Everything changed far too quickly.
So quickly that the people of Baterilla Island gathered around the assembly hall had no time to react.
Just moments ago, they had been overjoyed that they could finally send some food in to their wives, mothers, and daughters. Then suddenly, a light appeared in the sky, and Fes's figure was projected above them, leaving them utterly confused.
But their confusion lasted only a few seconds.
Visible flames, as if they had appeared out of nowhere, swept across the entire assembly hall. In an instant, the huge building was completely engulfed in blazing fire.
To be honest, the change came so fast that many people were still too stunned to react.
It was only after the flames had swallowed the entire assembly hall that many finally snapped out of it. Their eyes turned red as they charged forward desperately. But what met them were the World Government personnel standing guard around the building, smashing rifle butts viciously into their faces until blood poured out.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to storm a World Government facility?"
As though the flames behind him did not exist at all, the guard at the entrance shouted at the civilians with a cruel expression.
The man who had been knocked down by the rifle butt paid no attention to the searing pain or the blood running down his face. He struggled back up and pleaded,
"Sir, it's on fire! My wife and children are inside!"
The guard answered with complete indifference.
"Of course I can see that. But that's no reason for you to storm a World Government facility. Are you trying to rebel?"
The man froze at once. Looking at the roaring fire, he could only beg,
"Please, put it out! My wife and children can't die in there!"
"Hmph. Do I need you to teach me what to do?"
With that, the guard barked an order to the others nearby.
"You lot, go put out the fire!"
The anxiety on the faces of the people around him eased slightly, but only for an instant. Under their disbelieving gazes, facing such a towering inferno, the guard sent in only two men.
At once, the man seemed to realize something and shouted,
"Y-you... you never meant to put out the fire... You never meant to put it out..."
Then, as if he had suddenly understood everything, his eyes nearly split with rage as he roared,
"Did you start this fire? You never intended to spare my wife and children at all!"
Those words instantly made everyone around him understand. They stared at the guards in furious disbelief.
But the guards did not care in the slightest. Instead, they shamelessly turned the accusation around.
"Hey, what are you babbling about? Are you slandering the World Government, the very symbol of justice? Looks like I need to teach you a lesson!"
As soon as the words fell, he raised the butt of his rifle again and smashed it into the man's face.
At that moment, even the weakest of people could no longer suppress their anger. Much less when the ones trapped inside the flames were their wives, their children, and their daughters.
The crowd surged forward in fury, but the guards showed no fear at all. They raised their rifles, black muzzles aimed at the civilians, and shouted,
"What? Are you going to attack the World Government? Are you trying to rebel?"
In an instant, the unarmed civilians were crushed once more by those cold gun barrels and the word rebellion.
At that moment, despair was the only thing left in their hearts.
As for the rest of Baterilla Island, those watching from all around were just as furious, their blood boiling, yet they still only watched, not daring to do anything.
Just then, that familiar voice spoke from the sky.
"People of Baterilla Island, this is Fes. The fire has already started. I can tell you clearly that this is a plot by the World Government. They never intended to spare the women and children imprisoned inside. This is the proof..."
As soon as the words ended, the image projected by the Den Den Mushi changed.
They did not know who the man in the black suit was, but they understood every word he said.
"Bastards... Bastards..."
The moment the people understood everything, the anger in their hearts exploded. No longer caring about anything else, they rushed at the guards.
"Fire! Fire!"
Seeing the dark mass of people surging toward them, the guards' faces changed drastically.
Without the slightest hesitation, they gave the order.
But at that very moment, from a place they could not see, from behind them, countless flaming spears shot forward and pierced straight through them.
Everyone froze at once, but there was no time to stand around in shock.
"Everyone, hurry in and save your wives and children!"
...
On the warship by the shore.
The moment the CP9 officer saw his own figure projected in the sky, he knew it was over.
Cold sweat poured from his body, and he began to tremble all over. Tearing at his hair and clutching his head, he shouted,
"It's over... it's over... Why? When did that bastard record it? Why didn't I notice...?"
The CP8 subordinate beside him asked worriedly,
"Sir, should we inform Spandine?"
"Absolutely not!"
The moment the name Spandine was spoken, the flustered CP9 officer immediately snapped back to his senses.
He had never been on good terms with Spandine to begin with. If Spandine found out about this, he would never recover from it.
In that instant, he made up his mind.
"Send the order. Everyone disembarks and takes control of all of Baterilla Island."
The CP8 subordinate immediately understood what his superior intended.
"Understood. I'll arrange it right away."
Watching everyone on the warship spring into action and pour toward Baterilla Island, his gaze turned savage, and he made his decision.
"As long as the final result doesn't change, there won't be any problem."
"You bastard. Once I get my hands on you, I'll tear you to pieces!"
With that thought, he leapt impatiently from the warship and shot toward the center of the island.
Although this CP9 officer had already ordered that no information from the island be allowed to leak out at this moment, Spandine was one of the chiefs of CP9, and many of the people here were his trusted men.
So at that very same moment, everything happening on the island had already been reported through the Den Den Mushi.
...
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp were practically dragged out of bed.
When they arrived at Fleet Admiral Kong's office, Kong wasted no time and said directly,
"The Sky Pirates have appeared on Baterilla Island in the South Blue."
The moment those words were spoken, not only was Sengoku stunned, but Garp's expression also darkened.
Fortunately, Kong did not think too much of it. Or perhaps he was simply too anxious to care at the moment.
"According to our intelligence, they'll be staying on the island for a while longer. The two of you are to mobilize four warships and head there immediately. This is our chance to capture the Sky Pirates!"
"Understood!"
Sengoku saluted without the slightest hesitation. But Garp suddenly spoke up instead.
"It'll take at least two days for warships to get from here to Baterilla Island. I'd be better off going ahead alone..."
Both Kong and Sengoku were a little surprised that Garp had volunteered himself, but what he said did make sense.
Sengoku was a Devil Fruit user. The sea was a problem for him. Garp, on the other hand, had no such concern.
"Then we'll do it that way. Garp, you move out first. This time, we absolutely cannot allow them to keep poisoning this world."