Grand Line. Diep Island.
Inside the Marine branch base.
"Victory! Victory!! Victory!!!"
The shouts were so loud the entire island could hear them.
The meeting had ended, yet the chanting did not stop.
Among the Marines, an unusually tall green-haired man shouted along with them. Only after a long while did he stop.
His face showed barely hidden excitement. "As expected of my idol, Mr. Sakazuki! Destroying nations. Erasing pirates. He says it so easily! Sending troops to destroy a country! So cool!!!"
At that moment, a beam of laser light crossed the Red Line and flew straight toward this place…
* * *
New World.
A video conference initiated by Knox was also underway.
He casually shut off the broadcast of the Marine internal conference.
"Speak. How do we respond next."
A conference broadcast to all marines like that was not hard for someone like Knox to obtain. With his connections and resources, bribing a few corrupt officials was easy.
Within a slightly dim palace projection, Kaido let out a savage grin. "Wororororo! Respond to what… This is exactly the war I've dreamed of! A war that sweeps the world! An unprecedented… War!!!"
In another projection filled with food in the background, Big Mom looked unusually serious. "Kaido! Is your brain made of nothing but muscles? Sakazuki is not someone easy to deal with.
"The most important issue right now should be the blockade of the New World. The Marines have endless supplies and manpower, but the New World doesn't."
Knox chuckled softly. "The blockade isn't something you need to worry about. I already have the technology to easily cross the Red Line. As for the price…"
Kaido grinned darkly in his projection. "We're all on the same front now. Shouldn't something like that be shared, hm?"
Hearing this, Big Mom also laughed grimly. "Kaido's right. At a time like this, there's no need to hide it…"
Knox let out a cold laugh and stayed silent.
Shanks had no choice but to step in and smooth things over, but the final result was still poor. The meeting ended on an uneasy note.
* * *
South Blue. Saint Mary Island.
Bonney, with her pink hair, was busy on a small boat by the shore.
It had been several days since she left the Sorbet Kingdom. The impulse in her heart had dulled a little, and she began thinking more seriously about how to take revenge on Sakazuki.
She had no clear plan. She could not even get close to Marine Headquarters. Worse, she might drag her grandmother into danger.
After thinking it through, she chose the most dangerous method. She went to the shops on shore, sold some materials, and prepared to set sail.
On the deck, with the final stroke complete, a pirate flag was finished. It showed a ring behind the head and long pink hair.
"Perfect. The Bonney Pirates are officially formed."
With her Devil Fruit ability, fooling the Marines would not be hard. As long as she made a small name for herself and let the world know the Bonney Pirates… when she killed Sakazuki, no one would think of it as personal revenge.
It was naive.
But Bonney was a princess. She had never been raised to walk the path of a pirate.
She had some combat knowledge, but not much. She did not understand how terrifying true monsters were.
And worse… she had no income. With her appetite, she would soon run out of money and end up eating without paying.
Whoosh!
A swirl of wind and snow gathered on the deck.
Bonney stood up at once, alert. But when the figure formed, she relaxed and dropped her hands.
"Tch. What are you doing here? And when did you eat a Devil Fruit?"
Sabo stared at the pirate flag, his face full of headache and helplessness.
"That's a long story. But why would you want to become a pirate… Kuma wouldn't want this for you."
The Revolutionary Army despised pirates. Many within it had suffered at their hands.
When Sabo saw Bonney buying black cloth, he already felt uneasy. As she began drawing, that bad feeling turned real.
Once she declared the pirate crew's formation, he could no longer stay hidden.
Bonney's face twisted with anger. Her eyes turned red.
"You've got the nerve to say that! It's because of you people that he died!!! Have you ever felt guilty! Why didn't you avenge him!!!"
Tears spilled from her eyes as she punched Sabo.
Bang!
He was sent flying, crashing onto the deck and sliding back. Bonney jumped on him and struck again and again. Her fists fell like rain onto his face.
Sabo said nothing. He let her vent.
After a long while.
Bonney finally seemed to run out of strength. She sat on his waist, covered her face, and cried helplessly.
"Waaah! Why… why…"
Listening to her sobs, Sabo lay there and clenched his fists. 'How could I not want to avenge Kuma… but…'
"I'm sorry… Bonney. Now… is not the time. The bigger picture comes first…"
The coming clash between the Marines and pirates would decide the future of the world. It carried the hopes of countless people. If someone ruined it for personal hatred…
That eternal curse was something no one dared bear.
"One day, we will face them. We will avenge Kuma."
Bonney wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up with a cold laugh.
"One day… I can't wait that long. I'll take revenge in my own way. Don't follow me. Or I'll kill you… Get off my ship."
Sabo slowly stood up and brushed off the dust. He sighed inwardly, then dissolved into wind and snow, disappearing. From the hidden sky above, he continued to watch over her.
He could not let Kuma's daughter come to harm again.
* * *
New World. New Marineford.
Sakazuki stood at the edge of the highest office in the fortress, watching the fleets depart after receiving their orders.
As warships sailed out of the harbor one by one, he asked Carlo beside him.
"How many have taken the bait."
He flipped through his notes and answered, "Since the World Military Draft began, the two biggest catches so far are Issho, the Press-Press Fruit user. And Aramaki, the Woods-Woods Fruit user, who Admiral Borsalino will soon test.
"Both are admiral-level forces. Their Devil Fruits are exceptional as well. As for vice admiral level and below, there are quite a few, but none too outstanding yet."
Sakazuki gave a faint smile. "No rush…"
His calm voice echoed softly. "Give them a little sweetness first. Next year, raise benefits across the board and expand recruitment publicity.
"There's plenty of time. There will always be bait that draws them out. These wild ones… are better off dead…"
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