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New World – G-5 Base Port
Atlas and Gion walked casually toward the dock, chatting and laughing along the way. A standard Marine battleship sat quietly moored at the harbor.
Since neither Gion nor Atlas had a custom warship of their own, neither had any complaints.
Soon, the two boarded the ship, beginning their journey toward Dressrosa.
"Commodore Atlas! Vice Admiral Gion!"
As soon as they stepped aboard, a crowd of Marines rushed over and stood at attention in perfect formation, saluting with solemn expressions and visible admiration in their eyes.
Vice Admiral Tsuru had handpicked these five hundred elite soldiers from the G-5 base.
Many had personally witnessed Atlas's overwhelming strength in battles against the Whitebeard Pirates, and some had even been saved—intentionally or not—by Atlas during combat.
Naturally, they held him in high esteem. However, the commanding officer aboard the ship was Gion.
While she had not yet reached the level of a future admiral like "Momousagi," her rank was still one grade higher than Atlas's, and her seniority far exceeded his.
Atlas didn't mind in the slightest. He wasn't concerned about who was in charge—as long as Gion didn't boss him around, he preferred his freedom.
Gion inspected the deck and gave a small nod before gazing out over the sea. Her clear, calm voice rang out:
"Has the executive officer arrived? Begin roll call. Inform the helmsman to prepare for departure!"
"Reporting, ma'am! Executive Officer Bolton! Marine ID No. 264998742! Rank: Marine Captain!"
A broad-shouldered officer wearing the standard Marine cap stepped out from the crowd and shouted his report.
"Good. Begin the headcount and raise the anchor. Destination: Dressrosa."
With a wave of her hand, Gion turned and walked away with Atlas by her side.
"Yes, ma'am!"
The resounding response echoed behind them. It had to be said—the Marines stationed long-term in the New World were undeniably tougher than those in Paradise or the Four Blues.
The extreme climate alone was a trial, not to mention the overwhelming number of powerful pirates roaming the New World. Anyone who had survived this long was elite by default.
New World – Kingdom of Dressrosa
On the King's Plateau, the highest point in the entire nation, sat the royal palace—residence of the Riku royal family.
The palace lacked the lavish luxury seen in other kingdoms and instead had a surprisingly modest, even resort-like appearance, surrounded by high walls.
In the main hall, King Riku Doldo III sat upon the throne, his brow furrowed deeply, his face filled with worry.
His sturdy build, wild, explosive hair, and dignified bearing marked him as a ruler, but the sharp glint in his eyes revealed a man of deep strategy and political insight.
"Your Majesty, please don't worry. The Marines have already accepted our request for aid," said the kingdom's commander, Kyros, attempting to reassure him.
"I did send the plea to Vice Admiral Tsuru, and I believe her troops are already en route," King Riku replied, still concerned.
"But what worries me is the timing. The Marines have been active lately, and their forces are spread thin. Yet the enemy we face is a commander of the Big Mom Pirates."
"That's all my fault. I'm too weak to be of any help..."
Kyros lowered his head, ashamed. As the military leader of Dressrosa and husband to Princess Scarlett, he felt both guilt and frustration at having to rely on outside help.
"Kyros, don't talk nonsense! You've already carried a heavy burden for this kingdom," King Riku barked sternly.
"The Big Mom Pirates are a force to be reckoned with—even the Marines tread carefully around them. You don't need to blame yourself."
"You're the man who won over four thousand battles in the colosseum! Don't let me hear such defeatist talk!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Kyros straightened, a renewed sense of respect gleaming in his eyes.
"Now then, Minister of the Left—any updates from the Marines? Baron Tamago passed word that one of Big Mom's commanders will arrive in a few days!"
"Vice Admiral Tsuru said her forces had already departed several days ago. They should be arriving any time now," the minister replied.
"She didn't disclose the names—only that one vice admiral and one commodore are leading the mission."
"What? Just a single vice admiral?!" King Riku's face turned pale.
A single vice admiral to stand against a commander from the Big Mom Pirates? And the commodore wasn't even worth factoring in.
"Your Majesty, I don't think you need to worry," the minister said cautiously.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru is the Grand Strategist of Marine Headquarters. If she made this arrangement, there must be a reason."
"…You're right," King Riku muttered, rubbing his temple in frustration.
As a member of the World Government, Dressrosa had the right to expect real support. But could one vice admiral and one commodore truly hold the line…?
"Enough. For now, we'll place our trust in the Marines. You're all dismissed and Kyros—go spend more time with Scarlett. She's pregnant. Don't be so rough with her like before. Be careful."
In that moment, King Riku seemed less like a ruler and more like a concerned father.
"Yes, Your Majesty." At the mention of his beloved princess, Kyros couldn't help but smile warmly, his voice ringing with newfound strength.
"Vice Admiral Gion, how long until we reach Dressrosa?"
Atlas emerged from the training room shirtless, his muscular frame glistening, as he casually walked over to where Gion stood staring out to sea.
"Hmm? At our current speed, we should arrive by tomorrow morning," she replied lazily, her gaze drifting over the waves.
"Good. According to Vice Admiral Tsuru's intel, the Big Mom commander shouldn't arrive before we do."
The sea at dawn always carried a certain mystique. Beams of golden sunlight streamed through the morning mist, making it look as if liquid gold danced in the air.
Dressrosa—an island paradise known in the New World as the "Land of Love and Passion"—was a tropical nation with a vibrant, romantic flair.
The coastal shores were lined with mushroom-shaped rocks, making it nearly impossible for ordinary ships to dock.
Fortunately, a special port had been constructed to accommodate visiting vessels, and royal guards patrolled the area to prevent pirates from landing and to report any suspicious activity immediately.
At that moment, a Marine warship sat quietly at port. After arranging for supplies, Gion followed behind Atlas as they disembarked.
She, too, was curious about this "fairy-tale land of love and passion."
"Hey, hey, Vice Admiral Gion! As the commanding officer of this mission, shouldn't you be speaking with the king?"
Atlas asked hurriedly, seeing that she had every intention of tagging along.
He'd finally gotten a chance to explore, and the last thing he wanted was to drag a woman along to ruin it.
"You're no fun at all, Kanos!" Gion rolled her eyes dramatically. She had wanted to soak in the vacation atmosphere first.
Of course, she also knew she had to reassure King Riku—he was probably losing his mind with worry, especially since the ones eyeing his kingdom were part of a Yonko's crew.
"Then I'll leave that to you, Vice Admiral Gion. Hahaha."
Atlas had no desire for the formalities of meeting the king. Gion, on the other hand, was a master at diplomacy and maneuvering. She could handle it better than he ever could.
As Gion headed toward the King's Plateau, Atlas grinned, taking in the sights of the unique island paradise.
Dressrosa's culture and clothing reminded him of Spain from his past life. All around him, beautiful women danced in vibrant flamenco dresses.
While enjoying the local delicacies and admiring the exotic scenery, Atlas's gaze drifted toward a massive building with distinct Roman colosseum architecture.
At each entrance stood heavily armed royal guards. On the wall was a clear sign: "No Children Allowed."
Even the thick walls couldn't muffle the thunderous roars echoing from within.
"A colosseum, huh? Sounds fun."
Atlas took a big bite and quickly finished the roasted meat in his hand. Tossing the skewer into a nearby trash can, he strode confidently toward the main entrance.
The guards at the gate didn't try to stop him.
Though Atlas still wore his signature white suit and the cloak of justice, the Corrida Colosseum wasn't the corrupt haven of criminals it would become under Doflamingo's rule.
There was no reason to keep a Marine out.
The entry fee wasn't expensive, but as one of Dressrosa's top tourist attractions, the colosseum drew massive crowds every day and served as a key source of national revenue.
It was also a popular place for swordsmen to spar and hone their skills.
Some criminals not deemed worthy of execution were exiled here to fight as gladiators—the most famous of which was Kyros, the royal son-in-law of the Riku family.
As soon as Atlas stepped inside, a wave of noise crashed over him. The arena was massive yet simple in design.
Spectators stand packed in excited crowds, circling a wide, circular fighting platform. Surrounding the platform was a water moat teeming with vicious fighting fish.
Any contestant who fell into the water during battle would not only be disqualified but would also face the savage fish below.
Atlas casually took a seat near the back. With his enhanced senses, he could still see and hear everything perfectly.
Currently, two swordsmen were clashing with greatswords. Their swordplay was straightforward and heavy, relying on brute force rather than technique.
That much was clear from their massive builds and swing patterns. The crowd around him was fired up.
Though sword duels didn't have the raw impact and visual brutality of hand-to-hand brawls, they still added flavor to the otherwise dull lives of many spectators.
After watching for a bit, Atlas began to lose interest. He had no intention of joining the fight—there was too wide a gap in skill.
Though the Corrida Colosseum was one of Dressrosa's landmarks, it didn't yet offer irresistible prizes to lure in powerful pirates from across the sea like it would under Doflamingo's rule.
As a result, the level of competition wasn't particularly high.
King's Plateau – Royal Palace of Dressrosa
King Riku Dold III sat regally on his throne, his presence commanding and dignified. Seated below him was Vice Admiral Gion, who had just arrived in Dressrosa.
Judging from the satisfied expression on the king's face, the conversation between the two was going well.
"Oh, right," King Riku said curiously,
"Wasn't there a commodore traveling with you? I haven't seen him around."
"Commodore Atlas went off to experience Dressrosa's so-called 'love and passion,'" Gion replied with a sigh, looking slightly helpless.
That man was the definition of a hands-off officer, leaving everything to others without a second thought.
"We've heard of Dressrosa's beauty and prosperity even from as far away as Marineford. It's all thanks to your wise rule, Your Majesty." Gion added with a polite smile.
"Hahaha! You flatter me!" King Riku burst out laughing, his pride momentarily visible.
Even the most virtuous king couldn't resist a little flattery.
But to be honest, Dressrosa's prosperity wasn't as impressive as it appeared. While the island looked thriving on the surface, the common folk lived humble lives.
Ironically, Dressrosa had been wealthier under Doflamingo's rule—an uncomfortable truth.
"Well then," King Riku finally broached the topic that had been weighing on his mind, "Does Vice Admiral Gion have a plan to deal with the Big Mom Pirates' advance?"
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty," Gion replied calmly.
"Our commodore is one of the Marines' monstrous rookies—even Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords, fell to him."
"You mean that rising Marine star?" King Riku thought hard, trying to recall the name. There was indeed a vague memory of someone like Atlas.
That brought him a bit of relief. Though honestly, Gion muttered inwardly, he's not exactly the most dependable person...
"Achoo!"
At that very moment, Atlas, walking down Lovers' Avenue and surrounded by couples, suddenly sneezed.
"Jeez... Who's thinking about me now?"
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