"What do you mean by 'so soon'?"
The Five Elder in kimono still didn't even lift his eyelids, speaking calmly:
"Although the plan to reopen the amusement park was proposed by the ignorant youngsters, it has received unanimous approval from the five of us. The younger generation has been suppressed for far too long—letting them vent a little is harmless."
Selecting venues from non-affiliated nations to host hunting games exclusively for the Celestial Dragons.
In the past, this was held once every three years.
Eliminating one country every three years was far more frequent than it is now.
It was only because of the major incident at God Valley thirty-three years ago that these hunting games ceased to be held in the New World and their frequency was drastically reduced.
After all, many non-affiliated nations are located in the New World, which significantly reduced the number of potential venues.
If they were still held every three years, there wouldn't be enough prey to go around.
Currently, the hunting games haven't been held for a full eight years.
Coupled with the impact of the recent Sabaody incident, many young Celestial Dragons have been confined to the Holy Land by their families, forbidden from leaving, and have long been unbearably frustrated.
They often complain about how dull their lives are, with some even claiming, "We live worse than the lowly commoners."
—Even the commoners can travel freely.
Yet they, the noble Celestial Dragons, are trapped in the Holy Land, unable to even descend to the lower world to personally select slaves.
What kind of logic is that!
The Five Elders can empathize with this sentiment.
"This time, the location is chosen in the North Blue. Although the prizes aren't as sensational as they were at God Valley, the quantity of prey is exceptionally abundant. It can be said to be the largest event in recent years, enough to let those little ones enjoy themselves to the fullest."
The blond Five Elder said calmly:
"Sakazuki, your task is to lead the navy and ensure the game proceeds smoothly. Don't let any accidents interrupt this grand event. As for that Xiano, ignore him for now."
"You want me to abandon hunting pirates to play house with a bunch of parasitic… Celestial Dragon children?"
Akainu said coldly, "How ridiculous. No wonder that old man Garp has refused promotion to admiral for decades. Now I somewhat understand him."
"How dare you!"
Saint Saturn slammed his cane fiercely, rebuking sharply, "The will of the Celestial Dragons must not be defiled! Moreover, the amusement park plan is not mere entertainment—it also serves as a deterrent to non-affiliated nations!"
"Correct."
The white-bearded Five Elder set his teacdown heavily, his tone icy:
"You are far too insolent! Sakazuki, do not forget your place! The primary duty of the navy's existence is to uphold the dignity of the World Government and protect the Celestial Dragons!"
Uphold dignity?
Then what about my dignity from now on!
Akainu's expression darkened, but he knew the revival of the games was a foregone conclusion. Arguing further would be pointless.
"Eliminating Xiano and eradicating the Curtain Closer will always be the top priority in my view, with the highest level of urgency! Nothing should take precedence over it. Continuing to nurture a tiger only invites disaster—sooner or later…"
He turned and strode toward the door, pausing just before it. Without looking back, he said coldly to the Five Elders, "Hmph, you will regret this!"
"We are gods, Sakazuki! Gods do not regret!"
Bang!!!
With the deafening slam of the door, Akainu's figure disappeared outside, leaving only the Five Elders within the Chamber of Authority exchanging glances.
"Daring to slam doors in the Holy Land now."
The kimono-clad Elder holding Ghost Cutter opened his eyes, revealing a trace of displeasure: "This Sakazuki... is becoming increasingly unruly."
Sengoku would never be so undisciplined.
"A fierce hound is useful indeed, but inevitably likes to bark. However, as long as the reins remain firmly in our hands, it can be tolerated."
The white-bearded Elder didn't seem particularly concerned, speaking calmly: "After all, among the Three Admirals, only he accepted the position of overall security commander this time, isn't that right?"
"Not exactly. Kuzan directly declined, that's true, but Borsalino hasn't refused - he's still considering it."
"That Borsalino."
Saint Saturn snorted coldly, "Always maintaining an ambiguous attitude. He's been like this since his days as a vice admiral. If he hadn't held back during the last Sabaody incident, it wouldn't have..."
"He's already been disciplined. No need to bring up old matters."
The bald Elder shook his head, "Honorable Stars, since Sakazuki has accepted the mission, let him proceed to the North Sea first, with Aokiji remaining at headquarters."
"However, this amusement park is located in the North Sea, too far from the Holy Land. If anything happens, we won't be able to provide timely support. Therefore, to ensure absolute safety, we need guaranteed overwhelming force. Deploying just one Admiral isn't secure enough."
"If Borsalino agrees before tomorrow's deadline, that would be ideal. We can have him mobilize as well."
The white-bearded Elder pondered, "If he's unwilling, there's no need to force him. We have another more proactive and reliable Admiral-level combat force we can deploy."
"Proactive?"
Saturn seemed surprised, but quickly understood: "You mean that little police officer who defected to us... I see. He does barely qualify. I agree."
"I agree as well. Seconded."
"Seconded."
——————
New World.
Dune Island.
Since the Curtain Closer took control of Totto Land, the various islands situated between Totto Land and the Galaxy Sea have become restless, many choosing to actively pledge allegiance and subordinate themselves to this new Four Emperor.
Dune Island was no exception.
This remote island, half of its area covered in sand dunes, suffered from scarce resources. About twenty thousand residents lived here, mostly gathered at the southern river mouth, making their living through coastal fishing.
Unfortunately, fish in the New World weren't that easy to catch.
The probability of encountering various ferocious sea beasts here was far greater than in the Four Seas. Pirates would occasionally come ashore to plunder, though most would leave frustrated soon after realizing there was little profit to be made here...
In any case, continuing like this wasn't sustainable.
Dune Island had previously considered pledging allegiance to the Big Mom Pirates, but since the island produced no specialty ingredients and was deemed worthless, Big Mom scornfully turned them away.
Fortunately, the Curtain Closer didn't look down on them.
After only conducting simple background checks, he directly accepted them. After joining the Curtain Closer's forces, the residents of Dune Island were pleasantly surprised to find that changes came faster than expected.
First.
The Curtain Closer's flag was raised both at the island's port and its highest point.
The Seventh Patrol Fleet of the Garrison Corps, composed of ten warships, has now incorporated the waters around Sand Dune Island into its patrol routes.
The pirate disturbances that had plagued Sand Dune Island for years vanished without a trace in an instant.
Those once-arrogant pirate crews, who had freely pillaged and plundered, would hastily turn their ships around and flee in terror at the mere sight of the Curtain Closer's flag fluttering in the distance, not daring to approach Sand Dune Island even half a step.
Not only that.
The Curtain Closer also dispatched a professional agricultural technology team to conduct experiments with drought-resistant crops in the barren areas of Sand Dune Island.
Despite the island's poor soil, these specially improved seeds, after a month of repeated trials, actually took root at the edge of the dunes.
Watching the vibrant green sprouts break through the soil, the elderly on the island were moved to tears.
"Alright, alright, calm down, will you? Didn't I tell you? Lord Xiano has given the order—no matter how small the island or how poor the town, as long as they are willing to follow the Curtain Closer, they will never be abandoned."
The Curtain Closer's liaison officer in charge of coordinating with Sand Dune Island said this with a cheerful smile.
This liaison officer was a young female executive under the Infrastructure Corps, named Mikita.
Not even twenty years old, she was youthful, lively, and strikingly beautiful, making her quite popular.
However, there were also many rumors circulating about her, all sorts of wild stories.
Some said she was once a cold-blooded killer in a desert kingdom who showed no mercy, while others claimed she was the manager of a very famous chain of cafes in the West Blue.
In any case, regardless of her past identity.
One thing was certain: a few months ago, after witnessing the shocking scene of Xiano publicly executing a Celestial Dragon on live television and declaring the arrival of a new era to the world, she resolutely abandoned her former life and traveled thousands of miles to the New World to follow the Curtain Closer.
"Once these crops mature, everyone's lives will definitely improve significantly. Also, the head chef of our Infrastructure Corps' cafeteria is very interested in several types of fish from your island. From now on, any fish you catch can be directly shipped to Totto Land, and the price will be thirty percent higher than what you used to get from black market merchants."
"Th-thirty percent?!"
Several elderly folks widened their eyes, hardly believing their ears.
"Yes, actually, this is just a bit higher than the normal purchase price. It's what you deserve, not some kind of charity, so don't overthink it. It's just that those black market merchants took advantage of your lack of backing and bullied you by driving the prices down too much."
Mikita flipped through the plan in her hands and continued with a cheerful laugh:
"Oh, and starting next week, we'll also be setting up a basic school on the island. The children can learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. If they want to join the Four Legions in the future, they're welcome to... Hey, what are you doing? Get up, all of you! Why are you kneeling? Hey! Don't kowtow—I don't deserve this!"
Flustered and frantic, she hurriedly tried to pull people up. "Even if you want to thank someone, don't thank me. You should thank Lord Xiano! Our Infrastructure Corps is just carrying out his policies now."
Yes, policies!
Or perhaps it's more like a belief.
Mikita ran around helping people up, panting and sweating profusely, but her heart felt as if it were coated in honey, happier than ever before.
Hehe, she finally understood it completely!
No wonder when I first joined the Infrastructure Corps, even though the seniors were always busy and exhausted—rushing through meals at the cafeteria with hurried steps—each of them had an unmistakable sense of happiness and fulfillment shining through.
No wonder at the headquarters hall in the Galaxy Sea, people would often stop and pay respects to those two sentences carved on the wall:
"True justice is never condescending charity, but enabling everyone to be self-reliant and live with dignity."
"This is the mission of the Infrastructure Corps."
I heard Lord Xiano wrote those too.
"Really, I wish I could see Lord Xiano again."
After bidding farewell to the villagers, Mikita, holding a parasol, quietly made her way to the highest sand dune at the center of the island and sat down.
The area was desolate and uninhabited for dozens of miles around.
The flag of the Curtain Closer was planted here.
She glanced at the setting sun gradually sinking below the distant horizon, then lifted her head to look at the flag overhead.
The orange-red twilight cast its glow, making the pure white Curtain Closer flag shine brilliantly.
This flag is so cool!
And I'm so cool too!
"Hey! Mikita! You're amazing!!"
Mikita couldn't help but spread her arms wide and laugh heartily, "These days are so much happier than when I first joined Baroque Works—!"
Even if she wasn't strong enough to join the Combat Corps, being able to contribute her strength from the rear still brought her genuine joy!
The only regret was that, after joining the Curtain Closer, she had never had the chance to witness Lord Xiano's majestic presence in person.
As for this now-world-renowned figure,
her impression of him remained frozen in that first encounter—the terrifying pressure she felt when he brutally defeated her former boss.
Just as Mikita was about to lie down and fully enjoy the sunset and evening breeze from the island's highest point...
Huh?
She suddenly seemed to notice something, rubbed her eyes hard, and stared incredulously at the sky.
Was she seeing things?
Or was it a mirage?
—Hundreds of meters high in the sky, there appeared a figure all too familiar, one she had seen countless times in her dreams.
The handsome, slender young man hovered mid-air with his arms crossed, his black cloak flapping fiercely behind him.
After glancing downward, he suddenly pulled his right fist back, charging it with power. Crackle! Black-red lightning coiled around it, spreading in all directions, and in the next moment, he threw a full-force punch toward the vast, barren desert below!
"Galaxy... Shockwave!"
Boom!!!
A violent cross-shaped shockwave pierced through heaven and earth, descending upon the land!
"No! Stop!"
Mikita's eyes were nearly blinded, but she couldn't even think of closing them. She scrambled to her feet in panic, waving her arms frantically toward the sky:
"Don't! Lord Xiano! Look over here, I'm still here!"
Wait, it seemed Lord Xiano had noticed her too, because he slightly adjusted his direction—the shockwave wouldn't reach her.
But what was wrong with Lord Xiano?
Was he testing the power of some new technique? Why would he strike in his own territory?!
Even if the sand dunes were uninhabited, a punch like that would have a devastating impact on the island's entire ecosystem, wouldn't it?!
Hum!
Unexpectedly, just as the shockwave from that punch was about to hit the sand dunes...
Mid-air, countless pale green barriers resembling tree canopies suddenly densely emerged, blocking the shockwave!
The power of this punch had clearly approached the limit of what the barrier could withstand, its surface violently undulating with continuous ripple-like waves.
Yet ultimately, it returned to calm.
"Huff, huff..."
Mikita slumped breathlessly on the sand dune, the pale green barrier above her head gradually dissipating.
What... what in the world was this?
She scanned the sky, only to find that Xiano's figure had vanished unnoticed, while the distant horizon remained peacefully bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.
As if everything that had just occurred was merely an illusion.
Until...
A rather satisfied voice came from behind: "Hmm, to think it could barely withstand even my Galaxy Impact. Quite effective indeed. Seems this trip to Impel Down wasn't in vain."
"From now on, my fortress shall be impregnable, easily defensible and impossible to breach!"
Mikita whirled around to discover Xiano standing behind her, gazing up at the fading green barrier.
"L-Lord Xiano!"
She scrambled to her feet, suppressing her excitement as she saluted:
"Infrastructure Corps Third Branch Liaison Officer Mikita reporting! I never imagined it would truly be you! Sob I'm so overjoyed... Do... do you remember me?"
"Remember you? Mikita, was it? That name doesn't ring a bell."
Xiano turned at the sound, blinked twice, then suddenly smacked his fist into his palm with an epiphany:
"Eh! Now I recall! So it's you—the fitness equipment!"
(End of Chapter)