"Hahahahaha! Where do you think you're running, brat? Just obediently join the Marines with this old man!"
Leaping in midair, the Marine Hero Garp seized his grandson, laughing loudly as he slammed the boy straight down from the sky.
"Falling into the Sea!"
Boom!
The plaza floor, paved with solid stone slabs, was smashed into a massive crater, and the entire square trembled violently.
The corner of Kizaru's mouth twitched involuntarily.
Sometimes, he felt that it was entirely understandable why Vice Admiral Garp had failed to change this kid's mind after all these years.
Every time he watched Garp discipline Luffy, it felt less like training and more like an execution.
No wonder Luffy was so monstrously talented. Without that level of talent, there was simply no way he could survive under Garp's hands.
Choosing not to interfere in Garp's family affairs, Kizaru casually returned to the Marine Headquarters building.
He went to report the situation to Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
When Sengoku learned that Vegapunk had said the research would take at most another four or five months to complete, his expression was clearly filled with joy.
"The Five Elders have said that once Dr. Vegapunk's research is complete, we can launch the final war against the Beasts Pirates," Sengoku said.
"At this rate, the moment we've been waiting for is almost here!"
In eight hundred years, when had the Marines ever been reduced to such a miserable state?
The existence of the Beasts Pirates had already become an unprecedented threat to the Marines—and to the entire world itself.
But if it came to a direct, head-on war, Sengoku believed the Marines would stand no chance at all.
And so, for now, they could only place their hopes in the Government's secret weapon.
After finishing his report, Kizaru unhurriedly prepared to go grab lunch.
By coincidence, he ran into another colleague at the headquarters cafeteria.
"Oh, Issho."
Smiling as he carried his tray of food, he sat down across from his fellow admiral.
"Noodles again today?"
"Hoh hoh."
The blind swordsman wore an honest, good-natured smile.
"Ton-kotsu ramen today. It's been a few days since I last had it."
"You really do love your noodles."
Kizaru chuckled softly.
Over the years, this man—who had risen straight from an ordinary civilian to Admiral during the World Military Draft—had earned the recognition of the entire Navy through his overwhelming strength and gentle conduct.
It could be said that the emergence of both him and Ryokugyu had greatly eased the World Government's shortage of top-tier combat power after that great war.
"Because I'll be stationed at Mary Geoise again soon."
Fujitora let out a sigh.
"I can't eat well there, so while I'm at headquarters, I need to enjoy my meals properly."
"Hahaha."
Kizaru laughed loudly.
"Issho, you think too much. Food is food no matter where you eat it, isn't it?"
"Hoh hoh, it's different."
The smile on Fujitora's face never faded.
"It really is different."
In that war years ago, the World Government had suffered devastating losses.
CP0 was almost entirely wiped out, and the God's Knights—the elite force directly under the Celestial Dragons—had been severely weakened as well.
As a result, the security of the new Mary Geoise became a serious concern.
To address this issue, two of the four Marine admirals would be permanently stationed at the new Mary Geoise.
"The decisive battle should begin soon."
Borsalino said with a smile.
"Be ready, Issho."
Fujitora slowly nodded.
Yet, at times, doubts would still surface in his heart.
Only after joining the Marines and standing at the rank of admiral, occupying such a lofty position in this world, had he been able to see its true shape with greater clarity.
And with that clarity came uncertainty.
Between the Beasts Pirates and the World Government, which was truly the better choice?
For now, however, no one was destined to give him an answer.
Somewhere along the Red Line, a brand-new, pristine white city stood silently against the land.
"Sakazuki-san!"
Admiral Ryokugyu, his face slightly flushed, raised his wine cup high.
"How about a drink?"
However, the man he had always respected said nothing at all, merely lifting a massive lump of iron again and again as he trained in silence.
"So diligent!"
Ryokugyu couldn't help but praise loudly.
"As expected of the person I admire most, Sakazuki!"
Akainu did not respond.
Because the gap was far too great.
The difference between him and that bastard Ian was simply enormous.
If he wanted to defeat the Beasts Pirates, then he had to become stronger. He had to become even stronger.
That was why, over these past few years, Akainu had never stopped training.
Compared to him, the much younger Ryokugyu appeared rather lazy.
Though he spoke endlessly about how much he respected Akainu, whenever Akainu asked him to train together, the man always found excuses to wriggle out of it. Over time, Akainu stopped bothering with him altogether.
While one man trained and the other cheered from the sidelines, deep within the heart of New Mary Geoise—
The Five Elders knelt on one knee before a certain figure clad in a black robe.
"Vegapunk's research has already produced results. At most, it will take another four or five months to fully supply that weapon with energy."
The bald elder, Warcury, spoke respectfully.
"As long as that weapon can be completely revived, there will no longer be anything in this world that we need to fear."
That was power capable of destroying the world in the truest sense of the word.
The figure shrouded in black, his appearance completely obscured, gave a faint nod.
"Then begin the preparations."
"Prepare for a new war."
"Yes!"
In the first half of the Grand Line—Paradise—within the kingdom known as Alabasta.
King Cobra stood inside his palace, speaking to someone through a Den Den Mushi.
"Our country can barely hold on any longer. If the taxes continue to rise, we won't even be able to guarantee the basic livelihoods of our people."
A voice on the other end complained bitterly.
"The ones up above don't treat us like humans at all."
"At the World Conference three years ago, even though we protested together, it accomplished nothing. The government didn't take it seriously in the slightest."
Another voice spoke up, thick with irritation. "The Beasts Pirates have truly become their universal excuse. No matter what happens, they can always brush it off with that reason!"
"Of course," another whispered softly, "better the Beasts Pirates than the World Government, after all."
"Yeah. Over these six years, Dressrosa and Prodence have developed so well. King Riku, Elizabello, you've done nicely! Not like us!"
"Ha ha ha!"
Through the Den Den Mushi came the deep, resonant laughter of King Elizabello II of the Prodence Kingdom in the New World. "No need to be jealous. Once the Beasts Pirates take over the world, everyone will be equal!"
"So, Neptune, when will the war finally begin?" someone asked. "When exactly will the Beasts Pirates seize this world?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure myself," Neptune's voice carried a hint of helplessness. "Ian wouldn't share such confidential information with me, of course."
"Just wait a little longer," Cobra finally spoke. "It's been so many years already; we can wait a bit more."
The small alliance of nations formed during the World Conference had grown considerably by now, encompassing kings from numerous allied governments.
North Blue, on an island.
A man with golden hair sat in a chair, a stack of Tarot cards spread neatly before him on the table.
He slowly flipped through a few cards, arranging them in order.
"Finally… it's about to begin?"
he murmured.
"Such a pity I cannot take part in this war myself."
"The Beasts Pirates' chances of victory are…"
**********
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