What exactly had he just witnessed?
No, he hadn't seen anything at all!
By the time Wiper regained his senses, he was already lying on the ground, unconscious.
The one who had struck him wasn't even the man who cleaved God's Judgment in two with a single sword strike; it was merely one of his subordinates.
Were the Marines from the Blue Sea truly this powerful?
"Any more questions?"
"Just one last question!"
Hearing Sean's voice, the Chief snapped out of his shock.
"Hmm? And what would that be?"
"If the warriors of Shandora join the Marines, Rear Admiral Sean, how do you intend to use them?"
'How to use them?'
Sean knew exactly what the Chief was actually asking. He wanted to know if he intended to use the people of Shandora as mere cannon fodder.
"Rest assured, I won't use them as cannon fodder. In fact, I can give you a statistic: since I became the commander of the 16th Branch, there hasn't been a single combat death in the entire branch."
"While I cannot guarantee that there will never be casualties in the future, I can promise this: for every warrior of Shandora who falls in battle..."
"I will erect a monument for them on Jaya Island, carving their names and the stories of their lives. As for where Jaya Island is, I believe the people of Shandora know it very well."
'Jaya Island...'
Though he had never seen it with his own eyes, the name had been passed down through generations. It was the true homeland of the Shandora people!
The current Upper Yard was, in reality, only a small part of Jaya Island.
To have a monument erected on Jaya Island and their life's story recorded after death... For a warrior of Shandora, what could be more honorable than that?
"On behalf of all of Shandora, I agree!" the Chief declared.
"Trust me, because of your decision today, Shandora will return to its former prosperity!"
Sean was highly satisfied with the Chief's decision. Shandora was an exceptional place for recruitment. Not only were the people physically stronger than those from the Blue Sea, but their strength, speed, and reflexes were all outstanding.
After all, the Shandora people—regardless of gender—had undergone combat training since childhood due to their dwindling population. They all had an incredible foundation.
In contrast, when the Marines recruited from the Blue Sea, most of the enlistees were civilians with absolutely no prior combat training. The difference in quality was night and day.
"Right, one more thing. Helping you reclaim Upper Yard is fine, but once Enel is dealt with, everything he owns becomes my spoils of war. No problem with that, right?"
"This... Rear Admiral Sean, could the Golden Bell of Shandora perhaps..."
While the other warriors were confused, the Chief immediately understood what this meant. He was talking about the gold of Shandora.
"Fine. I agree!" Sean nodded without much hesitation.
Although the Golden Bell was massive and worth hundreds of billions of Belly, there was far more gold in Shandora than just the bell. Had he not seen that Enel had built an entire ship out of gold? The volume of that thing far exceeded the Golden Bell.
Moreover, the Golden Bell held special significance for the Shandora people. There was no need to lose such a fantastic recruitment ground over a single object.
'''
An hour later, in another tent, Wiper slowly opened his eyes.
'Where am I...'
"Wiper! You're finally awake!"
Hearing the shout, Wiper turned his head to find his companions standing beside him, looking agitated and excited.
"I remember now. I was defeated by that man, wasn't I?"
"Wiper..."
"No need to comfort me. How did he beat me?"
'Ah... this is awkward.'
The others looked at each other. Before he woke up, they had discussed it extensively. The conclusion was simple: none of them had actually seen the attack.
How were they supposed to answer that?
"I get it," Wiper sighed, guessing the answer from their expressions. "Is the gap... really that large?"
"Wiper, don't worry! Sean said that once we join, they'll teach us everything they know—including that technique that looks like teleportation."
"What? The Chief already agreed to his demands?"
"Yes, right after you collapsed..."
Laki began to recount the conversation between Sean and the Chief. This left Wiper looking surprised.
"Jaya Island, huh... That's not bad!" Wiper said seriously. "I've decided. Once the matter with Enel and Upper Yard is settled, I'm joining the Marines. I'll become a truly powerful warrior and live up to the name of the Great Warrior Kalgara."
Being defeated in a single move by Lucci had made him realize that besides those with special abilities like Enel, there were people from the Blue Sea who could easily crush him using nothing but raw, natural strength.
Just as Sean had said, they were too weak. This was unacceptable.
He had to join the Marines, learn their techniques, and become a true powerhouse. Otherwise, how could he call himself a descendant of the Great Warrior Kalgara?
"Great! We'll go together!"
"Yeah, all of us together!"
'''
Between Angel Island and the village.
The Holy Realm, Upper Yard.
Sean and his three companions descended from the sky, landing on the only piece of land floating in the air.
"So this is Upper Yard. It really was a part of Jaya Island?" Robin asked, kneeling and picking up a handful of soil.
"Exactly. This is Upper Yard, and that delusional 'god' is right here."
"And the Poneglyph?"
"It's here too. Remember the Golden Bell the Chief mentioned?"
"I do. Does it have something to do with the bell?"
"Yes. The Poneglyph is located at the base of the Golden Bell. In fact, since 800 years ago, the people of Shandora have been the guardians of this Poneglyph—or more accurately, they've been guarding the information recorded on it regarding the Sea King Poseidon."
Sean's words once again stunned Robin.
This man didn't just know where the Poneglyph was; he even knew what was written on it.
'Is there anything in this world that he doesn't know?'
"You don't happen to know everything about the Void Century as well, do you?"
"How should I put this... I wouldn't say I know everything, just a part of it."
For once, Sean was telling the truth. Since the original 'One Piece' manga hadn't finished before he traveled to this world, his knowledge only extended as far as the chapters he had read before his reincarnation.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to recruit Robin. Wasn't the entire point to have Robin help him complete the remaining portions?
"You actually know?"
"Of course I do. Speaking of which, do you want me to tell you the part I know?"
"I think I'll pass. I want to uncover the history of the Void Century on my own!"
Sean's offer had tempted Robin for a brief moment, but she soon shook her head in refusal. When it came to her dream, she still hoped to achieve it through her own efforts.
Beside her, however, Sean was complaining internally.
'Uncover it yourself? Then you don't need my help finding Poneglyphs either, right? You just want to enjoy the thrill of translating ancient texts. Robin, I see right through you!!'
"Alright, let's get moving. Let's wrap this up and get back to the branch as soon as possible. I'm dying to try Type 3 Jerky!"
Standing nearby, Vivi and Robin were completely bewildered by Sean's words.
Lucci, however, understood perfectly. Not only did he understand, but he was equally intrigued. The effects of Type 2 Jerky had already been so impressive; now, with a Sea King that was even more powerful...