Chapter 114: Chapter 113
Red Line, Pangaea City
Inside the Five Elders' conference hall, a heavy tension filled the room. The five old men were positioned either sitting or standing, their expressions grim as they stared at Akainu, who stood before them, cigarette in hand. Disbelief was etched on their faces.
"Sakazuki, do you comprehend the gravity of your words?" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro asked, his tone sharp and commanding, as his steely gaze locked onto Akainu. "Fish-Man Island… vanished? Do you expect us to accept such nonsense without proof?"
"Ridiculous!" Saint Marcus Mars interjected, his voice a low growl as he slammed his palm on the table. "Have you gone mad, Sakazuki? Do you think we have time for your baseless hysteria?"
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter leaned forward, his calm demeanor contrasting with the others but carrying an edge of suspicion. "You came all the way here, barging in uninvited. Is there substance to this claim, or are you simply trying to deflect us from recent Marine failures?"
Saint Topman Valkyrie, stroking his long beard thoughtfully, added in a calmer tone, "Let's not lose perspective. If such an event has occurred, it would be monumental. Sakazuki, explain yourself properly."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the eldest and typically the most reserved, raised a hand to silence the others. His tone was cold, precise. "Sakazuki, if Fish-Man Island is truly gone, then this demands immediate action. But if you're wasting our time with exaggerations… the consequences will be severe for the Marines. Now speak."
Akainu remained stoic amidst their barrage, unfazed by their accusations and threats. Taking a deliberate drag from his cigar, he exhaled a plume of smoke, the haze curling lazily in the room.
"Do you think I'd come here if this wasn't urgent?" he began, his voice low and deliberate, carrying the weight of restrained anger. "How does Fish-Man Island disappearing escape the notice of your vaunted CP agency? Isn't intelligence their entire purpose? Or are they too busy chasing new slaves for the celestial dragon or putting them to bed from nightmares while the world falls apart?"
The mocking edge in his tone cut deep, drawing scowls from the elders. Saturn's eyes narrowed, and the others bristled at the accusation, but Akainu pressed on.
"Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant," he continued. "The fact remains: the Marines are in the dark, and so are your agents. If this isn't resolved soon, we'll all be dealing with the fallout. And that," he jabbed a finger toward them, "will be on your heads."
"Sakazuki!" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro barked, his voice sharp as a whip, his cold eyes narrowing. "Mind your tone! You speak as if you command us."
Saint Marcus Mars slammed his fist onto the table, his face flushed with anger. "Watch yourself, Sakazuki! Do you understand your place? You are a servant of the World Government, not its equal!"
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter's voice was steady, though there was an unmistakable sharpness beneath his calm exterior. "Even if we had the information, what makes you think we're obliged to share it with you? Isn't this your responsibility as a Marine?"
Saint Topman Valkyrie, the most stoic of the group, leaned forward with a calculated gaze. "This incident occurred near your headquarters. How could you, of all people, fail to notice something so massive? And now you have the audacity to question us?"
Finally, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, who usually held a reserved presence, now spoke with authority. "Get out there and investigate immediately, Sakazuki. If you fail to do so, we will have no choice but to deduct your Marine funding. Do not test us further."
Akainu opened his mouth to retort, but the mention of military funding silenced him. Biting back his frustration, he turned and left the room, his expression bitter.
Once Akainu had left, the Five Elders exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the situation settling in. The concept of Fish-Man Island disappearing was beyond their comprehension.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's brows furrowed deeply as he spoke with a hint of disbelief. "How could an island as massive as Fish-Man Island simply vanish? It's… unfathomable."
Saint Marcus Mars, his voice tinged with frustration, quickly countered, "Could it be the result of a Devil Fruit ability?" His sharp eyes darted between the others.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter shook his head in confusion, his voice cool but troubled. "What kind of Devil Fruit could possibly achieve that? The island is 10,000 meters underwater. Even the strongest Devil Fruit powers would be rendered ineffective at those depths, wouldn't they?"
Saint Topman Valkyrie, his usually stoic demeanor now clouded with concern, added, "I can't wrap my head around it. Even he would struggle with something like this. Attacking 10,000 meters below the sea? It's impossible."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, usually the calmest among them, let out a deep sigh. "Should we consult Vegapunk? He might have some insight into this bizarre event."
Saint Marcus Mars snorted. "Are you certain about that? Vega Punk's been... unstable lately. Perhaps it's better to wait for the CP agents we sent to gather more intel before we jump to any conclusions."
A heavy silence filled the room as the Five Elders mulled over their next steps. Their unease hung in the air, thick with tension, like a storm waiting to break.
Crimson Empire
Underwater at Fish-Man Island
Deep beneath the sea, on Fish-Man Island thousands of meters underwater, lively banquets were being held. The atmosphere was joyous, with music and laughter filling the halls.
For Violet and Rebecca, it was their first time seeing mermaids and Merfolk, and they were delighted by the experience. The celebration lasted until late into the evening, gradually winding down.
By then, only Buggy and his party remained in the banquet hall, along with King Neptune, the three princes Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi, and several ministers from Ryugu Palace.
Buggy addressed the group with a confident smile, "Once you've settled in, let's discuss when you can begin contributing to the empire's construction. Tomorrow, you can visit the Flower Capital to meet with me or Crocodile's clones to receive your assignments.
"As for your inclusion, I've already announced it to the empire. The people are excited and eager to welcome you. So don't worry—this is your country too now. If there are any Fish-Men or merfolk skilled in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, they can apply for clerical positions. The empire is urgently in need of talented individuals in these areas."
"Good!" Neptune exclaimed, grasping Buggy's hand firmly. His voice brimmed with emotion.
"Thank you, Buggy! I never imagined that Fish-Man Island would one day leave the depths of the ocean to embrace the sunlight! Even Joy Boy himself couldn't achieve such a thing."
Buggy waved off the praise with a grin. "There's no need for such formalities between us. In a few days, after we've handed off other tasks, everything should start running smoothly. From there, it'll be up to you and Fish-Man Island to work hard and create your future!
"The success of the empire depends on cooperation and shared victories. Let's work together to make it happen!"
"Win-win!" Neptune and his ministers echoed, raising their arms enthusiastically.
Just as Buggy prepared to leave, a thought struck him. He turned back, a mischievous smile on his face. "By the way, before I go, I have one more housewarming gift for you."
"Oh? Another gift?" Neptune's eyes lit up with excitement, and the ministers leaned in with eager anticipation.
"Yes, let's step outside. After all, this gift is not a small one."
Neptune and the others, along with Buggy and his crew, followed him out of Ryugu Palace to the open expanse of Fish-Man Island.
The members of the Buggy Pirates exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity piqued. What exactly was this mysterious gift? Buggy wasn't carrying anything in his hands. Was Blueno going to open a door to retrieve it?
The entire island was aglow, illuminated by massive, radiant pearls scattered across its landscape. Even the swimming fish outside the protective bubble membrane could be seen clearly, creating a magical, dreamlike atmosphere.
Earlier, inside the confines of Ryugu Palace, the beauty of the surroundings hadn't been as evident. Now, standing outside, everyone was struck by the breathtaking scene.
"What a sight!" Prince Fukaboshi exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.
"It's even more breathtaking than the depths around Fish-Man Island, 10,000 meters below the surface!" Prince Ryuboshi added, his voice filled with wonder.
"That's definitely true," Prince Manboshi agreed. "Very few creatures and plants can survive at those crushing depths. The biodiversity here is far richer."
"You're right," Neptune, who stood towering everyone else, added thoughtfully. "And no one has disturbed the waters around Wanokuni for centuries. With no human interference, the underwater environment here remains pristine and untouched. That's why it's so beautiful."
As Buggy's group emerged, many Fish-Men noticed them from below. They raised their hands to greet Buggy and his crew, who were seated in a long eel-drawn cart above. Their arrival sparked another wave of excitement and chatter across the island.
Then, under the curious eyes of the crowd, Buggy took out a bubble wrap generator. With practiced ease, he wrapped himself in a bubble and ascended into the sky, passing through the protective membrane of Fish-Man Island.
Snap!
Hovering above the island, Buggy clapped his hands together. Instantly, a burst of radiant blue light erupted from his body, spreading rapidly in all directions. Within moments, the dark seabed for a thousand meters around was illuminated, the azure glow revealing its intricate underwater landscape.
The spectacle was mesmerizing. Fish-men across the island stepped out of their homes, drawn by the dazzling display. The once-dark seabed was now alive with a brilliance that seemed almost otherworldly.
"Birth of World Tree!" Buggy declared with a grin, his voice echoing through the waters.
The crowd below gazed in awe, captivated by the extraordinary transformation. For a moment, it felt as if the entire seabed had become part of a fantastical wonderland.
After Buggy's voice fell, countless green plants began sprouting from the seabed. Within moments, these plants grew at an astonishing rate, wildly spreading across the underwater terrain. In just a few breaths, they expanded into a vast, lush area resembling seaweed, stretching for kilometers.
The residents of Fish-Man Island gasped in astonishment as they watched the transformation unfold. Yet, before they could process what was happening, the seabed began to stir once more.
Amid the swirling seawater, individual "seaweeds" suddenly began to grow even faster. Within seconds, they transformed into colossal trees, their trunks thickening and their branches stretching skyward.
The growth was relentless. In a matter of minutes, each tree reached a staggering diameter of nearly ten meters and towered hundreds of meters high. Still, they continued to expand.
Some trees even broke through the ocean's surface, piercing the water with their mighty trunks and growing into titanic giants over a thousand meters tall!
This miraculous spectacle left the entire Fish-Man Island in stunned silence.
At first, many Fish-Men couldn't identify the peculiar "seaweeds" sprouting from the seabed. But as the plants grew and matured, revealing distinctive bark patterns, realization dawned on them.
And with that realization came the shock.
How is this possible?! Could humans do such a thing?
For a moment, it was as though they were witnessing the work of the gods themselves.
All across Fish-Man Island, jaws hung open in disbelief. Then, as if on cue, the silence broke, and the collective voice of the island rose, a deafening roar reverberating like waves:
"Yarukiman Mangrove!?"
Yes, this was Buggy's incredible housewarming gift to Fish-Man Island—the legendary Yarukiman Mangroves.
Though they couldn't yet match the colossal size of the Sabaody Archipelago's mangroves due to the unawakened state of the Sensen Fruit, they were already more than enough for Fish-Man Island, situated a thousand meters below the surface.
These miraculous mangroves had a unique ability: they could bring sunlight into the depths of the sea. From this day forward, Fish-Man Island would shine as the second underwater dreamland in the world.
This was the true power of the Mori Mori no mi. This was the purpose of planting trees. With this act, Buggy saved Fish-Man Island from the shadows from the certain burning down of Fishman Island at the hand of a certain Straw hat crew.
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