"Captain!"
Lucky Roux — the large, bespectacled man with a huge ham clamped between his teeth — stepped forward and asked, "Are we heading for the New World? Are we finally going there?"
At his words, dozens of crew members aboard the Red‑Haired Pirates sprang eagerly to their feet.
Many had waited far too long, and the ambition building up inside them was ready to burst forth.
"Ah…"
Shanks rolled his shoulders, only one of which remained, and grinned. "First we'll sail through the Grand Line and pay a visit to Mr. Rayleigh. Then — we set course for the New World!"
"HOORAY!"
The entire crew cheered in unison.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
"The matter with Fish‑Man Island is no longer our concern. The World Government has placed it entirely under the authority of their direct intelligence and enforcement agency — Cipher Pol."
Inside the conference hall, all high‑ranking officers from Vice Admiral upward were gathered around the table as Fleet Admiral Kong continued speaking.
"However, the Government has issued orders to extract information from the Sun Pirates. Furthermore, Fisher Tiger is still a wanted target of the Celestial Dragons. This time, the Government has given strict instructions to eliminate him, and the task falls to Kuzan, who is stationed at the base."
A faint look of reluctance crossed Kong's face as he spoke, before he added, "There is also… no, we will discuss that later. Sengoku, Tsuru, Garp — come to my office. I have something to show you."
Half an hour later, inside the Fleet Admiral's office: "Take a look at this."
Kong handed a document to Tsuru. As she read, her expression grew darker and darker. When Sengoku and Garp took their turns, their faces hardened as well.
At the top were the titles: Project Pacifista and Project Battle‑Mechanic Gladiator.
In short, the document outlined plans to create living weapons for the World Government.
The Battle‑Mechanic Gladiator concept had been proposed by Luke — it was merely a mechanical construct, so there was little cause for alarm.
But the Pacifista project was something else entirely. It was developed by Dr. Vegapunk, based on the energy and powers absorbed from Zephyr, who had been infected by the Blood Plague.
The proposal called for using Zephyr's biological makeup as a template, combined with the light‑speed abilities of Kizaru, to mass‑produce artificial soldiers capable of matching pirates with bounties of 200 million Berries or more.
And of course, for such research to proceed, Zephyr himself would have to be placed on the operating table.
Years earlier, Vegapunk had been arrested by the Government precisely for his research into the Lineage Factor and artificial life.
No one expected him to now propose a project so similar in nature. Yet the Government had given it full approval.
"I can understand their reasoning," Tsuru said, having calmed herself slightly as she set the paper down.
"The attack on Mary Geoise by Grimm six years ago left them deeply shaken. Living weapons serve their interests perfectly."
"But it is a complete violation of Zephyr's dignity!" Sengoku hissed through gritted teeth.
These were the highest‑ranking officers in the Navy, men whose pride and honor stood far above ordinary standards.
To be treated like a lab rat, cut open and experimented upon? No one would ever accept such a fate — not even a low‑ranking recruit, let alone a legendary instructor like Zephyr.
"Vegapunk has thought of a way around it," Kong said, turning to the final page.
It read: "Zephyr need not be informed. While he visits the Science Division to collect his medication, routine physical examinations and biological sampling can be conducted. The research can proceed without his knowledge or consent."
"Hmph!" Garp scoffed. "Truly worthy of the title 'genius scientist' — so very thorough."
"Mr. Kong… you won't agree to this, will you?" Sengoku asked, frowning.
Kong said nothing. Instead, he flipped the page to reveal the official stamp of the Five Elders, making his answer clear.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
A sharp, urgent knock sounded. Kong slid the file into a drawer and called out, "Enter."
A sweating, breathless Captain hurried inside, saluted the four men, and reported in panic, "Fleet Admiral — Kaido of the Beasts has set sail and is heading straight for Grimm's territory in the New World!"
The four officers exchanged glances. It had barely been a month since Kaido's clash with Big Mom. Why was he charging toward Grimm now? What was he planning?
Setting aside the troubling matter of the Pacifista for the moment, Sengoku suggested, "Mr. Kong, let Garp and I depart immediately to monitor the situation."
Conflicts between the four most powerful figures in the New World were never ordinary — they required close observation.
"Hold on, Sengoku," Tsuru interjected.
Sengoku turned to her, and she explained calmly, "Knowing Kaido, he is not going there to start a war. He simply wants to fight. After failing to seize the Road Poneglyph from Big Mom, he is looking for an outlet to release his frustration. It is no different from Mihawk seeking out Shanks for duels. There is no need to send you and Garp rushing over."
"Oh? In that case, I'd like to take a one‑month leave to check on how my grandson is growing," Garp said, turning toward the door without waiting for permission.
"Wait, Garp — you can't just leave like that!" Kong stood up to stop him, but Garp was already gone, leaping straight out of the office window and down the side of Headquarters.
Kong sighed, knowing the news about Zephyr had unsettled him deeply.
"Tsuru, are you saying we should simply ignore this?"
"Nothing will go wrong," Tsuru replied confidently.
"Those two are more alike than anyone realizes — they understand each other perfectly."
"…Very well. We will proceed as you say. But our real concern remains Zephyr…"
The New World — A desolate island near Grimm's territory
Under the watchful eyes of Indigo, Strugos, and many others among Grimm's crew, Grimm and Kaido stood facing each other on a stretch of barren rock in the center of the island.
Kaido had flown over alone, but just in case his fleet suddenly appeared, a defensive perimeter had been set up around the island.
Once the Kuja Pirates received word of this meeting, Violet — who possessed the Glare‑Glare Fruit and could see up to four thousand kilometers away — sent a message confirming that no other vessels, let alone the Beasts Pirates, were anywhere nearby.
Only then did the guards relax and begin to withdraw.
Grimm, biting into an apple, looked across at Kaido.
"So… you couldn't get the Poneglyph from Big Mom, and now you come here to blow off steam?"
"UAAAAAAAH!"
Kaido did not waste words. He raised his massive iron club and swung it down with earth‑shattering force.
BOOM!
Grimm summoned his shield, and the two collided with a deafening crash.
"Everyone — fall back!" Strugos shouted. "This is not a battle we can interfere in! If you want to stay alive, get far away from here!"
Strugos had seen Shiki fight Kaido years before Shiki's imprisonment, so he was well aware of the Emperor's strength.
And from just that single exchange, he could tell — Kaido had grown even more powerful since then.
__________________
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