I'll be back!

Sky Island was considered an absurd, laughable fantasy by many.

How could islands exist in the sky? I really envy that brain of yours, never having to think about anything complicated.

Yet despite people's disbelief, the legend of Sky Island continued to spread.

They treated it as a joke to amuse themselves in taverns.

They used Noland, that fraud who had falsely claimed to discover Shandora, the city of gold,

to warn their children not to lie.

No one had actually verified whether it was true. Everyone knew it was false.

Yes, what everyone knew was the truth.

Yet a group of people driven from their homeland, fighting for a promise and to reclaim their home,

had already kept up their struggle for 400 years.

One day, the Golden Bell's peal, thundering through the heavens, would finally travel across that vast expanse of sky.

It would pierce layer upon layer of sea and reach the ears of Mont Blanc Cricket, a descendant of Noland the Liar.

That brave warrior who had dared to fight Sea Kings to the death would still have his name celebrated countless years later.

Child, yes, that was the legendary explorer who discovered the land of gold: Mont Blanc Noland.

Kaido had learned of Sky Island's existence from Rocks.

Rocks was a man who had dominated the seas more than thirty years ago, with the ambition of becoming King of the World.

This overlord of the seas had commanded the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki.

And three of the future Four Emperors: the World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard; Kaido of the Beasts; and Queen Charlotte Linlin.

Rocks had openly challenged the World Government, intending to wipe out the Celestial Dragons outright and take their place.

But in the end, that overlord had fallen at God Valley, and the Rocks Pirates had disbanded.

The men who stopped him were the Pirate King who would later usher in the Great Pirate Era,

Gol D. Roger, and Garp the Hero of the Marines.

Kaido had come here once several years ago to find the Poneglyph his captain had spoken of.

He needed to determine whether Sky Island's Poneglyph was the Road Poneglyph he had searched so desperately for.

But now, this place had become the ideal base from which to rebuild and stage his comeback.

Big Mom did not know Sky Island existed. Kaido was certain of that.

Otherwise, she would have come up here to search for the Poneglyph long ago, just as he had.

Sailing across the White Sea, over the Sea Cloud formed by high-altitude cumuloregalis clouds, the Beasts Pirates headed swiftly toward the nearest island.

Even the mast of their sole remaining ship was now riddled with cracks.

Every member was wrapped in bandages, but that did not stop them from marveling at the scenery as they sailed through the sky.

"That island ahead is called Angel Island. A bunch of people with chicken wings live there.

King, this is our next starting point."

"Yes. I'll keep those guys in line. We're desperately short of manpower right now."

Kaido took a swig of liquor, his expression unreadable, then asked,

"How's that idiot son of mine?"

"The young master hasn't woken up yet. I deflected Katakuri's thrust at the time.

His injuries are just rather serious. His life isn't in danger."

"Mm..."

The feud between the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates was now firmly cemented.

It was already a hatred that would only end when one side was wiped out.

"Lofan, I'll be back!"

Sengoku had not expected Lofan to be so adept at administrative affairs at such a young age.

In just one night, he had completed a proposal to dismantle and restructure the Marine Criminal Search Bureau.

It would have three departments:

the Investigation Department, the Operations Department, and the Administration Department.

The Investigation Department would handle all suspected crimes involving Marines, including abuse of authority, embezzlement, and trading power for money.

It would also accept anonymous accusations.

The Operations Department would handle gathering evidence at crime scenes, arresting Marine offenders, protecting witnesses, and other such duties.

The Administration Department would manage the Search Bureau's internal personnel.

It would educate and train members to have zero tolerance for corruption, as well as handle recruitment, salary payments, and other tasks.

At the same time, to ensure that all Search Bureau personnel remained fair and impartial and maintained a good reputation,

Lofan had drawn up strict rules and regulations.

Once someone joined the Search Bureau, they would essentially be saying goodbye to Marine ranks.

That was because even if a Search Bureau operative held no Marine rank,

with valid evidence and witnesses, they could still directly investigate and question the Fleet Admiral.

Only by remaining independent within the Marines in this way, and receiving funding from the Commander-in-Chief,

could this proposal succeed.

Before confronting external threats, one had to put one's own house in order.

Sengoku saw extraordinarily mature experience and vision.

This measure could effectively transform the Marines, little by little, into a force devoted purely to justice.

Most importantly, Lofan had not become arrogant after achieving success so young.

Even after drawing up such a detailed proposal, he had still come to discuss the various plans and relevant experience with Sengoku.

Sengoku was deeply gratified. This young man had not let his painstaking efforts go to waste.

"Lofan, the problems you foresee now already extend far beyond my abilities.

I'm afraid I can't offer you any better advice, but rest assured.

You will have my full support and assistance in cracking down on corruption within the Marines."

One could not assume that, just because the Search Bureau answered only to the Commander-in-Chief, it could truly bypass Sengoku.

While the Search Bureau was just starting out, before it had truly established itself,

Sengoku's support was indispensable.

Only with this Fleet Admiral's approval could Lofan truly carry out his work without obstruction.

"Yes, Fleet Admiral. But right now, the staffing problem is very difficult to resolve properly.

Once someone joins the Search Bureau, unless they leave, they'll have nothing to do with military ranks for the rest of their lives.

I'm afraid there won't be many Marines willing to do that."

When recruiting current members of the Marines, even setting aside their level of ability,

this requirement alone eliminated almost ninety percent of the candidates.

"Although we can replenish our personnel through training and education,

if the bureau doesn't have a group of veterans familiar with the various sides of the Marines,

there's no telling how long these newcomers will need to gain experience."

Even aside from factions within the Marines, local forces would also have officials shielding one another.

Specially trained investigators could be relied upon for their loyalty and convictions.

But they would not be able to launch effective, targeted operations immediately.

"I faced the problems you mentioned when I took over, too.

The Marines don't have the experience or funding the government has for training Cipher Pol.

But internal corruption is something we can't afford to ignore. It was only after Commander-in-Chief Kong took office that the funding problem was resolved."

Sengoku frowned over the crimes committed by Marine personnel mentioned in the report.

In his position, he understood the issue more keenly than anyone.

"We'll take a compromise approach and temporarily transfer a group of Commodores and Rear Admirals to head the three departments.

They'll serve as the pioneers who establish the organization in its early stages, while the subordinate positions will be filled by Marines from headquarters."

This was precisely what Lofan wanted to achieve. With the respected Sengoku backing him, he would be spared countless troubles.

"I'll submit a joint request with the Commander-in-Chief for government funding to give Search Bureau personnel the best possible compensation.

And provide adequate training conditions. Of course, I'm afraid this resolution won't receive approval anytime soon."

"I'll prepare a training plan. In addition, I propose moving the Search Bureau headquarters away from Marineford.

That will prevent too many personal ties from becoming involved. Otherwise, its independence will be undermined."

Sengoku concentrated on the matter for a moment, then agreed to Lofan's proposal.