"I agree. The Warlord system has been in place for a while now; it's time to take them out for a spin." Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded in agreement.
As for the Five Elders, although they hadn't formally approved this war, they had no reason to block the conscription of the Warlords.
While enjoying the privilege of legal plunder granted by the World Government, the Warlords must also accept the government's mandatory conscription.
They are only free to act as they please during normal times. "But what about the New World?"
On the screen, Aokiji spoke lazily through the projection of Den Den Mushi.
He and Sakazuki currently guard the New World. If they were both withdrawn, it was inevitable that the other Emperors would try to take advantage of the void, though the probability was small.
"That is indeed a problem..." Sengoku fell deep into thought.
Although the other two Emperor crews had plenty of friction with Whitebeard, they obviously wouldn't pass up a chance to loot a burning house.
However, whether the target of their looting would be the Marines or Whitebeard was open to debate.
Clang—!
Just then, a loud noise came from the conference room door. An old man strode in with vigorous steps, shouting at Sengoku in a booming voice:
"Isn't it simple? Just throw that brat Borsalino into the New World!"
The shout attracted the attention of almost everyone in the room, Atlas included.
He scrutinised the old man before him.
The most immediate impression was strength—immense strength. A broad chest, muscles like knotted cords, tanned skin. Clearly, he was a battle-hardened Marine.
As for his attire, it wasn't the suit and Justice coat of a traditional Marine officer.
Instead, he wore a sleeveless black shirt decorated with medals, exposing his thick arms.
The badges on his broad shoulders didn't belong to any Marine system, but his rank was clearly not low.
"Kong-san?!"
Sengoku was surprised.
The newcomer was none other than the former Fleet Admiral and current Commander-in-Chief of the World Government—"Steel Bone" Kong!
Since leaving to run for the Commander-in-Chief position, Kong rarely interfered in Marine affairs, spending most of his time in the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
However, he occasionally visited the Marines to offer guidance on Sengoku's handling of affairs.
But during Atlas's time at Marineford, he had consistently missed this former Fleet Admiral, so they had never interacted, even though Kong was nominally his former supreme commander.
"Kong-san, the Five Elders sent you, didn't they?" Sengoku hit the nail on the head, quickly discerning the purpose of Kong's visit.
He knew very well that the Five Elders were vehemently opposed to this war.
But the situation was such that the Marines had to fight Whitebeard. Even the Five Elders couldn't stop it.
And the balance of the seas was something they had to maintain at all costs.
Annihilating the Whitebeard Pirates and allowing the Marines to grow unchecked was not something those five old men wanted to see. So their only demand now was...
To weaken the Marines' combat power as much as possible, to give the Whitebeard Pirates a fighting chance, or to ensure the Marines suffered greater losses in this battle.
Only then could the balance of the seas be maintained.
"That's right. They also want Kuzan to guard the Holy Land Mary Geoise, to prevent pirates from attacking in the chaos."
A look of embarrassment appeared on Kong's face.
He had just been promoted to Commander-in-Chief. Like Sengoku and the others, although there hadn't been a formal ceremony, the appointment documents had been issued by the World Government. His position was basically set in stone.
He couldn't refuse the first order the Five Elders gave him.
"Hmph! Shouldn't the CP0 on Mary Geoise be sufficient as a guard force? What pirate would dare attack Mary Geoise?"
Sengoku snorted, speaking with dissatisfaction.
"Have you forgotten? Fisher Tiger..."
"Moreover, of the three future Admirals, one needs to be permanently stationed at Marine Headquarters, and another needs to guard the Holy Land Mary Geoise. Clearly, those World Nobles were scared witless by Fisher Tiger."
Kong shook his head with a bitter smile, paused for a moment, then continued:
"Not only that, they specifically requested Borsalino to guard Mary Geoise."
"Ooh~ To be fancied by the Celestial Dragons, how scary~~"
Kizaru, who had been picking at his nails, heard his name and subconsciously pursed his lips, wrinkling his face.
"...Brother Kong, you know as well as I do that we can't send both of them away." Sengoku shook his head, refusing.
Although the Whitebeard Pirates' combat power was out in the open, the Marines couldn't afford to be careless.
Without Kuzan and Borsalino, the Marines would be taking a certain risk in terms of high-end combat power and in this war, the Marines could only win; defeat was not an option!
"Although sending Borsalino to the New World is the most appropriate, Kuzan absolutely cannot go! Also, we need the authority to conscript the Warlords."
"I've already refused the request for Kuzan to go to Mary Geoise, but..."
A trace of doubt flashed in Kong's eyes.
"Um, actually, Issho, whom I brought along, is no weaker than I am. He is sufficient to replace Borsalino." Atlas raised his hand, finally recommending Issho to Sengoku.
"You must be Atlas. Sengoku talks about you often. A fine young man indeed! Hahahaha!!" Following the voice, Kong saw Atlas's young face.
As the most outstanding member of the Marines' current younger generation, Sengoku naturally didn't spare his praise in front of the former Fleet Admiral.
Kong had heard Atlas's name until his ears had practically calloused over.
"But this Issho you mentioned is...?"
"Oh, he's a powerhouse I discovered by chance. Paramecia-type, Gravity-Gravity Fruit user. His strength is immense, fully on par with a Marine Admiral."
To allow Issho to earn enough merit in the coming war, he first had to be introduced to the Marine high command.
At the very least, Issho needed to be included in Sengoku's battle plan.
"Marine Admiral—? Are you sure you're not joking?"
Grand Line.
The massive island-ship lay across the Calm Belt. The seagull flag high on the mast hung limp in the windless air, and the pure white sails were furled tightly against the thick masts.
He didn't make the ship transparent. In the Calm Belt...
The White Tiger's massive size was its best camouflage. If it were transparent, the Sea Kings wouldn't see the hull and might accidentally crash into it, causing unnecessary trouble.
Under Sengoku's orders, Atlas was heading to Kuja Island to conscript one of the Seven Warlords, Hancock.
Unlike other Warlords, to whom the Marines usually just sent a notice and received a quick reply...
Boa Hancock was different. After receiving the conscription order, she didn't respond immediately. Instead, she adopted an attitude of ignoring it.
Sengoku was baffled.
That woman had an inexplicable hostility toward the Marines.
Of course, all pirates dislike the Marines, but Boa Hancock's disgust was much stronger than that of other pirates. Ordinary Marines really couldn't handle her.
Moreover, the headquarters's warship resources were currently tight.
Although they had the technology to cross the Calm Belt, the high cost meant it was generally applied only to a small number of warships.
Seeing Sengoku's hesitation, Atlas volunteered to go to Kuja Island. After all, he was the one who had single-handedly instigated this war.
Furthermore, Sengoku's order to him this time wasn't simple.
There were two commands—either she obediently followed the warship to Marine Headquarters, or... prison awaited Boa Hancock!
Mercy does not command an army. Anyone standing in Sengoku's way, even the world's most beautiful woman, would be dealt with without mercy.
The giant island-ship continued forward. Wherever it passed, numerous Sea Kings retreated.
Even the Sea Kings of the Calm Belt bullied the weak and feared the strong. If it were an ordinary warship, they would have destroyed it in minutes.
Of course, the Sea Kings summoned by the ancient weapon Poseidon were not included in this consideration.
Their size was too immense. Even the White Tiger, known as the world's largest three-masted sailing ship, was like an ant before them.
Massive size inevitably brings enormous power.
The battleship Pluton could destroy an island in one shot; could a Sea King not do the same?
"Vice Admiral, we are about to reach Kuja Island!!"
The sailing time passed quickly, and they finally arrived at their destination.
It was an island with a unique shape. The terrain was mostly mountainous, with sparse vegetation.
In the very centre was a mountain carved into nine giant snakes, each hissing in a different direction, their forms varied. On the towering wall, two large characters were inscribed in regular script—
[KUJA]
"Did you communicate with Kuja Island beforehand?" Standing at the bow, Atlas turned and asked Smoker beside him.
Smoker was currently acting as his temporary secretary. Ain still had about a year or so before graduating from the elite training camp.
He had already made arrangements. Once she graduated, she would report directly to his ship.
Secretarial work was better left to girls; it gave him peace of mind.
"Uh~ Not yet..."
Smoker revealed an awkward but polite smile, scratching his short, silver-white hair helplessly.
As expected—
How could a guy born with such coarse nerves like Smoker handle detailed work? Atlas sighed inwardly and waved his hand.
"Go do it now. Sengoku should have given you Boa Hancock's contact information, right?"
He didn't choose to force his way in. He understood the principle of "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
The rule forbidding men from entering Kuja Island was not something he, even as a Marine, should break lightly, especially since the island's owner was a Warlord recognised by the World Government.
In terms of position, she was not lower than him, an Admiral candidate.
...
Kuja Island, inside the palace hall.
A female warrior wearing a leopard-print dress and carrying a bow and quiver ran in hurriedly, carefully holding a Den Den Mushi in her hands.
"Hebihime, the Marines... the Marines are calling!!"
"Tell them to get lost!!"
Hearing the word "Marines," Hancock's willow-leaf eyebrows instantly shot up, and she shouted coldly.
"Hancock, you can't be so willful. This Marine conscription must be for the coming war with Whitebeard."
Sure enough, before the warrior could respond, Elder Nyon climbed in through the window, shouting to stop her:
"Phew... Hancock, the status of Warlord, is vital to Kuja Island. If you don't accept the World Government's conscription, the safety of Kuja Island cannot be guaranteed!"
"Throw her out!!"
Hancock issued the order expressionlessly.
Immediately, two female warriors standing guard with spears stepped forward, grabbed Elder Nyon by the arms, and dragged her toward the palace gates.
Unlike the others on Kuja Island, they did not need to respect Elder Nyon's status as the former empress of Amazon Lily. They were loyal only to the current empress.
"Also—!!"
Elder Nyon was sweating profusely, screaming shrilly.
"The Marine who came this time is different from the others! He's the man notorious among pirates..."
"Marine Headquarters Admiral Candidate, Byakko!"
White Tiger?
Hancock's gaze hardened.
"Wait! Put her down!"
"Hebihime?" The two warriors paused, casting confused glances at Hancock above.
Hancock ignored them, staring straight at the struggling Elder Nyon. "Who did you say it was?"
"...Byakko. Why?" Elder Nyon froze, answering blankly.
She hadn't reacted to the sudden change in attitude of the usually stubborn Hancock.
"Let's go. Let's go meet that Marine." Hancock dropped these words lightly and then swayed her hips, walking straight down from the throne.
The giant snake named Salome followed behind her, its massive body winding and coiling, its scarlet tongue flicking rapidly to sense the outside world.
"Hebihime... are you agreeing to the Marines' conscription?" Elder Nyon's aged face showed disbelief, and she was momentarily dumbstruck.
"Enough, Elder Nyon! I am the current Empress of Kuja Island. Is a washed-up old woman like you trying to tell me what to do?"
"Besides, even if it's the Marines... whatever I do, I will be forgiven!!" Hancock said, one hand on her hip, pointing a slender finger at Elder Nyon.
She leaned back until she was nearly parallel to the ground, her two mounds of snow-white flesh threatening to spill out. "Because... I am beautiful!"
"Hancock..." Even at her advanced age, under the influence of Hancock's charm, a blush crossed Elder Nyon's withered face, and a look of admiration appeared in her eyes.