Ron narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering Big Mom's motives, trying to find a clue in this chaotic situation.
According to the anime's original plot, Fish-Man Island was seized by Big Mom two years after the Marineford War.
But Fish-Man Island is located 10,000 meters underwater!
Its geographical position makes it a natural fortress, nearly impossible to breach easily.
So, why would Big Mom want that?
The gains don't outweigh the losses.
Ron furrowed his brows, replaying various possibilities in his mind but still unable to find a reasonable explanation.
Just then, his gaze inadvertently fell on Whitebeard and a thought struck him.
If there was one reason, it could only be the Ancient Weapon—Poseidon!
Namely, Shirahoshi.
If Big Mom controlled her, the consequences would be unthinkable!
Moreover, Fish-Man Island housed a Poneglyphs—texts recording the truth of the world, which held immense value.
With this in mind, Ron became even more convinced of his speculation: Big Mom's target was likely one of these two things—or perhaps both...
"Alright, brats!" Whitebeard's deep, commanding voice boomed through the air the moment he spoke.
The scene instantly fell silent, as if time had frozen.
All the division commanders turned their eyes to him, filled with reverence and anticipation.
"No matter what that crazy woman is planning, no matter what schemes she has for Fish-Man Island," Whitebeard continued, his tone resolute and unyielding.
"Anyone who dares to mess with the Whitebeard Pirates will have to answer to me!"
These words struck everyone's hearts like a hammer, delivering an unprecedented shock to all present.
They knew this wasn't just a simple declaration—it represented the Whitebeard Pirates' unwavering resolve to retaliate against any threat without mercy.
As Whitebeard's voice faded, thunderous cheers erupted across the scene.
"Pops! My Laser Cannon has been itching for action!"
"I'll freeze Big Mom into a popsicle!"
"Hey, what's the point of freezing her into a popsicle? You wanna lick her or something?"
"Damn... bro, that's some wild taste. Wanna talk in private?"
"Fish-Man Island is Whitebeard Pirates' territory! Anyone who dares lay a finger on it will pay the price!"
"..."
The crowd's morale soared.
Having been idle for so long that their bones felt loose, the mere mention of a fight pumped them full of adrenaline!
Especially the division commanders who had recently acquired Devil Fruit powers with no outlet to vent—they were all in, hands and feet raised in approval!
Whitebeard raised his hand to quiet everyone, then turned to Ron.
"Ron, i leave the planning to you. This old man's only job is to fight!"
Ron nodded, then surveyed the group, selecting a few to remain stationed at Sky Island.
After all, the place couldn't be left completely unguarded.
Though visitors were rare, necessary precautions had to be taken.
After the crowd dispersed, Enel remained rooted in place, glaring at Ron with a resentful look, his eyes brimming with discontent like a neglected housewife.
"What's wrong, Enel? Something else on your mind?" Ron asked curiously, puzzled by the man's expression.
"Vice-Captain, can I come along? I don't want to stay here."
A hint of pleading laced Enel's voice as he quickly volunteered.
"We'll definitely need a ship to go down to the Blue Sea. The Moby Dick can't fly and even with those junk Dials, they won't be much help."
Ron furrowed his brows, considering Enel's words.
He knew Enel had a point—they did need a vessel to traverse the waters below.
But he also questioned whether Enel's motives were purely practical.
"Plus, with so many of us, a small boat won't cut it," Enel pressed on, seemingly having already devised a solution.
"I propose we take my... well, my former Ark Maxim!"
Finally, Ron understood Enel's true intention—the man clearly just wanted an adventure.
And his reasoning was so good that Ron found himself at a loss to counter it.
Still, Ron decided to rein him in a little; he couldn't let the guy get too carried away.
"Fine, your suggestion has merit," Ron said slowly.
"I'd actually forgotten about the Ark Maxim. Let's have Izou pilot it—he's a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user too, so he should handle the job just fine."
At this, Enel panicked!
No way!
After all that buildup, someone else was going to take the helm?!
Enel's voice brimmed with urgency and frustration as he nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Vice-Captain, I can do it! I can pilot it!" he stammered, tripping over his words in his haste.
"I built the Ark Maxim—no one knows it better than me!"
To prove his abilities, Enel continued, "I guarantee I can complete this job perfectly and beyond expectations!"
"Please believe in me, Vice Captain!" he said, grabbing Ron's hand with an almost pleading tone.
"Vice Captain, you must give me this opportunity!"
Ron looked into Enel's eager eyes and pondered silently.
He knew Enel had deep affection for the Ark Maxim—after all, it was a ship he had built with his own hands.
Moreover, as a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, Enel indeed possessed unique skills in controlling electricity.
Seeing Enel on the verge of tears, Ron knew the pressure had worked.
Perhaps giving him a chance wouldn't be so bad.
He patted Enel's shoulder and spoke earnestly, "Enel, being a helmsman is no easy task. The responsibility is immense."
"Don't worry, Vice Captain Ron! I'm the best at piloting it. The Ark Maxim is meant to traverse the endless earth—a little place like the Blue Sea is nothing to me!" Enel thumped his chest confidently, his face beaming with assurance.
He fully understood the weight of his responsibility and what this opportunity meant to him.
"Very well. Given your determination, the helmsman's position is yours. Make the most of it." Ron nodded, his eyes flashing with just the right amount of approval.
"Thank you, Vice Captain! I'll get the job done!" Enel's gaze was resolute, though he secretly wiped sweat from his palms.
Despite his composed exterior, he was still nervous and uneasy inside.
After all, the position had nearly slipped away.
But the thought of finally leaving this place to explore a broader world filled him with excitement and anticipation!
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