East Blue, Loguetown.
Late at night, the crowd in the town square gradually dispersed, leaving only piles of trash scattered across the ground.
Three exhausted figures lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath. They were so tired they didn't even want to move. Nearby, a purple-haired lion had already fallen asleep on the spot, while behind them stood a tent with the words "Treasure Circus" written across it.
A skinny, long-haired man rested his feet on a unicycle and complained weakly, "Captain Buggy, when are we finally going back out to sea? I seriously can't live like this anymore. Performing for these idiots every day is driving me crazy..."
Back during the Great Cataclysm, the Marines had disappeared. After destroying a Marine branch base, they had ruled a small island like kings and enjoyed themselves immensely. But before they could even enjoy two full years of freedom, the Marines returned.
As communications gradually recovered, more and more information became available. Luckily, they had run fast enough. Otherwise, they would have ended up like those idiot subordinates they left behind, surrounded and killed on that island.
Buggy, his face covered in clown makeup, lay on the ground and casually threw whatever was nearby at the speaker. "Idiot! You think I don't want to go back to sea?! But the Marines are back now. We'd better keep a low profile."
After all, the Marines had won, which meant that idiot Shanks was dead. Buggy's expression darkened again.
Damn it...
He was supposed to be the one who killed him personally. That stupid bastard. Wasn't he supposed to be amazing? How did he end up getting taken down by those damn Marines?
Nearby, a white-haired animal tamer holding a whip spoke weakly. "Boss, we can't avoid tomorrow's registration anymore. What are we going to do?"
After returning, the Marines' first action on every island had been to establish communication stations and restore communications, after which specialists would redesign and reorganize the islands.
Rumor had it that Alabasta's transportation routes had already been completely opened up, and travel through that region would be far faster in the future.
There was another thing the Marines were doing. They were distributing something called an ID Card. Personal information would be recorded, then a drop of blood would be used to bind the card to its owner.
Its primary functions included identity verification, access through island ports, and emergency distress calls. Practically nobody could refuse something so useful. For those who resisted or seemed suspicious, the Marines would first send people to persuade them. If persuasion failed, enforcement followed.
They had already refused several times, and over the past few days, they could even feel people watching them.
Buggy's eyes shifted. Grinding his teeth, he said, "Tonight, everyone come up with a fake name and fake background. I heard the registration is permanent. We'll just use those identities from now on."
He instinctively distrusted anything created by the Marines, but there was no choice. If they refused again, it would become mandatory.
A bunch of idiots...
Why not just make up a fake identity? There wasn't any rule saying it had to be real. What was there to be afraid of? At worst, he could just live under another name for the rest of his life.
The other two answered weakly, "Got it, boss."
* * *
The following afternoon.
At the registration office outside the Marine base near Loguetown's harbor.
"Hello. Name?"
"Bu... Bucks."
"Bubucks?"
"No. Bucks."
"Age?"
"Forty."
"Occupation?"
"Leader of the Treasure Circus..."
One item after another was recorded. Once the registration process was complete, the Marine clerk picked up an ID Card resting on a machine and placed it on the table. Then he took out a disposable blood-collection needle.
"Just put one drop of blood here and you're done."
Buggy hesitated for a second before pricking his finger and letting a drop of blood fall into the groove on the card.
Beep!
The machine made a sound. The Marine clerk nodded and handed the card back. "Done. Next."
Buggy and his two subordinates went through the same process, and each of them received a brand-new identity.
Even after leaving, they still felt somewhat dazed.
That was it? It didn't seem nearly as terrifying as they had imagined...
* * *
Inside the massive Marine base island beside Loguetown.
At the top floor, inside a private room.
The sound of running water echoed softly. Through the fogged glass, the silhouette of a tall figure could vaguely be seen bathing.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A wrist device resting on a nearby table suddenly began to sound an alert. It looked identical to the device Bullet wore to track Devil Fruit users.
A few moments later, the bathroom door opened.
Wrapped in a white bath towel, Gion stepped out on her long legs. Walking to the table, she picked up the wrist device and checked the real-time information and location displayed on it.
"Chop-Chop Fruit."
She casually set the device back down and went to dry herself.
The next morning, far away on the Red Line, within the cloud database system, a new entry was recorded.
Chop-Chop Fruit. Recovery Successful.
* * *
Red Line, World Federal Government.
Warm morning sunlight illuminated the land. Passing through the glass windows, it shone into the palace-like building, giving the interior a faintly sacred atmosphere.
Inside the spacious hall, "Sakazuki" and Carlo stood by the window. The bright sunlight reflected off their spotless white Marine uniforms while the Justice capes behind them hung naturally at their backs.
Clouds drifted beyond the window, so close they seemed almost within reach. The scenery was breathtaking.
"How is the Devil Fruit Recovery Program progressing?" "Sakazuki" asked.
"The results are excellent," Carlo replied. "Through the Lineage Factor analysis conducted during ID Card registration, no Devil Fruit user can escape detection. And the cards must be renewed every five years, eliminating the possibility of missing anyone."
"Sakazuki" nodded slightly before turning and walking toward his desk. "How many have been recovered so far?"
Carlo followed behind him. "Sixty percent of the Devil Fruits listed in the encyclopedia have already been recovered. Half of our Vice Admiral-level forces have been deployed across the Four Blues for collection operations. Using the tracking devices, they can immediately locate the nearest Devil Fruit user. As the ID Cards continue to spread, all Devil Fruits across the seas will be completely recovered within a few years."
After all, someone could register their identity and later discover a wild Devil Fruit growing in some remote cliffside or hidden location. That was the reason for the mandatory five-year renewal policy.
"However, we've run into difficulties regarding Devil Fruit ability extraction. There hasn't been any progress for three months."
Frowning slightly, "Sakazuki" thought for a moment before speaking. "Then put it on hold. There's no rush to perfect Devil Fruit extraction technology. With our current strength, we can already handle anything this world can throw at us. For now, focus on researching technologies that improve civilian life. Let's get this world back on track first."
Carlo nodded. "Understood."
After a brief pause, he continued, "The Grand Line reconstruction project has been completed. We've begun expanding into the Four Blues. At the current pace, all inhabited islands should be fully renovated within four years."
Four years was actually the slowest estimate. The main reason was that the Seraphim worked incredibly fast. They never grew tired, and as long as energy was available, they could keep working indefinitely.
Small islands like Sphinx Island could be completely rebuilt, including harbor construction and military facilities, in just a few days. And it wasn't a single construction team doing the work. Twenty separate teams had spread outward from the Grand Line.
The number of islands in the world was finite. As the teams expanded outward, they systematically upgraded every island they encountered, with each island receiving a customized design based on its individual conditions.
In the future, all ports would be managed under a unified system. Entry to islands would require an ID Card. If someone chose to become a pirate despite everything, their card would be permanently flagged.
Every island would automatically deny them entry. Even forcefully capturing an island would accomplish nothing. Sooner or later they would be hunted down and killed. No one would be able to escape.
"At present, communication stations have been completed on every inhabited island in the world. We can launch a global broadcast at any time. The date for the founding ceremony of the new government is waiting for your decision."
The hand turning pages paused briefly. Then "Sakazuki" continued reading. "When will ID Card registration be fully completed?"
Carlo reviewed the figures in his mind. "Based on the current progress, approximately twenty more days will be needed to finish recording the information of all citizens worldwide."
Most of the registration work had already been completed, and the project was now entering its final phase. The remaining cases mostly involved people unwilling to register. When that happened, the Marines followed a standard procedure.
If no one on an island registered for three consecutive days, the island would be reported and moved into final settlement processing. Those who refused registration would first receive multiple notices and warnings. Once the limit was reached, concentrated investigations would begin.
At that point, there were only two outcomes. Either they would be forcibly registered, or they would resist because they had something to hide and die in the process.
"Then make it one month from now."
"Yes."
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