"..."
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, stood frozen on the pristine white sands of Amazon Lily, her deep blue eyes locked onto the Marine Vice Admiral before her.
Emotions swirled within those normally aloof depths – shock, hatred, suspicion, and a dangerous, unfamiliar flicker of something else… hope.
She knew the Celestial Dragons.
Oh, how intimately she knew them.
Those self-proclaimed "gods," descendants of the world's creators, who viewed all other life as less than dust beneath their sandals.
The brand seared onto her back, hidden beneath her elegant cheongsam, was a constant, burning reminder of their cruelty, their absolute power, their utter disregard for human dignity.
If she were to reveal what this Marine had just said – his declaration of intent to eradicate them – the World Government's wrath would be swift and absolute.
Even a Vice Admiral was nothing more than an ant to be crushed beneath their divine heels.
Therefore… his words had to be genuine.
No one would risk such treason, such blasphemy, unless they truly meant it.
"Explain. In detail," Hancock said, her voice regaining some of its usual cool command, though a slight tremor still lingered beneath the surface.
She parted her crimson lips, a slow, predatory smile forming.
"This Empress is now… quite interested in joining you."
"..."
Seeing her reaction, Momonga felt a surge of relief.
'Mission accomplished.'
He wouldn't fail the trust Mike-san had placed in him.
(It no longer felt appropriate to call him "Captain." As the founder and financier of the New Marine, the elite Vice Admirals now respectfully referred to him as "Mike-san.")
He respectfully handed Hancock the prepared contract, his tone calm yet solemn.
"The New Marine is a force of Justice led by Mike-san, formed by integrating the elites of the former Marines who still believe in true justice."
Hancock accepted the contract, her slender, elegant fingers gracefully flipping through the pages.
Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, quickly scanned the contents.
The generous terms, the defined responsibilities, the clear organizational structure… this was no loose alliance like the old Warlord system.
This was something new.
Something… real.
"The New Warlords of the Sea are a military organization directly under the command of the New Marine, answering only to Mike-san," Momonga added, sensing her consideration.
"Normally, you will enjoy peace and autonomy in your own kingdom. You will only be summoned for missions during emergencies. However," he continued, highlighting a key benefit, "future mutual trade policies, designed to bring prosperity to all corners of the sea, will prioritize the nations of the New Warlords. Crocodile's Alabasta and Doflamingo's Dressrosa are already experiencing the benefits."
"So the 'former' Warlords…" Hancock looked up sharply, her quick mind piecing things together.
"Have they all been recruited?"
"Yes," Momonga answered frankly. "Except for Gecko Moria, who was deemed… unsuitable… the other five former Warlords have all joined the New Warlords."
"?!"
A flash of genuine, unconcealable shock widened Hancock's beautiful eyes.
She had read the contract.
This wasn't just a paper alliance; it was a subordinate relationship, demanding close cooperation.
And the remaining five Warlords…
"The World's Greatest Swordsman," Mihawk.
"Tyrant" Kuma.
"Heavenly Yaksha" Doflamingo.
"King of the Desert" Crocodile.
"Knight of the Sea" Jinbei.
These were some of the most powerful, arrogant, and unruly individuals on the entire sea.
And the New Marine had managed to bring them all under its command?
Just what kind of impossible magic did this man named Mike possess?
Hancock took a deep, calming breath, suppressing the storm of shock in her heart.
Her decision was already made.
The moment Momonga had spoken of eradicating the Celestial Dragons, her path was set.
"This Empress will witness your actions with her own eyes!" Hancock's voice trembled, not with fear, but with the raw intensity of decades of suppressed hatred and fury.
"I… will personally… take revenge… on those Celestial Dragon scum!"
The air around her seemed to crackle with Conqueror's Haki.
"Agreed," Momonga nodded, unfazed by her outburst.
"Two weeks from now, the New Marine Headquarters will hold a grand military parade. During this event, we will formally declare war on the World Government. Our hostile stance will be made public to the entire world."
"Good!" Hancock said no more.
She flipped directly to the last page and, with a decisive flourish, signed her name.
"However…"
After signing, a thought occurred to her, and she frowned slightly.
"With Moria excluded… can it still be called the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"Hmm…" Momonga stroked his chin thoughtfully. "With your addition, you are the sixth member. A replacement for Moria has already been decided."
"So quickly…?" Hancock was curious. "Who is it?"
Momonga didn't keep her in suspense. He revealed the name, a name so unexpected, so utterly world-shattering, that it left the Pirate Empress completely stunned.
"One of the former Four Emperors—'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate."
"..."
"?!"
Hancock's pupils contracted sharply, her perfect cherry lips parting slightly, her exquisite face frozen in absolute disbelief.
"Who…? Whitebeard?!"
That Whitebeard? The legendary "Strongest Man in the World"?
He had joined the New Marine too?!
This… how was this even possible?!
He was an Emperor, a force on par with the entire Marine Headquarters!
How could he possibly stoop to joining the Warlords? And under the New Marine's banner?
"Yes. This was an agreement personally negotiated by Mike-san," Momonga's voice carried a distinct note of pride.
"The New Marine will ensure the safety of Ace, the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division. In return, Whitebeard will lead his entire crew to join the New Warlords, directly under Mike-san's command. They have a good relationship, apparently."
"..." Hancock fell silent, her mind reeling from the implications.
She suddenly felt that her decision to join the New Marine wasn't just wise; it was the only sane choice.
The power Mike had amassed was already terrifying.
He had integrated the old Marines, the Warlords, and now, an Emperor's crew… Against such a force, any pirate who remained defiant had only one path left: utter annihilation.
'But… to actually persuade Whitebeard…'
'Mike…'
A fire ignited in Hancock's heart – a potent mix of intense curiosity and burgeoning anticipation.
She had to meet this man.
She had to see for herself who could possibly orchestrate such impossible feats.
"I have one more question," she said, her voice regaining its composure, though her eyes still held a spark of wonder.
"Go ahead."
"That Mike… what kind of person is he?"
"Mike-san…" Momonga paused, choosing his words carefully.
He recalled the perpetually lazy figure who somehow commanded absolute loyalty.
He recalled the earth-shattering plans casually proposed over drinks.
He recalled the unfathomable display of power that had humbled three admirals.
And he recalled the irresistible, almost inexplicable personal charisma.
"He is… a very special and charismatic individual," Momonga said finally.
"Charismatic?"
"Yes," Momonga nodded, his tone turning serious, almost reverent.
"And…"
He remembered Mike's impassioned speech back at Headquarters, those thunderous declarations that had reignited the fire of Justice in all their hearts.
The cry of "Loyalty!" still echoed in his ears.
"No one can ever question Mike-san's commitment to true Justice."
"..."
Hancock studied Momonga's resolute expression, her curiosity about this unseen paragon of charisma and justice growing ever stronger.
Soon, the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, boarded the New Marine warship, leaving her isolated kingdom behind.
She was determined to see for herself what made this man, the man who had single-handedly transformed the world's most powerful military organization, so extraordinary.
The warship slowly departed Amazon Lily, setting course at full speed toward Marineford.
....
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the World Economic Journal.
"Gahahaha! Incredible! The Marines have undergone the most incredible change!"
The massive news bird, "Big News" Morgans, flapped his wings excitedly, papers scattering around his cluttered office.
His sharp, avian eyes gleamed with the unparalleled thrill of possessing the biggest scoop in history.
"Big news! This isn't just big news!" he cackled, already mentally composing the headline that would shake the world to its core.
"This is HUGE NEWS!!!"