"Moshi moshi, Dragon? There's something I'd like to ask your help with!"
"Dorry, Broggy, do you know any giant mercenary groups? Give me a contact number!"
"Hey! Old Lion, you still alive? If you're not dead, come to Fish-Man Island!"
"Joker, give me the contact info for Germa 66!"
"Ah, Shanks, schedule a time to keep G-5 busy for three hours for me. I owe you one!"
…
The second day after arriving at Fish-Man Island, a temporary residence at Coral Hill, outside Mermaid Cove.
Sakura, legs crossed and rocking back on her chair, reached out and hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Jinbei and the others watched, dumbfounded, as Sakura picked up calls, conversed, hung up, and repeated the process over and over.
The continuous stream of conversations with various contacts made even the onlookers feel parched.
The names mentioned ranged from pirates to underworld figures, mercenaries to revolutionaries, practically covering every shade of gray power on the sea.
"Incredible. Just how many people does she know?"
Jinbei's pupils trembled, his lips parting slightly.
"Not many, just these!"
Before anyone else could speak, Sakura walked over and slung an arm around his shoulder. "Also, help me ask Neptune if his army is interested in some real combat experience. They don't need to show their faces, just create disturbances underwater. The Higanbana Pirates can pay."
"Wait, Sakura-nee, where do we get the money to pay them?"
Having listened to the conversations all morning, Kuina finally extracted the most crucial point… payment.
"Silly child, we'll have it after this battle!"
Sakura narrowed her eyes, admiring the girl's stunned expression, and reached out to ruffle her head.
Kuina's brain had completely short-circuited, emitting imaginary smoke.
'What do you mean 'have it after the battle'? So you're already thinking about dividing the spoils before the fight even starts?'
But using money robbed from the World Government to hire people to rob the World Government... Well, she has to admit, it does have a certain appeal!
"I'll have to consult His Majesty Neptune about the army, but..."
Jinbei spread his webbed hands helplessly, covering his forehead. "Is it really okay for me to hear you plotting to rope Ryugu Palace into this?"
He regretted coming to this temporary residence. Now that he'd heard Sakura's scheming, he was caught between a rock and a hard place… telling Neptune would be awkward, not telling would also be awkward. Stuck in the middle.
"True, I shouldn't put you in a tough spot."
Sakura patted Leviathan on her shoulder. Leviathan opened her mouth and spat out a storage scroll.
Unrolling it before Jinbei, Sakura took out three vials of emerald liquid.
"These are creations of my ability. They're potent healing potions."
As she spoke, Sakura tossed the vials to Jinbei. "If King Neptune is willing to send troops, I'll give you five vials per soldier sent as payment. As for the healing effects, you can take these back and verify them slowly."
Jinbei gave the vials a serious look, tucking them into an inner pocket in his sleeve. "I will relay this to His Majesty Neptune exactly as you've said!"
With that, he stood up, the sound of his geta clacking against the floor as he left the temporary residence.
…
Three days later, Fish-Man Island, Fish-Man District!
"Hmph, that brat can't even find a decent meeting place? How shabby!"
A golden-haired old man floated in mid-air, arms crossed, complaining.
Behind him, Hody Jones, a fish-man who had just finished his shift at Ryugu Palace and returned here, noticed his appearance.
He instantly recognized the world-renowned pirate before him… Golden Lion Shiki!
'What a great opportunity!'
Hody Jones stared at the coating bubble surrounding Shiki. If he could just break that, he could claim the head of this 2.7 billion Berry pirate!
His muscles bulged, and the next second, he shot forward with the incredible swimming speed of a fish-man in water.
The steel trident of the Ryugu Palace's Royal Guard in his hand was raised high, about to pierce Shiki's barrier.
However, Shiki merely shifted his body slightly, then made a grasping motion with his hand.
"Your malicious intent is louder than a cannon blast. Remember to be more careful when ambushing someone in your next life!"
Shiki's cold gaze swept over Hody Jones as his hand clenched violently.
[Lion's Menace: Imperial Land Roll!]
The surrounding seawater suddenly erupted as if gripped by an invisible hand, squeezing Hody Jones.
Even the skin and bone structure of a fish-man, resistant to deep-sea pressure, emitted sounds of strain under the fruit-created pressure before his entire body exploded.
This straightforward display of power made the surrounding fish-men avert their eyes, no one daring to cast greedy looks at him anymore.
"Wow~, quite ruthless, Old Lion!"
Sakura, wreathed in iron clouds, stepped into the end of the street.
"Hmph, it's the lousy place you picked!"
Shiki flicked his now-flowing golden hair and snorted coldly.
"You came early yourself, and now you're blaming me!"
Sakura shook her head, standing in the center of Fish-Man District and forming hand seals.
Wood Release Chakra shot up unabated. Wherever it passed, white roses silently grew from the deep sea.
Gradually, chaotically spreading vines engulfed the entire Fish-Man District. From within the pure white petals, a predatory, menacing outline was revealed.
The criminals hiding here initially tried to resist, but after four or five of them were drained dry, they swarmed out of Fish-Man District, crashing into the traps laid by the Ryugu Palace's soldiers outside, getting arrested one by one.
"The venue is about ready! Next up is... air."
Satisfied, Sakura snapped her fingers.
Countless white roses began spewing Yarukiman Mangrove Tree resin. Soon, a giant coating bubble formed over Fish-Man District. As air was injected, the entire area was dehydrated.
To avoid too many powerful figures entering Fish-Man Island and causing an uproar, Sakura had chosen Fish-Man District as the meeting point.
First, it was already an illegal zone on Fish-Man Island, so any problems wouldn't affect the main island. Second, she could help King Neptune and Queen Otohime clean out the resentment festering here to prevent future tragedies.
With a wave of her hand, continuously growing trees constructed a large, exquisite hall. Sakura gestured for Shiki to enter.
"Now that's more like it."
Shiki lit a cigar for himself, puffing clouds of smoke as he walked in.
Afterwards, those invited by Sakura arrived at Fish-Man District one after another and entered the hall.
Representatives from the Revolutionary Army included Dragon, Emporio Ivankov, and Bartholomew Kuma. The Giant Mercenary Corps consisted of Oimo, Kashii, and ten accompanying giants. The commander of Germa, Vinsmoke Judge, and the Germa Army. The Ryugu Palace's military official Right Minister, and the Fish-Man Pirates' vice-captain, Aladdin...
Finally, there was one more person who unexpectedly found his way here through Germa's information channels.
A man who had recently risen to prominence in the underworld, the head of the Gran Tesoro syndicate… Gildo Tesoro!
Upon hearing about Sakura's proposed pharmaceutical business, he became very interested. Due to past circumstances, he was willing to purchase forty percent of Sakura's potion reserves upfront, greatly alleviating her current cash flow problems.
Inside the hall, looking at the assembled forces, Sakura unhesitatingly took the seat of honor.
"Now then, everyone, let's discuss the specific plans for attacking the World Government-controlled island, Punk Hazard!"