"What nonsense are you talking about, Yamato? This is part of your daily training, and I've even scheduled breaks for you."
"Resting once every three months is called a break? The last time I rested was during New Year! Father, I haven't left Wano Kuni for so long, please take me with you this time, I'm begging you."
Yamato clung to Arceus's leg like a sloth, completely unwilling to stay here and face Kaidou's training alone.
She had learned to act spoiled now, looking at Arceus with teary eyes.
"Kaidou, why don't I take her to take a look? It might be good for her to understand the Navy's firepower, and I can train her onboard."
He wasn't there to stop the Buster Call; he had no intention of interfering in matters that brought him no benefit. The World Government could no longer tolerate those historical scholars, which is why they initiated the Buster Call.
Since the establishment of the World Government, the only person who survived the Buster Call was Bullet. Any ordinary creatures left on the island would be obliterated under the overwhelming firepower, and the government-arranged evacuation ships were their only way out.
During the bombardment, the Navy and World Government personnel would not enter the area. As long as people were removed during this timeframe, no one would know where those scholars had gone.
The Buster Call's firepower was sufficient to flatten an island by three meters; under such firepower, not a trace would remain.
"Suit yourself. But Yamato, if you go this time, your training will become harder when you return. Are you sure about this?"
Hearing Kaidou's words, Yamato thought for a few seconds but still insisted on participating in the mission. She estimated that even if the difficulty increased, it wouldn't be fatal with Arceus around.
If she didn't go, she might end up in the hospital every night.
The Origin was hauled out of the dock once again, and within an hour, Ghost Island was ready for the ship's departure. Far away in the West Sea, Olga also received new orders.
Her own Radio Snail had just been left on the ship, so it was the pirates staying on the ship who came to deliver the message.
"Big Sister Olga, orders from Ghost Island!"
"Ghost Island? Why are there orders now?"
"It's an emergency action, personally ordered by Lord Arceus, instructing us to stand by in this sea area."
"But the matters here aren't finished yet."
"Lord Arceus said that the issues here can be set aside for now, and we need to reach the target sea area within ten days." As he spoke, he pulled out a prepared Nautical Chart and pointed to the target area. If they wanted to reach it within the stipulated time, they couldn't afford any more delays.
"Understood, everyone back on board! Prepare to set sail!"
Receiving the orders, Olga immediately left the ruins with her pirates, shooed away the big lion, and paid no interest in what would happen to Ohara's archaeological team next.
To pass through the Windless Zone, the Shadow Fox was already equipped with dual propulsion from sails and wheels. It was now speeding towards its target sea area, aiming to rendezvous with the Origin and await further instructions.
To prevent unnecessary trouble, Olga activated her abilities after the ship set sail. From a distance, the Shadow Fox appeared as though it was sailing on an empty sea, just a Ghost Ship.
Meanwhile, Ohara's expedition ended its exploration after a while and left the island. They weren't as well-informed as the Hundred Beasts Pirate Crew, so shortly after departing the island, they ran into trouble: a pursuit from the Navy.
This wasn't the first time. The Navy had been capturing historical exploration ships according to World Government orders. Previously, they had managed to shake off naval ships, but this time was different.
This wasn't an ordinary patrol ship from the Four Seas but a large warship from the Headquarter. Without any intention of stopping, the ship's cannons opened fire directly on them.
Their ship wasn't built for combat, and it became powerless on the ocean's surface under the Headquarter's artillery fire...
...
"Stop! Who ordered you to fire? Board the ship and capture them alive! Their ship can't escape!"
Seeing his subordinates fire directly, the giant on the naval ship looked displeased. He was the Navy Headquarter Vice Admiral—Jaguar D. Saul.
Due to the special combat abilities of the Giant Race, all giants who joined the Navy held the rank of Vice Admiral. He was the commander of this ship.
"But Vice Admiral... they were escaping..."
"They aren't ruthless pirates, just a group of weak scholars. Can't you deal with even them?"
However, the situation had already transpired, and he didn't make things difficult for his soldiers, only instructing someone to investigate the situation aboard the ship.
As the highest-ranking officer on the ship, his soldiers shouldn't have defied his orders, but this was different. The higher-ups' instructions allowed for direct killing, which is why a soldier fired without orders, not technically breaching protocol.
This was what Saul couldn't fathom; he had executed similar orders several times and couldn't understand why those scholars had to die.
"Vice Admiral Saul, there's still a survivor on the ship!"
In the expedition team of 34 scholars, 33 died in the bombardment, leaving Nico Olvia as the sole survivor, held under Saul's watch in a West Sea branch.
There, Saul encountered an unexpected person.
"Admiral Sengoku, what are you doing here? Is there a pirate needing your personal intervention?"
Seeing a Headquarter Admiral in the Four Seas was rare for the Navy. The last time an Admiral entered the Four Seas was due to the "John Occupation of the Branch" incident.
"Secret mission of the World Government. After discussions, it was decided to initiate the Buster Call against Ohara, and you are one of the five Vice Admirals responsible for the operation."
"But Admiral, they're just a group of scholars. Is it necessary to completely wipe them out? So far, I've arrested six groups of scholars, and none have committed grave crimes, just a curiosity about history.
If it's so dangerous, why not have the World Government study it together? This way, we can explore the truth while preventing accidents...
So far, we've killed many scholars with this mission... Please tell me the reason for their death sentence!"
He hoped for an explanation from Sengoku, but Sengoku wasn't willing to offer one.
"Saul, are you questioning the World Government's orders? This is an order, and your job is to carry it out!" he said, feeding the document in his hand to his little goat.
"Yes..."
Though he agreed, Sengoku's answer didn't put Saul at ease. So, under the guise of interrogation, he went to the prison to find Nico Olvia.