New World, Sphinx.
The crisp sound of hammers striking nails, the buzzing of saws cutting through wood, mixed with the chants of laborers and the carefree laughter of children, composed a symphony named "Rebirth."
On this land once forgotten by the world and reduced to a breeding ground for evil, brand-new buildings were rising from the ground.
An orphanage with walls painted in vibrant colors, a hospital with spotless windows, and rows of neatly planned resettlement houses silently testified to the earth-shaking changes taking place here.
The air no longer reeked of despair and blood, replaced instead by the fragrance of soil and the aroma of food.
The Marines stationed here weren't sweating on training grounds.
They rolled up their sleeves and stepped into the fields, onto the bustling construction sites, building new homes alongside the local residents.
"Heave-ho! Another push!" A Marine lieutenant named Rio, along with several villagers, was working together to move a large rock encountered while clearing land.
His Marine uniform was splattered with mud, fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, but the smile on his face was brighter than the sun in the sky.
"Lieutenant Rio, take a break!"An elderly woman carrying a water kettle walked over, scolding affectionately, ''Look at you, covered in mud like a little monkey! If you keep working like this, no girl will ever want to marry you!"
Rio took the water bowl and drank it in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and laughed heartily.
"Granny, if we don't hurry now, the potatoes won't be planted in time! Our Fleet Admiral said: Labor is the most glorious!"
At that moment, a little boy of about six or seven came running up to Rio on his short legs.
Tilting his grimy face upward, he asked curiously.
"Lieutenant, did you really come here on orders from the Fleet Admiral?"
Rio smiled and ruffled his hair. "Yes, little one."
"Then... what kind of person is the Fleet Admiral?" the child asked innocently.
Hearing this, Rio instinctively looked up at the slowly rising sun on the horizon and fell silent for a moment.
"The Fleet Admiral..." he began thoughtfully, "is like the sun in the sky."
"The sun?" The child blinked, not fully understanding, then clenched his small fists and declared loudly.
"Then I want to become the sun too! Because Mom is scared of the dark!"
Rio's smile softened.
He crouched down to meet the child at eye level.
"Child, none of us can become the sun, because this world only needs one sun."
He paused, then pointed at the bonfire nearby used for burning weeds, his voice gentle.
"But we can become torches. You become a torch, I become a torch, they become torches too. When our lights gather together, darkness will cease to exist."
The child's eyes instantly lit up.
He nodded vigorously and shouted happily, "Yeah! I'll definitely become a torch, so Mom will never be scared again!"
With that, he turned and ran off, cheerfully chanting as he went: "I'm a torch! I'm a torch!"
Watching the child's retreating figure, Rio's lips unconsciously curved into a smile.
Just then.
"Lieutenant! Lieutenant!"
Two Marines came running over in a panic.
One of them immediately scooped up the little boy who was shouting about becoming a "torch" and quickly carried him back to the village, while the other rushed up to Rio, his face pale and gasping for breath.
The smile instantly vanished from Rio's face, replaced by the sternness characteristic of a soldier.
"What's happened?"
"Pa... patrol ship sent an emergency message!" the soldier panted, then continued: "They've spotted a massive pirate fleet heading full speed toward Sphinx!"
Rio's heart sank. "How many?"
"Rough estimate... forty to fifty pirate ships, at least... at least tens of thousands of men!" The soldier's voice trembled.
Tens of thousands?!
Rio's expression changed dramatically.
Impossible!
Ever since the Fleet Admiral led the training ships into the New World, the New World pirates had been like startled birds, all busy avoiding the Fleet Admiral's sharp edge.
How could dozens of pirate ships appear simultaneously now—
Could it be?!?!
Rio's face changed again. "Did they identify the flags? Which pirate crew is it?"
The soldier swallowed hard, stammering: "The images sent back by the patrol ship... the lead ship... is, is the Moby Dick!"
Moby Dick.
These words fell like an invisible mountain, instantly crushing the hearts of all the Marines present.
"The Whitebeard Pirates... why would they come here?" Rio murmured in disbelief, his mind going blank.
Why would the emperor who rules over the New World suddenly appear here?
"Lieutenant!" the soldier explained. "Sphinx is Whitebeard's hometown! He... he must be trying to take his hometown back from us at this moment!"
"Wishful thinking!"
After a brief shock, Rio's military instincts overpowered his fear.
He turned sharply, his voice regaining composure and determination.
"Pass the order! All troops to highest alert! Immediately organize civilians to enter shelters!"
He grabbed the soldier's shoulder and commanded.
"Contact the New World Marines branch for support immediately! Tell them Whitebeard is coming!"
"Yes, sir!"
As the soldier nodded and prepared to take out the Den Den Mushi, a sudden whistling sound came from high above!
A blue flame fell like a meteor, landing precisely between Rio and his subordinates.
As the flames dissipated, a man with pineapple-style hair appeared, hands in his pockets and looking drowsy.
It was Marco, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' first division, the "Phoenix."
The surrounding Marine soldiers instinctively raised their guns, while those who hadn't brought weapons due to labor duties picked up hoes and sickles.
Their eyes showed no fear at Marco's sudden appearance, only thirst for military merit.
Marco glanced at the dark gun barrels but didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.
Looking at Rio, he spoke first, his tone as casual as if he was making a small talk.
"Marines, no need to be nervous."
His gaze passed over the crowd, looking toward the prosperous village in the distance, then continued.
"We're just accompanying Pops back to his hometown to stay for a while."
Rio tightened his grip on the sword at his waist, remaining silent.
Marco withdrew his gaze, looking back at him, his tone still flat as ever.
"So what you should do next isn't resist, nor contact the New World Marines branch."
"Rather, deliver the news of our presence here to your Fleet Admiral."
"How about we get along peacefully until your Fleet Admiral arrives at Sphinx? I promise the Whitebeard Pirates won't harm anyone."
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