Chapter 252: The Four Corps! The Reorganization and Expansion of the Curtain Call
"Captain Barto!" his crewmates cried, tears streaming down their faces. "Don't do this to yourself! We're upset too, but we have to move on!"
"Move on?" Bartolomeo looked up, his swollen eyes burning with a new fire. "You're right! We've already fallen behind! We can't let them get any further ahead! Men, full speed! We have to reach the Galaxy Sea within five days!"
The "Galaxy Sea" was the new name for the Wisteria Sea, a name that had become famous throughout the world after the Sabaody incident. The seven islands, arranged like a crescent moon and six stars, made the new name a perfect fit.
"Five days?! Captain, that's impossible!"
"Yeah, Captain Barto, that's too tight!"
"Shut up! Don't you want to meet Lord Shane as soon as possible?!" he roared.
"Well... yes, of course we do..."
"Then let's do it!" Barto gritted his teeth, his fists clenched. "The Barto Club is the strongest group of followers from the East Blue! We will not... we will absolutely not... let those other Supernova brats beat us to the punch!"
"OOOOOH!!!" the crew roared, their spirits ignited.
Five days later, after a harrowing journey through the New World, the Barto Club finally arrived at the edge of the Curtain Call crew's territory.
"Mistral Island! That's gotta be it!"
Barto shot up from his deck chair and ran to the prow, his eyes wide with excitement. In the distance, he could see a bustling port town, and at its highest point, a tall, white lighthouse, flying the familiar white flag with the two crossed swords piercing a seagull.
"Waaaah... we finally made it!" Barto cried, tears of joy streaming down his face. "Men! Look your best! We can't embarrass Lord Shane!" He quickly straightened his wrinkled coat and slicked back his hair. First impressions are everything!
"Captain! A ship! It's coming right for us!"
A sleek, silver speedboat was approaching, flying the Curtain Call flag, but with a strange emblem on its side that even a superfan like him didn't recognize: two roses on a shield.
"Halt! State your name and purpose!" a woman with short, wheat-colored hair called out, her voice clear and sharp.
"We're the Barto Club!" Barto yelled back. "I'm Captain Bartolomeo! We've come to pledge our loyalty to Senior Shane!"
"Bartolomeo?" The woman, whose name was Alifa, recognized the name from the newspapers. "The Supernova from the East Blue? According to the rules, all new recruits must be vetted first. I am the vice-captain of the 7th squad of the Garrison Corps, in charge of patrolling these waters and processing new arrivals. Your ship will remain here. You and your officers will come with me."
"Understood! We'll follow your orders completely!" Barto said, scrambling onto the speedboat, his crew right behind him. He stood respectfully behind Alifa, his heart pounding with excitement as they approached the island. "Um... Captain Alifa?" he asked, rubbing his hands together. "What's with the emblem on your uniform?"
"It's the emblem of the Garrison Corps," she said, giving him a strange look. "Don't you even know about the Four Corps?"
"Four... Corps?!" Barto's eyes went wide.
"It seems you new recruits need a lesson," she said with a shake of her head. "Lord Shane has been in control of the Galaxy Sea for two months now. After the Sabaody incident, people have been flocking here to join. A reorganization was necessary. The Curtain Call Headquarters is still the main crew, but below them are the Four Corps."
She tapped the badge on her chest. "The Garrison Corps is in charge of territorial defense and security. We have over 5,000 members. Our commander is the great Lord Jack."
Senior Jack? The tough-as-nails mammoth? That fits.
As they entered the port, Barto saw men in uniforms with an emblem of a gear and a stalk of wheat.
"The Infrastructure Corps," Alifa explained. "They're in charge of construction, logistics, and trade. They're the largest corps, with over 10,000 members. Lady Robin is the general supervisor, and Senior Kuma is the commander."
Senior Kuma and Senior Robin? Sounds reliable.
"And the other two..." She pointed to a training ground where men in uniforms with an emblem of two crossed swords were practicing. "The Training Corps, in charge of training all new recruits. Their commander is the newly-appointed top officer, Lord Issho."
Issho! I hope I get to meet him!
"And the last one?" one of his crewmates asked.
"The Combat Corps," she said, a hint of regret in her voice. "Their emblem is two blue and white wings, symbolizing the fight for freedom. They are the elite force, the only ones authorized to fight alongside the main crew. Their standards are the highest, and there are only a little over a thousand of them. Their commander is the first mate, Lady Kuina."
She looked at Barto with a hint of envy. "A Supernova like you, if you pass the vetting, will probably be assigned directly to the Combat Corps. Or, if Lord Shane takes a liking to you, you might even be invited to join the main crew."
"The main crew?" Barto's eyes lit up, then his face fell. "Wait a minute... you mean there are already new recruits who've joined the main crew?"
"Yes," she said, counting on her fingers. "Zoro, Sanji, and a little reindeer named Chopper... so three of them."
"THREE?!!!" Barto's voice cracked. He fell to his knees and began to beat the ground. "That idiot with the green hair, too?! Dammit! I was here first! I started admiring Senior Shane first! I set sail first! Why?! Why is it like this?!!!"
"...Uh," Alifa said, staring at the sobbing, hysterical man. She had seen a lot of fanatical followers of Lord Shane, but this... this was a new level of crazy.
She finally managed to drag them to the castle, which served as the Garrison Corps headquarters. "This is the registration office," she said, handing him a form. "As a Supernova, you'll have an additional, special screening."
"A special screening?"
"Don't worry, it's just a formality. The Curtain Call only rejects two kinds of people," she said, then glanced at him. "Spies... and those who have committed heinous crimes, like slaughtering innocents." She noticed that he didn't seem worried at all. Huh. A pirate with a bounty over 100 million, and he's never done anything bad?
As Barto was about to fill out the form, a commotion broke out at the front of the line.
"What is this?! I'm here to join Lord Shane's crew!" a giant of a man was yelling at a clerk. "Why do I have to fill out this stupid form?! My brother and I have a combined bounty of over 100 million! Take us to him now!"
What a bunch of nobodies, Barto thought, sneering. This is my chance to make a good impression!
He was about to step in when a black shadow shot past him. With two sharp cracks, the two giants were on the ground, unconscious.
"You newcomers..." Alifa sighed. "Always trying to show off. But... thanks for the help."
"You're welcome. I'm new here, and I just wanted to make a good impression," a man with an 'X' on his chin and chest said with a polite bow. He turned and his eyes met Barto's.
"You're..." they both said, stunned.
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