Time passed. Two more months went by, and the three-month internship was finally about to end.
Sakazuki's warship completed its last cleanup mission and finally set a course for Marineford.
The Marines on the ship, including Rosinante, visibly let out sighs of relief.
Aiden also leaned against the deck railing, feeling the sea breeze as he allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation.
During this internship, his physical strength had broken through to [Top-tier]. He had also gained the talent "Vortex Perception," and his Sin Points had brought him a small profit as well.
"Choosing Vice Admiral Sakazuki back then was definitely the right move," Aiden thought. "High risk, high reward."
"I wonder if I'll officially graduate after we get back. I don't know if I'll still have the chance to get Gion's 'private lessons' or make late-night snacks for her again..."
His mind drifted to Gion's beautiful face and her striking figure.
Just when everyone thought they would sail smoothly all the way back to Marineford.
A sharp alarm suddenly shattered the peace on the deck!
"Vrrr——"
The warship's engine let out a heavy roar as the ship turned sharply. The huge force made the unprepared soldiers on deck stumble several times.
Aiden's heart tightened.
He looked toward the sun. The course... had changed.
The warship was no longer sailing toward Marineford.
"Aiden?" Rosinante ran over in panic and grabbed the railing. "What's going on? Aren't we supposed to be heading back to Headquarters?"
Aiden did not answer him.
He saw Commander Dal, who had already returned to duty after recovering from his wounds, rushing from the deck toward the command room with a grim expression. The atmosphere on the ship froze instantly.
That heavy mood and those highest-priority orders could only mean one thing. The mission priority was extremely high.
"Damn," Aiden cursed inwardly. "I just said I wanted to get off work, and now I'm being forced into overtime. And it looks like top-level overtime, too."
After the warship changed course, it began sailing at full speed in silence.
All the soldiers were ordered to remain on standby, but no one knew what was actually happening.
The warship did not return to Marineford. Instead, it sailed directly into the Calm Belt beside the Grand Line.
One moment, the Grand Line had fierce winds and towering waves. The moment they entered this sea area, it felt as if someone had pressed the mute button.
The sea was as smooth as a mirror. There was no wind at all. The air was filled with an unsettling silence.
"So this is the Calm Belt..." Aiden leaned against the side of the ship, feeling that suffocating pressure. "What a strange sea."
The sound of the warship's engine was deafening in the dead silence as the ship forced its way through this lifeless sea.
If the bottom of the ship hadn't been coated with Sea Prism Stone armor, this steel beast would have already become a feast for Sea Kings.
Aiden could clearly sense it. Beneath that mirror-like sea, several massive, terrifying presences were lurking below the surface.
After sailing at full speed through that silence for two days, the fleet finally crossed the Calm Belt. A familiar salty sea breeze hit them.
"We've reached the West Blue," an old veteran said with a relieved sigh as he looked at the sea chart in his hand.
They continued sailing for some time.
"Aiden, look! There are so many ships out there!" Rosinante pointed into the distance, his voice full of excitement.
Aiden looked in the direction Rosinante was pointing.
Four massive warships were sailing toward them from different directions.
Soon, five large fleets gathered on the sea, forming an overwhelming force that was terrifying to behold.
Aiden stood on the deck, looking over the other four warships.
"It's a gathering of monsters..."
He saw a tall man with thick black curly hair standing at the front of one ship.
The man wore small round sunglasses and a V-neck shirt. He leaned against the railing with a lazy air that clashed completely with the tense atmosphere around him.
"That incredibly lazy aura... it's definitely Kuzan," Aiden thought.
Behind Kuzan, he saw Smoker with a dark look on his face.
On another warship stood a man wearing a tall pointed hat and sporting a long straight beard.
He looked extremely serious, standing at the bow like a statue,
"Strawberry," Aiden recognized him.
Hina stood behind him. Three months of life at sea had made her mature a lot. She looked even more like the cool, capable woman Aiden remembered from his past life.
On another ship, the leader was a man with a mohawk and a signature mustache. His arms were crossed as he stared coldly at the sea.
"Momonga." Aiden saw T-Bone standing behind him, straight as a spear.
Finally, there was Vice Admiral Yamakaji's warship. This Vice Admiral always had a cigar in his mouth and wore a smile that made him look easy to do business with. But right now, that smile felt extremely cold.
Except for Vice Admiral John Giant's ship, all five Vice Admirals leading the internship fleets were gathered here.
Five Vice Admirals. Five fleets.
Aiden was dazed for a moment. What kind of enemy required this much force?
The massive fleet did not stop. After meeting up, they all sailed in the same direction.
Once they reached the edge of a lush green island, the fleet slowly dropped anchor. Aiden saw small boats being lowered from the other four flagship vessels.
Vice Admirals Kuzan, Strawberry, Momonga, and Yamakaji all boarded Sakazuki's flagship and walked straight into the command room.
Aiden turned his head and looked at the island before them. A giant tree that seemed to reach the clouds stood in the center.
That tree was so enormous that its crown covered nearly half the island. Countless houses and buildings had been built around it. It was as if the entire island's civilization depended on that giant tree.
"West Blue... five Vice Admirals... giant tree..."
Aiden connected the clues in his mind.
"Holy crap! Ohara!!"
Aiden felt a huge shock in his heart. "It's that event... the one that destroyed the sacred land of archaeology. The one started by Spandine, with both Sakazuki and Kuzan involved... the Buster Call!!"
"No wonder... no wonder they brought this much force!"
Just then, as if confirming his guess, the door to the command room on Sakazuki's flagship opened.
Aiden suddenly looked up.
Vice Admirals Kuzan, Strawberry, Momonga, and Yamakaji walked out with different expressions on their faces.
It was clear that the meeting had ended.
A second later, Sakazuki's cold voice rang out through the ship's internal broadcast Den Den Mushi, reaching everyone on board:
"Attention, all soldiers! This is not a drill!"
Sakazuki's voice was cold and emotionless. "The island ahead of us, Ohara, is harboring a group of devils who seek to overthrow the world! They have violated the World Government's greatest taboo!"
At that moment, a sudden commotion came from the command room.
A communications officer rushed onto the deck in panic, holding a silver Den Den Mushi in his hands! Ignoring everyone else on deck, he ran straight to Sakazuki, who was standing at the bridge command station.
"Vice Admiral!" the communications officer said in a trembling voice. "The Buster Call signal... it's connected!"
"A Silver Den Den Mushi?" Aiden's pupils shrank.
He understood the difference between the two types of Den Den Mushi better than anyone. The Golden Den Den Mushi was the "key of authority" used to initiate a Buster Call. Only a handful of top figures in the world possessed one. But this silver one... was the receiver.
Once it rang, it meant that the person holding the Golden Den Den Mushi had already pressed the button of destruction!
"Damn, it's starting just like that!"
Sakazuki expressionlessly took the silver Den Den Mushi, which was letting out a sharp cry.
He coldly pressed the answer button, and the shrill sound stopped instantly.
"This is Sakazuki." A series of urgent orders came from the other side. "...Understood."
Sakazuki hung up. Not a trace of emotion appeared on his harsh face. It was as if he had not just received an order to destroy an island, but something as ordinary as a weather report.
He picked up another Den Den Mushi handset connected to the fleet's public channel.
The deck was silent as a grave. Everyone held their breath.
"All ships, listen to my orders." Sakazuki's voice was stiff and cold, without the slightest trace of emotion, spreading to every warship in the area through the Den Den Mushi.
"Target confirmed, Ohara! The Buster Call has been activated! I repeat, the Buster Call has been activated!!"
He paused for a moment before continuing with another round of cold, merciless orders:
"All units, begin the landing operation! Completely eliminate all the 'devils' on the island!"
Then he gave a second order into the handset, one even more chilling:
"All warships, immediately begin indiscriminate bombardment of the entire island of Ohara!"
"BOOM!!" As the order was given, five warships fired their cannons at once.
Aiden looked at the silver Den Den Mushi, then at the giant tree in the distance.
"Damn it," he cursed quietly. "This internship really is full of surprises."