The innocent and simple faces of the fish-men were gradually replaced by expressions of shock and awe.
They stood on tiptoes, leaning over the ship's railings, eyes wide as they stared ahead, as if witnessing something beyond belief.
Not a single one of them could speak. They held their breath, dumbfounded, completely overwhelmed by the sheer scale and grandeur of what lay before them.
Senor stood behind them, quietly watching the massive, imposing military base slowly emerge from the distant sea. His gaze held deep, complex emotions.
Due to the cooperation between the Donquixote Family and the North Blue Fleet, he acted as the sole liaison and intermediary between the two sides. Having traveled back and forth between the New World and the North Blue many times, this was far from his first visit to the North Blue Navy's main base.
Yet no matter how many times he saw it, the sight of this base never failed to stir a powerful, indescribable emotion and sense of awe within him.
Compared to the 321st Branch's formerly rundown and ordinary state from years ago, the past two years of development had brought about a complete transformation.
Towering walls over fifty meters high rose above sea level, constructed from solid stone and encircling the base in its entirety.
Inside the fortress, rows of austere military structures rose up from the ground. Gray-black domes topped the fortresses, with snow-white seagull flags fluttering proudly in the wind.
Heavy black cannons jutted from wide openings in the outer walls, their barrels covering every direction with no blind spots—like the fangs and claws of a massive beast, reeking of gunpowder.
Beneath the base's wall stood a single gateway, just large enough for a warship to pass through. The water below, shrouded in the wall's shadow, resembled the River Styx, dark and foreboding.
Around the base, several standard-sized warships patrolled the surrounding waters, leaving trails of white foam in their wake.
From a distance, this enormous and disciplined fortress resembled an invincible war beast, radiating an aura of iron and blood—capable of repelling all intruders... and wiping them out entirely.
"This is the North Blue Marine Headquarters, Branch 321 under the Marine Headquarters."
Senor slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice growing hoarse without warning.
"A branch of the Marine Headquarters?"
"This is just a branch? Then the Marine Headquarters must be even bigger than this!"
"This is incredible!"
"Has the human world's military really reached this level of power?"
"..."
The fish-men teens cried out in shock.
From what they knew, if even a branch could project this kind of force... the true headquarters must be unimaginably terrifying. Their limited understanding couldn't grasp it.
Senor didn't offer an explanation in response to their exclamations.
It was difficult to explain that the North Blue's 321st Branch wasn't a typical naval base—and, to some extent, it had little real connection to the Marine Headquarters in the Grand Line.
Orders from Marineford might mobilize forces in other seas, but in the North Blue... they meant nothing.
The most terrifying part was this: the Marine Headquarters was completely unaware of all the changes that had occurred in Branch 321 over the past few years.
No pirate ship could leave the North Blue safely without a North Blue Fleet Pass.
Only merchant convoys and ships holding a valid pass from the North Blue Fleet were legally permitted to enter or exit the region.
Even powerful merchant fleets—or official ships from Member Nations—were forbidden from approaching within 500 nautical miles of Branch 321.
Any vessel violating this rule would be immediately sunk by the North Blue Fleet, no exceptions.
Most nations in the North Blue gladly obeyed this seemingly tyrannical rule in exchange for political favor and incentives.
As for those unwilling to comply—well, once the politicians and officials opposing the policy began to die off due to certain "accidental factors," public opinion quickly shifted.
With pirates eradicated, trade secured, shipping lanes stabilized, and both economies and civilian life improved... eventually, the governments and citizens of the North Blue came to embrace the results of this "rule."
In other words...
The North Blue had been completely sealed off.
Even now, the name of the "King of the North Blue" loomed like a vast shadow, forever hanging over the sky of this sea.
Bringing fear, stability, peace, and absolute... order!
Thinking of this, Senor took a deep breath and said in a low voice,
"Everyone, stay sharp. We're about to enter the base passage."
"If you don't want to get shot on the spot, keep quiet and don't move."
He glanced at the fish-men youths led by Jinbe, each one standing rigidly at attention, barely daring to breathe.
In his heart, he added silently,
'After all, this is the headquarters of the most powerful fleet on the seas today... the North Blue Fleet!'
Senor slowly pulled out a signal flare from inside his coat.
A streak of bright red light arced into the sky from the merchant ship.
Several nearby patrol warships quickly responded, closing in fast and forming a protective escort formation to guide the ship forward.
The merchant vessel pressed on steadily as the fortified military base drew closer and closer.
The towering walls loomed overhead, their vast shadows gradually engulfing the ship.
As they passed through the silent entryway, the usually composed Jinbe quickly noticed something that made his skin crawl.
Lining the inner walls of the passage were rows of strange, menacing weapons.
"Those are flamethrowers, electric shock rifles, rapid-fire machine guns..."
Senor stepped up beside Jinbe and explained,
"...All of them are the most advanced military tech in the world today."
Jinbe scratched his head in confusion.
He had never seen such weapons before—not even a basic flintlock.
For the fish-men, firearms held little appeal. They placed more trust in their own physical might.
To them, the fish-men were born warriors, and their bodies were the strongest weapons of all.
Seeing the uneasy, puzzled expressions on the young fish-men's faces, Senor couldn't help but shake his head and sigh inwardly.
What use was explaining it to them now?
Maybe one day, when they'd grown up, they would understand what all this really meant.
The kinds of cutting-edge weapons other factions would spend fortunes and risk their lives to acquire... were used by the North Blue Fleet just to guard their gates.
This world could be so absurdly real sometimes.
These high-tech weapons were already obsolete in their eyes—discarded tools for basic defense.
Because in their hands... they already wielded even more advanced technology.
Like those devastating laser cannons.
Still waters run deep.
The hundred-meter-long sea channel passed swiftly behind them.
The young fish-men suddenly felt a rush of openness, eyes widening as they took in the scene before them.
Military gun emplacements stood tall.
Wide roads branched in every direction, with vehicles racing along their paths.
On the massive training grounds ahead, figures trained under the blazing sun. The sheer weight of their training loads left the fish-men stunned.
From the distance came the thunder of cannon fire and bursts of light—the roar never-ending. Those were the artillery drills underway.
Supply trucks roared back and forth with crates of weapons and ammunition.
Farther off, on a cannon platform undergoing repairs, a crane let out a bone-jarring hum as it stirred up clouds of dust.
Within these walls, it felt like an entirely different world.
"Thanks again for making the trip, Senor-san."
Just as the fish-men youths were curiously taking in their unfamiliar surroundings, a deep, good-natured voice suddenly rang out.
They looked up in surprise to see a streak of pale blue lightning descend from the sky, quickly coalescing into a human figure before their eyes.
The man appeared to be in his twenties.
He wore a sharp military uniform, a wide cloak, and sported a neatly trimmed goatee. His presence was calm and composed, yet carried a distinct aura of deadly seriousness.
Senor shook his head and replied,
"It's an honor to serve Godfather."
He looked at the dignified Marine in front of him, extended a hand, and offered a courteous smile.
"Hello, Admiral Momonga."