At Sabaody / Within the Range of My Observation Haki, I Am Justice

"Kyros?"

Atlas scratched his head awkwardly. He had almost forgotten about him. After inviting Kyros to join the Marines a year ago, Atlas had him return to Headquarters with the fleet, and had even personally called Teacher Zephyr to ask him to arrange special training for Kyros at the Recruit Camp.

Atlas had always thought highly of Kyros. Otherwise, he would not have gone to such lengths to recruit him into the Marines.

"What does Teacher Zephyr think of Kyros? His rate of improvement shouldn't be slow, right? I have high hopes for him!"

Strictly speaking, Kyros was not a Marine from the regular Recruit Camp, but the camp was not to be underestimated. Everyone there had to undergo strict identity and qualification checks. No one could simply enter at will.

Kyros could barely be considered an auditing student, so he did not need to undergo the Graduation Assessment like ordinary recruits. As long as Atlas issued an order, he could board a ship directly. He could even be considered one of Atlas's direct subordinates.

"Compared with the soldiers of his cohort, he's outstanding. His swordsmanship is excellent, and he has a good grasp of the Six Powers. As for his physical abilities, he still needs some time before he reaches the level required to awaken Haki."

Zephyr gave a concise evaluation of Kyros's current condition. The greatest difference between Kyros and the Marines from his cohort at the Recruit Camp was combat experience. He was a man who had come out of the gladiator arena, after all, and he had continuously handled Dressrosa's defenses. His combat sensitivity and instincts were things the recruits could not match.

"The recruits should be training on the Training Ground at this time. How about going over to give them a lesson? It would be just right for them to meet the legendary monster senior."

"Sure."

Seeing the faint anticipation in Zephyr's eyes, Atlas readily agreed. His duties were not particularly busy at the moment, anyway.

At the Recruit Camp Training Ground.

Two figures were locked in a fierce struggle. The use of Shigan and Tekkai, among the Six Powers, dazzled the spectators, while waves of air surged between the two fighters.

"Shigan!"

"Tekkai!"

"Ugh... Pfft!"

At last, Tekkai added another defeat to its record.

The instructor watching the battle immediately announced loudly, "The winner is Kyros!"

Kyros displayed genuine excitement upon hearing this. It was as if he had been born for gladiatorial combat. Every victory filled him with heartfelt joy.

However, he had now been in the Marines for a year, and he still had not seen that man. Sometimes, Kyros even wondered if the man had forgotten him in Marineford.

"How do you feel? Are you satisfied with his progress?"

Zephyr and the other two had arrived around the Training Ground long ago and had witnessed the entire battle. Kyros's performance had left Zephyr very satisfied.

"Other than not mastering Tempest Kick and Geppo, he uses the other four powers very proficiently. Also, this cohort shouldn't be made up of new recruits, right?"

Atlas's eye was extraordinarily sharp. He had seen Kyros's mastery of the Six Powers almost at a glance.

"But he has already met the qualifications to join my fleet!" Atlas added.

Living in Sabaody

"All right, today is the day you head to Sabaody for your appointment." Sengoku looked at the fully prepared Atlas. "Remember, don't let a single Supernova enter the New World. Do whatever you want in Sabaody. If anything happens, this old man will take responsibility!"

"No problem. I guarantee those pirates won't even touch the edge of the New World!" Atlas patted his chest confidently.

"By the way, don't offend the Celestial Dragons. I know you're very displeased with them."

"No problem. If I can't afford to provoke them, can't I at least avoid them?"

Seeing the suspicious look in Sengoku's eyes, Atlas answered unhappily, "Relax, relax. Don't you know what kind of person I am?"

After hearing that, Sengoku became even more uneasy about Atlas. If Atlas killed a Celestial Dragon, even he might not be able to clean up the mess.

Atlas had not lied to Sengoku, though. Although he disliked the Celestial Dragons intensely, he did not currently possess the absolute strength needed to oppose the World Government. He was not some reckless fool who resisted without thinking.

"All right, I'll be going now. The warship is waiting for me at the harbor."

Seeing that Sengoku seemed ready to continue rambling, Atlas hurriedly said his farewells and slipped away.

The warship prepared for him by Headquarters was already moored at the harbor. Because new Marine bases had been established in the New World, large numbers of Marines had been assigned to garrison it.

As a result, there were not many warships moored at Headquarters' harbor. The number was even less comparable to when Atlas had first arrived at Marineford.

"Vice Admiral Atlas! Over here!"

Just as Atlas reached the harbor, Kyros's voice came from a warship. It was a gigantic standard Marine warship. Atlas had not yet considered building a personal warship. It was not because he was unwilling to spend money—these expenses could all be reimbursed by the Marines, so there was no reason for Atlas to save them money.

The main reason was that he did not need a specially designed warship for now. His base was in the Sabaody Archipelago, not far from Headquarters, and Atlas felt that even custom-built warships were too mediocre. He would probably put the matter off for later.

"Yo, Kyros! You look sharp today."

Kyros stood on the deck in an ordinary Marine uniform, completely different from his appearance in Dressrosa. His current rank was Third-Class Seaman. Since he had no achievements yet, Atlas could not promote him too excessively. With Kyros's strength, capturing a few minor pirates would be effortless anyway.

The warship's standard complement consisted of roughly a thousand ordinary Marine soldiers and several hundred elite Marines. Its subordinate adjutant was a mustached, plain-faced colonel. The ship's forces were well balanced, though not particularly outstanding. Atlas would certainly find time to recruit a few trusted subordinates for his ship personally.

Atlas had already set his sights on Smoker. Smoker had graduated from the Recruit Training Camp the previous year, and his initial rank seemed to have been Major. He should have become Lieutenant Colonel, but he had openly disobeyed orders during his graduation trial, resulting in a poor final evaluation that directly affected his promotion.

"Vice Admiral Atlas, may I ask if we can depart now?"

"Have all the personnel aboard been counted?"

"Reporting, Vice Admiral! The personnel and supplies have all been accounted for. Awaiting your orders!"

"Good. Then let's depart. Destination: the Sabaody Archipelago!" Atlas nodded slightly, then turned toward the mustached man. "By the way, your name is Majors, right?"

Before departure, Sengoku had already sent him information on the main officers assigned to the warship, so he had some impression of the mustached man.

"Yes! Marine Headquarters Colonel Majors reporting to you, sir!"

Majors stood at attention and saluted with a solemn expression.

Majors did not know much about Atlas, the young Headquarters Vice Admiral. His deepest impression was that Atlas had captured Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai recently appointed by the World Government, and sent him to Impel Down. A year ago, Atlas had been hailed as a Navy Supernova. After being tempered by the New World, his strength had grown even greater, and he had risen into the ranks of Marine Vice Admirals through a mountain of military achievements!

In short, this was a monster of a Marine!

Majors had been somewhat apprehensive upon learning that he would serve under Atlas. After all, most powerful people had at least a few unusual quirks.

Fortunately, after spending a short time with Atlas, Majors's impression of him was quite favorable.

The Sabaody Archipelago was not very far from Marine Headquarters. Its main body was the world's largest mangrove, the Yarukiman Mangrove. Because its roots remained exposed above the water, they formed the Sabaody Archipelago.

The Sabaody Archipelago's greatest characteristic was its unique bubble culture, formed by the natural resin secreted by the roots of the Yarukiman Mangrove through respiration. It was also the only route to the New World.

That was why pirates also called it the "Island of Failure" and the "Island of Re-Starting"!

The Sabaody Archipelago mainly consisted of seventy-nine numbered trees, with clear divisions between the various areas.

Atlas's destination this time was Areas 60 through 69, the Marines' primary base and the entrance and exit controlled by the World Government.

Areas 1 through 29 mainly consisted of human trafficking and human auctions. Collectively known as the Lawless Zone, they were gathering places for nearly all criminals, including pirates.

Areas 30 through 39 were the heart of Sabaody's unique bubble culture, the Soap Bubble Park that every tourist had to visit.

Areas 40 through 49 were mainly sightseeing districts and specialty shops. They were relatively peaceful places, suitable for tourists.

Areas 50 through 59 mainly consisted of shipyards and coating craftsmen. Although their shipbuilding technology might be slightly inferior to that of Water 7, their unique coating techniques were crucial for pirates heading to the New World. These areas were therefore the pirates' favorite destination.

As for Areas 70 through 79, there was not much to say. They were residential areas. Atlas had no idea whether they offered any other services.

It could be said that Areas 1 through 29 were Atlas's main focus. Even under the threat of slave-hunting fleets, most pirates were utterly fearless.

Although most pirates looked rather hideous, some Celestial Dragons happened to enjoy collecting pirate captains. So, where there was a market, there was demand.

"Sabaody looks quite peaceful..."

Atlas praised the sight of the enormous Yarukiman Mangrove looming faintly in the distance. He had originally thought they would be greeted by a barrage of cannon fire.

"Vice Admiral, don't focus only on appearances. We're heading directly to the Marine base, which is quite far from the Lawless Zone. The trouble over there hasn't reached us yet."

The corner of Majors's mouth twitched as he explained in detail.

Majors was a veteran Marine from Headquarters and knew something about Sabaody's situation, so he was not fooled by its surface-level tranquility.

"Is that so? I think such a beautiful island should be allowed to remain peaceful for a while..."

Within Observation Haki's Range, I Am Justice

Hearing Atlas's "bold declaration," Majors was confused. Clearly, he had no idea what Atlas was about to do.

"As expected, beneath this world's beautiful things, countless filth and sins are always hidden."

Atlas, aboard the warship, had quietly spread his Observation Haki across the entire Sabaody Archipelago. This dazzling island seemed to be constantly playing host to all kinds of violent crimes and human trafficking.

Especially Areas 1 through 29, known as the Lawless Zone.

"It's really unbearable. I might as well start by purging some of this evil!"

The instant he finished speaking, Majors felt a powerful pressure erupt from Atlas. Although it was not directed at him, even the aura that escaped made him lose focus for a moment!

Conqueror's Haki!

"Hahahaha! I'm a great pirate with a seventy-million-berry bounty! It's your honor that I'm eating here, and you actually dare ask me for money?"

In a certain tavern, a fierce-looking bald brute with an indescribable face held a ring-backed broadsword and stared arrogantly at the tavern owner.

The surrounding spectators had scattered to form a circle, joined by pirates with all sorts of grotesque faces. They appeared to be the bald man's crew.

"Hey, old man, our captain is 'Evil Ghost' Nick. Are you tired of living?"

"Hahaha! How novel. Someone actually dared ask pirates to pay for their drinks."

The nearby spectators were instantly horrified.

'Evil Ghost' Nick had recently risen to fame, especially for his fondness for torturing enemies to death.

He had even destroyed a Marine Base in the North Blue. A pirate with such a notorious reputation had somehow ended up encountering this tavern owner.

Thinking of that, the surrounding spectators could not help looking at the tavern owner with pity.

"Heh. A pirate with a bounty of only seventy million dares call himself a great pirate?"

The tavern owner was clearly not intimidated by Nick. Anyone capable of running a tavern in the Lawless Zone could not possibly fear a mere pirate with a seventy-million-berry bounty. The owner was obviously a ruthless character himself.

"This is really infuriating!"

Seeing the owner's mocking expression, the veins on Nick's arm bulged. He raised the ring-backed broadsword high, preparing to split the owner in two.

"Heh... You're a pirate from the North Blue, aren't you?"

The owner remained unmoved. Instead, he asked an entirely unrelated question.

"Hm? So what if I am?"

The descending blade abruptly stopped, its fierce edge cutting a line of blood across the tavern owner's forehead.

"I'm one of Joker's people!"

After saying that, the tavern owner stood where he was and looked at Nick with a smiling expression, as if he had immense faith in that name.

"Joker? Who's that? Have you heard of him?"

"Never heard of him. Maybe he's just some merchant from the North Blue? Hahahaha..."

"Hey, hey! It looks like the people from the Evil Ghost Pirates are very wary of this 'Joker'!"

When the surrounding people heard the tavern owner mention an unfamiliar name, they began discussing it among themselves. But after seeing the expressions of 'Evil Ghost' Nick and the others, they revealed looks of surprise. Clearly, Nick and his crew knew this so-called Joker.

Nick and the others stared at the fearless tavern owner, caught between advancing and retreating. He had naturally heard of Joker's reputation. Joker was a major figure in the North Blue's Underworld. Although he had not entered the Grand Line, Nick had crossed paths with the man's subordinates.

As for the result... Nick's wary expression said enough.

"Let's forget it this time. Consider it our captain treating you."

The tavern owner was clearly a shrewd man as well. No matter how resounding Joker's reputation was in the North Blue's Underworld, this was the Grand Line, where the heavens were high and the emperor was far away. In the end, his life belonged only to him. If the pirate in front of him killed him in a fit of shame and anger, that would be far too unjust.

Even if Joker eventually avenged him, what practical meaning would that have?

"All right, I'll give Joker face today. First mate, bring over the money for the drinks!"

Although Nick was known as 'Evil Ghost,' he was clearly not mindless. Seeing the tavern owner offer him such an easy way out, he immediately took it.

At that, the spectators who had been preparing to watch the excitement were deeply disappointed. At the same time, they became intensely curious about the 'Joker' mentioned by the tavern owner.

Although Nick's seventy-million-berry bounty was not particularly rare on the Grand Line, being able to suppress him with nothing but a name meant that this 'Joker' was clearly no ordinary person.

Just as everyone was preparing to leave with disappointed expressions, a terrifying aura descended upon them. The world seemed to turn into a colorless painting.

Thud! Thud!...