After Sakazuki's inauguration speech, the news, backed by government efforts and media coverage, quickly spread across the seas.
Even the most remote corners of the Four Blues received the paper.
To the people of the world, his speech was like a strong dose of reassurance. It helped clear away much of the fear they had about this chaotic era.
But fear of pirates—that would need to be addressed through the Marines' actions.
At the end of the newspaper, it stated that Admiral Sakazuki would personally lead a campaign called the "Four Blues Sweep."
* * *
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
At the harbor, Bullet directed the crew as they loaded supplies onto the ships. With Sakazuki's appointment to admiral, he received an immediate promotion to vice admiral and took control of his superior's former warship.
Sakazuki would now lead as the overall commander, taking a fleet of ten warships, including Bullet's, into the four seas to begin a large-scale purge.
Their primary targets were the rising new generation of pirates that had surfaced in the past two years.
* * *
Sakazuki's home.
Enel stood in the study, staring at the admiral's cape hanging on the coat rack.
"Wow... this thickness. And look at this shoulder mark! This is so cool!"
It was the first time he had ever gotten a close look at an admiral's cloak. After all, there had only been Sengoku as an admiral in recent times. And although Rosinante was his friend, Enel couldn't exactly barge into his house just to admire a cape.
Smiling faintly at the sight, Sakazuki turned to Carlo. "Have you found that survivor from Ohara, Nico Robin?"
The man responded, "Yes. We've been watching her constantly. Based on some intel from the government, we spotted her. So I transferred five men from Bullet's Howling Commandos and sent them over immediately. She's under full surveillance. We won't lose her."
Thinking for a moment, Sakazuki said, "Disguise yourself. Go be her teacher for a few years."
"A teacher?" Carlo muttered in confusion.
Sakazuki nodded. "Yes. Teach her how to survive, and plant the right ideas in her."
While speaking, he tossed a few worn booklets onto the table.
Carlo raised an eyebrow as he looked over the covers—On the World, On Nobility, Freedom and Equality, On Revolution...
Sakazuki casually flipped one open. "From now on, we can't contact Dragon anymore. I've already paved the path for him, and the rest is up to how he grows. His ability to slip through cracks is incredible anyways.
"Not to mention, that guy's not stupid. It was obvious someone helped him in the previous incident. Next time, he'll be more cautious and harder to find. Even with a special cloak that blocks Observation Haki, there's always a risk of being exposed. Thus, no more contact."
Carlo looked at the table and understood. "So this is..."
Sakazuki closed the book with a snap. "Ohara and revolution will inevitably intersect. What Dragon has now is just a prototype. Left to figure it out on his own, who knows how long it'll take. But Nico Robin—she's the shortcut. One day, when those two meet, the spark they ignite could set the whole world ablaze."
Carlo frowned slightly. "That's true, but once that happens, things could spiral out of control. If the Revolutionary Army starts spreading these ideas on a large scale, the World Government will be overwhelmed. By then, at least dozens of countries would rise up in rebellion. After it gets out of hand, the Marines will still have to face them in battle."
Sakazuki said calmly, "That's why I want you to teach Nico Robin. They'll cross paths, but not now. Dragon would never expect an eight-year-old child to carry such weight.
"This world may be made up of ninety-nine percent ordinary people, however in the end, it belongs to the strong. When the two finally meet, they'll attract the government's attention, but still won't escape the palm of our hand."
He chuckled, fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, lost in thought.
'Twenty years from now…'
* * *
A few days later, North Blue.
Ten massive warships lined up around the waters near Reverse Mountain, surrounding them were dozens of smaller Marine vessels transferred from bases throughout North Blue.
Looking at the sea chart, they calculated the distances, then the ten headquarters warships started to spread out.
Each one was followed by several smaller ships, forming a long horizontal line spanning the ocean. They were spaced just far enough to keep visual contact with one another.
Standing on the bow of his warship, Sakazuki spoke into a Den Den Mushi.
"Begin the sweep."
At the same time, the commanders of all ships gave the order to advance. The fleet began pushing forward in formation across North Blue.
Stationed on the third, fifth, and seventh ships were Sakazuki, Bullet, and Enel. Their positions allowed them to quickly respond to any unexpected events and resolve them directly.
From above, the fleet appeared to cover only a portion of North Blue, but if they kept sweeping back and forth, they could eventually comb through the entire sea.
* * *
West Blue, a small island.
It had been raining nonstop for a week. But Robin, hiding in a corner of the island, liked rainy days.
Because when it rained, the streets were almost empty, and the people chasing her usually stayed indoors. It gave her a rare chance to scavenge for food.
Splash. Rustle.
The sound of rummaging through trash echoed softly.
Suddenly, Robin noticed a shadow falling over her, stopping the raindrops from hitting.
She glanced at the ground and saw a figure's silhouette. Her heart skipped a beat. 'When did they get here...?'
Robin didn't dare look back. And with a dead end ahead, she couldn't run either. If they confirmed her identity when she turned, things would only get worse.
She watched the shadow raise its arm. Closing her eyes tightly, she braced herself.
But the expected strike never came. Instead, a warm hand gently rested on her head.
A calm and gentle male voice sounded. "What a pitiful child. My name is Lorca. I'm a traveler. What's your name?"
Robin turned around, startled. Her real name nearly slipped out. She caught herself just in time and replied with a false one, "Raven. Coni Raven."
The gentle voice above her asked again, "Interested in coming with me? I'm still looking for… a little assistant."
* * *
South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.
Inside the royal palace, the two men who came back using Kuma's ability sat down to reflect on the recent event.
Though they had succeeded, this operation had exposed too many vulnerabilities.
The uprising was full of holes. The king, CP agents... maybe even a third unknown force had been involved.
Dragon realized something was off the moment he discovered the king hadn't actually made a call using the Den Den Mushi. If he had, they would have failed for sure.
But why didn't he make the call?
That was the mystery.
Could there really be a third party...?
Ever since stepping onto this path, Dragon had come to understand how complicated everything truly was.
This revolution, in truth, had been a complete mess. It only succeeded by sheer luck.
Still, there was a silver lining. He had won over Kuma.
From the classified files stolen from the Marines, Dragon had selected many potential allies. Among which, Bartholomew Kuma was the one he valued most. Not just for his abilities, but for his past.
He knew Kuma had been searching for another way. For a path to liberation and freedom...
* * *
Grand Line, Impel Down.
Deep within the prison, a guard slid through the cell bars a meager meal that was barely enough to keep the prisoner inside alive, then turned to leave.
As the sound of footsteps faded, Shiki's eyes snapped open, burning with an unmistakable vicious glint.
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