"Erm… Nanohana, from this moment on, is under Marine control!"
Hawke's voice echoed across the entire Nanohana town.
As his words fell—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Several massive steel ramps were suddenly lowered from the decks of the Marine fleet, slamming heavily onto the docks.
The next moment, a white tide poured down from the warships.
Thousands of battle-hardened Marine soldiers stormed down the ramps, stepping onto the land of Alabasta.
They made no unnecessary sound. Only the dense, rhythmic thundering of metal boots striking the ground merged into an oppressive, suffocating steel heartbeat.
Swish—
The soldiers swiftly formed chillingly precise square formations across the docks.
Step—
Hawke, followed by Zoro, Sanji, Smoker, Hina, and the others, descended the warship at a measured pace.
His calm gaze swept over the drought-ridden land before he spoke:
"The Paradise Cleansing Operation… officially begins!"
He stopped walking, tilting his head slightly to look back at the officers behind him.
"Eliminate all non-civilian armed forces."
"Leave no one alive!"
"Yes, sir!"
All the officers straightened, their killing intent erupting.
"Move out!"
Swish—
Having already memorized their assigned combat zones, the officers hesitated not an instant before leading their troops into the streets.
Among the surging waves of Marines, two units stood out sharply.
One was Sanji's squad, numbering nearly a hundred men.
None of Sanji's Marines carried any handheld weapons.
However, their boots had been specially modified—several times heavier than standard-issue Marine boots.
These custom boots served dual purposes: training their kicking strength and doubling as devastating blunt-force weapons in battle.
The other was Zoro's squad.
Unlike Sanji's, his unit had fewer than fifty members—but every single one of them carried a blade, even Tashigi included.
Each swordsman's hand rested naturally on their hilt, their gazes sharp as drawn steel, ready to unsheathe and drink blood at a moment's notice.
"Hmm."
Hawke stood still, watching the scene unfold with satisfaction.
This was the first large-scale coordinated operation since the G-3 Branch's reorganization.
And Baroque Works… would serve as the perfect whetstone.
Under his command, he had Zoro and Sanji—two blades sharper than ever, their strength far surpassing their counterparts at this point in the original timeline.
In addition, he had reliable Marine officers like Smoker, Hina, and Kujaku, plus several thousand elite soldiers forged through blood and glory.
As for Baroque Works' president, the Shichibukai Crocodile… Hawke would handle him personally.
And he would bring Nico Robin back with him.
As for the rest Hawke had no intention of lifting a finger.
Every one of those kills would grant Justice Points. Why waste his Conqueror's Haki to wipe the field himself?
The young soldiers hungered for strength. They craved achievement.
He would give them that chance.
...
Hawke's gaze shifted toward two figures rushing ahead of the rest.
"Lieutenant Zoro, I order you to halt and head to the right combat zone."
"No way, Lieutenant Commander. Like hell I'm listening to you!"
Zoro and Sanji kept shouting insults at each other even as they split paths, accelerating toward different streets.
"Interesting."
Hawke smiled faintly, amused.
One wanted to use this large-scale operation to climb up and catch Sanji's rank.
The other wanted to widen the gap even further.
Exactly the kind of rivalry Hawke wanted.
"???"
"!!!"
The people were stunned.
Nanohana… taken over by the Marines?!
But this was Shichibukai Crocodile-sama's territory!
Yet judging by the Marines' actions… they weren't bluffing.
Could it be…
Were the Marines… about to declare war on a Shichibukai?
"..."
Hearing Hawke's booming declaration, Robin's expression shifted dramatically.
Everyone in the underworld knew Alabasta was under Mr. 0's control!
But this Marine fleet wasn't just absurdly massive—it had openly declared it was taking Nanohana town.
This… was no simple matter.
Robin's mind raced, a foreboding sense of dread surging within her.
The situation was spiraling out of control.
She had to contact Mr. 0 immediately!
"The Marines are here!"
At that very moment, Nami's eyes blazed with sudden hope, her long-suppressed spirit surging.
She didn't know which branch of Marines had come.
She didn't need to.
This was their perfect chance!
"Ha—!"
Seizing the moment when Robin was distracted, Nami twisted violently, breaking free from her bindings.
She sprang to her feet, ready to run.
"Trying to escape?"
Robin snapped back, her gaze icy cold, as more arms sprouted around Nami, coiling tightly to restrain her again.
Clang—
In the narrow alleyway, the two clashed fiercely.
Meanwhile, across Nanohana, cold-blooded slaughter had already begun.
The undercover agents lurking among civilians—with their abnormal, predatory gazes—stood out like torches to trained Marine soldiers.
To these soldiers, Baroque Works agents weren't people.
They were opportunities.
Opportunities to prove themselves before Hawke-sama!
Opportunities for rich rewards!
Opportunities for real, hard-earned military merit!
Kill!
"Report! Confirmed the captured target as a non-civilian armed agent!"
"Per Hawke-sama's orders—execute on the spot!"
"Yes, sir!"
No warnings. No calls to surrender.
Bang!
A Baroque Works agent collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.
Soon, crimson stained Nanohana's sun-dried streets.
Elsewhere, Zoro led his squad of swordsmen deeper into the town like a sharp, merciless blade cutting through flesh.
"Hmm…?"
Zoro flicked the blood off Wado Ichimonji and paused.
He looked up, glanced around, then scratched his head.
"Strange. Where the hell did my guys run off to?"
"Forget it."
From a nearby alley, faint sounds of struggle drifted out, immediately drawing his attention.
"Sounds like fighting over there."
Gripping his blade, he strode quickly toward the source.
Inside the narrow alley—
Snap—!
An arm seized the iron pipe in Nami's hand, more limbs instantly binding her tightly once more.
"It's over, little Marine girl."
Just then—
"Huh?"
A man's slightly puzzled voice came from the alley entrance.
"!!!"
Robin and Nami turned sharply.
A green-haired Marine stood there, clad in uniform, staring at them with open curiosity.
"Hey… you two lost or something? Need directions?"