One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

Thanks to the combined efforts of Wright and Dr. Vegapunk, the fourth-generation Lightforged Beacon was quickly perfected.

The older second-generation beacons could no longer be upgraded, but the third-generation beacons—designed entirely by Vegapunk—were relatively easy to enhance. However, due to the larger size of the fourth-generation beacon, the portable third-generation models were still preferred for locations where constant transmission wasn't necessary.

In fact, even the second-generation beacons retained their specific uses in certain circumstances.

After completing the setup of the Lightforged Beacons in Alabasta as a true deliveryman, Wright returned to the G-5 Branch to oversee operations. Deployment of additional beacons would naturally be handled by Marine Headquarters once production was complete.

Meanwhile, Dr. Vegapunk was secretly relocated by the World Government to a hidden island in the New World—an island with no magnetic field, making it impossible for a Log Pose to locate.

According to Vegapunk, he specifically requested an island with a rich ecosystem to establish his new laboratory. And an island in the New World that boasts a rich ecosystem, lacks magnetic properties, and is under World Government jurisdiction?

Wright could already guess—Punk Hazard, known as the "Treasure Trove of Life"!

Since Punk Hazard was within the patrol range of the G-5 Branch, Wright received direct orders from Sengoku on behalf of the World Government shortly after returning to the base:

Erase all records and patrol routes involving Punk Hazard from G-5's logs!

"Old man Sengoku, it's not the first time the Marines' reputation has been dragged through the mud," Wright said into the Den Den Mushi's receiver. The snail displayed Sengoku's mustache twitching, clearly reflecting his displeased mood.

"Follow the orders. I'll ensure Vegapunk's research lab is properly secured. Someone of Dr. Vegapunk's caliber… we'll bring him under our banner!"

Letting out a heavy sigh as if having made a major decision, Sengoku continued, "As for Borsalino, Dr. Vegapunk..."

The Den Den Mushi's expression turned strange. "It seems Vegapunk has taken a particular interest in Borsalino's Devil Fruit abilities. I've also reviewed the new weapon designs he's proposed."

"Once this current situation settles, we'll arrange for Borsalino to make a 'small sacrifice.' The Navy's weaponry needs an upgrade!"

"..."

Wright silently observed a moment of mourning for Kizaru while internally applauding Sengoku.

Sacrificing Kizaru a little to secure Vegapunk's loyalty? It was clearly a worthwhile trade.

What's more, among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Bartholomew Kuma was increasingly valued and trusted by the World Government. He had already earned the distinction of being the only Warlord entirely obedient to their commands.

This man... was indispensable.

Pulling his thoughts back to the present, Wright updated Sengoku on the situation at G-5:

"Old man Sengoku, although I've been training the G-5 Marines, it feels like more and more personnel are requesting transfers to the branch recently."

"Before you arrived, the G-5 Branch had a casualty rate of 30%. Since your arrival, that number has dropped to 0.3%. Not to mention, the branch's achievements and merit acquisitions have tripled. Why do you think more people want to transfer?"

The Den Den Mushi's expression finally softened into a faint smile. "It seems your recent exclusive interview had some unexpected effects. Morgans didn't exaggerate the situation in his coverage—surprising, considering his usual tendency to blow things out of proportion."

"Previously, he'd have plastered this all over the news, and I'd have had to figure out how to suppress it."

"Well, Morgans did visit Fish-Man Island recently, and it seems he's been distracted by mermaid-related headlines. My contributions probably don't interest him much anymore."

"No wonder the World Economic News has been featuring so much gossip lately," Sengoku said, half-amused, half-annoyed.

"Meanwhile, the three 'Emperors of the Sea' have been testing the waters near G-5 to varying degrees," Wright noted, drumming his fingers on his desk. "It's likely we'll see significant figures making moves soon."

"Smoker and his team can handle the ordinary members of the pirate crews, but if elite officers show up, they're just going to get themselves killed."

"As for Issho, his strength makes him a trump card. Deploying him prematurely could expose our plans and harm the Marines' overall strategy."

"So, if I step in personally, it'll likely draw the full attention of the three Emperor crews, increasing pressure on G-5 significantly. I'll need reinforcements from Headquarters—how's the new warship program progressing? Can the designs be realized?"

"That's right, Issho's involvement should be reserved for critical moments," Sengoku agreed, reviewing the shipbuilding schedule.

"The new warships will be fully deployed in a month. Your design... let's just say the engineering team hasn't stopped complaining."

"With the new warships in play, G-5's combat capabilities should suffice for now. But remember this, Wright: Hold off those lunatics in the New World. Headquarters needs more time to train the next generation of Marines to face these increasingly dangerous pirates!"

"Simply having top-tier combat power—even with the Lightforged Beacons—won't be enough to handle so many enemies!"

"Understood. Rest assured, as long as the three Emperors themselves don't make a move, the G-5 Branch will not fall!"

Two months later, the new warship Wright had named Dawn finally arrived at the G-5 Branch base, fully equipped and ready for action.

The massive ship docked slowly at the port. Its main sail bore the word Dawn, and its prow, unlike standard Marine warships, featured numerous auxiliary devices surrounding a distinctive main cannon.

As the ship anchored, Wright led Smoker, Hina, Ain, Issho, and a team of the finest shipwrights and elite Marines aboard for inspection.

"Wright, is this your modified design?" Smoker asked, puffing on two cigars simultaneously, his smoke trailing behind him. "This is the Dawn, right? With all those crystals, once you power it up, it'll be visible from miles away!"

"It's like a giant lighthouse. Why not call it the 'Beacon'?"

"..."

What lighthouse? Dawn is so much more elegant!

"What, you don't like the Lightforged Crystals? Then don't board when you're injured!" Wright retorted, raising an eyebrow. "These crystals ensure that even during boarding battles, Marines will have some degree of recovery capability!"

Wright glanced at the delighted expressions of the Marines and shipwrights, then at Smoker's darkening face, and added smugly, "This is the world's first self-healing warship!"

"Hina appreciates it. These crystals are remarkable—Smoker, you just don't understand their beauty," Hina teased, stepping on Smoker's foot as he grimaced, lighting yet another cigar.

"Vice Admiral Wright, while the Dawn is comparable in size to other warships, it requires fewer crew members. Will this affect combat performance?" Ain inquired after reviewing the ship's specifications.

"Not at all. The Dawn's unique features allow us to streamline medical and operational staff significantly. Combined with the Holy Light, its mobility and defensive capabilities are enhanced."

"This is a warship designed for elites. It enables sustained combat and reduces the need for reserve personnel. With only the best crew members aboard, its combat potential will be fully realized!"

"Wait until we see it in action—then you'll witness its true power!"

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