"Sir, the Straw Hat Pirates have all been driven away from the Sabaody Archipelago by Kuma,"
Asuka reported to Gion in the tavern.
Mio nodded, unsurprised. "It looks like the Revolutionary Army is still preparing a backup plan. They clearly don't think this one will succeed, but that doesn't matter."
From the moment the Pacifist appeared, he knew Kuma was still collaborating with Vegapunk, just as in the original story. This meant the Revolutionary Army was preparing a backup plan.
This time, the Revolutionary Army would take action, too.
This backup plan was also intended to prevent the Revolutionary Army from being completely wiped out in the event of failure.
Tap, tap, tap.
Mio tapped his index finger lightly on the table, then said calmly, "Just wait."
Time passed slowly.
A day would pass quickly.
When a new day arrived, most of the navy had left the Sabaody Archipelago, leaving only a small group. This small group had set up a giant video-relay mushi in the heart of the Sabaody Archipelago to broadcast the execution of Fire Fist Ace live.
Some taverns were also connected to video-relay Den Den Mushi, allowing viewers to watch the live broadcast from Marine Headquarters.
Mio's tavern was also able to watch the live broadcast.
On the video, he could see the massive number of naval elites assembled by Marine Headquarters.
One hundred thousand of them.
And the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Almost all of Marine Headquarters' Commodores, Vice Admirals, and Three Admirals were in attendance.
This sheer number of elite Marines alone gave off a strong sense of oppression, a stark reminder of the Navy's formidable strength.
Mio's gaze remained calm as he waited.
Bulu bulu.
The Den Den Mushi chimed in.
Mio pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and answered.
"You still have time to contact me at this hour? Is there something you need?" Mio asked calmly.
"I still owe you a condition for what you promised me. Isn't it time to discuss it? After all, after this, my life might be over," Whitebeard's voice echoed through the Den Den Mushi.
Mio spoke calmly. "No need. You've already done me a great favor."
Originally, Whitebeard had sensed his age and requested Mio's help in caring for the Whitebeard Pirates after his death, thus owing Mio a favor.
Mio had originally intended to use this favor to obtain Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
But now, that was no longer necessary.
He couldn't possibly participate in the Battle of Marineford, even if he could obtain a few good genes.
And honestly, Whitebeard's assistance in holding back the navy this time—even if his primary motive wasn't for Mio—was still a great favor.
Naturally, Mio didn't care about this favor anymore.
"Now that you mention it, I'm a little curious," Whitebeard said gravely. He couldn't remember ever helping Mio.
"Curious?" Mio asked, a faint smirk curling at his lips. "Since you've set off, I should be leaving soon too. After all, you helped me hold off the navy."
"!!!!"
As the words fell, Whitebeard's breathing quickened within the Den Den Mushi, and shock filled his eyes.
In an instant, he understood Mio's purpose.
He also understood what Mio meant when he said Whitebeard had done him a great favor.
A long pause passed before Whitebeard's voice rang out again.
"Your ambition… is truly terrifying."
"But do you think you can succeed?" Whitebeard said solemnly.
His courage to challenge Marine Headquarters was already a bold decision.
But Mio's audacity was even more terrifying—he actually dared to attack the World Government, and even then, while the Whitebeard Pirates were at war with Marine Headquarters.
"If we fail, the Black Crows will be completely wiped out from the sea!"
"So what?"
Mio said in a deep voice, a fierce gleam in his eyes. "The World Government is indeed terrifying, but…"
"Looking across the entire ocean, only the Black Crows have the right to wage war against the World Government. So, even if we fail, we should still try, right?"
"Failure is nothing more than death."
"Success…"
"I will be the master of the world!"
Mio declared, his eyes firm and his tone filled with unshakable confidence. "And I won't fail!"
"Gulala, you're just as good as me!"
Whitebeard laughed through the Den Den Mushi, his voice still tinged with shock—shock at Mio's ambition, shock at his courage and confidence.
Declaring war on the World Government—who, across the ocean, would dare to do so?
Only two.
One was Rocks.
The other was the Black Crow.
Even Roger didn't have the ability and courage. He just chose to open the Great Pirate Era in another way, and the Revolutionary Army could only develop in secret.
But what Black Crow said was right. On the ocean today, the Black Crows were qualified to declare war on the World Government.
"It seems that the ocean will be very lively in the future…"
"It's a pity that I'm old and may not be able to see it, but as a fellow pirate, I wish you success! Gulala!"
Whitebeard laughed, and then the Den Den Mushi was hung up directly.
Mio raised the corner of his mouth and put away the Den Den Mushi.
Then he took out another Den Den Mushi and dialed it.
"Sir." The Den Den Mushi connected, and Renee's voice rang out.
"How's it going?"
"The Beasts Pirates, Zou, Wano Country, the Kingdom of Women, and the Revolutionary Army have all departed, advancing from the seabed. They're expected to reach the Red Earth Continent in an hour. The Donquixote Family and the Germa have already arrived and are waiting. The Fishman Island soldiers have just departed, and Shirahoshi has also departed. At their speed, they'll soon reach the Red Earth Continent. Also, Your Highness, can Shirahoshi fully control her abilities?" Renee's voice tinged with doubt.
"Don't worry," Mio said softly, his eyes flickering. "She can."
Shirahoshi had already left his side and headed for Fishman Island.
As the Sea King, Shirahoshi's abilities had long been awakened; she simply lacked the opportunity to practice them.
Mio had already given her that opportunity.
After all, with a war imminent, he couldn't let such a powerful ability of Shirahoshi go unused.
"Then I'll depart immediately as well," Renee said softly. "The shadow soldiers are ready. According to your plan, this time, everyone's attention will be solely on Marine Headquarters. No one will know what's happening on the Red Earth Continent."
"Okay, I'll leave it to you," Mio nodded gently and hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Then, he glanced at the screen in front of him again.
The Marines' seriousness was palpable, with a hint of nervousness. After all, they were facing the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the New World's emperors and once the world's strongest man.
Of course, the world's strongest man now was Mio.
The Red Earth Continent.
Arguably the world's largest and only continent, a ring-shaped mass intersecting the Grand Line, it earned its name from its red soil.
The Red Earth Continent has two intersections.
One is the Upside-Down Mountain.
The other is the sacred place, Marijoa.
Marijoa is located at the summit of the Red Earth Continent, practically towering above the clouds.
At this moment, in a luxurious hall, five elders gathered.
One of them frowned and spoke in a deep voice. "I suddenly have a bad feeling. It's so depressing, as if… something catastrophic is about to happen."
Another elder's eyes flickered, unnoticed, as he spoke. "Is it because of the situation in the navy? This time, Sengoku advocates a war with the Whitebeard Pirates and has made thorough preparations. There's no way they'll fail."
"Indeed, this time, the New World will have one less emperor."
"Relax," the other elders nodded.
Their gaze shifted to a video feed in the hall, which also connected to a live stream from the Navy Headquarters, allowing them to keep abreast of the situation.
And somewhere unknown to them, beneath the surface of the sea near the Red Earth Continent, ships were heading toward the continent.
Each ship was enormous, boasting massive, deep gun barrels. Aboard, each one held thousands of pirates or soldiers.
The number of ships exceeded one hundred, reaching three hundred.
And elsewhere, more ships were heading this way.
It was a terrifying number.
Meanwhile, in the New World, at the headquarters of the World Economic News—
News King Morgans, eyes wide open, breaths ragged, surveyed the footage his subordinate, Seagull, had just captured.
No one had noticed that in the New World, Kaido, one of the emperors, as well as numerous combatants from Zou and Wano, had vanished. No, not "largely," but entirely. Their entire fighting force had sunk into the depths of the sea, along with the coated ships.
Except for him.
As the News King, Morgans's intelligence abilities were terrifying; he knew things many others didn't.
That's how he discovered what was happening this time.
In the past, he would have excitedly released such big news, but now he hesitated.
All the forces on Crow Island had vanished.
"Such a terrifying force, and now it's all gone, nowhere to be found…"
"Clearly there's a plan, a purpose."
"Release it?"
"No, I can't!"
"If I release it, I'll die, I'll definitely die!"
Morgans muttered, his face filled with excitement. Gritting his beak, he exerted force, shattering the camera in his hand, which contained a large number of photos.
Morgans sat on the soft sofa. Even though the camera had shattered, his heart was still filled with curiosity.
"Purpose…"
"What exactly is their purpose?"
"The Black Crows are involved, and with their strength, they must be in a dominant position. Therefore, this massive operation must have been led by the Black Crows, and the target is definitely not Marine Headquarters. The Black Crows alone are enough to deal with Marine Headquarters, and they don't need such a terrifying force…"
"Then… could it be…"
Morgans seemed to have realized something, his eyes widening with a hint of disbelief.
But then, without notifying anyone, he left the World Economic News headquarters alone, transformed into a giant seagull, and flew off into the distance…