Chapter 77: Buster Call Incoming

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Capone Bege's gift had opened up new avenues in Arashi's mind, sparking numerous ideas, though he knew to take things one step at a time, without rushing. 

For now, he wasn't planning to get too deeply involved with organizations like the mafia. 

If he did make contact, it would be under different terms. Time passed gradually. 

Life as a commanding officer was straightforward and uneventful, and Arashi led a calm routine—reading newspapers, sipping tea, fishing now and then, and supervising Bullet and the others as they trained the troops. 

Before he knew it, two years had flown by since he'd come to G-18 Fortress.

"Fish-Man Island is now under Whitebeard's protection... Tom's death sentence has been delayed... Moria and Kaido's battle, and a grave-robbing incident in Wano..." 

Over the past two years, though not too long nor too short, Arashi had kept tabs on outside events through the newspaper. 

He appeared to be cut off from the Marine's central operations, focusing solely on the G-18 Fortress. 

The results were substantial; the fortress was leagues ahead of where it had been two years prior. 

From the 13,000 troops, he'd formed an elite nine-member squad—each soldier had achieved superhuman physical abilities and mastered at least one or two of the Six Powers techniques. 

This squad followed only Arashi's orders, strictly upholding their sense of justice.

"Two years already," Arashi sighed, glancing into the yard.

A child's laughter suddenly interrupted him. A toddler ran over, grinning and clutching a ball, calling out, "Uncle Arashi, there you are!"

"Oh, Ace! Weren't you training with Uncle Bullet on your punches?" 

Arashi smiled at the freckle-faced, black-haired boy, Portgas D. Ace. 

Two years ago, after bringing Rouge to the base, Ace was born not long after. 

Even as a newborn, Ace showed exceptional potential, his boundless energy impressive. Arashi spent time with him daily.

"My punch is as hard as iron now! I'm super strong! Someday, I'll be even stronger than you, Uncle Arashi!" Ace declared proudly.

"Is that so? Quite the ambition for such a young lad!" 

Arashi chuckled, then asked with curiosity, "So, does that mean you want to become a Marine?"

Ace frowned, thinking hard. After a while, he beamed, "I want to be a Marine King! Just like you, Uncle Arashi, I'll catch every bad guy out there!"

"Marines don't have kings, Ace. Only pirates claim that title," Arashi laughed.

"Then I'll be the Pirate King!" Ace huffed, puffing up his cheeks.

"All right, all right! I'll look forward to seeing you as King someday," Arashi laughed heartily, amused by Ace's ambition. 

He then lifted Ace and leapt into the air, causing the child to squeal in delight. "Higher!" Ace giggled.

"Is that high enough?" Arashi asked playfully.

"Higher!" Ace replied, laughing in his small voice, the sound echoing across the Marine base.

"Look, that's the Commander's kid," Buggy muttered below, watching them, his voice low. 

"Though he has his mother's last name."

The Marines nearby exchanged startled, excited glances, murmuring about the Commander's "secret child." 

Nearby, a young Marine with white hair and a cigar in his mouth remained indifferent to Buggy's gossip.

"Keep it down! This is classified!" Buggy whispered fiercely, but just then, a blinding flash of lightning appeared, descending directly above him. 

"Agh!" he shrieked as he was struck, collapsing with a puff of smoke. Smoker, not far off, chuckled, unfazed by Buggy's habit of gossiping.

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters in Marineford…

"A Buster Call?!" The massive Vice Admiral Saul looked stunned, incredulous. "They're just a bunch of defenceless scholars. Are we going to attack them?"

Hearing this, Sengoku, already looking grim, lifted his gaze. 

"You only need to follow orders. This is a top-secret mission, and you're one of five Vice Admirals leading it, Saul."

Saul stiffened, shock evident. "But why take it this far? Is this what we stand for as Marines? It's just a group of historians seeking the truth—why must they die? If they're truly villains, show me proof of their crimes!" He hesitated, then added, "And this is Arashi's homeland. If he learns about this…"

At Arashi's name, Sengoku's expression grew even colder. "Regardless of who's involved, orders are orders, Vice Admiral Saul."

Leaving Sengoku's office, Saul's face darkened, realization dawning. 

"Have they lost their minds? If this is Marine justice…" 

He clenched his fists, recalling why he'd joined the Marines in the first place: not to carry out orders against innocent lives.

Returning to his ship, he handed a sealed letter to his most trusted subordinate. 

"Get this to G-18 Fortress. Make sure Vice Admiral Arashi receives it." Having done that, Saul looked toward the woman bound aboard his ship. 

"If anyone can help us, it's him."

Shortly after, shocking news spread within the Marines—Vice Admiral Saul had gone rogue.

"Bang!" A heavy thud echoed as Sengoku's fist slammed onto his desk, his expression darkening. 

He hadn't anticipated that Saul, a loyal Marine for years, would defect. Yet, the mission from the World Government still had to proceed. 

"Kuzan, Sakazuki!" Sengoku hesitated briefly, considering his options before giving his orders. 

Then, a figure crossed his mind, causing him to pause. "Summon Borsalino as well." 

Kuzan's eyes flickered, his brow furrowed, while Sakazuki remained stoic.

Soon, Borsalino arrived. Observing the grave atmosphere, he quipped with a slight smile, "Quite the stifling vibe here. Did something big happen?" 

Sengoku looked up and replied, "Calling you here concerns a top-secret mission." At this, Borsalino's face twitched. 

"I'd rather not be part of any secret missions," he replied, yet Sengoku wasted no time laying out the details and objectives. "The West Blue. Ohara."

"Oh, that's right," murmured Borsalino with a helpless expression. "Isn't he stationed in the West Blue?" Kuzan nodded. 

"Not only that, Ohara is also his hometown." Borsalino sighed, appearing unsettled. "It's troublesome, dealing with that guy again."

"Enough with the fear," Sengoku scoffed. 

"Remember who you are, and that he's also a Marine. This mission is strictly confidential; even if he stood before me, I would brook no objection!" 

His face hardened, aware of the high regard many within the Marines held for Arashi and of the close ties he shared with those before him.

"If, and I mean if, Arashi stands in our way, what are we supposed to do?" 

Borsalino asked with a forced smile, clearly reluctant to face the man who'd been nothing short of a "monster" in battle. 

"Don't be childish, Borsalino," Sakazuki cut in, voice icy. 

"Understand our roles. If he dares obstruct Headquarters, there'll be no pleasant outcome for him."

Sengoku frowned, glancing between the three, but refrained from further comment. 

He sensed the morale wavering among those assigned to the Buster Call. 

After the three left, a lieutenant beside him inquired quietly, "Should we inform the G-18 branch in the West Blue, where Arashi is stationed, about the mission?" 

Sengoku shot him a look. "Are you trying to complicate things?" he replied, brows furrowing as he resumed reviewing Ohara's files. 

He felt restless; ordering a Buster Call against unarmed scholars was unprecedented, even by his standards. 

But he had no choice—the orders from above were absolute. A moment later, another figure entered the office. 

"Zephyr?" Sengoku looked up in surprise. 

"What brings you here?" 

"Fleet Admiral Kong sent me," Zephyr replied solemnly. 

Sengoku, realizing why, looked shocked. "It's because of him, isn't it?" Zephyr nodded silently. 

Five vice admirals were to initiate the Buster Call, and two admirals were on standby to respond to any unforeseen events. 

This was the Marine stance on Ohara—aligned with the highest powers in the World Government.

"Arashi," Sengoku murmured, his gaze serious as he clenched his fists. "I hope you make the right choice. Otherwise…"

Meanwhile, at the G-18 base in the West Blue, hurried footsteps approached Arashi's quarters. A young officer entered. 

"Vice Admiral, a letter has arrived for you." Arashi looked up curiously and took it. 

"A letter? For me?" The officer nodded. 

"It's from Vice Admiral Saul of Headquarters." 

Hearing Saul's name, Arashi's expression turned serious. He waved the officer off and opened the envelope.

The hasty writing filled the page, concise yet stirring Arashi's expression to one of urgency. 

"My dear friend, Arashi. Please forgive my recklessness, but only you might be able to help. Headquarters is planning a Buster Call against Ohara…"

It was a desperate plea, explaining Saul's decision to defect, his anguish over leaving the Marines, his doubts about justice, and most crucially, the imminent threat facing Ohara's innocent scholars.

Clutching the letter, Arashi's expression grew solemn, and a spark of lightning flashed in his hand, reducing the paper to ash.

Moments later, he reappeared before Rouge and Ace. 

"Ace," he said, "How about a trip?" Ace's face lit up with excitement, while Rouge's expression turned serious, sensing the underlying purpose. 

Soon after, Evans led Arashi's Six Powers unit onto a small battleship and quietly departed for the East Blue. 

Back at the base, the alarm blared, and piercing sirens filled the compound as Marines assembled in formation, ready for orders.

"Bullet! Crocodile! T-Bone! Everyone, gather up!" Arashi's voice echoed as he stood atop the fortress, his call vibrating through the air. 

Lieutenant Ivia rushed over, tense. "Vice Admiral, what's going on?" 

"We're on a mission to defend the core of our justice," Arashi replied with a cold smile. 

The Marines' faces grew tense with determination as warships quickly set out, bound for Ohara. 

Realizing the severity of the mission, Ivia's face turned pale with shock.

In the meantime, Arashi dialled a Den Den Mushi. "Teacher, Ace may need to stay with you for a while," he said. 

Garp, sitting on the coast of Windmill Village, remained unfazed by the news. 

"Since you've chosen this path, forge on ahead," he said. 

"I'm proud of you. You always manage to do what I wish I could but can't. You've got a bit more guts than I do. Whether you're right or wrong, time will be the judge."

The brief call ended, and a smile crossed Arashi's face. 

The sea breeze swept over him as he felt a sense of calm he hadn't known in years, a hint of long-lost fervour returning to his heart. 

He knew well who he'd be up against the entire world. Elsewhere, at Marine Headquarters, news broke. 

"Report! Vice Admiral Arashi has departed G-18, heading toward Ohara!" 

The trembling voice reached Sengoku, who clenched his fists, and then slowly released them. 

Minutes later, an indistinct shout echoed from Headquarters' port, trembling with both excitement and fear: 

"Buddha Sengoku! Black Arm Zephyr! Both Admirals are moving out!"

<End Chapter>

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