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Under the watchful eyes of the Marines, three ships slowly approached the harbour.
The atmosphere was tense as three Warlords disembarked one after another, causing the surrounding Marines to swallow nervously, sweat slipping down their faces.
The status of the Seven Warlords was undeniably special. Chosen by the World Government, each one was a powerful pirate in their own right—true titans of the sea.
"Dracule Mihawk!"
"Sun Pirates' captain, Jinbe the Knight of the Sea!"
"And the newly appointed Warlord, Marshall D. Teach, who traded Ace to the Marines!"
"These three are all incredibly powerful!"
"It's said that Bartholomew Kuma is already at Marineford, which makes four Warlords gathered here."
"This is the first time since the system was established that so many have assembled!"
The Marines murmured among themselves, eyes fixed on the trio. "This is an unprecedented battle. With the World Government's direct orders, not even the Warlords could refuse to show up!"
"Yeah... especially since this time, the enemy is that man." As those words fell, silence swept over everyone, and their expressions grew grim.
They knew full well—the real storm wasn't now, but coming soon, and it would shake the world.
Led by the Marines, the three Warlords made their way toward the Marineford headquarters, maintaining a certain distance between them.
At the front was Mihawk, his face expressionless. Jinbe followed closely behind, a troubled frown on his face. At the rear, Marshall D. Teach wore a mysterious grin, impossible to read.
"Zehahahaha! What a historic event! I can't wait to see what happens next! The Marines have shown the world their guts!"
Laughing as he walked, Teach's voice grated on the nerves of many officers around him. Not many among them were fond of him.
The three Warlords were soon led into the headquarters, each to their own designated rest area. Not long after, another Warlord arrived.
"Donquixote Doflamingo!"
"All the Warlords have arrived at Marineford, except for Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress."
To the Marines, this was a remarkable occasion—surprising even. Since the Seven Warlords system was introduced, this was the first time so many had gathered in one place.
"Six of the Warlords are already here. What about the Empress, the one known as the most beautiful woman in the world?"
"She wouldn't miss this, would she?" The Marines' hearts raced at the thought. A woman of such fame and beauty stirred anticipation.
"She's arrived, but stopped at Impel Down first."
"Impel Down? What's Boa Hancock doing there?"
"Who knows?"
Meanwhile, in the Fleet Admiral's office, the latest updates arrived.
"Then I'll leave the Warlord meeting to you. Those guys aren't exactly the easiest to deal with," Sengoku said seriously.
"Leave it to me," Arashi replied with a soft smile."Given the magnitude of this event, I believe they'll at least know what's at stake."
He stood up and walked out. "So far, four Warlords have arrived: the world's greatest swordsman Dracule Mihawk, Jinbe the Knight of the Sea, Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, and Donquixote Doflamingo."
A Marine major quickly followed in the hallway and reported, "Has Hancock arrived yet?" Arashi asked casually.
"Empress Boa Hancock will be the last to arrive, but should be here within the hour," the major responded.
As Arashi's aide and liaison officer, he had already gathered and organised all the key information.
"So then, they'll all be present. In that case, let's not waste any time," Arashi said with a smile.
"The meeting will begin in three hours in the roundtable conference hall. Go fetch Bartholomew Kuma and Gecko Moria from the training grounds."
The major nodded and hurried off. There were only three hours left until the meeting began, and plenty still needed to be arranged. There was no room for delay.
Arashi returned to his own office. He had his own working space as a Marine Admiral, though he rarely used it.
Eveya maintained the office. When he opened the door, he found her organising the paperwork. Seeing him, her face lit up with surprise and joy.
"Admiral Arashi!" He walked in and casually handed her his Justice cloak, which she took and gently hung on the coat rack.
"So, how is it? My office shouldn't have too much going on, right?" he asked with a chuckle.
"There is! But it's mostly minor things. Since you've been working in the Fleet Admiral's office lately, most documents have been redirected there," Eveya replied cheerfully.
"But one file came in today—about the upcoming Warlord meeting." Arashi raised an eyebrow and took his seat. He opened the file that had already been placed on the desk.
"These folks move fast—already prepared a speech for the meeting?" he said with a laugh.
He had to admit that the writing from Marineford's administrative officers was excellent.
The speech was eloquent and passionate, the kind that stirred the heart just by reading it.
It sounded like a call for pirates to awaken their consciences and abandon piracy to become Marines.
"But putting this in front of them won't work. If you want them to act, it won't be through brainwashing speeches," Arashi said, setting the paper aside with a chuckle.
"I agree," Eveya replied. "For pirates like these, only strength can make them comply."
Arashi nodded and picked up another file. Unlike the thousand-word inspirational speech, this was filled with practical intelligence—detailed dossiers on each of the seven Warlords.
Their powers, history, personalities, and connections were all laid out clearly, even using a tree diagram format that made it easy to follow.
"Now this is more like it," Arashi grinned. Eveya stood beside him with a smile, waiting for him to finish reading.
"Seven people, seven lives, seven stories," Arashi murmured. He couldn't help but reflect.
If you put each of their lives on paper, you'd have wildly different tales—more thrilling than any novel.
A novel is just one person's imagination, but real life is a tangled, crashing reality of countless beings.
Time passed quickly. Before long, the three hours were up.
Inside the Marineford headquarters' roundtable conference lounge, a group of powerful figures sat scattered among the sofas and chairs.
There was little conversation between them—they didn't know each other well and were all kings of their seas.
Each one believed in their strength, and with that came pride. When the strong meet the strong, it doesn't always lead to mutual respect.
More often than not, especially among pirates, it creates friction.
Boa Hancock sat with a cold expression, her long legs glistening under the lights.
Her high heels revealed her pale feet and the faint outline of her toes—just enough to hint at their perfect beauty.
One glance, and it was clear what kind of flawless feet lay hidden beneath.
On the table before her sat a cup of coffee. Behind her, the Marines stationed there dared not even look at her. They all bowed their heads, hearts pounding in their chests.
As expected of the world's most beautiful woman, even a fleeting glimpse was almost enough to overwhelm them.
Hancock raised her head slightly, frowning toward the lounge's doorway. Her sleek black hair shifted with the motion, cascading over her shoulders.
Every movement she made exuded a unique, irresistible charm. Marshall D. Teach still wore a grin, sipping a cup of hot tea.
"When does the meeting begin?" A deep voice suddenly rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
The rear admiral in charge of the lounge quickly said, "The notice will come shortly. Please wait just a little longer."
"We've already been here for three hours," Doflamingo said with a chuckle. "Even without the meeting, I already know what you Marines want. It's obvious, isn't it?"
With that, his gaze shifted suddenly, landing on someone silent since arriving.
Gecko Moria.
"If I didn't still vaguely remember your face," Doflamingo said with a smirk, "I wouldn't have recognised you at all."
"Defeated by a snot-nosed rookie… It must've been a heavy blow for you. Gecko Moria!"
Moria slowly looked up at those words and gave Doflamingo a cold glance. "Past failures don't mean anything to me. What matters now… is tomorrow!"
Lately, Moria could feel himself being reborn with each passing day. It wasn't just physical—his spirit and will had also evolved.
He had seen many truths about life and now understood what was truly valuable. Doflamingo was taken aback. His expression froze for a moment as he stared blankly at Moria.
…Had this guy lost his mind? But soon, he burst out laughing. "Fufufufufu~Now this is getting interesting!"
Only a few days had passed, yet his fellow Warlord, Gecko Moria, seemed like a completely different person.
Sitting cross-legged on the centre table, Moria scanned the room quietly, observing everyone.
Aside from Moria, the others still seemed normal, giving Doflamingo a slight relief.
Wait… something's off. That guy, Bartholomew Kuma… he's changed too. Doflamingo narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming unreadable.
He felt that all of this was somehow connected to that man. At that moment, a Marine officer at the door stepped forward with a message.
"Everyone, please proceed to the Round Table Conference Hall. The Warlord meeting is about to begin!"
The moment the Rear Admiral spoke, the seven Warlords in the lounge all glanced over, their eyes flashing with interest. Then, one by one, they rose and headed for the door.
The Round Table Conference Hall was right next to the lounge, just a short walk away.
"Who's presiding over the meeting this time?" Doflamingo asked in a low voice, his eyes glinting.
His question caused the other Warlords to pause slightly in their steps and perk up their ears. Whoever was leading the meeting was important.
That determined whether or not they'd be able to fight for their interests. "It's Admiral Arashi," the Rear Admiral replied with a smile.
The moment that name was spoken, the expressions on the Warlords' faces shifted.
"Him?"
"Yeah, it was him last time too," Doflamingo said with a squint.
"Zehahahahaha! He wouldn't attack us here in public, right?" said Marshall D. Teach, trying to laugh it off, though unease flashed across his face.
Deep down, he didn't want to face Arashi.
As for Kuma and Moria's expressions, they remained unchanged—they had known about this beforehand.
Boa Hancock, however, showed a rare trace of delight on her normally cold and noble face.
Soon, the seven of them arrived at the conference room doors. Several stern-faced Marines stood tall on either side, guarding the entrance.
As Doflamingo stepped through the central passage, he saw him. Seated quietly at the table, hands folded, was the composed figure of Arashi.
"Arashi…"
Doflamingo's heart tightened for a second, but he quickly relaxed. He had already submitted. Arashi likely wouldn't bother with him anymore.
Finding a seat, he quietly sat down and narrowed his eyes in silence. Then, as each Warlord entered and saw Arashi at the table, their expressions shifted.
"It's him! The Marine my brother admired the most?"
Jinbe's eyes widened in surprise. After observing Arashi closely for a few moments, he also took a seat. Within moments, the large round table was filled with seated Warlords.
"You probably haven't had lunch yet, have you? The headquarters has prepared a fine meal for all of you," Arashi said calmly, raising his head.
With those words, he clapped his hands. The officer at the door nodded and passed down the order.
The room was silent, and the atmosphere was oddly peaceful despite the tension. Before long, the table was filled with delicacies—grilled meats, seafood, sake—everything exuding delicious aromas.
The Warlords exchanged glances, clearly surprised, and turned their eyes to Arashi.
"I didn't call you here for anything particularly serious. Let's eat and talk."
With a light chuckle, Arashi picked up a chicken leg from his plate and began eating it without hesitation.
Marshall D. Teach grinned. "Zehahahaha! Thanks for the hospitality, Admiral Arashi!"
With that, the others also began to dig in.
"So then… what's this Warlord meeting really about?" A cold voice rang out.
Arashi looked at the man across from him, eyes sharp as a hawk. "The topic is simple."
All seven Warlords looked up at him. "You've likely heard the news already."
"Fire Fist Ace will soon be publicly executed at Marine Headquarters, and that action will undoubtedly provoke a violent response from the Whitebeard Pirates."
"So, we've invited you here… to prepare for that. Our goal is to take on the Whitebeard Pirates."
Arashi spoke lightly, as if discussing a mundane task, but his words cast a chilling silence over the room.
Even if they had anticipated this, now that it had been officially announced, a sense of shock still gripped them.
The Marines were going to strike one of the Four Emperors—Whitebeard! This was explosive news that would shake the entire world.
"You all seem surprised. But I assume no one is going to refuse?" Arashi asked with a calm smile. With a tui, he spat the chicken bone into his plate.
"I have no objection," Boa Hancock said first. The once aloof Empress now looked at Arashi with starry eyes, filled with affection.
"Thank you, Hancock," Arashi replied with a small smile. That single smile made Hancock feel like she was floating.
"Striking at Whitebeard? Such a grand event—I'm in," said Dracule Mihawk without hesitation.
This wasn't something they could decline. Especially not with someone like Arashi personally hosting the meeting. Refusing would bring consequences.
"No problem here. A war that will shake the world… I'd be honoured to take part," Doflamingo said with a low laugh.
"Zehahahahaha! Going against Pops, huh? Can't say I'm thrilled," Teach chuckled, a flash of ambition flickering in his eyes.
"If you don't want to join, you can refuse, Teach," Arashi replied, still smiling. But that smile made Teach shudder. Cold sweat broke out on his back.
"I-I'll join the war!" he quickly declared.
"I'm in," Moria added. Bartholomew Kuma nodded in agreement. In the blink of an eye, six Warlords had given their answer.
"What about you, Jinbe?" Arashi turned to the last one.
Jinbe looked hesitant. Then he slowly shook his head. "I don't believe this is a just war."
"A battle between the Marines and Whitebeard will affect the entire world, unleashing an uncontrollable tsunami."
He suddenly stood up, his voice firm. "I hope the Marines will stop this war! Avoid unnecessary bloodshed on both sides!"
His declaration drew the attention of every other Warlord at the table.
"Fufufufufu! Look at this… a pirate but such a naive, foolish guy!" Doflamingo mocked.
"Shishishi!" Moria let out a strange laugh, its meaning unclear. The others remained silent, giving no response to Jinbe's words.
Arashi, still seated, calmly picked up some food with his chopsticks and ate slowly. Only after finishing his bite did he smile slightly.
"So… this is your choice? Sea Knight Jinbe." Jinbe furrowed his brows and slowly nodded.
"An unjust war should be stopped before it even begins. Whitebeard should not die! He is a hero who has saved countless lives! I don't want someone like him to fall at Marineford!"
His deep voice echoed through the room. The expressions of those seated shifted subtly.
"Hahahahaha…" Arashi laughed. But this laugh was ice cold. Everyone could feel the chill behind it. "I know quite a bit about you."
"Whitebeard once saved Fish-Man Island, and for that, you are grateful. Since then, you've frequently visited his ship, hiding your presence due to your title as a Warlord."
"Years ago, you even fought fiercely with Fire Fist Ace to protect Whitebeard, only to later become friends."
Arashi paused, then slowly rose from his seat. His face was no longer smiling. His gaze was sharp and cold. He looked down at Jinbe.
"I understand your position. It's no surprise that you made this choice."
"You've misunderstood one thing." Arashi's tone was calm.
"The Marines' decision to take action against Whitebeard won't change just because you refuse to cooperate."
"And as a Warlord of the Sea, defying a Marine summons will bring consequences far more serious than you imagine."
Jinbe's expression shifted as he sank into a long silence. After a while, he sighed and looked up at the tall figure before him. "I cannot raise my hand against Whitebeard. I simply can't do it."
Arashi nodded. "Very well. I respect your loyalty."
With a small wave of his hand, the Marines standing nearby stepped forward and positioned themselves behind Jinbe.
"Resisting will only lead to consequences you truly can't bear," Arashi said calmly.
"I will not resist," Jinbe replied. "Take him to Impel Down," Arashi ordered without hesitation.
Though visibly tense, the Marines obeyed and escorted Jinbe from the round table chamber.
The Knight of the Sea showed no resistance throughout the process, allowing them to shackle him with seastone cuffs and place him aboard a Marine ship headed to Impel Down.
"Well then, everyone," Arashi said faintly, "please enjoy the rest of your meal. In the war to come, I hope we all achieve great results."
Doflamingo raised his glass with a grin, and the others followed suit, clinking their cups and drinking.
Still, the atmosphere remained slightly tense. This gathering, after all, had been a mandatory summons—no room for individual choice, and certainly no room for refusal.
Not long after, Arashi departed, having relayed the core matters. He had no desire to linger with this crowd longer than necessary.
And the moment he left, the tension around the table noticeably eased, replaced by a lighter mood.
"Marshall D. Teach," Doflamingo said, his voice low and mocking, "you don't seem like the kind of guy with pure intentions."
"Willing to join this war… I'd wager you've got plenty going on in that head of yours."
"Zehahaha!" Teach laughed loudly. "What are you saying? Working with Admiral Arashi to wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates? That's exactly what I'm hoping for!"
"A deeply hidden threat," Hawk-Eye Mihawk thought quietly, his eyes fixed on the rough-mannered Marshall D. Teach as he formed his judgment.
Then, his gaze shifted to Moria, silently eating at the nearby table.
"Reborn, huh?"
Meanwhile, on the Moby Dick in the New World, an aged, deep voice suddenly rang out. "It's time to set sail. Men—prepare to move!"
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