The year is 1523 of the Sea Calendar.
After three years of settling and clearing, the volcanic ash that once covered the entire planet had its impact on the world minimized.
Nations and islands across the world began to enjoy the warm sunlight once more.
Those marked as threats were dying at an incredible rate, for reasons unknown.
Since the beginning of the year, with the return of the Navy, the entire world had transformed into an efficiently running machine, changing drastically every single day.
Corresponding policies were implemented.
As bases were established on various islands, communication across the world gradually resumed.
People who had been cut off from news for a long time eagerly picked up their long-dormant Den Den Moshis, dialing those they wished to see but couldn't...
---
Sphinx Island, Whitebeard's homeland.
The island was encircled by dilapidated houses, resembling a deserted isle.
In reality, there was more to it; its inhabitants, to avoid Sky Gold and pirate raids, had retreated into secluded valleys, secretly protected by Marco.
As an island in the Grand Line, it had long been marked on the Navy's navigational charts.
It was also among the first islands to have its communication restored and to receive Navy policies.
With the arrival of the Navy, the residents of Sphinx Island returned to living outside.
At this moment, in the town.
The dilapidated houses were gone, replaced by flat ground. The former village chief had already demarcated each family's plot.
With the demarcation complete, a group of Navy clerks, carrying numbered blueprints and accompanied by a Jinbe Seraphim, stood at a person's height, began their work.
They injected three vials of special green blood into the Seraphim, activating its abilities, and commenced work at the demarcated sites.
First, it utilized the powers of the Push-Push Fruit, compressing the land and rocks in the designated areas for houses.
In moments, a solid foundation was formed.
Next, special seeds developed through research were scattered onto the foundation, and the powers of the Grow-Grow Fruit were employed.
A sturdy wooden house, capable of withstanding tsunamis and earthquakes, appeared. Inside, large pieces of furniture were already present, all naturally grown from special seeds developed by the Navy's research team.
Finally, entering the house, the last vial of green blood, containing the powers of the Chop-Chop Fruit, was used to sever the connections and bases of the furniture one by one, completing the process.
A house was completed in mere minutes. For this sparsely populated island to have all new dwellings, it would only take a few days.
On the island, at the port.
Also led by several Navy clerks.
A Jinbe Seraphim, three meters tall, used the powers of the Push-Push Fruit to construct the port by pushing earth and building it up. Scholars had surveyed and designed the layout, and the Seraphim worked according to the blueprints.
A group of children followed, playing and watching this novel sight with excitement.
Marco, in casual attire, stood nearby, leaning against the protective wall, watching the children with a slight smile.
The dilapidated wooden bridge at the port was replaced by a solid stone bridge.
Dangerous cliffs and precipices were reinforced with earthen walls.
After design and modification, only this spacious and sturdy port remained on the island.
Furthermore, the port was manned by Navy garrisons, with a military fortress occupying the high ground, and twenty-four-hour patrols and emergency support measures in place.
The same scenario unfolded across all nations and islands worldwide, without exception.
All inhabited islands were designed and renovated by dedicated Navy personnel.
*Zzzt*—
Lightning flashed.
Enel appeared, radiating an aura that warned people to keep their distance.
He sat on the protective wall next to Marco, his legs dangling in the air, watching the playing children.
Enel rested his elbows on his knees, interlacing his fingers, and said indifferently:
"Remnants of the Whitebeard and Roger Pirates, 'Phoenix' Marco."
Marco's smile gradually faded.
The Navy...
Looking at the children in the distance with a hint of reluctance, he said with a sigh:
"I knew this day would come, but I never expected it to be so soon."
After over twenty years of peaceful life, he had almost forgotten everything from the past. But he had to face it eventually...
"How did you find me?"
"I thought I was quite well hidden."
His only reply was cold silence...
Marco sighed softly, and blue flames erupted from him:
"Allow me to say goodbye, won't you."
"Mr. Navy."
Enel glanced at him sideways, then looked back at the playing children in the distance.
Marco chuckled softly:
"Thank you."
Then, with a sweep of his arm, he transformed into a blue flaming bird and flew towards the town.
The playing children in the distance occasionally looked back and became excited again, stopping their chase and looking at the great blue flame bird:
"Wow! It's here again! Marco big brother's magic!!!"
"I want to fly like a bird too!"
"Let's go find Marco!"
"Okay, okay!~"
A group of carefree children ran towards the town, but they never saw their Marco big brother again...
Several minutes later.
High in the clouds, nearly a hundred nautical miles away from Sphinx Island.
Constantly regenerating blue flames and lightning that seemed almost tangible clashed, from afternoon until dusk...
The battle only ended when a corpse plunged into the sea, bathed in the setting sun.
'Phoenix' Marco perished, and his Devil Fruit was reclaimed.
---
Water Seven, Shipyard No. 3.
At the entrance.
A muscular, over three-meter-tall monk-like man with white wings and a rugged face but a benevolent expression walked out.
Behind him followed a group of subordinates also in monk robes, but they looked more like gangsters.
Having been caught in the great battle between pirates and the Navy, they had been forced to hide here, waiting for the battle to end.
However, before the outcome of the battle was even known, the world entered an era of great catastrophe. They were trapped here for months. Just as they were about to set sail after things calmed down, they received news of the Navy's return.
Urouge's subordinates grumbled indignantly, muttering about the "black market" and wanting to rob the nearby shipyard. But they dared not act; after all, since the Navy's return,
security on every island had become increasingly strict.
The ports for entering and leaving the sea were all guarded by Navy personnel. If they caused trouble, escaping would be a problem.
Under such circumstances, they had even hidden their pirate flags.
*Boom*!!!!
Barrett, more solid than the giant monk, slammed down from the sky, shaking the ground violently.
Barrett's "Justice" cloak fluttered behind him. He lowered his head slightly to look at the man before him and spoke indifferently:
"Mad Monk Urouge."
Urouge's pupils constricted, and cold sweat poured down his face.
But Barrett gave him no more time to think. He clenched his right fist and raised it, looking at him as if he were already dead.
Unavoidable!!!
The sense of impending death stimulated his nerves. Only this thought flashed through his mind. Urouge tensed his muscles, activated his Devil Fruit ability, and roared:
"Karma!!!"
*Dong*—
A sound like that of bells and drums echoed, audible throughout the island.
Urouge's chest was pierced by Barrett's fist.
His usually invincible Devil Fruit failed to work. Perhaps it had exceeded its absorption limit, like an overinflated balloon.
The absorbed power not only exploded within him but, under the immense force, his flesh and blood burst outward.
Shattered bone fragments and pieces of internal organs, amplified by the doubled force, shot backward in a fan shape. The bone fragments alone annihilated the subordinates behind Urouge.
Some had their heads blown off, while others struggled to their deaths, clutching their pierced throats.
Urouge felt no pain, only a daze and a blank mind.
As Barrett slowly withdrew his blood-stained hand and took out a needle-tipped vial, he subconsciously uttered his last word:
"Ko..."
His brain faltered, the world went dark, and a sense of powerlessness washed over him.
*Plop*—
He fell to the ground, dead.
Barrett took two steps forward, removed the Devil Fruit recovery device, and slung it onto his waist.
He raised the special device on his wrist and drew a cross over Urouge's profile. The device then displayed the real-time location of the next Devil Fruit user.
It was on this island, not far away.
Barrett stamped his foot and vanished.
---
East Blue, Loguetown.
Late at night.
The crowd in the plaza slowly dispersed, leaving behind only trash.
Three figures lay on the ground, exhausted and gasping for breath, unwilling to move. Beside them, a lion-man with purple hair had fallen asleep on the spot.
On the tent behind them were the words "Treasure Circus."
A thin, long-haired man, with his feet resting on a unicycle, weakly complained:
"Captain Buggy, when can we set sail?"
"I can't stand living like this another day."
"Performing for these idiots every day is really infuriating..."
Initially, due to the great catastrophe and the Navy's disappearance, they had annihilated a Navy branch and ruled a certain island with great pleasure.
But after less than two years of freedom, the Navy returned. With the restoration of communication, they learned more and more.
Fortunately, they had managed to escape quickly, otherwise, they would have been cornered and wiped out on that island, just like their foolish subordinates.
Buggy, his face covered in paint, lay on the ground and casually grabbed something nearby, throwing it:
"Idiot!"
"Do you think I don't want to set sail?!"
"But now that the Navy is back, we need to keep a low profile."
After all, the Navy's victory meant that...
Shanks, that idiot, was dead. Buggy's expression turned gloomy again. Damn it...
I should have killed him myself. That damned bastard, wasn't he very powerful? How could he have been dealt with by those foolish Navy members.
Beside him, a white-haired beast tamer holding a whip said weakly:
"Boss, we can't avoid the information registration tomorrow, what should we do?"
After the Navy's return, the first thing they did upon establishing bases on islands was to restore communication, and then have specialists design and plan the islands.
It was said that Alabasta had been directly connected, saving a lot of time for future travel.
Another task the Navy was undertaking was distributing something called an 'Identification Card,' which would record personal information and bind to one's identity through a drop of blood.
Its main functions were information identification, port access to each island, and an emergency distress signal. It was virtually impossible for anyone to refuse it.
For those with guilty consciences or who were resistant, the Navy would send specialists to persuade them. If that failed, it would be enforced.
They had already refused several times, and they had vaguely felt people watching them in recent days.
Buggy's eyes flickered. He gritted his teeth:
"Today, all of you should think of fake names and identities. It's said to be a one-time binding, and you'll use that identity from then on."
He naturally had a resistance towards anything from the Navy, but there was no other way. Refusing further would lead to forced implementation.
A bunch of fools...
Just think of a fake identity.
There's no rule saying you have to use a real one. What's there to fear about them checking? At worst, we'll just live a lifetime under a new name.
The weak voices of the other two sounded:
"Yes, boss."
The next day.
At the port, outside the Navy base.
The Identification Card registration office.
"Hello, your name."
"Bu... Buckes."
"Buckes?"
"No, it's Buckes."
"Age."
"40."
"Occupation."
"Leader of the Treasure Circus..."
As each piece of information was recorded, the entry was completed.
The Navy clerk picked up the 'Identification Card' placed on the machine, put it on the table, and took out a disposable blood-pricking needle:
"Put a drop of blood in, and it's done."
Buggy hesitated for a second before pricking his finger with the needle and letting a drop fall into the groove on the 'Identification Card.'
*Drip*—
A beep sounded from the machine. The Navy clerk nodded and handed the 'Identification Card' to Buggy.
"Alright, next."
Buggy and his two subordinates went through the entire process, and each of them obtained a new identity.
Even after leaving, they were still somewhat dazed. It was over just like that???
It didn't seem that terrifying after all...
Within the massive Navy base island adjacent to Loguetown.
In a private room on the top floor of the base, the sound of running water could be heard.
Through the frosted glass, a tall figure could be vaguely seen bathing.
*Beep beep beep*—
A wristband placed on the table outside began to ring. It looked identical to the Devil Fruit user tracking device on Barrett's wrist.
A moment later.
The bathroom door opened, and Gion, wrapped in a white towel and with long legs, emerged.
She walked to the table, picked up the wristband, and checked the real-time information and location:
"Bara Bara no Mi."
She casually put down the wristband and went to dry herself.
Early morning.
The information was logged into the cloud database on the Red Line.
Bara Bara no Mi, successfully recovered.
---
The Red Line.
Provisional World Federal Government.
The warm morning sun illuminated the land, shining through the glass into a palace with a sacred ambiance.
In the spacious hall.
'Sakazuki' and Carol stood by the window, the bright sunlight reflecting off their immaculate white Navy uniforms, their Justice cloaks hanging naturally behind them.
Flowing clouds drifted outside the window, seemingly within reach, exuding beauty.
"How is the Devil Fruit recovery plan progressing?"
"The results are good. All individuals registered with the 'Identification Card' have been screened through bloodline factor analysis, and no Devil Fruit users have escaped detection."
"Furthermore, it will be updated every five years to prevent any omissions."
'Sakazuki' nodded slightly and turned towards the desk:
"How many have been recovered so far?"
Carol followed closely and replied:
"Sixty percent of the fruits listed in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia have been recovered."
"Half of the Vice Admiral-level combat power has been dispatched to the Four Seas for recovery. With the tracking devices, we can locate the nearest user."
"With the widespread promotion of the 'Identification Card,' within a few years, the Devil Fruits on this sea will be completely recovered."
After all, it's possible that after registering their identity, some individuals might eat wild fruits found in places like cliffs.
This is why the rule of updating the 'Identification Card' every five years was established.
"However, there seems to be some difficulty with the Devil Fruit ability stripping."
"There has been no progress for three months."
'Sakazuki' frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said:
"Then let's pause for now. The technology for stripping Devil Fruit abilities is not urgent."
"With our current strength, we are more than capable of dealing with the situation on this sea. For now, let's focus research on things beneficial to the people's livelihood."
"Let's bring this world back on track."
Carol nodded and said:
"Yes."
After a pause, she added:
"The renovation of the islands in the Grand Line is complete, and we are now proceeding to the Four Seas. It is estimated that all islands will be renovated within four years."
Four years is the most conservative estimate.
The main reason is that the Seraphim work too fast, without fatigue, as long as they have energy.
For smaller islands, like Sphinx Island, complete renovation and port garrison deployment take only a few days.
Moreover, it's not just one team dispatched; it's twenty teams. Starting from the Grand Line, the world's islands are finite, and the renovation progresses systematically.
The best renovation plan is designed based on the island's specific conditions.
In the future, all ports will be uniformly managed, and island entry will be based on the 'Identification Card.' Any reckless individual attempting piracy will have their 'Identification Card' recorded and then permanently locked.
They will be unable to enter any island, and even if they forcefully capture one, they will be relentlessly pursued and killed within a short period. No one will escape...
"The base stations on all inhabited islands worldwide have also been completed, and global broadcasts can commence at any time."
"The establishment of the New Government needs your decision on the date."
'Sakazuki' paused while flipping through documents and continued:
"How long will it take to complete the registration of all Identification Cards?"
Carol recalled the data in her mind:
"Based on the current progress, it will take about twenty more days to complete the information registration of all the world's citizens."
The basic registration work is largely complete and is entering the settlement phase. The remaining individuals are those on the islands who are unwilling to register.
For such cases, after three days of no registration on an island, the Navy will report it for settlement.
Those who have not registered will first receive multiple notifications. After reaching the limit, concentrated investigations will begin. They will either be forcibly registered or, if they are hiding something and resist, they will die...
"Then, one month from now."
"Yes."
(It's Friday, I'll take a break tomorrow and see if I can finish it in the next two days. Rest assured, none of them will survive until the end.)