This was a fortress of considerable size.
Its main structure was tower-like, with two massive vertical arches at the back that resembled wings.
More than six years ago, this fortress was known as the Marine Headquarters G-1 Base.
It was one of the most important bases in the entire Marine organization, its status nearly comparable to Marineford.
But after the Beasts Pirates took over the New World and the World Government completely withdrew from these waters, this fortress was occupied by the Beasts Pirates.
At first, this base, being too close to the Red Line, was simply abandoned.
After all, if the World Government launched an attack from the Red Line, this base would be reduced to ruins in an instant, leaving no time to react.
However, once operations to hunt down pirates began, the presence of this base became somewhat important.
After all, the waters near the Red Line were still vast, and having a massive base as support made the pursuit of pirates far more efficient.
Thus, Ian sent someone here.
This base officially replaced the G-5 Base once guarded by King, becoming the Beasts Pirates' frontline against the World Government.
As Ace approached the ground, he retracted his powers and lightly landed on the shore.
"Haha, my first time fighting as a pirate of the Beasts Pirates. I gave those guys a little self-introduction."
"And then?"
Sanji, now sixteen, rolled his eyes in a deadpan expression.
"Then, of course, I sent them straight to the bottom of the sea."
Ace said this matter-of-factly.
"Then what the hell was the point of your self-introduction?"
Sanji shouted angrily. "If you had that much time, you should've come back sooner!"
"Hmph."
The green-haired boy sitting quietly nearby, polishing his beloved sword, lifted his head. "You're just impatient to get to Fish-Man Island, aren't you?"
This boy, the same age as Sanji, had also grown quite strong.
"Don't say stupid things, green hair!"
Sanji snapped viciously. "Of course, we can't keep Miss Kuina and Miss Ulti waiting!"
Although their age and physique had been growing, the two of them were still as sharp with each other as before.
"Fish-Man Island… I'm actually kind of looking forward to it."
Kuina was eighteen this year, a year older than Ace.
The blue-haired girl had grown into a graceful young woman. She wore a simple T-shirt and shorts, but the long sword hanging at her waist gave her an unmistakable air of sharp elegance.
"I've often heard the Fish-Men from Wano talk about what Fish-Man Island looks like. Apparently, it's really beautiful."
"Boring."
The other girl, standing with her arms crossed, snorted lightly.
"Compared to scenery and other boring things, it's obviously much more fun to take down those clueless idiots, right?"
Ulti was the same age as Ace—seventeen—and had reached the most beautiful stage of her youth. Even with a mask on, her beauty was hard to hide, matching Kuina's perfectly.
"That's true."
Kuina's gaze sharpened instantly.
"Ian didn't send us out here to just play around."
"Let's go. Uncle Kuzan is still waiting for us."
Page One, who had been squatting off to the side, stood up, stretched his neck slightly, and said calmly.
He was only fifteen this year, the youngest in the group.
"Let's go."
Ace said with a smile.
The group of young people walked straight into the base building.
All the pirates along the way greeted them respectfully upon seeing them.
People outside might not have known these youngsters existed, but within the Beasts Pirates, everyone knew that these young people were candidates for high-ranking positions.
In fact, the moment Ian had sent them out, it was already an unofficial announcement that they were about to rise to power.
The youngsters climbed the spiral staircase all the way up, finally reaching the wooden loft at the top of the tower-like structure, where the highest-ranking officer of the base was stationed.
"Yo, Uncle Kuzan."
Ace waved and cheerfully greeted the man lying in the boss chair, asleep with an eye patch on.
"Oh my, Ace, is it?"
Kuzan lazily pushed up his eye mask and slowly sat up, yawning as he spoke in a relaxed tone, "Isn't Jinbei the one who said a group of pirates escaped into the New World? Haven't you gone to deal with them yet?"
"Is it possible, Uncle Kuzan—"
Ace rolled his eyes. "I've already taken care of that group of pirates and came back."
This Uncle Kuzan was great in many ways, even a disciple trained by Garp himself, but most of the time, he was just too lazy.
"Really? Hahaha."
Kuzan chuckled awkwardly.
"Do you really think you can help Brother Ian guard this base properly?"
Ulti sized him up from head to toe.
She didn't really trust him.
After all, he used to be in the Navy and always seemed to carry that lazy, indifferent look.
Kuzan's eyes immediately lit up when he heard her say that. "Then why don't you suggest it to Ian? I also happen to not want to stay here any longer!"
There was nothing good about this base at all.
Back when he was in the Navy, he was already bored of being here, and now this base was the front line of the Beasts Pirates.
Who knew when the World Government might strike?
Ulti rolled her eyes in an elegant gesture.
"So, Uncle Kuzan, when do we leave?"
Sanji asked. "Brother Ian specifically asked you to provide backup for us."
"Ah."
Kuzan sighed.
That Ian really dared to do it—these kids were representing the Beasts Pirates in their first official battle, and he just handed this mission over to them.
However…
Kuzan glanced over the young people in front of him.
Indeed, each of them gave off an overwhelmingly strong aura. Their opponents were just a bunch of pirates. Even if there were many of them, they shouldn't pose much of a challenge.
It was hard to imagine where Ian had found so many formidable young people.
"I'll contact Jinbei right away and have him come pick us up."
Kuzan said.
"Excellent!"
Ulti's eyes blazed with fiery intensity, as if she wanted to burn everything in sight.
"This is really exciting," Zoro's gaze was equally intense. "I wonder how many pirates will show up this time."
"Hey! Kuina!"
He looked at his childhood friend with a mischievous grin. "Let's see who can take down more pirates this time."
"Sure."
Kuina nodded happily. "It's been a long time since we last faced off!"
"Miss Kuina!"
Sanji immediately came over, flashing a playful smile. "Can I join too?"
"Tch."
Zoro clicked his tongue in disbelief.
Sanji shoved his head forward and said fiercely, "Huh? You, green-haired freak, got a problem with that?"
"You eyebrow guy, if you want to die, I'll help you commit seppuku!"
Zoro gave a wry smile, not taking him seriously.
"Haha! Are you kidding me? With your sword, you couldn't even cut through my skin, could you?"
"Then why don't you try?"
Their foreheads collided like two bulls locking horns.
**********
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