Broccoli Island, Kris Kingdom.
It had been a day since Atlas repelled Big Mom. Atlas led the Marines in sweeping every corner of the island, and the entire kingdom had been purged of pirates.
Under Atlas's Observation Haki, which could radiate across the whole island, not a single pirate could escape the search.
Although his Observation Haki wasn't like Fujitora's, with the special ability to sense others' malice, he still possessed the basic ability to detect life signatures.
And under the methodical command of the new king, Andrew, and with the help of the Marines, the kingdom's reconstruction was proceeding in full swing.
Atlas could even easily move heavy objects or collapsed houses using the power of the Rooster Talisman.
The damage to the kingdom's buildings was not very severe, thanks to Atlas deliberately controlling the collateral damage of the battle.
Otherwise, the cost of reconstruction alone would have been enough to bankrupt this already impoverished nation.
In short, everything was moving in a positive direction. With time to spare, Atlas wandered down the street.
Unlike when he first landed, the streets were now filled with civilians, their faces beaming with smiles of excitement.
They held various tools and began to repair the houses. The area was bustling with activity.
Seeing Atlas approach, many citizens instinctively stopped their work and greeted him enthusiastically. Some even wanted to introduce their daughters to him.
"Vice Admiral Byakko, thank you so much for saving our country!!"
"Vice Admiral, the Kris Kingdom will never forget your kindness!"
"Your Excellency, we have some eggs at home. Let me get them for you, for a change of pace!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral, are you married? My daughter..."
To them, Atlas was the saviour who had rescued them from disaster. They could only express their humble gratitude in the simplest ways.
Faced with the gradually swarming crowd, Atlas managed an awkward but polite smile, waved to everyone, and then fled.
He mentally exclaimed that he couldn't handle it.
That one uncle who wanted to introduce his daughter almost shoved her into his arms! The key point was that his daughter was only a few years old!
Phew~
Escaping the enthusiastic citizens and leaving the residential streets, Atlas went straight to the royal palace.
Andrew had changed into magnificent robes and was holding a sceptre in his right hand that was comically disproportionate to his size.
His entire demeanour had changed, and his brow now held a trace of composure. He was, after all, someone who had received a noble's education since childhood.
Now, bearing the heavy burden of a king, he had to project this image, even if he didn't feel composed inside.
"Mr Atlas, thank you for saving this country!!"
Seeing Atlas step through the palace gates, Andrew's knees bent, and he was about to kneel.
"Hey? You are the king of a World Government-affiliated nation. It's not really appropriate for you to kneel to a Marine."
Atlas quickly lifted him up and even joked, "If someone saw this and filed a complaint, I'd be in deep trouble."
"Ah? My deepest apologies, I didn't consider your position!"
Andrew, forced to stand straight, immediately flushed red and apologised repeatedly.
"Alright, I was just kidding. But you should be more careful in public in the future. After all, you represent the face of the Kris Kingdom," Atlas said earnestly.
Although Andrew was young, as the King of the Kris Kingdom, he had to wear the masks of maturity and composure.
"Yes, thank you for your guidance."
Andrew replied loudly again, without a trace of the arrogance a king might have.
"So, Mr White Tiger, are you here because you're planning to leave the Kris Kingdom?"
"No, I'll stay on Broccoli Island for a few more days. I'll wait for the news of what happened here to spread. Otherwise, the pirates whom Pizarro attracted will probably come swarming."
Atlas shook his head, declining.
Pizarro had occupied the Kris Kingdom for some time, and the news that he wanted to build a 'Pirate Nation' had already spread.
Many pirates don't know what happened on this island yet. It's likely some clueless pirates will show up in the next few days.
He could stay here and take care of it all at once.
Clomp clomp clomp—!!
Suddenly, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed outside the palace hall. A Marine ran in, looking rushed.
"Reporting, Vice Admiral! Vice Admiral Akainu has arrived at the port!"
Atlas was stunned.
This fast? He thought it would take a few more days.
"Alright, I understand. I'll head to the port first, Your Majesty Andrew!"
He waved to Andrew with a brief apology, then turned and flew toward the port.
...
At the port, a warship marked with 'G-7' was docked next to Atlas's warship.
On the ship.
Akainu stood on the deck, looking at the busy figures at the port. He couldn't help but clench his fist and slam it on the railing.
"It seems that woman Charlotte Linlin has already been driven off. We were one step too late, damn it!"
"It can't be helped. Our intel was leaked, after all," Atlas said as he landed from the air next to Akainu.
"That woman, Big Mom, knew you were coming, so she retreated just in time. You know I can't stop her on my own."
"Intel leaked!?" Akainu's gaze hardened, seizing on the key phrase in Atlas's words.
"Yeah. Seems it was a woman named Stussy." Atlas nonchalantly repeated the same story he had used to fool Sengoku.
"Stussy, Stussy..." Akainu muttered Stussy's name, a strong killing intent in his eyes.
His clenched fist bubbled with magma, which dripped onto the deck, instantly turning a large patch of it to black ash!
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, please calm down," Onigumo couldn't help but remind him.
The repair funds for the warship came from their own base's budget!
"So what do you plan to do here now?" Akainu calmed down and asked Atlas about his plans.
"Nothing much. I expect another batch of pirates will be coming here, and I'll be right here to wipe them all out!!"
...
New World, in the seas not far from Broccoli Island. A warship marked with 'G-5' sailed slowly on the sea.
On the ship.
Atlas lay leisurely on a wicker chair placed on the deck. He was bare-chested, wearing large beach trunks and wooden sandals, enjoying a rare sunbath.
Just one day earlier, the news of Big Mom's defeat and retreat from Broccoli Island had completely spread. The Marines had also killed the last batch of pirates to land on the island.
With Atlas's fearsome reputation and the news of Pizarro's death, Broccoli Island had become one of the forbidden places that pirates dared not tread.
And Atlas's mission on Broccoli Island was finally over. Amidst the reluctant goodbyes of the Kris Kingdom's citizens, the warship left Broccoli Island.
"Hey, Smoker, it's Sea Circle Era 1509 right now, isn't it?"
Atlas suddenly asked Smoker, who was standing nearby.
"...Yeah. Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, it'll be 1512."
Smoker paused, a nostalgic look on his face. It had been about ten years since he and Atlas met.
He never thought that they, who were once just chore boys at the Loguetown base, would now be high-ranking figures at Marine Headquarters.
The sweat they'd shed and the battles they'd fought in that time were countless, especially for Atlas, who was now a Marine Admiral candidate.
"Last time we went back to East Blue, Randell, the captain should have given you his Den Den Mushi number, right?"
Atlas slightly opened his squinted eyes, his deep voice interrupting Smoker's trip down memory lane.
"Huh? Randell captain? I think so, yeah. Let me think." Smoker frowned, pretending to think hard. "Brother Atlas, do you need something from the Randell captain?"
"Yeah, just a small favour I need to ask him."
...
East Blue, Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.
On the training ground.
Two small figures, a boy and a girl, were facing off seriously. A group of snot-nosed kids gathered around to watch.
In the centre, a middle-aged man watched the two intently, appearing to be the referee for this duel.
"Yaaaah—!!!"
Suddenly, with a loud shout, the mossy-green-haired boy in the ring launched the first attack. He wielded his two bamboo swords with great vigour, creating an imposing display!
Thwack!!!
The girl, moving second, struck first. Her single bamboo sword thrust forward easily, its thick blade accurately smacking the boy right in the face!
"Hsss~"
The boy fell, clutching his face in pain. A clear red mark from the bamboo sword appeared on his cheek. He sucked in sharp breaths through gritted teeth, clearly in agony.
"The winner is Kuina!!"
The middle-aged man, acting as referee, immediately stepped between them and announced the result of the match.
"Two-Sword Style Zoro lost!!"
"Aww... Zoro's record against Kuina is now zero wins and 1887 losses!!"
"You idiot, you missed one! It's 1888 losses!"
Seeing the scene, the children watching immediately began to chatter. Some had even been keeping track of Zoro's losing streak.
Hmph—!
Kuina looked at the fallen Zoro, raised her arm, and pointed her bamboo sword at him, taunting, "Hmph, you're really useless!"
"You're a man, but you're still so weak!!"
"Hey! Zoro isn't weak at all!!"
Before Zoro could even reply, the kids on the sidelines started to protest, roaring angrily at Kuina.
"Yeah, yeah! Zoro is the strongest one in our dojo!"
"He's even stronger than the adults!!"
The other kids chimed in, all looking indignant.
Although Zoro had only been at the dojo for just over a year, they had all seen how hard the moss-head worked. They genuinely admired his current strength.
They naturally couldn't stand Kuina's casual taunts.
"Oh, is that so? But he's weaker than me!"
Kuina still wore a disappointed expression, shaking her head with a sigh. "I don't care if you use two swords. Useless is useless!"
"You lost, so just shut up!!"
After speaking, she ignored the others' protests, slung the bamboo sword over her frail shoulder, and walked away, leaving a cool and confident image behind her.
Damn it!
Zoro endured the pain on his face and struggled to his feet, glaring defiantly at Kuina as she left.
"That Kuina really makes me mad!"
A round-faced kid nearby looked furious, but then pouted and muttered, "...Although, she is kinda cute."
"Yeah, what an annoying girl! She's only so arrogant because she's the master's daughter!" a boy with a bowl cut shouted angrily.
"Hm? Wait, what did you just say? You traitor!"
The bowl-cut kid, seemingly realising something, grabbed the round-faced boy's collar and scolded him.
"Huh? Nothing! I said nothing, you must have misheard!"
The round-faced kid quickly waved his hands, desperately trying to deny it.
"You lost again!"
Just then, Koushirou, dressed in his dojo robes, appeared before them. He still wore a gentle smile as he softly comforted the indignant Zoro.
"Zoro, you are actually very strong."
"Master—!!"
"Master! You can't just give her special training because she's your daughter!!"
"Yeah, that's cheating!"
The other kids, seeing Koushirou approach, all started complaining at once.
As kids who lived constantly in Kuina's shadow, they could never accept the fact that Kuina, a girl, could so easily crush them.
They even started to suspect Koushirou was giving Kuina secret lessons!
"That's not happening! Please don't spread rumours!"
Koushirou quickly waved his hands, gently explaining to the rowdy children.
Smack—!
Zoro, however, ignored Koushirou's comfort. He violently threw his bamboo swords to the ground.
"Damn it!"
"Why can't I ever beat that woman! I promised Atlas I would go to the Grand Line to find him!"
Seeing this, Koushirou slowly crouched down, bringing his gaze level with Zoro's. He smiled, "Kuina is just a little older than you, you..."
"But I can even beat adults!!" Zoro roared, cutting Koushirou off.
"I'm going to set out to sea and become the world's greatest swordsman! That's why I absolutely cannot lose to her right now!"