The White Berets sprang into action the moment they received their orders.
McKinley burst from the bushes, pointing a finger directly at Marcus.
"Blue Sea dweller! You've destroyed Angel Island's environmen, that's a Level 6 offense! According to Angel Island law, you'll serve ten years in prison to atone for your crimes against nature!"
Marcus pointed at himself. "I destroyed the environment?"
"Yes! Based on our surveillance, you have—" McKinley froze mid-sentence, staring in disbelief at the fruit trees that had somehow regrown right before his eyes. The trees that had definitely been knocked down moments ago were now standing tall and healthy, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Sorry, what was that?"
"De...stroyed...the...en...vir...on...ment," McKinley managed to stammer out, his confident tone completely gone.
"Destroyed what, exactly? Point it out for me."
McKinley looked around frantically, searching for evidence of destruction that no longer existed. He glanced at Marcus, who stood there looking completely innocent, then swept his gaze across the rest of the Straw Hat crew.
They all wore expressions of pure, almost aggressive innocence. Like they'd never broken a rule in their entire lives. Then his eyes landed on Pagaya, who still had blood streaming down his forehead from his earlier crash into the tree.
"Aha! You're suspected of assault and battery, that's a Level 4 offense!"
But before McKinley could finish his accusation, Chopper pulled out a towel and gently wiped Pagaya's forehead clean. Within seconds, the blood was gone, the wound had vanished, and Pagaya looked completely fine.
"..."
"Ah, terribly sorry about that," Pagaya said, rubbing the spot where his injury had been. "I fell on my own. Thanks to their help, I'm perfectly fine now. See?"
McKinley's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, no sound coming out.
The Straw Hat crew stood there radiating law-abiding citizen energy so hard it was almost painful to look at.
Well, most of them anyway. Luffy was still off doing his own thing, happily sculpting a "snowman" out of the island clouds, completely oblivious to the confrontation happening nearby.
McKinley pointed both index fingers at his own eyes, then jabbed them toward the crew. "I'll be watching you! All of you! Every second of every day! Any criminal activity will be met with swift justice!"
With that declaration, he dropped to his belly and army-crawled back into the bushes, disappearing from view.
"..."
Marcus stared at the spot where McKinley had vanished, completely speechless.
The rest of the Straw Hats understood what was happening, though. Gan Fall had already filled them in on the situation during their journey here, how the White Berets operated, what to expect, and how to avoid getting arrested for breathing wrong.
Usopp sighed and shook his head. "If we didn't know better, we probably would've walked straight into their trap."
Bon Kurei looked thoughtful, tapping his chin. "You know, I'm curious. What do you think would happen if I transformed into Enel right now?"
"They'd probably shit themselves and drop to their knees," Sanji said with a laugh, lighting up a fresh cigarette.
Conis looked at the Straw Hats with conflicted emotions. Even though they'd only known each other for a short time, she was certain these were good people. "If it's possible, please don't go up to the island. Please stay here on the beach."
Pagaya's expression was complicated as he nodded in agreement. "You're good people. That's exactly why I'm asking you this, it's for your own safety."
The Straw Hats noticed the father and daughter's hesitant, worried expressions. Clearly, they had no idea that their so-called god was already gone.
Alvida, meanwhile, couldn't care less about any of that. She sprawled comfortably on a lounge chair made entirely of cloud, looking like she'd found paradise.
"Mmm, this cloud chair is amazing. It molds to your body perfectly."
Nami lay down on another cloud chair. "Oh wow, it really does!"
Soon all the women had migrated to the cloud furniture, settling in for some serious relaxation and sunbathing.
Conis looked torn, wanting to warn them, to explain the danger, but having no idea how to start the conversation without revealing the terrible truth about their god.
Vivi stretched lazily, her arms above her head. "Don't worry. Your 'god' won't be delivering any more divine punishments."
"?!"
Conis' head whipped around. Her heart was pounding. She looked up at the sky instinctively, waiting for the inevitable lightning strike that should come after such blasphemous words.
But the sky remained clear and peaceful.
Pagaya was equally panicked, his eyes darting around nervously. They waited in tense silence, but nothing happened.
"This is..."
"God is a piece of shit," Alvida said casually from her cloud chair, her voice carrying clearly across the beach. "A murderous bastard who treats human life like garbage. A man without balls is nothing but a coward."
Every word that came out of her mouth should have resulted in instant death from divine punishment. Both Conis and Pagaya instinctively backed away several steps, as if distance might somehow save them from the wrath that was surely about to descend.
Luffy, seeing their terrified reactions, clapped his hands and burst out laughing. "Shishishishi! You guys are hilarious!"
But still, no divine punishment came.
The father and daughter stood frozen in shock. And hidden in the bushes around them, the White Beret soldiers were equally stunned.
McKinley, who had barely made it back to his hiding spot, came charging out again.
"Blasphemy! That's the worst crime imaginable! You'll be punished, not by the priests, but by God himself! He'll strike you down where you stand!"
Zoro grinned, and it was possibly the most terrifying smile anyone had ever seen. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. "Let him come, then."
McKinley stared at the group's arrogant, fearless faces, his throat going dry. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, and he could feel cold sweat running down his back. But no matter how long they waited, no matter how many blasphemous things were said, the Divine Judgment that should have appeared over Angel Island never came.
Everyone on Skypiea knew the rules. Even whispering behind someone's back would be heard by their god, and divine punishment would follow instantly. That's how Enel maintained his iron grip on the population, through absolute, inescapable surveillance and immediate retribution.
But now, after such blatant, public blasphemy, there was nothing. Not even a rumble of distant thunder.
McKinley stood there completely dumbfounded.
Usopp, meanwhile, had been watching McKinley's reactions with growing interest. The way the captain's nose was running, how his body shook like a leaf in a storm, it all him Usopp a wonderfully terrible idea.
A smile slowly crept across his face.
He covered the left side of his face with one hand, adding an air of mystery, and spoke in a low, captivating voice. "Do you know why your god hasn't delivered his divine punishment?"
"Wh-why?"
It wasn't McKinley who asked, but Conis. After realizing that no punishment had come despite the blasphemy, courage had surged through her and her father like a shot of pure adrenaline. They suddenly felt brave enough to know the truth.
"Because," Usopp said, lowering his voice dramatically, "there is no god to be seen."
The simple statement hit like a thunderbolt. Everyone froze, processing the impossible words.
What?
He pointed one finger to the sky and another to himself, declaring loudly, "No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even Enel. The unbearable vacancy of his throne in the sky is over. From now on... I will be sitting on it! Who is better suited than me, the great Captain Usopp?"
An almost tangible aura seemed to surge from him, as if he was looking down on all of creation itself. His presence felt overwhelming.
Clap, clap, clap!
Enthusiastic applause erupted from the Straw Hat crew. They were all playing along, of course, Usopp's performance was so outrageously over-the-top that nobody could resist joining in on the fun.
"When it comes to bullshitting, you're legitimately unbeatable," Marcus said, giving Usopp a perfect score. "I'm actually impressed."
Honestly, he had never felt the urge to show off or make dramatic declarations. But seeing Usopp in action made him reconsider. Maybe he should add some special effects to his entrances. Otherwise, just pulling out his sword and instantly ending fights seemed a bit lackluster. Where was the style? The flair?
Meanwhile, Conis and Pagaya stood completely frozen, staring at Usopp like he'd grown a second head.
McKinley's eyes were so wide they looked like they might fall out of his skull.
Showing off? Lying?
Of course, those thoughts never even crossed his mind. Everyone on Skypiea knew the truth, even whispered secrets would be heard by God, and divine punishment would follow without fail. That was the law of their existence.
Had no one ever tried to resist?
No, people had tried. They'd tried many times over the years.
And they'd all died. Every single one, struck down by God's wrath before they could even finish their rebellious thoughts.