North Blue N-11 Marine Branch.
As the most chaotic and powerful sea among the Four Seas, the North Blue Marines were stronger than those of the other seas. Even their prisons surpassed those of the other seas in both scale and quality.
Monsters like Admiral Akainu Sakazuki and Admiral Kizaru Borsalino had both come from the North Blue.
Sakazuki had been fighting and killing since he was seven or eight years old, displaying a monstrous, terrifying physique from childhood.
And Germa 66, known as the Evil Army, had always been entrenched in the North Blue, seeking to restore the Germa Kingdom's ancient glory of unifying the North Blue.
More than twenty years ago, Vinsmoke Judge rose to power and slaughtered the kings of four allied nations in succession. His name shook the North Blue and cast a massive shadow over its people.
Germa 66 had once become the North Blue's nightmare.
Even in storybooks and comics, Germa 66 played the role of major villains.
The infamous Donquixote Family had also built its power in the North Blue. They had thrown the North Blue into chaos for years, burning, killing, plundering, and committing every imaginable evil.
Even an elite Marine Vice Admiral like Vice Admiral Tsuru had been unable to wipe out the Donquixote Family.
Doflamingo had even broken out of the North Blue and made his way to the Grand Line and the New World, becoming one of the Shichibukai who could plunder legally.
Killing was simply the norm in the North Blue.
Just like in the original story, when Trafalgar Law met the other Supernovas at the Sabaody Archipelago, his opening line had been, "How many people did you kill today?"
Trafalgar Law had earned the title Surgeon of Death because he had killed quite a few people as well.
Inside the Marine branch, a Marine Brigadier General wearing a Marine cape was training desperately.
After guarding the North Blue for two years, capturing countless pirates, and earning numerous military achievements, he would be able to head to Marine Headquarters at Marineford this year. There, he would be promoted to a Headquarters Brigadier General and lay a solid foundation for his career at headquarters.
The officers from the North Blue generally belonged to the iron-blooded hawkish faction, led by Admiral Akainu.
They killed decisively and showed pirates no mercy.
Only Marines like them could suppress the chaos of the North Blue.
"Commodore Ginn, an order from Marine Headquarters!
"When you return to Marine Headquarters next month to report on your duties, escort all pirates in North Blue Prison with bounties exceeding 15 million Beli to Enies Lobby for trial!"
A Marine communications soldier in a baseball cap reported the latest order from Marineford to his superior.
"Pirates worth 15 million? What does Marine Headquarters mean by this? Do they think our North Blue is as useless as the East Blue?
"In the North Blue, pirates are generally only sent to Impel Down once their bounties exceed 30 million Beli!"
Commodore Ginn punched through an iron sandbag and spoke with a displeased expression. North Blue Prison held a large number of pirates with bounties of ten or twenty million.
If they escorted away every pirate worth 15 million, what would the new North Blue officers use as training targets and punching bags in the future?
Was this order meant to accommodate the other three seas?
The East Blue's strongest wanted criminal seemed to have a bounty of only 20 million Beli. At that level, they would merely be low- to mid-tier pirates in the North Blue.
"There is one additional order. As long as they are Devil Fruit Users, regardless of bounty, escort them all to Impel Down!"
The communications soldier continued reading. After finishing, he saluted and left Commodore Ginn's training ground.
"Ah! This Haki is finally showing some response!"
Commodore Ginn said excitedly. As expected, only through fighting in the North Blue could one awaken Haki more quickly. In a peaceful place like the East Blue, even if he guarded Loguetown for five years, he would have little chance of awakening Armament Haki.
"This is the Armament Haki that only those promoted to headquarters officers have a chance to learn."
Commodore Ginn felt the energy winding around his hand. This was a cultivation method he had earned through desperately accumulating military achievements.
But when he thought of those four impervious members of Germa 66, a trace of envy flashed across Commodore Ginn's face.
The Vinsmoke Siblings were all extremely powerful. Not only did they possess high-tech transformation battle suits, but their Cyborg bodies were also incredibly strong, making them no weaker than Marine Vice Admirals.
The Marine fleet led by Gino had once encountered Germa 66's army, and he had witnessed the Vinsmoke Family's powerful warriors.
"Even if I learn Armament Haki, I still might not be able to hurt the Vinsmoke Siblings."
Commodore Ginn said unwillingly. Some people were simply born stronger than others. The Armament Haki coating he had awakened through such hardship might not even compare to Vinsmoke's powerful exoskeletons.
Just as Commodore Ginn finished training and prepared to return to his office to handle branch affairs, a piercing alarm sounded across the island.
Commodore Ginn's eyes widened as he looked up at the sky.
A massive Crimson Divine Dragon coiled amid purple flame clouds. Its Dragon Scales gleamed with a metallic sheen, giving off an indestructible feeling.
"Is that Kaido of the Beasts?!!"
"No, it is Dongye Huanglong, the worst experimental criminal who declared war on the Celestial Dragons!"
Commodore Ginn clenched his fists, considering his chances of winning against Dongye Huanglong.
This was someone with a bounty as high as 500 million Beli. Although Dongye Huanglong did not have many concrete, impressive battle records, his sheer presence alone made Gino tremble with fear.
Suddenly, an enormous Flame Dragon Breath shot downward, striking the Marine flag atop the fortress. The branch's defensive stronghold was blasted apart along with it.
The massive explosion frightened the Marines on the island into fleeing in every direction.
"Damn it! How did this guy get to the North Blue so quickly?!"
Commodore Ginn cursed loudly. He had only one month left before heading to headquarters, yet something like this had happened. His path to promotion was finished.
And according to internal intelligence from Marine Headquarters, Dongye Huanglong, Experiment Subject 88, might be even stronger than the Vinsmoke Family's strongest Cyborg!
How was a branch commodore like him, who had only recently touched upon Armament Haki, supposed to fight Dongye Huanglong?
"This is bad! Commodore Ginn, the dragon transformed into a Half-Dragon Man and attacked the prison!"
Several branch colonels ran over in terror to report to Gino. Even the sabers in their hands trembled slightly.
The dragon attacking the Marine branch this time was completely beyond their ability to handle.
Even though the North Blue Marines were fierce, they did not dare rush forward blindly to die.
"Contact Marine Headquarters for reinforcements, now!"
After giving the order, Commodore Ginn rushed toward North Blue Prison. He would never allow Dongye Huanglong to release these criminal bounty hunters.
Now he finally understood part of Marine Headquarters' latest order. If he survived this, he would escort every pirate with a bounty above 10 million to Impel Down, leaving no opportunity for people like Dongye Huanglong to break them out of prison.
Inside North Blue Prison.
Dongye Huanglong, exuding a sharp and chilling aura, strolled casually through the prison as if he were visiting a marketplace.
"Does anyone know where Buck is? Are there any Devil Fruit Users?"
With a single glance from Dongye Huanglong, the prison guards were frightened into kneeling. He did not even need to use Laser Beams.
"My lord, I know! Buck is in the last cell! My lord, please let me out! I am willing to become your most loyal subordinate!"
The bruised and battered bounty criminals shouted joyfully from within the prison. Their faces were filled with longing for freedom and hatred for the Marines.
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