March 12, 1510 ( Sea Circle Calendar )
North Blue, Baku Archipelago.
This sea area directly faces the Calm Belt of the Sky Empire.
This is also a key area of naval surveillance. Seven reconnaissance stations have been set up on this archipelago, each located at the highest point of the island, to facilitate observation of the surrounding sea and sky through telescopes.
Inside one of the island's reconnaissance stations, a few marines chatted listlessly, looking rather dispirited. After all, this kind of work was very tedious, and facing the vast, calm, and windless Calm Belt every day, it was natural to lose interest.
"Ha..." A bearded marine yawned, then picked up his binoculars and looked at the sea and sky over the Calm Belt.
The marine responsible for taking notes buried his head in the record sheet and wrote: 10:00 AM, no abnormalities.
However, the bearded marine's face instantly turned pale, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. After swallowing hard, he cried out in panic:
"Enemy! The enemy is coming!"
"What enemy?" The marine suddenly looked up.
The bearded man roared, completely losing control, "It's the Sky Empire's Flying Fleet! We're doomed!"
"What..." The Marine who recorded the scene fell off his chair and to the ground, his face also filled with utter terror.
The other marine, who was in charge of firing the signal flare, was also so frightened that he didn't know what to do until about ten seconds later when he finally managed to fumble for his signal gun and fired three shots into the sky.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
A red signal flare exploded in mid-air.
The entire reconnaissance station immediately erupted in chaos.
Rear Admiral Truman Wright, who was in charge of the Baku Archipelago guard detachment, soon received several urgent reports from reconnaissance stations.
He quickly dialed the Marine Headquarters ' dedicated line. "This is the North Blue Baku Archipelago Surveillance Detachment. This is Truman Wright, internal number 936805."
"Identity confirmed, Rear Admiral Wright, please explain the situation."
Wright roared as he reported, "Immediately inform the Fleet Admiral that the Sky Empire's Flying Fleet has appeared in the Calm Belt near the Baku Archipelago and is about to enter the North Blue. Requesting guidance from headquarters!"
"Received. Please do not hang up, Rear Admiral Wright."
"ASAP..."
Boom... Communication was instantly cut off.
" Rear Admiral Wright! Please respond! Rear Admiral Wright..."
The reconnaissance station where Rear Admiral Wright was stationed was now just a large crater with a radius of several hundred meters.
Almost simultaneously, all seven reconnaissance stations across the Baku Archipelago were wiped out by a meteorite strike.
In less than a day.
The three World Government Member States and eight desert islands near the Baku Archipelago were transported to the vicinity of the Baku Archipelago by Shiki using his abilities, forming part of the Baku Province.
The kings and nobles of these three Affiliated Nation were all executed.
Shiki's ruthless methods plunged the various kingdoms of the North Blue into fear.
However, at this time, Shiki did not pay much attention to the outside world's reaction. Instead, he was speeding up the transformation of the entire Baku Archipelago and integrating the civilians of the three Affiliated Nation.
Of course, internal civil affairs were handled by Robin and Black Maria, while Shiki and Blazing Sun were mainly responsible for war-related work.
The Sky Empire is busy digesting its new territories.
However, the situation in North Blue suddenly became turbulent.
Although North Blue is known worldwide for its fierce and tough people, no matter how fierce they are, they can't compare to the impoverished and harsh New World.
Although the infamous reputation of the Sea Emperors was well-known, the Affiliated Nation of the North Blue had never personally experienced such a terrifying threat.
Only now did they realize that the Sky Empire was different from the Whitebeard Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates, who were basically only local tyrants in the New World and had little threat to other seas.
The Sky Empire, however, is different. Its Flying Fleet can easily traverse the Calm Belt and enter the North Blue and West Blue at any time, or even directly cross the Red Line to enter the East Blue and South Blue.
That's what's truly terrifying.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Sengoku, who had only been in Sengoku Fleet Admiral for a little over a month, looked extremely grim.
"Damn Golden Lion, isn't he satisfied yet?"
He frowned deeply, quickly reviewing the intelligence. "The situation is dire; North Blue may be spiraling completely out of control."
What was the past like for Pablo Borsalino?
Crane shook his head. "While Borsalino may be a threat to the Golden Lion, the Sky Empire has too many experts. They could easily send their elite troops to plunder and harass the various Affiliated Nation of the North Blue. The Golden Lion might even abandon the North Blue altogether and instead attack the West Blue, East Blue, and South Blue."
"Damn it!" Sengoku clenched his fist, wishing he could punch the Golden Lion to death.
That's the power of Shiki's influence.
Crane pondered for a moment, "Sending Borsalino to the North Blue is the only option for now, but that's not enough. We also need to send Sakazuki."
Upon hearing this, Sengoku hesitated. "Wouldn't it be too dangerous to let Sakazuki face the Sky Empire alone?"
"No, I don't intend for Sakazuki to confront the Sky Empire directly. Instead, I want him to destroy these two islands first." Tsuru glanced at the New World map to the side, her finger pointing at two of the islands.
Upon seeing the names of those two islands, Sengoku's pupils instantly contracted. "The risk of doing this is too great!"
" Sengoku, if we don't do this, we have no way to restrain the Sky Empire." Crane's expression was very serious.
"But..." Sengoku was about to say something, but then fell silent. He truly had no conventional method to restrict the Sky Empire.
Because the Navy now faces enemies not only from the Sky Empire, but also from the Liberator Organization and the Kingdom of Dawn. In addition, the Whitebeard Pirates and Big Mom Pirates in the New World are not to be trifled with either.
Faced with so many enemies, even with the support of the World Government, the Navy's high-level combat power seemed somewhat stretched after the Lulusia incident.
If they launch a full-scale attack against the Sky Empire, they worry that the Liberator Organization might cause trouble in other sea areas.
If they don't go all out, sending one or two Admiral to deal with the Sky Empire might mean they won't return.
The navy can no longer afford to lose one or two more Admiral -level combatants.
After a few minutes of silence, Sengoku could only nod heavily. "I agree, but this matter requires the approval of the Five Elders."
"I'm leaving the communication with the Five Elders to you."
Sengoku knew this was his responsibility as the Fleet Admiral, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and dial the Five Elders ' number.
A short while later, the call from the Five Elders was connected.
" Sengoku, what's the matter?" asked Saint Nusjuro.
"My lords, you have surely received intelligence that the Sky Empire has entered the North Blue and has already conquered three Affiliated Nation."
Saint Nusjuro, sitting opposite him, asked directly, "What are your thoughts?"
"I want Sakazuki to destroy two nodes in the New World, and at the same time, to use the last node as the G0 Base, with Sakazuki permanently stationed G0 Base, thus deterring all pirate forces in the New World."
"Destroy the node island?" Saint Nusjuro's voice rose slightly.
Saint Saturn suddenly interjected, " Sengoku, you are indeed suited to be the Fleet Admiral. We agree to this."
Thank you all for your understanding.
Tsuru, standing to the side, showed no surprise whatsoever. Clearly, she had already guessed that the Five Elders would agree to this, since the World Government and the Navy had no other choice.