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"You... What do you mean?"
Tiger, who had already recovered, slowly sat up in bed. He stared at Atlas as if facing a mortal enemy.
"I am a Marine, and you are pirates. Therefore, I am placing you under arrest!"
The moment he spoke, Tiger's and Jinbe's bodies instantly tensed. Their gazes toward Atlas grew increasingly hostile.
"Are you sure you want to make a move? Do you not care whether these comrades of yours live or die?"
Atlas said nonchalantly, his gaze drifting over the unconscious crew members on the floor.
"What do you really want?!" Jinbe found himself increasingly unable to understand this Marine.
Could it be... Is he actually insane? "I told you, I am arresting you—the Sun Pirates!!"
"However... It's not as if there isn't a silver lining." Atlas plopped down on the bed and patted Tiger's shoulder, signalling him to relax.
"Become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! Jinbe!!"
"If you become a Warlord, you will be able to buy the freedom of your comrades from the World Government. With your strength, you are more than qualified!"
"..."
"...Why? Why me?" Jinbe pondered for a moment before asking slowly.
He had two questions: First, why was this Marine actively trying to fill a Warlord vacancy?
Second, why choose him? There were plenty of pirates on the sea with strength rivalling his own. He had heard about the Warlords.
[Legal Plundering]
Those words alone should be enough to disgust "White Tiger," who was known as a hawk.
Yes, that was right. In Jinbe's mind, and indeed in the eyes of the entire world, Atlas was an absolute hardliner within the Marines!
"First: The Marines are the Marines. The World Government is the World Government." Atlas slowly raised one finger, his voice deep.
"?!?" His words struck Jinbe and Tiger like a tidal wave. This guy... What does he mean?
It was common knowledge that the Marines were just the public face of the World Government; the two identities were always bound together.
Now, a Marine was saying such a thing in front of two pirates. This was tantamount to treason!
"The Marines have their own justice. We do not approve of the World Government's methods. As for the Celestial Dragons..."
"They are nothing but a group of scum!!"
As his voice fell, Atlas's coat fluttered as if in a gale, and a dense, almost tangible killing intent enveloped the room.
"Second: The Warlords the Marines need will not be permitted the privilege of 'legal plundering.'"
"And I trust you, Jinbe!!"
"You can escape. I will guarantee the lives of the Sun Pirates, including Tiger."
"Once you successfully become a Warlord, the World Government will grant you pardons."
He knew very well that these were conditions Jinbe could not refuse. This was the only path left for him.
"Boss Tiger..."
Jinbe glanced hesitantly at Tiger.
For the crime of burning Mary Geoise alone, the World Government would never release Tiger so easily, not even for a Warlord.
"The World Government likely won't budge on Tiger, but I promise you... His life will not be in danger."
His words were firm and logical. Atlas was confident Jinbe would be interested.
"Moreover, Fish-Man Island needs the protection of a Warlord right now. Whitebeard alone is not enough to deter all the unruly pirates."
"After all... distant water can't quench a present thirst."
Jinbe was very tempted. Atlas's words had perfectly targeted his concerns, and the benefits of each condition were obvious.
Although Fish-Man Island was an affiliated nation of the World Government, it received no protection from the Marines; the two had virtually no relationship.
The flag flying at the island's highest point was actually that of the Whitebeard Pirates!
"Accept his offer, Jinbe." Tiger understood. This Marine's ambition... was absolutely subversive to the world!
...
A few days later.
A Marine warship bearing the headquarters insignia docked at the port of the G-2 base.
A large group of Marines, who had received their orders, immediately moved forward and surrounded the warship.
Heavy shackles were fastened, and one by one, the dejected Fish-Men slowly disembarked.
They didn't know what had happened. They had suddenly passed out.
By the time they woke up, they had been captured by the Marines. Even their leader, Fisher Tiger, was not spared.
Of the entire crew, only Jinbe had successfully escaped. Fortunately, Boss Tiger was no longer in mortal danger.
Clearly, Atlas and Tiger had not told them about their conversation. This was precisely why he had knocked the crew unconscious beforehand.
"Vice Admiral Byakko, what are your intentions for these Fish-Men?" Just then, a Marine bearing the rank of Rear Admiral approached Atlas at the port.
"Transport them all to Impel Down and make those shackles extra tight. They may not be Devil Fruit users, but if a Fish-Man escapes into the sea, even I won't be able to catch them."
Buru Buru Buru~
Suddenly, the ringing of a Den Den Mushi interrupted Atlas's instructions.
"Moshi Moshii! This is Kizaru~~"
Atlas pulled the Den Den Mushi from his pocket and picked up the receiver, Kizaru's distinctive, drawn-out voice emerging.
"Vice Admiral Kizaru?"
"Atlas-saaan~~ I heard you arrested the Sun Pirates?" Kizaru's tone was strange.
Why is everyone trying to backstab me? My subordinate and my colleague are both more capable than the last.
He originally thought Atlas was going along for the ride, but he never expected him to actually capture Tiger, who had already escaped!
He had originally calculated that with Strawberry's strength, and without him personally presiding, they wouldn't achieve any significant results, even with an ambush.
That way, his promotion date to Admiral would be pushed further and further back!
"It couldn't be helped. I was just sleeping on the warship, and they actually hijacked it..."
"It was a free meal delivered right to my doorstep. I had to take a bite!"
"Such a scary young man~"
Kizaru was speechless. But the credit for this won't be counted on my head, will it? In that case, one of the three Admiral seats won't go to me, right?
"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need your help with. I think the one who escaped, Jinbe, is quite strong. Could you please recommend him to the higher-ups for a Warlord position?"
Kizaru has close ties to the World Government; otherwise, the science unit wouldn't be entrusted to him so readily.
At the very least, his word carries more weight than Atlas's, and in the original story, it was definitely this guy who suggested Jinbe to the World Government.
"A Warlord, you say? A small matter~~" Having thought through the implications, Kizaru cheerfully agreed to Atlas's request.
Click—.
The call ended.
Atlas turned to the Rear Admiral beside him and said, "This successful capture of the Sun Pirates is all thanks to Vice Admiral Kizaru's planning."
"I was only able to catch them so smoothly because I was acting under his command. When you file the report, try not to mention me."
Since Kizaru was so accommodating, Atlas couldn't be stingy either. The credit was originally Kizaru's, so he could do him a favour!
"You want to push the Fish-Man Jinbe into a Warlord position?" Sengoku slowly lowered the newspaper in his hands, his expression strange.
You just dragged his captain back here, and now you're recommending him to be a Warlord?
"I believe that for the sake of Fish-Man Island and his comrades, Jinbe knows what choice to make. Cooperating with the Marines is his only option."
Atlas glanced at the newspaper on the desk.
Sure enough.
The headline was about Fisher Tiger being imprisoned in the great undersea prison.
As for this Fish-Man, the only person in 800 years to dare set fire to the Holy Land Mary Geoise...
The Five Elders residing in Mary Geoise naturally despised him to the extreme.
They even issued an order that Sengoku would be promoted to Fleet Admiral when Tiger was brought to justice.
Although this was partly intended to suppress the Marines' rising influence, it was enough to show their hatred for Tiger!
After three years, they had finally captured the man himself. Naturally, they had to publicise it heavily to reclaim the face the World Government had lost.
"But this was thanks to you. Otherwise, the Five Elders would have likely suppressed the Marines for even longer," Sengoku said with a sigh.
After Roger's death, Kong still handled specific Marine affairs for the first few years, but later, he dumped almost all of it onto him.
Although Kong and the Five Elders had already tacitly agreed that Sengoku would be the next Fleet Admiral, they delayed it again and again to suppress the Marines' influence and test the new Fleet Admiral's loyalty.
The Ohara Buster Call was a perfect example.
If Sengoku had shown even a hint of pity for Ohara and refused to issue the Buster Call, he probably could have died as an Admiral, and the Five Elders would have never signed the promotion papers.
"That really has nothing to do with me. It was all Vice Admiral Kizaru's excellent planning. I just happened to be there to help."
Atlas quickly waved his hands. If he said the credit was Kizaru's, it was Kizaru's.
Even if he hadn't been there, Tiger would have eventually died of blood loss. Then, Arlong would have been captured seeking revenge and revealed the news of Tiger's death.
The credit would have landed on Kizaru's head anyway, and Sengoku would have naturally become Fleet Admiral.
"By the way, haven't the Five Elders arranged the promotion ceremony yet?"
Suddenly, Atlas seemed to recall something.
Logically, once Sengoku's promotion papers came through, the three Admiral positions should also be decided soon. Four candidates for three spots. It was still unknown who would get them.
In any case, he hadn't received any related news.
"Not yet. I don't know what the Five Elders have planned, but it should be soon. The official promotion will be next year at the latest."
"However..."
Sengoku glanced up at Atlas, who remained expressionless, and continued.
"As for the Admiral positions... the Five Elders most likely will not add a fourth. That, you will have to fight for yourself."
"That doesn't matter to me. 'Admiral' is just a title."
Atlas looked unconcerned.
In this world, strength reigns supreme. As long as you are strong enough, the power an Admiral holds is... just that.
"I'll be going then. Call me if you need anything." With that, Atlas stood and moved toward the door.
"Atlas. No matter what you plan to do, you must remember...The Marines are, and always will be, the shield of justice."
Atlas's steps faltered. He turned to look at Sengoku's serious face and, as if possessed, he nodded.
"I know."
Know what?
What did Sengoku really mean by that? Atlas walked out of the office, thoroughly confused.
...
Ten thousand meters beneath the sea lies Fish-Man Island.
The entire island is enveloped in a giant, double-layered, semi-circular bubble. An air layer exists between the two shields, offering protection.
Only ships that are coated and follow the correct route can safely enter.
The current ruler of Fish-Man Island is the [Great Knight of the Sea] Neptune, a coelacanth merman who resides in the Ryugu Palace.
At this moment, inside the Ryugu Palace.
The towering Neptune sat on his throne with a grave expression. Below him, sitting cross-legged, was Jinbe, a remnant of the Sun Pirates.
"Jinbe, you have finally returned!"
Neptune looked at the man before him, his expression filled with emotion.
He was no stranger to Jinbe or Tiger. Jinbe had once been the leader of the Neptune Army.
Although Neptune was nominally the king of all Fish-Men, he had always treated warriors like Jinbe and Tiger as equals.
To think that the next time he saw Jinbe would be after the fall of the Sun Pirates.
"Your Majesty Neptune, I have received an invitation from the World Government to become one of the Seven Warlords."
Jinbe was very calm. Before he left, the "White Tiger" had warned him to never, under any circumstances, reveal their conversation. He naturally understood the stakes.
"Why?!"
"If I become one of the [Seven Warlords of the Sea], under a special pardon from the World Government, my Sun Pirate comrades who were taken to Impel Down will be released."
"Furthermore, in the future, those Fish-Men who no longer wish to be pirates can live in this country, free from pursuit."
"Most importantly, if I accept this position, the Fish-Man race will be able to draw slightly closer to the World Government."
"This is also for the sake of the Queen, whom we have burdened..." Jinbe knew very well that although they had joined the World Government long ago, it was merely an empty title.
They had never enjoyed any of the rights of an affiliated nation. Apart from being connected to the World Government in name, there was no actual relationship!
Now, the Warlord position had appeared, creating a bond between the two. "Mmm... That is wonderful. She has been in low spirits lately!"
Neptune was speechless. What Jinbe had said was, indeed, exactly what Fish-Man Island needed right now.
"Is it because... of the Sun Pirates' capture?"
"That's right. The news that Tiger was imprisoned in the great undersea prison reached the ears of the island's citizens. Everyone has been going to Otohime to retract their signatures."
"..."
"I am very sorry to have caused the Queen so much trouble in this way." Jinbe could not explain the situation at the moment.
But he believed that if that Marine's plan came to fruition, it might not be impossible for Fish-Man Island to truly achieve the life Queen Otohime envisioned.
But for now, I, Jinbe, will have to restrain my comrades who do not understand the situation personally!
This, too, was part of his agreement with that Marine. Thinking of this, Jinbe's expression grew even more solemn, and his gaze sharpened.
(T/N: Please give me some power stone, I hope it can at least reach the top 100)
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