Chapter 478: Great Harvest, Confused Pirates

Their observations confirmed everything Luffy had claimed. Under his leadership, the people of Wano Country genuinely loved the Marines with all their hearts. Here, the Marines truly embodied the justice they were sworn to uphold, becoming a real family to the civilians they protected.

After investigating the living conditions of Wano's residents, the three Vice Admirals went to observe the new G-66 recruits still in training, as well as the newly established Marine Academy on the island.

After watching for a while, the three Veterans were astonished by what they saw. The training regimen was intimately familiar to them—it mirrored exactly how they had risen through the ranks. Each had joined the Marines as ordinary recruits before demonstrating enough talent to be sent to Headquarters' Marine Academy for advanced training under Master Zephyr. This foundation had shaped them into the powerful officers they were today.

The G-66 branch's training methodology was identical to Headquarters', but with one significant advantage. The chief instructor Luffy had selected was none other than Yamato, daughter of Emperor Kaido—a formidable warrior proficient in all three Haki and a natural monster whose raw strength surpassed even theirs.

With such an exceptional training program and outstanding instructors, they could easily envision G-66 continuously producing talented Marines for years to come. Combined with its strategic location in the New World, the G-66 branch would undoubtedly become a critical stronghold for Marine operations in these dangerous waters—perhaps the most powerful asset in their ongoing efforts to maintain control over the New World.

The three Vice Admirals later reported all these observations to Fleet Admiral Sengoku—precisely what Luffy had intended. He had deliberately shown them these developments, wanting his achievements to be recognized by Sengoku and to increase his standing among the top brass.

Simultaneously, he aimed to use their testimony to spread word of his accomplishments throughout the Marines, enhancing his prestige and strengthening his influence within the organization. Only by building this foundation could he maximize his chances when competing for the position of Admiral in the future.

Before departing, Comil and his companions left behind sufficient weapons and equipment to arm ten thousand troops. They also transferred a formidable fleet consisting of one super-large warship, three large warships, and a full complement of ten medium-sized warships.

The super-large warship was a vessel typically reserved for Admirals and senior Marine officers, capable of accommodating an astonishing 1,500 to 1,800 personnel. The large warships were standard vessels used by the Marines when deploying Buster Call operations, each carrying 800 to 1,000 crew members. Though smaller in comparison, the medium-sized warships still carried a substantial complement of 400 to 600 Marines each.

These vessels weren't just ordinary ships—they were constructed by Water 7's finest shipwrights and incorporated sea-stone into their design. This allocation had been directly authorized by Sengoku, pulled from Headquarters' own inventory.

In truth, the super-large warship hadn't originally been intended for Luffy. He had negotiated extensively with Comil, agreeing to forfeit eight additional medium-sized warships in exchange for the flagship.

Of course, Comil's group hadn't left empty-handed. Before their departure, they received the promised 10,000 computers. They also purchased every product Olive Company had manufactured in recent days, including existing inventory—an additional 5,000 units that were carefully loaded into the warships' holds.

Both parties agreed that Marine vessels would periodically visit Onigashima to collect new shipments. Sengoku even directed any warships passing near Onigashima to make detours for pickup.

Soon, pirates throughout the New World observed a curious phenomenon: Marine warships frequently visiting Onigashima. Sometimes it would be just one or two vessels; other times, an entire fleet would arrive. The officers leading these missions were never below Rear Admiral rank, and on one particularly notable occasion, Admiral Kizaru himself appeared without apparent reason, enjoying Luffy's hospitality on the island.

Pirates who had previously targeted Onigashima for plunder immediately reconsidered after witnessing this parade of Marine power. None dared to harbor further thoughts of raiding the island.

As a result, merchants could travel to Onigashima with unprecedented safety, driving economic development and prosperity throughout the region.

Such significant activity naturally caught the attention of "Big News" Morgans, who reported extensively on these developments. The world became curious—what were the Marines planning with such an impressive show of force?

Some inquisitive minds connected these movements to the recent alliance between Kaido and Big Mom. Speculation grew that the Marines were preparing for war against the two Emperors, using Onigashima as a supply depot and staging ground for an impending conflict.

Even the subjects of these rumors—Beast Kaido and "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin—began to grow suspicious.

Far across the New World, in the Totland Kingdom, Whole Cake Island stood as the personal stronghold of Emperor Big Mom and the capital of her sugary domain.

The island itself resembled a massive, multi-layered cream cake straight from a child's dream. Many buildings were crafted from edible materials—cream, chocolate, biscuits, and other confections. Any sweet-lover who visited would be driven to ecstasy, refusing to leave such a paradise.

Of course, staying was always an option. The Totland Kingdom prided itself as the "World Kingdom," welcoming friends of all races to settle within its borders.

The only prerequisite was willingness to pay the "life tax"—one month of each resident's lifespan surrendered every six months as compensation for Big Mom's protection.