A few days after Ohara's destruction.
Under the government's and the Marines' orchestration, two major headlines dominated the front pages of newspapers across the seas, spreading like wildfire.
* * *
East Blue, Windbell Island, 65th Marine Branch.
Jeram burst into the commander's office, waving a newspaper in his hand.
"Big Brother! Vice Admiral Sakazuki got promoted to Admiral!"
Magnus Rockwell, now the official base commander, sprang to his feet.
"What?!"
He snatched the paper and broke into a wide, joyful smile. To them, Sakazuki was a symbol of justice. They were genuinely happy for him.
"Jeram! Pass the word! We're having a feast tonight!"
Jeram grinned. "Yes!"
* * *
West Blue, a small island northeast of Ohara.
On the main street, people gathered in small groups, holding up the day's newspaper.
"Hey, is this real? Seventy-nine million Berries."
"How can an eight-year-old have such a high bounty?"
"You haven't heard? She's the sole survivor of the Ohara demons who tried to destroy the world. They say she destroyed six Marine ships all by herself. That's why the bounty is so high."
"Scary..."
"Good thing the government and the Marines caught on in time."
"To think she was hiding so close to us."
But somewhere along the line, more details began spreading, and people started to feel a growing fear toward Sakazuki.
Some residents huddled together, whispering as they read their papers.
"Did you know? The government actually sent an evacuation ship for Ohara's innocents, but the newly promoted admiral, Sakazuki, ordered it destroyed."
"Really?!"
"No way, Sakazuki doesn't seem like that kind of person."
"He just had everyone fooled before. And judging by how ruthless he's been with pirates, it all makes sense now."
"How could he do that... it's inhuman."
"Shhh! Keep your voice down! Are you trying to get killed? If word spreads, he might wipe out your whole family."
"Yeah, yeah. We can't talk about this."
"Let's go. Hurry."
As the crowd scattered in fear, from the shadows at the corner of a wall, Robin held her breath. Only when night fell did she quietly sneak away...
* * *
New World, Wano Country.
High above Onigashima, dark clouds churned violently, thunder roared, and flames danced in the air.
A dragon's furious cry echoed around the island, circling endlessly.
In Kuri, Oden stood with eyes fixed on the distant sky. His hand gripped the hilt of his blade tightly.
"I can't wait any longer..."
* * *
Onigashima.
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, a huge crater nearly a hundred meters wide split open the ground.
Kaido, having spent the entire day rampaging in his Azure Dragon form, now lay unconscious in the pit, back in his human shape.
Directing the Beasts Pirates members to carry Kaido back to the palace, King exhaled deeply. "It's finally over."
He then glanced at Queen beside him. "Next time, don't let Kaido-san see any news about Sakazuki, especially when he's drunk. He loses his mind."
The pirate clicked his tongue. "It was just a newspaper. I didn't expect such a big reaction."
King snorted. "Idiot."
Queen snapped back. "You don't get to call me that, you bastard!"
Their usual bickering resumed...
* * *
Grand Line, Impel Down. Level 6, Eternal Hell.
Several guards tossed food into the cells as they chatted.
"Did you hear? The Marines' got a new admiral."
"Huh?! Who is it?"
"Word is, it's Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
"What?! Sakazuki-sama?!"
"You know him?"
"My hometown was saved by him eight years ago. That's why I became a soldier. Never thought I'd end up assigned to the prison though. Sigh."
"Don't be discouraged. At least it's stable work. Safe too."
"Yeah, maybe I just don't have the luck. Hahaha..."
Deeper in the prison, within a solitary cell, once the guards had gone, Shiki opened his eyes.
"That brat's an admiral now… heh..."
A dangerous gleam flashed in his eyes. His plan to escape was already in place. He just needed the right chance.
"Roger... I'll show you. This Great Pirate Era you started is just a child's game. Wait and see, world..."
* * *
South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.
Inside the massive royal palace, the king, Bartholomew Kuma, stood in the library flipping through books, searching for something.
When a breeze drifted in, he abruptly turned and struck out with his palm.
Clang!
A pitch-black dragon claw caught the hand mid-strike as Dragon pulled back his green hood.
"I mean no harm. I just want to talk to you about this world."
He gently released Kuma's wrist, who looked at the man in front of him and muttered, "The world?"
Taking out a newspaper, Dragon handed it over.
Kuma accepted it. It was the article about Ohara and Robin's high bounty.
"Yes. The world."
The two talked deep into the night... and at some point, both vanished.
* * *
Grand Line, Ryukyu Archipelago.
The Ryukyu Archipelago was ruled by the Kotaga Kingdom, with seventy percent of the territory being rocky land.
The locals made a living by mining and selling the stones. But in recent years, under a new king, taxes had been raised and the people oppressed. It had gone on for years.
The king's main goal was to gain recognition as a member nation of the World Government.
At this moment, Kuma stood atop a mountain, looking at the emaciated laborers below.
"This is the country you spoke of?"
Standing beside him, Dragon answered in a low voice, "Yes. This is just the beginning. What we aim to liberate isn't just this place, but the entire world."
Kuma gazed down in silence. "When do we begin?"
"Tonight," Dragon replied. Then he turned into a gust of wind and vanished, leaving Kuma alone, watching the masses below.
'Revolution, huh...'
* * *
Late at night.
After one person stood up, a wave of citizens poured down from the rocky mountains, storming toward the royal palace.
Under the torrential rain and flashing lightning, they charged forward.
In the palace, the ambitious king, who dreamed of making a name for himself, frantically shouted into a Den Den Mushi.
"Dammit! Damn it! Why won't it connect?! Ughhh! Someone, anyone! Pack the treasures and get the ship ready!"
The shouts of the mob grew louder. The palace had clearly been breached. The guards scrambled in panic—no one wanted to die.
The king also rushed toward the back door to escape.
Crack!
But his neck was snapped in an instant as Dragon and Kuma appeared in silence.
"It's over," the former said.
Suddenly, he was drawn to the snail clutched in the dead king's hand. He picked it up and his pupils shrank.
"This is… a CP's special Den Den Mushi. We've been exposed? No... impossible. Then..."
Dragon took a deep breath, forcing down the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. He called to Kuma, and the two disappeared.
* * *
Far away, on the second floor of a civilian house, two men watched from a distance beneath special cloaks.
Looking at the fallen kingdom, Carlo told Enel to put away the magnetic field bomb.
"They're still young after all. But after this, they'll be more careful. Let's go, Enel."
They turned to leave.
While tracking Dragon, they'd found out he had lingered on this island for too long. As a result, Sakazuki sent Carlo to investigate, and the truth came out quickly.
They also looked into the king and discovered he had somehow acquired a CP's contact Den Den Mushi.
In fact, the king wasn't stupid. He'd noticed that the people who had been brimming with resentment had gradually quieted over the past two years, with hope in their eyes.
Alarmed by what he learned, he thought of another plan: report the ideological threat to the government to earn merit and apply for World Government membership. So, he secretly contacted a friendly allied nation and secured the CP's contact line.
On the agreed day, the CP forces would lie in ambush offshore. One call, and they would storm the island.
But even without the signal-blocking magnetic bomb, they still wouldn't have caught Dragon. However, that kind of slow growth wasn't what Sakazuki wanted. He thus had Carlo and Enel bring the magnetic field bomb to cut off all signals.
That night, Sakazuki hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He lit a cigar and took a deep drag.
"Huu… grow faster... you puppet."
He turned and walked downstairs. It was time to prepare for tomorrow's admiral promotion ceremony.
* * *
The next morning. Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The huge plaza was packed with rows of uniformed soldiers standing at attention.
Reporters lined the platforms on the edges, snapping photos and recording the Marines' display of might and discipline.
Once the morning bell rang out, a group of high-ranking officers walked into the plaza.
At the front was Fleet Admiral Kong, who stepped up to the towering central podium.
"It is my honor that we gather here today for the admiral inauguration ceremony. For this represents the strengthening of the world's justice.
"I hereby announce, by the orders of the World Government and Marine Headquarters, Vice Admiral Sakazuki is officially granted the rank of Admiral! Codename: Akainu!"
Countless camera flashes erupted, and tens of thousands of Marines on the plaza roared a single word: "Justice!" The chant echoed without end.
Kong stepped aside as Sakazuki slowly walked to the front of the stage.
He wore a red suit and the heavy admiral's cape, exuding dignity and authority. With a single raised hand, the deafening cries instantly ceased.
The atmosphere was overwhelming.
Sakazuki began to speak, voice deep and powerful.
"For centuries, even millennia, pirates have been the cancer of the seas, endlessly emerging. They produce nothing, survive on plunder and bloodshed, and threaten the lives and property of innocent people.
"The vile pirate Gol D. Roger ignited this so-called Great Pirate Era and the world sees it as a festival for pirates. But today, I tell you this—is the era of the Marines! This is the era of Justice!
"We, the Marines, carry the justice of the world! And we will eradicate every last wicked pirate!
"We will fight in the skies!
"We will fight on the land!
"We will fight across the seas!
"We will crush all evil and bring peace and security to the people!
"Justice will prevail!!!"
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