"Hello? Sengoku!? Have you Marines lost your minds!? We ordered you to take over Fish-Man Island and this is how you do it!?"

"Oh, it's Saint Nusjuro," Sengoku glanced at the Den Den Mushi, a flicker of impatience in his eyes.

"Do the Five Elders have any suggestions regarding my decision?"

"Suggestions?" Saint Nusjuro's face nearly twisted with rage at Sengoku's tone. "We're giving you an order!"

"Hmm, I disobeyed your orders." Sengoku's tone was full of indifference. "The Marines can't carry out your commands. Let the CP organization take over Fishman Island instead."

With just that one sentence, Sengoku left the Five Elders speechless.

Nonsense!

If the CP organization could handle Fishman Island, why would they need the Marine in the first place?

But Sengoku's firm stance had backed the Five Elders into a corner.

The reason was simple—the Marines now essentially operated as Sengoku's personal domain.

The original Sengoku had been absolutely loyal to the World Government, to the point of blind obedience, allowing the government to control the Marines almost perfectly.

But now...

Sengoku seemed to be slipping out of their grasp.

And that was the most dangerous part.

Within the Marines... no one could replace Sengoku.

The three Logia Vice Admirals lacked sufficient authority, Zephyr had retired and Garp was practically in cahoots with Sengoku!

Even if Kong were to return to the Marines now, he likely wouldn't command the same influence as Sengoku.

For the first time, the Five Elders realized that their once-absolute authority.... seemed ineffective against Sengoku.

With others, if authority failed, they could resort to force.

But Sengoku...

A Marine Admiral in his prime—these withered old bones might not be able to subdue him.

And this matter certainly couldn't be brought before Im-sama.

That would only make Im-sama see them as incompetent.

And incompetence... would lead Im-sama to revoke their privileges...

"Is there anything else? Thanks to the 'brilliant decision' made by the World Government, I now have a pile of urgent documents regarding Fishman Island to deal with."

Without waiting for the Five Elders to respond, he hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Instantly, Sengoku felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction well up inside him.

He had long been fed up with these brainless old fools in the World Government!

So this was how Michael felt when he was mocking him and Garp—it was downright exhilarating!

Suddenly, the paperwork didn't seem so tedious anymore.

However, the Five Elders were far from pleased.

"The Marines lately... have been acting far too independently."

"According to the World Economic Journal, the ones behind this mess are Garp and that Rear Admiral named Michael."

"Michael? The one who burned slave ships and later saved Charloss?"

"If we can't touch Garp, then we'll have to deal with him. Send CP0 after him. At the very least, that Rear Admiral needs to learn his lesson."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"I concur... unanimous decision."

"Tell CP0 to keep it discreet. If they can frame the Whitebeard Pirates for it, even better."

*****

Fishman Island.

After Michael, Whitebeard, and Queen Otohime pressed their seals onto the cooperation treaty, the entire island erupted into a frenzied manhunt.

Naturally, those fleeing were the Nobles, pirates and... certain Marines who had been exploiting Fishman Island.

"Holy shit! Boss! I think we're surrounded!"

"Damn it! Since when did Fishman Island's soldiers become so ruthless? Weren't they just pushovers before?"

"No, boss!" The pirate lackey shook his head frantically.

"It's not the soldiers from the Ryugu Kingdom!"

"Huh? Then who the hell is meddling in our business!?"

"It's... it's the Marines and—"

"And what!? You're really dragging this out now!?"

"It's the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates!"

"White—"

The lackey looked up to see his captain standing frozen, having already passed out from shock.

Similar scenes played out in every corner of Fishman Island.

The Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates had officially begun their purge of the island.

With the three-way cooperation, their efficiency was terrifying.

Anyone who had committed even the slightest crime was swiftly apprehended.

This was something Michael had emphasized to everyone.

They needed to make a statement.

Though the World Economic Journal had already announced the alliance between the Marines, the Whitebeard Pirates and Fishman Island, some would inevitably dismiss it as mere lip service.

This purge was meant to prove them wrong.

A warning to all.

To show them that this was no superficial alliance—it was a formidable union.

Many members of major pirate crews from both the "New World" and "Paradise" were arrested, yet none dared utter a word of protest.

The Marines might struggle to track them down, but the Whitebeard Pirates? They'd find them in a heartbeat.

Who in their right mind would dare challenge that?

Either you respected the Marines, or you respected the Whitebeard Pirates.

No respect?

Then you'd lose your head!

The purge lasted nearly a week, surpassing even the scale of the Sabaody Archipelago purge in its intensity.

Yet, Michael's expression grew increasingly grim.

Because on Fish-Man Island, he had captured a total of six hundred and forty-five Marines!

Among them were thirty-eight Marine officers, with the highest-ranking being a Rear Admiral of the same level as him.

After Jinbei identification, this was the very Marine who had initially led the delegation to visit Ryugu Palace and acted disrespectfully towards the Ryugu Kingdom.

And the things these Marines had done on Fish-Man Island...

Even the pirates of the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't help but show anger on their faces.

Michael had imagined the actions of the Regional Justice Faction—how they viewed nations outside the World Government's membership as less than human.

But...

"Murder, arson, rape, and pillage—is there anything you haven't done?"

All six hundred and forty-five Marines were herded into a large open area on the outskirts of Fish-Man Island.

Here, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates solemnly carved one gravestone after another.

At a glance, the ground was covered with unmarked graves.

Michael and Garp counted three times—one hundred and sixty-eight graves.

In other words, these Marines had killed one hundred and sixty-eight civilians of Fish-Man Island.

The usual playful smile had long vanished from Michael's face.

A pair of wings, one large and one small, flapped restlessly on his back.

"Hmph! Not even a member of the World Government allied nation—the people of Fish-Man Island aren't human to begin with" the lead Marine Rear Admiral sneered.

"Even if this matter is brought before the World Government, I'd dare say the same!"

The Regional Justice Faction within the Marines was a thorn planted by the World Government within their ranks.

Because they weren't loyal to the Marines—they were wholly loyal to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

But... none of that mattered anymore.

Hearing this, Michael chuckled and stood up.

"Unfortunately, I have no intention of letting you leave this place."

Michael stepped forward, and a pale blue flame appeared in his hand.

Unlike the Holy Flame, this flame...

Was called 'Judgement'.

"You! What are you doing!?" Sweat instantly beaded on the Marine Rear Admiral's forehead.

"You can't attack us! Even the likes of Sakazuki and his madmen would hesitate before committing the crime of killing fellow Marines!"

"Sorry, but in the name of the SWORD Classified Special Forces, I declare that the crimes you've committed are irrefutably proven."

"Effective immediately, you are hereby expelled from the Marines!"

"You thought that because Fish-Man Island was excluded from the World Government, you could do as you pleased?"

"Now you've been expelled too—you're no longer Marines... So tell me, how many times over do you deserve to die for this capital offense?"

Michael smiled as the pale blue flame slowly drifted from his hand.

Upon touching the already thoroughly sullied Marine uniforms, it spread like wildfire, engulfing all six hundred and forty-five Marines.

In an instant, they turned to ash.

Faint echoes reached Michael's ears...

The eternal wails of the damned.

------------------------------

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