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Chapter 120is out!!!! +40 advanced chapters monthly
Normally, morning assemblies at Marine Headquarters were reserved for mundane, trivial matters or, on rare occasions, the deployment of a major task force. But the agenda for today's assembly left every single officer in attendance thoroughly stunned.
The first matter: A new pirate supernova had emerged. Portgas D. Ace. Bounty: 99,000,000 Berries. A first-time bounty of that magnitude was incredibly rare and immediately commanded the room's attention.
The second matter: The Whitebeard Pirates were continuing to expand their territory. If the first announcement had shocked the crowd, this one put them on edge. Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard," was the undisputed Emperor of the Sea. Any movement or expansion from his crew was an event of global concern.
The third matter: The finalized implementation of the Shichibukai—the Seven Warlords of the Sea—system.
Everyone present had already heard whispers of this system. While the vast majority of the rank-and-file Marines felt a deep, visceral disgust at the idea of allying with pirates, their hands were tied. The World Government had made the executive decision. The decree was absolute.
From this day forward, a delicate balance of power was to be established between three great powers: Marine Headquarters, the Shichibukai, and the Yonko.
The roster for the Seven Warlords had been officially finalized. The presiding officer read off the names, while personnel files detailing their exploits were distributed through the ranks.
The first page contained three heavy hitters:
Dracule "Hawk-Eye" Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman. Bounty: Unknown.
Donquixote Doflamingo, the "Heavenly Yaksha" and King of Dressrosa. Bounty: 340,000,000 Berries. User of the String-String Fruit.
Bartholomew Kuma, the "Tyrant." Bounty: 296,000,000 Berries. User of the Paw-Paw Fruit.
Turning the page, the list continued:
Jinbe, "Knight of the Sea." Bounty: 250,000,000 Berries.
Boa Hancock, the "Pirate Empress." Bounty: 88,000,000 Berries. User of the Love-Love Fruit.
Crocodile, the "Desert King." Bounty: 81,000,000 Berries. User of the Sand-Sand Fruit.
Gecko Moria. Bounty: 320,000,000 Berries. User of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit.
By accepting the title of Shichibukai, these pirates would be granted complete immunity by the World Government, allowing them to plunder freely without fear of Marine pursuit. However, they were by no means a unified front; each Warlord had their own selfish motives for accepting the deal. Furthermore, their new status wasn't a get-out-of-jail-free card. The moment they slipped up or gave the Marines a legitimate excuse, they would be stripped of their title and thrown straight into Impel Down. It was a relationship built entirely on mutual exploitation.
The officer on stage cleared his throat, pulling the crowd's attention back. "Given that the individuals selected for the Shichibukai are exceptionally dangerous and notoriously ruthless," he announced, "the couriers tasked with delivering their official invitations must be the absolute elite of our forces. When I call your name, please step onto the stage. The specific Warlord you will approach will be decided by drawing lots!"
He paused, letting the anticipation build in the silent plaza, before reading from the clipboard:
"Vice Admiral Momonga!"
"Vice Admiral Onigumo!"
"Vice Admiral Yamakaji!"
"Vice Admiral Strawberry!"
"Vice Admiral Doberman!"
"Vice Admiral Stainless!"
"Lieutenant Ronel Baishui!"
The crowd had fully expected this task to fall squarely on the shoulders of the elite Vice Admirals. The first six names had confirmed that theory. But the final name sent a ripple of absolute shock through the plaza. Whispers broke out among the ranks. Why was Baishui chosen?
Sure, he had recently taken down a massive pirate, but did a mere Lieutenant really have the strength to stand face-to-face with the most vicious pirates on the Grand Line?
However, after a moment of reflection, the murmurs died down. The crowd had to admit... there really was no one else at Headquarters better suited for the job.
Excluding the six elite Vice Admirals standing on stage, it was highly likely that no one else in the crowd could match Baishui's combat prowess. Tasking a standard officer to hunt down a pirate with a 100-million Berry bounty was already a stretch, but the pirates selected for the Shichibukai were practically in the 300-million Berry weight class.
Even though Warlords like Boa Hancock, Crocodile, Kuma, and Jinbe had bounties below the 300-million mark, those numbers were frozen. For some, it had been at least five years since their bounties were last updated. No one knew exactly how terrifyingly strong they had become since then, but Fleet Admiral Sengoku was no fool. If he endorsed them for the Shichibukai, their strength was the real deal.
"Step forward, gentlemen. Draw your lots!"
The presiding officer, a Vice Admiral himself, stepped forward holding a large wooden box. The seven men reached in and pulled out a slip of folded paper. They opened them in unison. The name written on the paper was their assigned target.
Whether it was rigged behind the scenes or just the luck of the draw, Baishui pulled Gecko Moria—arguably one of the less intimidating fighters among the Warlords.
Of course, Moria wasn't the absolute weakest of the seven. It was an unspoken consensus who held that title. That particular Warlord had an incredibly overpowered advantage, but that advantage was also their fatal flaw. The moment their specific gimmick failed to work on an opponent, they became alarmingly vulnerable.
"Alright. I trust you are all familiar with your assigned targets. These are the official Letters of Appointment. Guard them with your lives," the Vice Admiral instructed, placing seven sealed envelopes on the table before them.
"Your mission parameters are simple: track down your target and deliver the letter. Whether they ultimately accept the position or not is for Headquarters to deal with."
Within a minute, the letters were safely tucked into their respective coats.
"Everyone is to depart before noon today. Do not delay!" the Vice Admiral barked. Once the seven officers nodded in acknowledgment, they were dismissed from the stage.
As Baishui returned to his section, the Company Officers practically puffed out their chests with pride. Baishui was the undisputed glory of their rank. Naturally, his rapid rise also drew plenty of jealous glares. Many of the officers were burning with curiosity, desperate to know exactly how strong Baishui really was to earn the trust of the Marine high command for such a critical mission.
The assembly lasted another half hour before the men were dismissed.
Baishui immediately turned toward the Marine Hospital. He needed to check on A'Qi and let her know he was being deployed for a few days.
But the moment he stepped out of the plaza gates, his path was physically blocked by a group of young Marine Captains. Baishui's brows furrowed instantly. He was in a hurry to see A'Qi, and he was not in the mood for roadblocks.
Are they looking for a fight, or what? he thought, his eyes narrowing as he sized them up.
"Lieutenant Baishui! We humbly request a spar with you! Please!" The Captains bowed deeply, perfectly in sync.
Baishui sighed, his irritation melting into exasperation. Waving a hand dismissively, he conceded, "Alright, alright. Tell me where."
Hearing his agreement, the Captains' faces lit up with sheer excitement. They eagerly led Baishui toward one of the designated training grounds at Marine Headquarters.
"Alright, who's up first?"
Word of a duel between Baishui and several Marine Captains had spread like wildfire, drawing a massive crowd of spectators. Truth be told, aside from Garp and Sengoku, almost everyone at Headquarters was dying to see exactly what Baishui was capable of. Hearing stories about him slaying the beast Raan was one thing, but seeing was believing.
"I'll go first!" declared the Captain who had initially issued the challenge.
"State your name," Baishui said calmly, shifting effortlessly into a combat stance.
"Marine Headquarters Captain Kane. Taijutsu specialist!" the man announced. Surprisingly, he wasn't a Devil Fruit user.
"Come at me. Don't hold back," Baishui provoked, curling two fingers in a beckoning motion.
"Soru!" Kane didn't waste a single breath. He vanished in a blur of motion, the ground cracking slightly where he had just stood.
"Rankyaku: Circular Cut!" Kane reappeared directly behind Baishui, his right leg whipping through the air and unleashing a razor-sharp, crescent blade of compressed air aimed straight for Baishui's neck.
"Kami-e," Baishui muttered softly.
Faced with the lethal, sweeping strike, Baishui's body suddenly went completely limp. Moving as though he had eyes in the back of his head, his torso swayed and folded like a piece of paper caught in the wind, allowing Kane's guaranteed strike to slice harmlessly through empty air.
Before Kane could even recover his footing, Baishui vanished.
He reappeared behind the Captain in a flash. His right leg ignited with a blinding, incandescent glow.
"Light Particle Kick!" With a deafening crack, Baishui's foot connected, sending Kane rocketing across the training ground like a cannonball.
The crowd erupted.
"Wait, wasn't that Admiral Kizaru's Light Speed Kick?!"
"How the hell does he know how to do that?"
"Is he secretly related to the Admiral or something?!"
"Give me a break~ Spare me the accusations. I've never met the kid in my life."
A slow, lazy drawl suddenly drifted from the back of the crowd. The spectators parted instantly as a tall, lanky man strolled forward. He wore yellow-tinted aviators, a pinstriped yellow suit draped beneath a pristine Marine Admiral's coat, and sported a curly black head of hair with a scruffy beard. Standing close to ten feet tall, he looked utterly relaxed.
His face naturally rested in an expression that was almost comically sleazy, a trait only emphasized by his slow, drawn-out way of speaking.
Yet, despite his lax demeanor, the entire crowd of Marines instantly snapped to attention, their faces pale with respect. No one dared to laugh. They saluted in perfect unison.
It was none other than one of the three great powers of the Marines: Admiral Borsalino, "Kizaru."
"Maa, maa~ No need to be so stiff, everyone. At ease, at ease~" Kizaru waved a hand lazily, though his obscured eyes were locked squarely on Baishui, glinting with genuine interest.
"Next!" Baishui called out.
Naturally, he had noticed Kizaru's arrival. It was impossible not to notice him—Baishui's Observation Haki had been blaring like a siren since the Admiral stepped onto the field, making the hairs on his arms stand on end.
"Lane! Taijutsu specialist!" Another Marine stepped onto the field. He looked strikingly similar to Kane; they were likely brothers.
"Let's go," Baishui said, skipping the pleasantries.
"So—!" The instant Baishui gave the signal, Lane attempted to activate Soru. But before the syllable even left his mouth, Baishui had already vanished. He materialized directly in front of Lane, his leg already in motion.
Bang! Lane didn't even have time to blink before he was punted across the yard, landing in a heap right next to his brother.
In truth, these Captains weren't weak. As Headquarters officers, they were more than capable of taking down pirates with bounties in the 50-million Berry range. It was just their sheer misfortune that they were matched up against a monster like Baishui.
"Next!" Baishui didn't even break a sweat, his eyes locking onto the final challenger.
"Darno!" the last officer shouted. "User of the Sound-Sound Fruit!"
Baishui's expression remained perfectly neutral. He raised a hand, curling his fingers once more. "Show me what you've got."