What is Buster Call?
Buster Call is one of the most destructive military operations launched by the World Government's naval forces. This attack, which can only be called by certain high-ranking individuals, involves directing a fleet consisting of five warships and ten elite Vice Admirals to a single point. The goal is not to destroy the enemy, but to wipe that geography and everyone in it off the map. The purpose of Buster Call goes beyond deterrence; it is to eliminate a threat or secret on behalf of the World Government.
The system is measured not by the number of warships, but by the orders received. When a Buster Call is issued, who the target is, which allies will be harmed, or civilian casualties are completely irrelevant. In this sense, it is not a strategic operation but a political execution mechanism. The form of justice tilts in favor of absolute power with this call. As Robin puts it, this is a method of “silencing the world.”
Enes Lobby's Destruction Order
The issuance of the Buster Call to Enes Lobby is one of the rare moments when the World Government disregarded its legal structure. The destruction of the court and judicial system on this island was concrete proof that the government was willing to eliminate even its own institutions if necessary. The target here was not only Nico Robin and the Straw Hat crew, but also the “truth” that they did not want to be known.
Spandine's Destruction of the Ohara
The most dramatic example of the Buster Call being used for the first time took place on the island of Ohara. This island, home to historians and archaeologists, was destroyed solely for the sake of information. As a result of the Buster Call summoned by Spandine, thousands of civilians were killed without any distinction. One of the most heartbreaking details was that those who gave the order were never present on the field.
Aokiji and Akainu Participated in the Same Operation
Both Aokiji and Akainu were present during the Buster Call on Ohara. However, the true nature of the operation revealed the moral differences between these two admirals. While Aokiji spared Nico Robin, Akainu destroyed even a civilian escape boat, sacrificing his own allies. These events can be seen as a precursor to the power struggle that would later unfold at Marineford.
The Golden Salpa and the Escaping Boat Disaster
The small boat that managed to escape from Ohara was sunk by Akainu himself, despite having civilians on board. This incident serves as a striking example of how absolute the Buster Call order was. The objective was not only to eliminate the main target but also to erase any remaining traces.
Who Can Issue the Buster Call Order?
This deadly attack can only be initiated by the highest-ranking World Government officials. Decisions are typically made at the level of the Five Elders (Gorosei) and carried out through the Marine Headquarters. However, as seen in the Enies Lobby incident, specially authorized agents may also possess this authority.
The War Triggered by Den Den Mushi
The special Den Den Mushi (communication snails) used to call the Buster Call are different from the ordinary ones. These creatures, with black shells and markings, carry a priority signal that can mobilize dozens of warships with a single press. It is essentially a call button with no return.
The Shadow of Death on CP9's Back
During the Enies Lobby incident, despite capturing Nico Robin, the CP9 team was deemed a failure by the government and discarded. When the Buster Call was issued, agents were still on the island. The government was ruthless enough to sacrifice even its own special forces without hesitation.
The Apocalypse in Robin's Memory
Nico Robin's fear of the Buster Call was not just physical—it was a mental wreck. As a young child, she witnessed her mother, friends, and the entire island being destroyed before her eyes. This trauma caused Robin to distrust any group for a long time and to constantly flee in order to survive. For her, the term “Buster Call” did not mean ‘death’; it meant “the destruction of everything.”
Vegapunk's Clues Were Destroyed
When Ohara was destroyed by the Buster Call, hundreds of historical documents and archaeological artifacts that could have been the foundation for Vegapunk's work were reduced to ashes. This destruction demonstrated that even technological advancement could be hindered by the World Government and that progress could be viewed as a political threat.
The Power Imbalance of War Ships
Buster Call ships are elite naval units each commanded by separate admirals, but they are not always equal in power. The varying levels of destruction inflicted on Ohara and Enies Lobby demonstrate that the ships' capabilities vary depending on their mission and the tactical orders they receive. Thus, the Buster Call is not a format; it is a concept.
Monkey D. Garp's Silence
Despite having the power to stop the massacre in Ohara, Garp remained silent. This stance, which contradicts his grandson Luffy's sense of justice, revealed how deeply Garp's identity as a Marine is entrenched in the system. This event was a pivotal moment that deepened the contradictions in Garp's character.
The Uninvestigated Disaster
No investigation or internal audit was conducted either at Enies Lobby or after the Buster Call in Ohara. The fact that no one was held accountable even after the deaths of thousands was the clearest evidence that this call was a “license to kill” protected by the system.
The Straw Hat Crew's Nightmare Comes True
When the Buster Call was issued at Enies Lobby, the Straw Hat crew faced absolute annihilation for the first time. Faced with enemy ships raining cannonballs from the sky, even Luffy had no choice but to flee rather than fight. This was the moment when the crew's sense of invincibility was shattered for the first time.
Connection to Pluton
It is said that the destructive power of the ancient weapon Pluton surpasses even that of the Buster Call. However, ironically, the existence of Pluton was used as the justification for the Buster Call. In other words, the government used the threat of another destruction to justify the destruction it sought to create.
The Critical Timing of the Plan to Rescue Robin
When the Buster Call was issued, every second counted in Franky and Usopp's plan to rescue Robin. The difference between the moment the island began to collapse and the moment Robin was freed from her chains was perfectly timed, both in terms of character development and narrative tension. This event demonstrated that timing can be as crucial as war itself.
Justice Without an Envoy
In the Ohara incident, the World Government issued the Buster Call order directly without any warning or mediator. This represented the silent, fear-based regime of an absolutist order that prioritized annihilation over diplomacy.
The World Government's Double Standard
The government's tolerance of major crimes in politically complex regions like Fishman Island, yet its decision to destroy Ohara solely because it contained archaeological information, revealed that the system targeted threat rather than justice. Buster Call was the most blatant example of this double standard.
Destruction as a Symbol
Buster Call is more than physical destruction; it is used to create a lasting symbol of fear in people's memories. This is why the visual destruction at Enies Lobby had a greater impact than even the Marineford War. For people, Buster Call is not an attack; it is “the world falling silent.”
The Suppression of Independent Journalists
It is implied that several independent journalists who wanted to write about the events following the Buster Call at Enies Lobby disappeared. It becomes clear that the government targets not only physical destruction but also the spread of information, hence its control over the media to “maintain silence.”
Vegapunk's Memory Recovery
The claim that some of the books destroyed in Ohara were rescued on the orders of the giant Monkey D. Dragon and later reached Vegapunk's secret laboratories suggests that the information the Buster Call sought to destroy was not lost forever. This hints that the war against information cannot always be won.
The Experimental Escape of the Ohara Children
The theory that not only Nico Robin but also a handful of children managed to escape the destruction in Ohara and are now living on different islands under different identities is frequently discussed among fans. Although this detail has not been officially confirmed, it raises questions about the absolute success of Buster Call.
Fighting with Knowledge Instead of Revenge
After everything she went through, Nico Robin chose not to seek revenge, but to resist with knowledge. Her continued pursuit of archaeology and the Poneglyphs became one of the rare examples that thwarted the fear Buster Call sought to instill. This stance is also unique in terms of character development.
An Order That Cannot Be Revoked
Once the Buster Call is issued, it cannot be revoked. Even though Spandam accidentally issued it, the signal could not be canceled. This demonstrated that the system operates in an absolute manner, even allowing no room for human error; yet it also revealed its blindness.
A Weapon Turning Against Its Creator
Ironically, Spandam, the son of Spandine, one of the first users of the Buster Call, also found himself caught up in the same disaster. The Buster Call acted like a generational curse, bringing even those who summoned it to the brink of annihilation.