"Oh?! This item... indeed, Atlas is already qualified to possess it."
Aokiji rarely lifted a corner of his sleeping mask, but he showed no sign of surprise.
These items had been delivered to the three of them as soon as the World Government's appointment documents were issued.
As for the one in front of him, it must have been dispatched recently, right?
Because there had always been only three Marine Admiral positions, naturally, there were only three Golden Den Den Mushi in Marineford.
After all, this was no simple object.
As long as anyone pressed it, countless lives would vanish from this world.
And this was one of the authorities of a Marine Admiral.
"The Buster Call."
Sengoku pushed the Golden Den Den Mushi toward Atlas while uttering three cold words.
"You should have heard of it, right?"
"Yes."
Atlas nodded.
The Buster Call: a terrifying force composed of 10 warships, 5 Vice Admirals, and elite Marine forces. Once initiated, it would launch an indiscriminate, devastating attack on the target area.
It was a power feared by almost everyone in the pirate world.
Currently, as far as Atlas knew, the Marines had initiated the Buster Call twice.
The first was the encirclement operation against [Demon Heir] Douglas Bullet, personally led by Sengoku and Garp. The result was Bullet being captured after exhausting his strength and imprisoned in the Eternal Hell of Impel Down.
Of course, he had escaped now.
Atlas had seen his name on the documents distributed by Sengoku.
The other was the Buster Call operation against Ohara.
The result was also clear; currently, only [Devil Child] Nico Robin remained at large.
These two records alone were enough to illustrate the terrifying nature of the Buster Call.
However, in Atlas's view, it was just so-so.
It may have had miraculous effects against mid-level powerhouses. After all, with this combat configuration, apart from the two Emperors of the Sea in the New World, almost no faction or pirate crew could withstand it.
The Straw Hat Pirates in the original story didn't count.
That was a case of having the right time, place, and people all on their side.
But against top-tier combat power, the Buster Call configuration was standard cannon fodder.
"One of the authorities of a Marine Admiral is to initiate a Buster Call, but don't do it lightly," Sengoku explained calmly.
"Also, your proposal from last time has been approved by the Five Elders, but you will have to carry out the specific matters yourself..."
Watching Atlas pocket the Golden Den Den Mushi, Sengoku continued.
"Arara~ That matter?! What a remarkable idea. You were actually the one who proposed it, Atlas?"
Aokiji naturally knew some inside information. Under his fully lifted sleeping mask, he looked completely surprised at Atlas.
"Indeed, not bad. It can be considered setting up another obstacle before the New World," Akainu nodded in strong agreement.
"Alright, then I'll just have to take a detour. What a hassle~~"
Seeing this, Atlas could only agree helplessly.
After all, he was the one who proposed it.
Although he just wanted to give it a try, he didn't expect the Five Elders to approve it directly.
Presumably, because they didn't agree to the Marines' worldwide conscription, they made this concession, fearing the Marines might develop rebellious sentiments.
10,000 meters deep under the sea, Fish-Man Island.
Gyoncorde Plaza.
The plaza, usually bustling with people, now only had a few scattered figures. Most fishmen passing by hurriedly avoided the area or fled, covering their faces in shame.
Only a petite goldfish mermaid with long, wavy blonde hair was giving a passionate speech in the centre.
She had large blue eyes and wore an orange crown-shaped hairpin. She was dressed in a long robe with an orange fish-scale pattern, the patterns denser at the cuffs and tail, with a red sash bordered in white around her waist.
Her attire was magnificent, and her temperament was graceful yet strong.
Clearly, her status on Fish-Man Island was not low.
"Eh?"
Out of the corner of her eye, the goldfish mermaid seemed to catch a glimpse of a passing figure. She hurriedly grabbed him, instantly blocking his path with a stack of papers filled with names and corrections.
It was a bald fish-man.
"Please sign! Write your wish to migrate here!!"
"Spare me, Queen Otohime... This is already impossible!!"
The bald fish-man broke out in a cold sweat from nervousness.
Although he respected Queen Otohime in his heart, the incident from a few years ago had become a pain that could never be erased from the hearts of all fish-men and merfolk on Fish-Man Island.
They would never trust humans again!!!
Moreover, Fish-Man Island was currently facing the threat of the Big Mom Pirates. How could he have the mood to care about such things?
"Queen Otohime, haven't you recognised the true face of humans yet?"
Three other stopped fish-men shouted.
It wasn't that they didn't yearn to live freely under the sun and breathe fresh air, but the repeated harm humans inflicted on them had left them disappointed, even despairing!!
Almost every fish-man or mermaid on Fish-Man Island had sneaked over to the Sabaody Archipelago as a child, yearning for that dreamlike amusement park.
And the warmth of real sunlight on their bodies.
But—
"Mr Tiger saved slaves of all races equally, but in the end, he was imprisoned by human Marines until now!!"
"How can you expect us to have enough trust in humans?!"
"Most humans are just full of disgust towards us, or even treat us as goods that can be traded anywhere!!"
Slap—!!!
Crack—!!
A crisp slap and the sound of a fracture rang out almost simultaneously.
The fish-man, who had been impassioned a second ago, froze, staring blankly at the woman in front of him whose wrist was bent at a strange angle.
"Queen Otohime, you..."
He didn't feel any pain.
Because almost everyone on Fish-Man Island knew that Queen Otohime was born with a weak constitution, any slight burden would be unbearable for her body; what happened just now was the best example.
—She hit someone with no force at all, but ended up fracturing her own bone.
"Just because of this little difficulty in front of us, we shrink back? Even if we don't want to live under the sun, what about our children?!"
Tears flashed in Queen Otohime's eyes, not because of the pain in her wrist, but from the deep frustration of seeing them fail to live up to expectations.
"Do you want Fish-Man Island never to feel the warmth of real sunlight for generations?"
With Otohime's words, a magical power seemed to guide the fish-men present, making them feel a wave of sorrow from the bottom of their hearts.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
A huge island ship hovered above the crescent-shaped harbour. It was painted entirely silver-white, with a blue seagull flag hanging high on the mast. Cold cannon muzzles were distributed around the ship without any concealment, and a majestic beast head stood at the bow, roaring to the sky.
— Marine Headquarters Admiral [White Tiger]'s Flagship!!!
At the port. Atlas appeared on time with Smoker and the others.
Prince Grus looked at the White Tiger hovering in mid-air with shock. He swallowed unconsciously, his sharp Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and looked abruptly at Atlas:
"Boss, this big guy is your flagship?!!"
Although he had long heard that Atlas's flagship was the largest island ship in the world, this was the first time he had seen its true face with his own eyes, presented so directly before him.
It was too cool!!
It wasn't surprising that Grus made such a fuss. Except for when it was first built, every time Atlas travelled between the New World and Headquarters, he would keep the White Tiger transparent and low-profile to avoid causing too much sensation. So it wasn't strange to see it for the first time.
"Of course. The predecessor of the White Tiger was the Thriller Bark, located in the West Blue, known as the largest ship in the world!!!"
Smoker took over the conversation, speaking with pride.
"Tch~ What's so great about that? I've heard of ships even more terrifying than this, capable of flying in the air."
Enel curled his lips in disdain.
Considering that Enel's taijutsu and Devil Fruit abilities were well-developed, and there was no point in him staying at Headquarters anymore, Atlas decided to take him along to the New World for tempering.
After all, without a beating, how would he know why flowers are so red?
"Heard of? So you haven't seen it?"
Grus glanced at this guy, who was even more arrogant than himself, and retorted with slight annoyance.
Even though he was younger, his nose was always in the air, unbelievably arrogant.
Back in the day, Grus was also an arrogant youth, but ever since practising Iron Body (Tekkai)...
Sigh~~ it brings tears to the eyes just talking about it.
"...But I've seen the blueprints! As long as you give me the materials, I can definitely build it!!!"
Enel instantly turned red in the face, looking ready to pull the blueprints of [Ark Maxim] directly from his chest.
Are you kidding? I, Enel, am a man of pride!!
"Tch~~~"
Grus turned his head away with a look of disdain, ignoring the glaring Enel.
"But, I heard that going to Fish-Man Island requires coating first? And..."
Dressed smartly, Grus looked at the massive White Tiger with suspicion.
"And what?"
Smoker's heart moved slightly. He couldn't help but take a cigar from his pocket, sniff it, and show a look of intoxication.
"With the size of the White Tiger, I believe there isn't a shipwright in the world capable of coating it yet, right? So how do we get to Fish-Man Island? Change ships?"
"Heh!! Do you know why people outside have started calling Big Brother Atlas the [World's Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air]?"
Smoker glanced at Atlas walking ahead, puffing out his chest unconsciously, extremely proud.
"Huh? Isn't it because he defeated Whitebeard?"
Grus said uncertainly.
Since Whitebeard was the World's Strongest Man, after being defeated by Atlas, shouldn't inheriting the title of the strongest be a matter of course?
"You'll know soon enough. Even the darlings of the sea—the fish-men—cannot face Big Brother Atlas directly in the water."
Dropping this sentence, Smoker quickened his pace, following Atlas straight up the gangway.
Soon, all troops were assembled.
The massive White Tiger slowly rose into the air, finally landing in the open sea.
BOOM—!!!
The moment the hull touched the water surface, the seawater depressed rapidly, and a massive amount of water was squeezed out.
With the White Tiger's displacement, it was enough to create a vacuum on the sea surface in an instant.
Just as the Marines were wondering how the White Tiger would enter the deep sea without a coating, a strong sense of weightlessness washed over them, before they could grab onto anything, their bodies suddenly stabilised.
"Phew—!! That was just..."
Grus took a deep breath, his eyes widening into perfect circles. His heart skipped a beat as a flash of azure appeared in his peripheral vision.
"We... are directly in the deep sea?!"
Grus looked left and right in disbelief. He was certain that there was no coating around the White Tiger, yet all the seawater seemed to avoid it in fear, actively opening a passage for the ship to sail.
This ability...
"See that? Mountains, seas, clouds, and rain... are just playthings for the strong."
Smoker looked at the shocked Grus and laughed softly.
Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace.
Queen Otohime walked through the main gate with a disappointed look, flanked by palace guards armed with weapons.
After all, as the Queen of Fish-Man Island, even when moving around the plaza, she must have guards to ensure her safety.
"Mother~~ Are you alright?"
Just then, a little girl with pink pigtails in a spotted strap dress came up, looking at Queen Otohime with concern, on the verge of tears.
"Yes, are you alright?"
"Look how tired you are."
Two chubby shark merfolk and an oarfish merman asked with equal concern.
Although they were used to seeing Queen Otohime like this, as her sons, they still found it hard to see their mother running around so tired every day.
"I'm fine."
Queen Otohime waved her hand, then turned to smile apologetically at the guards behind her: "You can withdraw now. The palace is safe; I don't need to trouble you to protect me anymore."
"Shirahoshi, my sweet baby~~"
Confirming the guards had left, Queen Otohime threw herself onto Shirahoshi's giant tail as if relieved of a heavy burden. Her fair cheek gently rubbed against the fine scales, looking at her lovely daughter with happiness.
"Mother~~"
Shirahoshi also reached out, covering Queen Otohime's entire head, gently responding to the affection.
This scene felt like their roles were reversed.
The huge size difference gave the illusion of a mother-daughter swap.
"Not a single person signed today either. Ever since that incident... But don't worry!!"
Queen Otohime's expression became slightly serious as she smiled and extended her pinky finger in front of them.
"I promise, your future will definitely be better!!!"
"Mmh!! I believe in you, Mother!!"
The siblings nodded heavily, hooking their pinky fingers together as well. The gears of fate seemed to turn once again.