison officer spun around to see Shane standing behind her, looking up at where the green barrier had been.
"L-Lord Shane!" She scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding with excitement, and bowed. "Liaison Officer of the Infrastructure Corps' Third Branch, reporting! I can't believe it's really you! Sniffle, I'm so happy! D-do you remember me?"
"Remember you? I don't recall that name." Shane looked at her, blinked, and then slapped his fist into his palm in a moment of realization. "Ah! I remember now! You're the workout equipment!"
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