Initiating the Buster Call

"How did it go? Did you get anything out of him?"

Seeing Sakazuki walking over with a grim expression, Jon immediately asked.

Sakazuki replied, "John does know what's going on, and he was indeed invited. Aside from him, many other former members of the Rocks Pirates have also gathered. According to him, the reason for their assembly is to deal with a major enemy."

"A major enemy? Gathering the former Rocks Pirates just to take on one person? Who could be important enough to warrant that? Whitebeard?" Pemberton asked quickly upon hearing that.

"No. It's Barrett. Douglas Bullet, former crew member of the Roger Pirates."

"Him?" Jon was surprised too.

Sakazuki continued, "Jon, you've met this Barrett, haven't you? He's become quite infamous in the New World lately. To say he's the most insane pirate in recent times wouldn't be an exaggeration."

"This guy's like a madman, going around killing people—especially powerful pirates, all slain in cruel and brutal ways. That includes quite a few former Rocks Pirates, which is why some of them want to join forces to take Barrett down."

"Jon, you've met him before. What do you think of him?"

Images of Barrett flashed through Jon's mind—he had nearly fallen victim to him once.

"He's very strong. Even a few years ago, he was already formidable. Now, he's likely even stronger. The guy's a lunatic, obsessed with strength. His ultimate goal was to surpass Roger. Back then, only Roger could keep him in check. Now that Roger's dead, he's completely lost it—roaming around, challenging and killing anyone. Not surprising at all."

Sakazuki nodded. "Now that we know their goal, things are easier. Barrett, being a former Roger Pirate, is a major threat to us. He must be taken down."

Sakazuki's plan was sound, but by the time they reached their destination, it was already too late.

"How many bodies are there…?"

Pemberton was shocked by the sight of corpses littered across the island and floating near the coastline. The Marines had taken time to gather their forces, so they arrived slower. What greeted them was a battlefield in ruins.

Corpses were everywhere—some freshly dead and horribly mangled. Among them were several recognizable faces—well-known pirates from the New World.

And now, so many powerful pirates had all perished here.

"It must've been Barrett's doing. He's a Devil Fruit user too."

Jon scanned the area, noting the remnants of destroyed ships, scattered rubble, and twisted metal. All of it pointed to Barrett's power—his ability to merge with inorganic materials he touches, turning them into extensions of himself. A terrifying ability in Barrett's hands.

Sakazuki's face darkened. "We underestimated him. He doesn't form a crew, doesn't join any—just acts alone. What is he after?"

"I think it's best to deal with him quickly," Jon replied. "Right now he's targeting pirates. But it won't stop there."

Without Roger to restrain him, Barrett had spiraled into full-blown madness. If left unchecked, he'd cause even greater chaos.

"I'll contact the New World's base commanders and order a full search for Barrett. The moment he's found, we'll go after him."

"Sakazuki, make sure they know—he's no ordinary opponent. If they're not strong enough, they shouldn't engage."

Jon had no intention of seeing Marines die needlessly.

"If possible," he added, "I suggest requesting a Buster Call."

Both Sakazuki and Pemberton's expressions changed drastically.

"Jon, is that really necessary? A Buster Call is no small matter."

"I'm not joking," Jon said seriously. "This isn't paranoia. Based on my assessment, Barrett is at least as strong as I am—maybe stronger. Even two Vice Admirals might not be enough to take him down. A Buster Call is for the sake of security."

"I'll consider it."

Had it been anyone else, Sakazuki wouldn't have even said that much. But this was Jon.

"Jon, are you coming back to the base with us, or continuing the pursuit?"

Jon thought for a moment. "I'll follow the trail and try to catch up with Barrett. If I'm lucky, I might still be able to find him."

"You sure you'll be okay on your own?" Sakazuki asked.

Jon replied confidently, "Barrett's strong, but I'm no pushover either. Even if I can't beat him, I won't lose. Don't worry, Sakazuki."

"Then be careful."

Though they hadn't captured their target, the mission wasn't a complete failure—they now understood the threat Barrett posed.

"You really plan to go after Barrett?" Pemberton asked after Sakazuki left.

"I'll give it a shot," Jon said. "He's a huge threat. The sooner we deal with him, the better."

Unlike Whitebeard and other pirates, Barrett showed no hesitation in killing. Especially since Roger's death, he'd descended into pure insanity.

Jon and his team followed the trail, but unfortunately, they lost it—Barrett had slipped away.

With no leads, they resumed patrolling the seas, continuing their search for pirates.

During this time, Jon's team encountered two pirate attacks. They handled one group, but the other eluded them after a long chase.

However, Jon kept hearing rumors about Barrett—everywhere he went, chaos followed. Pirates were terrified of him, fleeing at the mere sight of him.

Barrett's reign of terror in the New World was only growing. And now, he wasn't just killing pirates—he was hunting famous warriors at sea, even ambushing Marine troops.

In response, the Navy placed a high bounty on Barrett's head, revealing his identity as a former Roger Pirate to the public.

But even that couldn't stop him. Barrett kept wreaking havoc, turning the New World into a mess.

Then, Barrett destroyed an entire small country.

That was the final straw.

Under Sakazuki's recommendation, Fleet Admiral Sengoku authorized a Buster Call against Barrett.

As soon as the order was given, Jon received the summon from Sakazuki to return to G1 base.

Sakazuki was one of the five Vice Admirals chosen for the Buster Call, and naturally, Jon was recruited as well.

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