Chapter 500: Setting Out!
Ships returned one after another. After arriving at the base below the Red Line, kings from around the world and their relatives boarded specially-made bubble gondolas. They floated upward, drifting leisurely until they reached the world's highest city and the center of this world: Mariejois.
The arrival of royal families from various nations made Mariejois lively.
Entering this white city alongside the kings were Navy officials.
It was unrealistic to rely solely on CP and Mariejois guards to protect everyone's safety. Their numbers were limited after all.
Not to mention this time was unprecedented, with kings from all member nations summoned together.
For such a large-scale event, it was absolutely impossible not to mobilize the Navy for security work.
Therefore, Navy Headquarters' senior officers above the rank of Vice Admiral had basically all been transferred to Mariejois. Aside from the Fleet Admiral and a few others remaining at headquarters, Mariejois had instead become where the Navy gathered.
"This really is lively, isn't it?"
On a certain platform in Mariejois, a round table was set up. The highest-ranking Admirals from Navy Headquarters sat in chairs, leisurely enjoying the sun and afternoon tea.
Admiral Kizaru sipped his tea while drawling slowly, "Seems like kings from all member nations have been invited, right? Since the World Government was established, this has never happened before, has it?"
"Well, after all, war is right before our eyes."
Ryokugyu lay limply across the table like dried-out weeds, even his voice sounding muffled. "The higher-ups definitely hope to gain support from all member nations."
"War..."
Admiral Fujitora held a bowl of noodles, slurped a mouthful, then sighed heavily. "This will probably be an unprecedented and terrible war."
"What kind of damage will it bring to this world?"
"It's unavoidable, you know."
Kizaru smiled unconcernedly. "After all, we can't expect our opponents to surrender without resistance, right?"
"If the opponents won't surrender, couldn't we just surrender instead?" Admiral Ryokugyu chuckled strangely.
"Ha ha ha ha, that makes perfect sense, Aramaki!"
Kizaru nodded in complete agreement. "As long as someone pays my salary, I don't care who specifically pays it."
"Right?"
Ryokugyu looked spirited, raising his eyebrows with an expression that said "see, I told you I was right."
Admiral Fujitora beside them could only slurp his noodles helplessly.
"Hey hey hey, are you two seniors saying such dispiriting things again?"
A laughing voice came from one side. The Admirals looked up to see a certain lackadaisical man swaggering over with a rolling gait.
"Oh! Tokikake!"
Admiral Ryokugyu laughed. "What's up? Finished with today's patrol already?"
"As if it could be that fast."
Vice Admiral Chaton sighed as he sat in a chair opposite them, grabbed a teacup from the center of the table, and poured himself some tea. "The patrol range is all of Mariejois, you know."
"Apart from the Celestial Dragons' district being off-limits, Pangaea Castle's surroundings and the wilderness around the city are also part of the patrol area."
"Ha ha, must be tough, must be tough."
Aramaki's face was full of schadenfreude.
"But didn't you request this assignment yourself, Tokikake?"
Kizaru smiled meaningfully.
"Well," Chaton scratched his head, "although patrolling is a bit of a hassle, it's still much better than staying here and possibly having to deal with Celestial Dragons."
"You have a point."
Admiral Ryokugyu straightened his head, resting his chin on the table surface, drawling lazily, "But that kind of thing isn't my business. Borsalino will handle it."
"Occasionally you could be less lazy too, Aramaki," Kizaru grinned. "Protecting the Celestial Dragons is we Admirals' duty, you know."
"Fine, you fulfill that duty then. I'm going back on patrol."
After draining his teacup in one gulp, Vice Admiral Chaton patted his rear and left with the Navy officers.
Today's patrol duties were far from complete.
So, is the new Science Division base really around here?
I've been searching for so many days without finding anything at all!
The reason Vice Admiral Chaton had volunteered for patrol duty was, of course, to search for the new Science Division base's location for Miss Gion.
But regrettably, he hadn't made much progress.
In that case, he'd just have to expand the search range.
Vice Admiral Chaton pondered silently.
If what Gion said was true, that an army numbering in the tens of thousands had come to Mariejois for transformation, then a base capable of accommodating so many people could only be built in Mariejois' outskirts.
But exactly how far out was genuinely difficult to estimate.
He could only search bit by bit on foot with his Observation Haki.
What a headache.
Today, Tokikake continued his diligent search.
Time passed like this bit by bit. Over a hundred kings from around the world had all arrived at Mariejois, and next came the day the World Conference would officially open.
And on this very day, Brett was setting out.
The location was somewhere above Fish-Man Island, on a certain platform at Ryugu Palace.
"You're really bold to the point of recklessness, Brett."
Tesoro, who'd come to see him off, looked helpless.
"That's why I already borrowed Mr. Tanaka from you, isn't it?"
Brett glanced at the big-headed man standing beside him. "With his help, nothing will go wrong."
"Please leave it entirely to me, Lord Tesoro!"
Tanaka nodded his large head with a serious expression.
This man was a Push-Push Fruit user who could move through inorganic matter at will, taking others with him.
With his help, even if something dangerous happened, they could immediately burrow underground and escape.
"Whatever you want."
Tesoro huffed.
"But even so, you still need to be careful, Brett."
Jinbei, also present for the send-off, said solemnly, "Danger could occur in an instant."
Even with the ability to burrow underground, they might not have time to do so before being annihilated.
"Don't worry," Brett chuckled lightly. "Fate is on my side!"
Do you understand the value of prophecy?
I'll survive safely and achieve victory. That's what the plot says.
"However," Brett hesitated next, looking at another person standing beside him. "Miss Gion, are you sure you want to come with us?"
Miss Gion had said she wanted to go to Mariejois together with Brett and the others.
He would definitely survive, and Mr. Tanaka probably wouldn't have any problems either, but Miss Gion, you might be different.
"If I'm not present at the critical moment when I'm the one who initiated this request, wouldn't that be a joke?"
That's what the lady said.
Brett could only shake his head helplessly.
Then, the time to depart had arrived!
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