Listening to the wonderful system prompt, Tatsuki was in high spirits.
"Borsalino, stop clipping your nails."
"Kuzan, freeze the sea solid, we're starting to move."
"Sakazuki, stop frowning. This money includes your share of the 'broken arm fee.'"
Tatsuki laughed and was the first to stride toward the unknown distance.
Redfield looked at that back, and though he was still severely injured and weak, his eyes showed a light called "anticipation" for the first time.
This Marine might truly bring some different "surprises" to this stagnant sea.
"What an interesting bastard." Redfield, leaning on his broken umbrella handle, staggered after him.
—
On the ice field, the cold wind howled.
Tatsuki and his group set off in a grand procession.
There were no warships, no supplies, only Kuzan clearing the way ahead.
Ice Age!
Kuzan pressed both hands onto the ice surface, with immense cold air spreading wildly from him toward the depths of the New World.
A broad, flat frosty path was forcibly laid out across the turbulent sea.
The soldiers of G-5 Branch, along with the severely injured Redfield, walked on foot along the ice path, heading toward the future fortress named "Punk Hazard."
The scene was indescribably bleak, yet indescribably magnificent.
"Tatsuki, are you sure this is the right direction?" Kuzan asked, turning his head while maintaining the extension of the ice path.
"If we go the wrong way, my stamina will run out."
"Don't worry, my sense of direction has always been good." Tatsuki said, holding a cigarette in his mouth and a sea chart in his hand, his gaze unwavering.
Just kidding.
Punk Hazard was one of the central stages for major events in the future—how could he possibly misremember it?
The group traveled across the sea for an entire day.
When a massive island covered in primitive jungle, with no trace of human habitation, appeared in everyone's sight, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
They had arrived.
This was their future home.
The new location of G-5 Branch—Punk Hazard.
At this point in time, it wasn't yet the extreme island turned into a land of ice and fire by the battle between Aokiji and Akainu, nor was it the base for Caesar's evil experiments. As Kuzan said, it currently had nothing but primitive jungle and some peculiar beasts.
Over the next few days, the soldiers of G-5 Branch began surviving in the wilderness on this desolate island. Fortunately, they were all elites, so they wouldn't starve.
—
A week later.
On the coastline of Punk Hazard, ten massive warships flying the Marineford flag slowly docked.
The supply fleet personally escorted by Fleet Admiral Kong had arrived.
"Quick, quick! Everyone lie down! Can't you act dead?!"
Seeing the warship masts in the distance, Tatsuki instantly entered "director mode."
He kicked a soldier who was about to tidy up his appearance in the rear.
"Who told you to stand? Show me that weak feeling of not having eaten for days!"
"Sakazuki, wrap your arm bandage thicker! Even thicker!"
"Borsalino! Lie on the stretcher and groan a couple of times!"
After a chaotic scramble, when Kong stepped down the gangway filled with grief, he saw a scene resembling "hell on earth."
Hundreds of G-5 elites lay sprawled on the muddy beach, ragged and tattered, some groaning, some gnawing on tree bark.
Sakazuki leaned against a rock, his right arm wrapped like a rice dumpling, his face pale—actually from hunger, as he had skipped breakfast to cooperate with Tatsuki's act.
Meanwhile, Tatsuki "struggled" forward, leaning on Tensa Zangetsu, staggering with every step, his eyes red.
"Fleet Admiral..."
Tatsuki's voice was hoarse.
Before he could speak, tears fell first.
"You've finally come. The brothers... They have suffered so much."
Kong, this iron-willed hard man, thought of the "battlefield" with its completely altered terrain when passing by the G-5 ruins, and seeing this scene before him, his heart was shattered.
So tragic!
His soldiers, the future hope of the Marines, suffering in this godforsaken place.
"Tatsuki!"
Kong strode down from the warship, hugged Tatsuki tightly, and patted his back with his large hands.
"You've suffered."
Tatsuki's acting skills instantly peaked. He hugged Kong back, his voice choked and trembling. "Fleet Admiral! With you here, we no longer suffer! For justice, this sacrifice is nothing!"
The two performed a touching display of superior-subordinate camaraderie, making Sakazuki frown deeply in the background.
Kong waved his hand grandly, and soldiers behind him immediately carried down a hundred heavy, large chests.
The lids were opened, revealing dazzling golden Berries reflecting blinding light under the sun.
"Eightly billion Berries in cash. Plus two years' worth of supplies."
Kong held Tatsuki's hand, saying emotionally, "I know this money might be tight for rebuilding G-5, but headquarters is also short on funds. Make do with it for now, and if it's not enough, file another report."
Tatsuki looked at the hundred chests of money, his tears instantly stopping, and his originally pale face visibly flushed.
"It's enough! For justice, even if we have to eat grass, we'll accept it!"
Tatsuki patted his chest righteously, while subtly winking at Gion behind him.
Gion, barely suppressing her shame, directed the soldiers to move the money chests away as quickly as possible, fearing Kong might change his mind the next second.
After seeing off the deeply moved Kong, Tatsuki instantly changed his expression, turning to look at Kuzan, Borsalino, and Sakazuki.
"You three, set off now."
Tatsuki gave the order.
"Take this money, go to all nearby islands, whether they're affiliated nations or black markets, and hire the best craftsmen at the highest prices. The more, the better."
"Tell them, come to G-5, and the salary is triple the outside rate. Plus, food and lodging are provided, and it's absolutely safe."
The three exchanged glances and nodded.
This was familiar territory for them.
"What about me?"
Gion, who had been following Tatsuki, looked up, her eyes full of expectation.
"You?"
Tatsuki smiled and rubbed her head. "You're in charge of watching the base and supervising the construction progress."
"Oh..." Gion felt a bit disappointed but obediently agreed.
"Then what about you, Tatsuki?"
"Me?"
Tatsuki's gaze turned toward the distant north, in the direction of the North Blue, one of the four seas.
"I'm going to fetch some private savings."
Eighty billion might be enough to build an ordinary base. But what he wanted to build wasn't a base.
It was a war fortress that would make the World Government tremble in fear.