Watching Roger's Execution at the Start

"Kyros?"

Atlas scratched her head sheepishly. She had almost forgotten about him. After inviting Kyros to join the Marines a year ago, Atlas had sent him back to headquarters with the troops and personally called Zephyr to ask him to arrange special training for Kyros at the Recruit Camp.

Atlas had high hopes for Kyros. Otherwise, she would never have gone to so much trouble to bring him into the Marines.

"What does Teacher Zephyr think of Kyros? He's been improving quickly, hasn't he? I'm expecting great things from him!"

Strictly speaking, Kyros was not a Marine who had come through the regular Recruit Camp. Don't underestimate the Recruit Training Camp: everyone there had to pass rigorous background and qualification checks. No one could simply walk in.

Kyros was more of an auditing student, so he did not need to pass the Graduation Assessment like ordinary recruits. One transfer order from Atlas, and he could come straight aboard her ship. He would be one of her own people, too.

"He's excellent compared with the soldiers who joined at the same time. His swordsmanship is superb, and he has a good grasp of the Six Powers. It will still take some time before his physique is ready to awaken Haki."

Zephyr's assessment of Kyros was concise. The greatest difference between Kyros and the Marines in his Recruit Camp class was combat experience. He was a man who had fought in the arena and had long served as a defender of Dressrosa. The recruits could not match his sharp instincts in battle.

"The recruits should be training on the Training Ground right now. Why not give them a lesson? It's a chance for them to meet their legendary monster of a senior."

"Sure."

Seeing the anticipation in Zephyr's eyes, Atlas readily agreed. Her duties were not especially demanding at the moment anyway.

On the Recruit Camp Training Ground.

Two figures were locked in a relentless fight. Their use of Six Powers techniques such as Finger Pistol and Iron Body was dazzling, and waves of force rolled between them.

"Finger Pistol!"

"Iron Body!"

"Ugh... pfft!"

At last, Iron Body added another defeat to its record.

The instructor at the side saw the outcome and announced loudly, "The winner: Kyros!"

A look of genuine excitement crossed Kyros's face. It was as if he had been born to fight in the arena; every victory brought him heartfelt joy.

But he had been in the Marines for a year now and still had not seen a trace of that woman. Sometimes Kyros wondered whether Atlas had forgotten him on Marineford.

"Well? Are you happy with his progress?"

Zephyr and the two others had arrived beside the Training Ground some time ago and watched the entire match. Kyros's performance had pleased Zephyr.

"He's mastered four of the Six Powers, apart from Rankyaku and Geppo, and uses them skillfully. And the others in his class aren't fresh recruits, are they?"

Atlas had a keen eye. She had worked out Kyros's command of the Six Powers almost at a glance.

"He's qualified to join my fleet now, though!" Atlas added.

In Sabaody

"All right, today you leave to take up your post in Sabaody," Sengoku said to Atlas, who was ready to depart. "Remember, don't let a single Supernova into the New World. Do whatever you like in Sabaody. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility!"

"No problem. I guarantee those pirates won't even get close to the New World!" Atlas said, thumping her chest.

"One more thing. Don't offend the Celestial Dragons. I know you can't stand them."

"No problem. If I can't cross them, I can at least avoid them, can't I?"

Sengoku looked doubtful. Atlas answered with an unhappy expression, "Relax. You know what I'm like, don't you?"

That only made Sengoku more worried. If Atlas killed a Celestial Dragon, even he would not be able to cover for her.

But Atlas had not lied to him. As much as she despised the Celestial Dragons, she did not yet have the strength to defy the World Government. She was no reckless fool who would rebel without thinking.

"All right, I'd better go. The warship's waiting for me at the harbor."

Sensing that Sengoku was about to say more, Atlas hurriedly took her leave.

The warship headquarters had prepared for her was already docked at the harbor. With Marine Bases being established in the New World, large numbers of Marines had been assigned to garrison them.

As a result, far fewer warships lay at the headquarters harbor than when Atlas had first arrived at Marineford.

"Vice Admiral Atlas! Over here!"

As Atlas reached the harbor, Kyros called out from a warship. It was a standard large Marine vessel. Atlas had not considered commissioning a ship of her own yet, but not because of the expense. The Marines would cover the cost, and she had no reason to save them money.

She simply had no need for a custom warship for now. Her post was on the Sabaody Archipelago, not far from headquarters. Besides, even a custom-built warship seemed too ordinary to her, so she might put the matter off.

"Hey, Kyros! You're looking sharp today."

Kyros stood on deck in an ordinary Marine uniform, looking quite different from his days in Dressrosa. His rank was private third class. With no achievements to his name yet, Atlas could hardly promote him too far. Given his strength, though, catching a few small-time pirates would be easy.

The warship's standard complement consisted of roughly a thousand ordinary Marines and several hundred elite soldiers. Her subordinate adjutant was a bearded Colonel with an unremarkable face. The ship's forces were well balanced, if not outstanding. Atlas intended to find time to recruit a few trusted people of her own.

She had already set her sights on Smoker. He had graduated from the Recruit Training Camp the previous year and, if she remembered correctly, had been commissioned as a major. He should have made lieutenant colonel, but he had openly disobeyed orders during his graduation trial. The poor evaluation that followed had directly affected his final rank.

"Vice Admiral Atlas, may we depart?"

"Have you accounted for everyone aboard?"

"Reporting, Vice Admiral! All personnel and supplies are accounted for. Awaiting your orders!"

"Good. Then let's go. Destination: the Sabaody Archipelago!" Atlas nodded, then turned to the bearded man. "You're Majors, right?"

Before departure, Sengoku had sent her information on the warship's principal officers, so she had some recollection of the bearded man.

"Yes! Marine Headquarters Colonel Majors, reporting for duty!"

Majors stood at attention and saluted solemnly.

Majors knew little about Atlas, the young Headquarters Vice Admiral. What stood out most was that she had captured Crocodile, whom the World Government had recently named one of the Shichibukai, and sent him to Impel Down. Hailed as a Navy Supernova a year ago, she had grown even stronger through her experience in the New World. Her many military achievements had carried her into the ranks of Marine Vice Admirals!

She was a monster of a Marine.

Majors had been a little uneasy when he learned he would serve under Atlas. Most exceptionally strong people had a few unusual quirks, after all.

Fortunately, after their brief acquaintance, Majors had formed a good impression of her.

The Sabaody Archipelago was not far from Marine Headquarters. It was formed by the world's largest mangrove, the Yarukiman Mangrove. Its roots remained exposed above the water, creating the archipelago.

Sabaody's most distinctive feature came from the natural resin secreted by the Yarukiman Mangrove's roots as they breathed. It had given rise to the islands' unique bubble culture. The archipelago was also a necessary stop on the way to the New World.

For that reason, pirates called it both the "Island of Failure" and the "Island of Re-Starting"!

The Sabaody Archipelago consisted chiefly of seventy-nine numbered trees, with clearly defined districts.

Atlas's destination was the area around trees sixty through sixty-nine, home to the Marines' main garrison and the World Government's point of entry.

Trees one through twenty-nine were home to human traffickers and slave auctions. Collectively known as the Lawless Zone, the area was a gathering place for pirates and nearly every other kind of criminal.

Trees thirty through thirty-nine held the heart of Sabaody's unique bubble culture: Soap Bubble Park, a must-see for tourists.

Trees forty through forty-nine were mainly sightseeing areas and specialty shops. Relatively peaceful, they were well suited to visitors.

Trees fifty through fifty-nine were chiefly home to shipyards and coating craftsmen. Their shipbuilding might fall a little short of Water 7's, but their unique coating craft was essential to pirates bound for the New World. Pirates loved to visit the area.

As for trees seventy through seventy-nine, there was little to say. They provided lodging. Whether they offered any other services, Atlas did not know.

The area around trees one through twenty-nine was where Atlas intended to focus her attention. Most pirates feared nothing, even the threat of slave-hunting ships.

Granted, most pirates were hardly pleasant to look at, but some Celestial Dragons liked collecting pirate captains. Where there was a market, there was demand.

"Sabaody looks pretty peaceful..."

Atlas admired the enormous Yarukiman Mangrove looming faintly in the distance. She had half expected a barrage of cannon fire to welcome them.

"Vice Admiral, appearances can be deceiving. We're heading straight to the Marine garrison, which is some distance from the Lawless Zone. The trouble over there doesn't reach this far."

Beside her, the corner of Majors's mouth twitched as he explained.

Majors was a veteran of headquarters and knew something about Sabaody. Its surface calm did not fool him.

"Is that so? An island this beautiful deserves a little peace and quiet..."

Within My Observation Haki, I Am Justice

Majors did not understand Atlas's bold declaration. He had no idea what she intended to do next.

"As always, this world hides endless filth and evil beneath beautiful things."

Aboard the warship, Atlas had quietly spread her Observation Haki across all of Sabaody. On the island's bright, polished surface, violent crimes and human trafficking seemed to be taking place at every moment.

It was worst around trees one through twenty-nine, the area known as the Lawless Zone.

"I can't stand it. Let's clear away some of that evil first!"

The moment she finished speaking, Majors felt a powerful pressure erupt from Atlas. It was not directed at him, but even the force spilling over left him dazed!

Conqueror's Haki!

"Wahahaha! I'm a great pirate with a seventy-million-berry bounty! You should be honored I ate here, yet you dare ask me to pay?"

Inside a tavern, a vicious-looking, bald, burly man with a face beyond description held a broad-backed saber and glared arrogantly at the owner.

A crowd had spread out to watch, forming a ring around them. Among them were several ugly pirates who appeared to be the bald man's crew.

"Hey, old man! Our captain's 'Evil Ghost' Nick. Got a death wish?"

"Hahaha! Now I've seen everything. Someone asking a pirate to pay for his drinks!"

The onlookers were horrified.

"Evil Ghost" Nick had been making a name for himself lately, especially for his fondness for torturing enemies to death.

He had even destroyed a Marine Base in the North Blue. Of all the people the tavern owner could have encountered, it was a pirate with that fearsome reputation.

The spectators cast pitying looks at the tavern owner.

"Heh... a pirate worth a mere seventy million dares call himself a great pirate?"

The tavern owner plainly had not been frightened by Nick. No one who ran a tavern in the Lawless Zone would fear a pirate with a mere seventy-million-berry bounty. The owner was clearly formidable himself.

"You're getting on my nerves!"

At the sight of the owner's mocking expression, veins bulged on Nick's arm. He raised his saber high, ready to split the man in two.

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

The owner remained unmoved. Instead, he asked a seemingly unrelated question.

"Huh? What if I am?"

The descending blade stopped dead. Its sharp edge left a thin line of blood across the tavern owner's forehead.

"Joker! I work for Joker!"

The tavern owner stood where he was, smiling at Nick. He seemed utterly confident in the power of that name.

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

"Never. Maybe he's just some merchant from the North Blue? Hahaha..."

"Hey, look! The Evil Ghost Pirates seem pretty wary of this 'Joker'!"

The crowd began discussing the unfamiliar name. But when they saw the expressions on Nick and his crew's faces, they were surprised. Those pirates clearly knew who Joker was.

Nick and his men stared at the unruffled tavern owner, caught between advancing and backing down. Nick had certainly heard of Joker. The man was a major figure in the North Blue's Underworld. Though Joker had not moved into the Grand Line, Nick had fought his subordinates before.

As for how that had gone... Nick's wary expression said enough.

"Let's leave it at that. Consider it a drink on the house."

The tavern owner knew when to compromise. No matter how imposing Joker's name was in the North Blue's Underworld, this was the Grand Line, far beyond his reach. In the end, the owner had only one life. It would be a bitter waste if the pirate before him flew into a rage and killed him on the spot.

Even if Joker avenged him afterward, what good would it do?

"Fine. I'll give Joker some respect today. First mate, bring over the money for the drinks!"

Nick might be called "Evil Ghost," but he was no fool. When the tavern owner offered him a way out while letting him save face, he took it at once.

The spectators, who had been hoping for a fight, were sorely disappointed. At the same time, they grew intensely curious about the tavern owner's "Joker."

A seventy-million-berry bounty was nothing rare on the Grand Line, but anyone who could make Nick back down with a name alone was clearly no ordinary man.

Just as the disappointed crowd prepared to leave, a terrifying force swept over them. The world seemed to turn into a colorless painting.

Thud! Thud!...