People are sailing and synthesize the devil fruit of phantom beast sp

From a distance, Marco waved and shouted loudly.

Onboard his ship, more than a dozen individuals were tied with thick ropes along the hull. All of them looked disheveled, their faces bruised and swollen. Among them were two or three shackled in handcuffs made of sea prism stone—clearly Devil Fruit users.

"Sixty million berries... 150 million berries... 23 million berries... Nice haul, Marco. Looks like you brought in quite a few bounties," Diamond George remarked, visibly impressed. His own outing had only resulted in the destruction of two pirate crews, neither of which had any significant bounty or Devil Fruit users.

"Dad," Marco called out after boarding, "these should be enough to trade with Kairos Flint for those crystals, right?"

After securing the captured pirates, Marco turned them over. Whitebeard, seeing the number of prisoners—especially the three Devil Fruit users—grinned broadly. Three ability users meant three crystals. And the others, even without abilities, were seasoned fighters and could likely fetch a good price.

"Let's gather some more and wait until everyone returns."

Intent on securing as many crystals as possible, Whitebeard had dispatched all twelve division commanders to hunt down pirates. With that many captains out in the field, success was inevitable—and fast.

However, Whitebeard gave strict orders: only the most dangerous, merciless pirates were to be hunted. That had always been his principle.

Marco and the others nodded. After days of hard work, they were ready for a break.

———

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters

Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, the atmosphere was intense. Seated cross-legged at the front were the seven Marine Admirals, including the newly appointed ones. Above them, Sengoku stood as the supreme commander.

Below sat over fifty Vice-Admirals.

Yes, over fifty.

This latest global conscription campaign by the World Government offered unprecedented incentives. Not only were the strongest fighters of the Four Blues recruited, but for the first time, recruitment extended deep into the New World.

And the New World was teeming with powerful individuals.

Of the newly appointed Vice-Admirals, nearly twenty came from the New World. In those pirate-infested waters, survival required strength. With no naval presence on many islands, the local population turned to force and self-defense. As a result, many of the new Vice-Admirals were exceptionally powerful.

This conscription campaign was about more than just scaring pirates—it was a strategic effort to expand the navy's reach into the New World.

Sengoku stood and addressed the room.

"Everyone, welcome to the navy. I deeply respect your sense of justice. Pirates are running rampant, and innocent people suffer for it. Our mission is to eradicate them and restore peace to the seas, so that no one needs to fear them anymore."

His speech stirred something in the new Vice-Admirals. For many, the words sparked images of returning home as heroes, protecting their islands from marauders, and building a future of peace and order.

It was idealistic. But that made it powerful.

Even Sengoku's usual flair and oratory skill left many in the room enthralled. The word justice now rang deeply in their hearts.

"Spare me," muttered Garp, sitting with the other Vice-Admirals. He crunched loudly on a rice cracker, clearly unimpressed.

He'd heard these speeches for decades. Sengoku didn't even need to open his mouth for Garp to guess the lines.

Sengoku glared at him but said nothing. Garp just shrugged and kept eating.

Still, the Fleet Admiral wasn't going to let this drag out.

"I assume you've all heard the news—Kairos Flint's overwhelming victory against the navy."

Gasps rippled through the room.

"After that battle, we've realized that the navy's strength is no longer sufficient. That's why this recruitment drive was necessary. And since you've now joined... I won't beat around the bush.

Our next objective: Whitebeard."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Even newly appointed Admirals Fujitora and Ryokugyu (Green Bull) grew visibly serious. Whitebeard had once been a peer of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. Even after decades, and despite his age and declining health, he was still a monster—one of the Four Emperors.

Yet there were those in the room who seemed thrilled by the idea.

"Marshal, what's the full plan?" someone asked boldly.

All eyes turned to him.

Sengoku didn't hold back. He revealed their strategy in detail. Every step, every calculated move—they'd spent weeks developing the perfect assault plan on Whitebeard.

As they listened, the room grew more tense.

Some officers swallowed nervously, realizing the scale and danger of what lay ahead.

Aokiji let out a low whistle after hearing Plan 4.2. "That's ambitious... I like it."

Ryokugyu and Fujitora exchanged a look, neither speaking. It was clear they were undecided. The risks were massive. Even a perfectly executed plan could spiral out of control against someone like Whitebeard.

"Now that everyone has heard the plan," Sengoku said firmly, "any objections?"

The room remained silent.

No one dared to challenge the Fleet Admiral. His experience and authority left little room for dissent. His strategy was tight, methodical, and—on paper—flawless.

Seeing the silence, Sengoku nodded. The decision was made.

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