Sakazuki's indifferent voice echoed through the Fleet Admiral's office. It sounded like simple narration, yet it left the mind blank and sent blood surging.
Issho took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed deeply to Sakazuki.
"Looking back on my life, it was nothing but avoidance," he said slowly. "I possessed great power, yet wandered everywhere and achieved nothing. I could not bear to face the sins of this world, but instead of seeking a solution, I destroyed my own eyes."
A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "How foolish that was…"
"After hearing Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's words today, I finally awakened. But it is already too late. My eyes have long been blind. If only I could witness Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's bearing with my own eyes. Justice that carries the hope of the world… how dazzling it must be…"
* * *
New World, inside the palaces of the Four Emperors.
Four projected screens connected the rulers scattered across different regions.
On one screen, Big Mom sat upon her throne.
"Mamamama~" she laughed. "Red Hair, how are things with those two islands. How long until they're dealt with. I'm about to lose my patience…"
Killing intent poured from her grotesque face as she leaned forward, an intimidating sight.
Whole Cake Island was barely holding the third defensive line. In truth, it was being beaten back relentlessly. Sakazuki had clearly gone mad. Knox and Shanks were the weakest among them, yet he kept sending reinforcements to her territory and Kaido's instead.
That old man Garp was just as troublesome. After several clashes, he had smashed two of her islands. Completely shameless.
She wanted to slaughter those Marines without restraint, but the bombs inside those two islands had not been removed yet. If she went berserk and Sakazuki detonated them, dragging the entire New World down with those Marines, everything would spiral out of control.
On another screen, Kaido's expression was just as grim as his gaze swept over Shanks and Knox.
"That's right. How much longer is this going to take," he growled. "Sakazuki has thrown all his forces at the two of us…"
He liked war, but he did not like being the one taking all the hits. Holding back from slaughtering Marines was one thing, but Kizaru's speed made him impossible to pin down. His anger had nowhere to go.
His forces looked impressive on paper. The All-Stars, the Tobiroppo, the Numbers, and over twenty thousand subordinates. Yet the Marines kept pouring in troops endlessly. Ability users of every kind flooded the battlefield, all led by vice admirals.
Many of them were nothing special, but sheer numbers made them dangerous.
Noticing Kaido's gaze, Shanks spoke with faint helplessness. "Within half a year, it should be done."
Brûlée was still just a girl. She had talent, but her growth was slow. As for Sakazuki, the Red Hair Pirates had held meeting after meeting, yet they still could not figure out what he was truly trying to do.
He ignored the weaker forces of Knox and Shanks and poured his main strength into the middle two. The hardest targets.
On Knox's and Shanks' side, aside from early reinforcements at the start of the war, every Marine sent into the New World over the past half year had been thrown at those two instead.
It was a brutal stalemate, with no clear reason for it at all.
Was it simply because they were more restrained than Big Mom and Kaido?
Shanks continued, "As long as we can deal with one island, we can finally fight without holding back. For now, the most important thing is to build up our strength and reduce losses."
Kaido snorted. "Easy for you to say…"
The Marines kept pouring troops in without pause. No matter how strong one's forces were, they could not endure this kind of attrition forever.
"Three months. That's the limit," Kaido said coldly. "If it drags on any longer, I won't give a damn anymore…"
The longer it continued, the greater the losses. Removing that thorn was the key to breaking the deadlock. Otherwise, someone like Kizaru could not stop him.
He alone could wipe out those Marines.
More importantly, if this kept going until he was left with nothing, what was the point of keeping the New World? He might as well destroy it along with everyone else.
Shanks' expression tightened slightly, and he nodded. He knew Kaido was truly being pushed to the edge, and it also made clear just how massive the Marines' forces really were.
Seeing Shanks nod, Big Mom finally relaxed. A smile crept onto her face as she looked at the other three.
"I've just received some news," she said. "The Marines are aggressively digging into our pasts. You don't have any loose ends left out there, do you? Don't let Sakazuki grab you by the throat."
Her gaze swept across them, trying to catch even the slightest crack. But they were all veterans. Not a ripple, not a change in expression.
A glint flashed through Big Mom's eyes. "Then that's that."
Snap.
The screen went dark, followed by the others one after another.
* * *
New World, Red Hair Pirates' base.
After shutting off the video conference, an uneasy feeling welled up in Shanks' chest. His brow furrowed as he stood and walked to the window, staring in one direction for a long time.
"Uta…"
Uta's existence was absolutely secret. Otherwise, she would not have gone undiscovered for over a decade. But if the Marines were investigating the past, then…
"Beckman!"
* * *
New World, Whole Cake Island.
After ending the video call, Big Mom replayed everyone's reactions in her mind. The thought had come to her suddenly, so what she had seen were their most genuine responses.
Kaido and Knox were fine. But Red-Haired's breathing had faltered for just a moment.
"The past, huh…"
She picked up a Den Den Mushi and dialed. "Stussy, look into it."
* * *
New World, New Marineford.
Sakazuki stood alone in his office, eyes fixed on the strategic map.
Issho and Aramaki had stayed for only half a day before Sakazuki sent them off to Kaido's and Big Mom's territories. Those were, after all, the main fronts of the plan.
Whoosh!
Carlo suddenly appeared inside the office.
"We found it," he reported. "In the Red Hair Pirates' past, Shanks once had a daughter. She disappeared after the destruction of Elegia.
"And coincidentally, a girl found a Den Den Mushi accidentally lost by the research team and uploaded images and her singing. After facial comparison and verification, she is confirmed to be Red-Haired Shanks' daughter.
"Her name is Uta."
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