Looking toward the busy harbor, one could see ships that had once been used for smuggling now lined up neatly along the docks.
What was surprising was that every ship had been fitted with advanced positioning devices from the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
Those small, precise devices were like loyal guards, monitoring each vessel's every movement at all times and ensuring they would never return to their old criminal paths.
Sunlight spilled across the hulls, reflecting a metallic sheen, silently telling of the transformation this region was undergoing.
Even in the corners of the city streets, that change was visible everywhere.
The stray cats that had once wandered around unnoticed now all wore delicate miniature transmitter collars around their necks.
The indicator lights on the collars blinked faintly with a gentle glow, not only offering them a certain measure of safety, but also becoming a small symbol of the city's new order.
"The Brand Plan's first phase is complete."
Ron's voice was low and powerful, echoing through the quiet room.
After saying that, he slowly turned around.
The white coat he wore swayed gently with the motion, and its hem brushed lightly across the complex control panel.
That tiny movement was like pressing a hidden switch, instantly activating another program buried deep within the system.
In the next instant, a magnificent image appeared on the enormous screen.
The three-dimensional map of the North Blue suddenly became transparent.
Through layer after layer of seawater, the mysterious veil of the deep sea was slowly lifted, revealing the clear outline of a massive facility under intense construction.
A closer look made it easy to see that this enormous structure had been modified using Germa's advanced submarine technology.
Its vast scale and unique design were breathtaking.
It had a codename filled with hope and purpose.
New Ark.
The underwater fortress was like a shining pearl set deep within the ocean.
Outside the window, the world seemed to have been thrown into chaos by an invisible hand.
A dense, heavy curtain of rain poured down like the heavens had split open, crashing violently against the earth.
Every raindrop carried tremendous force, as if trying to swallow all things in the world.
The rapid, fierce rain kept striking the cold, smooth glass with sharp crackling sounds.
That noise sounded just like the World Government, hidden away in some dark corner, savagely tearing apart the old, sealed files of the North Blue with grim determination.
Every impact seemed to speak of the pain and struggle of past secrets being mercilessly exposed.
Far away, deep within mysterious and heavily guarded Mary Geoise, the Five Elders sat around a massive round table, their eyes fixed on the North Blue map spread before them.
At that moment, large areas of the map had been covered in an eye-catching blue, forming a terrifying blind spot.
The intelligence network that had once stretched everywhere, dense and interwoven, had now been ripped out by the roots, like a towering tree torn from the ground by a hurricane, leaving only desolation and blankness behind.
Every channel that had once delivered information without pause had now been severed.
In that instant, the world had lost control over the North Blue.
Inside the quiet laboratory, the lighting was soft and stable.
Suddenly, a faint mechanical sound broke the stillness as the automatic door slid open without a sound.
Then a brilliant holographic projection appeared above the polished projection table.
It was Reiju.
Her pink hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall, and crystalline droplets still clung to the ends.
They had not yet dried completely, glimmering faintly beneath the lights, making it clear that she had just hurried back from the storm-lashed North Blue.
Reiju raised her head slightly, her eyes filled with firmness and resolve.
"Father told me to remain here," she said softly. "From now on, Reiju belongs to you."
Her voice was gentle, but it carried a strength that allowed no doubt.
At the same time, the rain outside grew even fiercer, like thousands of soldiers charging across a battlefield.
The flag of the Eternal Divine Kingdom whipped violently in the storm, snapping sharply as though declaring its authority and ambition to the world.
And on the North Blue sea chart, which symbolized power and exploration, the blue-and-gold emblems marking the Divine Kingdom's territory were expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye, spreading like growing vines…
Rapidly reaching toward the unknown, challenging waters of the Grand Line.
...
Marine Headquarters.
At this moment, the place was undergoing an unprecedented upheaval, like hidden currents surging beneath a calm sea, ready to raise towering waves.
Inside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's solemn office, an oppressive atmosphere pressed in from every direction.
The heavy curtains were like a black barrier, shutting out every trace of sunlight and leaving the entire room steeped in a dim, mysterious gloom.
In that shadowed space, only the projection Transponder Snail gave off a cold blue light, like the eyes of a ghost.
It flickered uneasily across the faces of everyone present, reflecting their solemn and anxious expressions.
On the wall hung a huge sea chart.
It should have been a guide for navigation, a map marking the information of the seas.
But now, it looked horrifying.
The red-and-gold region representing the Eternal Divine Kingdom had already devoured the entire North Blue like a greedy, ferocious beast.
Its spread was like wildfire across dry grass, expanding toward the Grand Line at an unstoppable pace.
Everywhere it touched seemed to be dyed in a color that made the heart turn cold.
"Everyone, do you see this clearly?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice was low and powerful, like a rumble rising from beneath the earth.
His finger came down with tremendous force, stabbing heavily into the projection.
In an instant, the surrounding light patterns twisted violently around his knuckle, as if stirred by that overwhelming pressure.
With his movement, the image gradually sharpened before everyone's eyes.
The shocking scene made every person in the room suck in a cold breath.
Kaido had transformed into his majestic Azure Dragon form.
His enormous body coiled through the sky, radiating a terrifying presence as he escorted the Eternal Divine Kingdom's fleet with full attention.
Big Mom's children, each with their own strange personalities and formidable strength, were spread throughout the streets and alleys, maintaining order in a clear and organized manner.
Their presence made the once-lively cities quiet and tense.
And even more unbelievable was the Whitebeard Pirates, who had always been known for justice and freedom.
Even their symbol had been changed into a dual-badge design.
What did that mean?
It was undoubtedly a declaration to the world that they now stood on the same side as the Eternal Divine Kingdom.