The front-page headline of the World Economic Journal didn't just hit the streets; it exploded like a depth charge, and the shockwave instantly rocked the entire world.
"'THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN' WHITEBEARD HAS BOWED TO THE MARINES?!!!"
The reaction was immediate and chaotic.
"What?! Impossible! That's absolute, 100% grade-A bullshit!"
"Whitebeard is one of the Four Emperors! The strongest man in the world! He wouldn't bow to anyone, let alone the Marines!"
"Exactly! Fake news! Those hacks at the World Economic Journal will write any sensational headline for sales! They're vultures, the lot of 'em!"
But in quieter, more thoughtful circles, the whispers were different.
"Hmph. There's no smoke without a fire, my friend."
"Besides, this is Morgans's top story. That bird might be a sensationalist, but his sources are vast and, terrifyingly, often accurate."
"And let's be honest, the Marines' movements have been... strange. All this mobilization, the Warlord summons, the sudden, deafening silence…"
"Then… could it actually be true?"
In the lawless ports and pirate havens, the reaction was something else entirely.
It was a raw, manic, opportunistic glee.
"Who cares if it's true or not! This is it! This is the chaos I've been waiting for!"
"Who gives a damn about the Four Emperors, the Marines, or the Warlords? The old pillars are crumbling! Anyone who stands in my way gets cut down!"
"Exactly! The remnants of the old era should just crawl back into their graves and die already!"
"The title of Emperor? Why not? I could sit on that throne, too!"
Scenes like this—shock, skepticism, terror, and wild, unbridled ambition—were unfolding in every corner of the sea.
Everyone, from the lowest cutthroat to the highest king, understood one thing: the war that would determine the future of the world had just taken a sharp, unpredictable, and terrifying turn.
All factions, all forces, all eyes now turned to the New World, waiting.
Waiting for Whitebeard's response.
And the longer the "Strongest Man in the World" remained silent, the more the impossible... seemed true.
.....
In the chaotic waters of the New World.
A massive, menacing fleet, its black flags snapping in the wind, cut through the churning waves, speeding towards Marineford.
At the very front, the monstrous flagship of the Beasts Pirates, a floating fortress of iron and rage, led the charge.
The deck, however, was not a scene of grim, pre-battle tension.
It was a raging, deafening, raucous party.
"FUNK! FUNK! BABY!!!"
A colossal, rotund figure, sporting garish purple lipstick, a flashy golden braid, and ridiculous sunglasses, was gyrating wildly in the center of the deck, his limbs flailing in a series of truly absurd dance moves.
It was "Queen the Plague," one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates.
"Oooooh! ENCORE, LORD QUEEN!"
"THAT WAS AMAZING! A TRUE SOUL DANCER!"
"Lord Queen, those mesmerizing moves… We're in love! Your ass are an inspiration!"
The surrounding Beasts Pirates, massive, tattooed brutes all, swayed drunkenly to the rhythm, cheering their commander on with wild abandon.
"Worororororo…"
A booming, earth-shaking laugh reverberated across the deck, rattling the very planks.
At the prow of the ship, the Beast himself, Kaido, sat with his legs crossed, guzzling liquor from an enormous barrel as if it were a small cup.
"KAIDO-SAMA! The latest newspaper!" a underling scrambled up, holding the paper aloft.
"Bring it here!"
"Hmm?" Kaido took the paper, his drunken, hazy expression vanishing in an instant.
His eyes locked onto the headline.
His pupils contracted to sharp, terrifying pinpricks, flashing with a dangerous intensity.
"WHAT?!" he roared, his voice so powerful it momentarily silenced the party.
"That old bastard Whitebeard… bowed to the MARINES?!"
"No way…"
CRUMPLE.
Kaido crushed the newspaper in his massive fist, all traces of intoxication gone.
This had to be a joke.
That old man Whitebeard was a legend, a former member of the Rocks Pirates, the crew that had once ruled the seas!
Back then, Kaido had been just a rookie, while Whitebeard, Shiki, and Big Mom were the core powerhouses.
And now, the man hailed as the "Strongest Man in the World"… had surrendered?
"What the HELL is that old fool playing at?!"
"Kaido-san."
A deep, inhumanly composed voice came from behind him. "King the Wildfire," foremost of the All-Stars, had appeared silently at his side.
Tall, imposing, and clad in jet-black, restrictive attire, his massive black wings were folded tightly against his back.
"King," Kaido growled, his voice grave. "What do you make of this?"
He tossed the crumpled newspaper to his right-hand man.
"..." King smoothed the paper, his sharp eyes scanning the article swiftly.
A glint of keen insight flashed behind his mask.
"This…" King pondered for a moment, his voice a low, mechanical monotone.
"If the Marines are truly threatening to execute 'Fire Fist' Ace outright, forcing Whitebeard to surrender to save him… it's not entirely impossible. For that old man, 'family' is what he cherishes above all else."
He paused, looking out at the churning sea.
"However, as it stands, this matter is shrouded in mystery. We can't be certain of the truth. We might as well wait and see. We'll observe Whitebeard's own response. If he remains silent… then this is almost certainly true."
"Hmm…" Kaido slowly nodded, his thick, demonic brows knitted together.
King is right.
If that old bastard had surrendered, and the entire Marine-Warlord-Whitebeard alliance was now waiting for him… wouldn't his full-force assault on Marineford be like a sheep waltzing happily into a tiger's den?
What a ridiculous, humiliating joke that would be.
'Me? The mighty King of Beasts, reduced to a cute little offering for their new, happy family?'
Even if they couldn't kill him, the Beasts Pirates would be annihilated.
'I can't act so recklessly. I must clarify the situation first!'
"Wororororo…" Kaido suddenly threw his head back and let out a wild, booming laugh.
"THE FEAST CONTINUES!" he roared to his confused crew. "BRATLINGS! KEEP EATING AND DRINKING!"
"OOOOOH!" The pirates, their confusion instantly forgotten, cheered and returned to their revelry.
"FUNK! FUNK! BABY!" Queen's obese body began wriggling vigorously once more, his ass swaying like a pair of giant, gelatinous meatballs.
The massive fleet gradually slowed, coming to a halt as they began to search for a nearby island to dock and wait for more intelligence.
In the distant sky, however, a group of figures in pristine white suits was approaching, flying at incredible speed.
They were members of CP0.
"Hmph—" King, who had remained vigilant, looked up, his eyes narrowing.
"Dogs of the World Government?"
His massive black wings unfurled, catching the wind.
With a powerful beat, he launched himself into the air, a streak of black fire and righteous fury, charging straight toward the approaching government agents.
.....
New Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
A streak of purple light tore through the sky above the fortress.
With a soft "THUD," it landed hard in the main plaza, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
"Who goes there?!"
"Enemy attack! ENEMY ATTACK!"
"Quick! Protect headquarters!"
The patrolling New Marine soldiers reacted with blinding speed.
They had been on high alert for weeks. In an instant, the plaza was filled with the sound of steel being drawn as dozens of soldiers surrounded the landing point, their battle-ready tension and palpable killing intent a testament to Zephyr's new training regimen.
As the dust settled, it revealed a tall, purple-robed figure leaning on a cane sword, slowly rising to his feet.
"Alert! Hold your fire!"
Just as the tension reached its breaking point, a black-suited figure appeared with a "whoosh," stepping calmly between the soldiers and the intruder.
"Kuro-san!" The soldiers immediately relaxed, their relief visible.
"Salute!"
"Snap!"
They all saluted in perfect, crisp unison, their eyes filled with respect.
This was, after all, Kuro—the right-hand man, the chief administrative secretary, to the great Mike-san himself.
"Hmm," Kuro gave a slight nod, signaling them to return to their posts.
As they dispersed, he couldn't help but feel a small, private surge of emotion.
A few months ago, he was a nobody, a small-time pirate faking his own death in the East Blue.
Now, he was the executive secretary to the most powerful man in the world.
The New Marine's division leaders—the former Admirals—treated him with courtesy.
Even the terrifying Sakazuki had smiled at him once.
All of this was thanks to Mike.
He knew his place.
He would never be arrogant, never be complacent, and never, ever betray the trust that had been placed in him.
"Haa—" Kuro exhaled softly, steadying his thoughts before turning to the newcomer.
He gave a polite, formal bow.
"Issho-san? Please, follow me."
He stepped aside and gestured.
"Mike-san has been expecting you."