At Marineford, Sengoku, sitting in his office, sighed heavily as he reviewed the latest intelligence report delivered to him. His face looked more worn than ever, his once jet-black hair and braided beard now streaked with gray. By the current timeline, Sengoku should have already retired after the Summit War of Marineford in the original storyline. However, since Blackbeard had been eliminated by Daniel, the war that was supposed to reshape the world never happened, leaving Sengoku to remain in his position as Fleet Admiral.
Faced with a situation far more complex than in the original timeline, Sengoku was utterly drained.
Internal strife and external threats—that was the reality now confronting the Marines. While the Marines in the original timeline had their own flaws, the organization had remained united under the banner of "justice." However, Daniel's series of disruptions had exposed numerous cracks in their integrity, and now many Marines privately questioned whether the organization truly stood for justice at all.
The "job referral agency" scandal further tarnished Sengoku's reputation. Though most of the accusations had targeted him, the fallout extended to the Marine leadership, including the Admirals. Many rank-and-file Marines had begun to lose respect for their superiors. While the Marines imposed strict gag orders to keep the scandal contained, they couldn't control the whispers among their ranks—or the taunts from the pirates.
Thanks to Daniel, a peculiar trend had emerged: whenever Marines encountered pirates, verbal clashes often erupted before any fighting. Pirates delighted in mocking the Marines, especially using the infamous "job agency" as ammunition. This emboldened pirates to launch bolder raids, using the scandal as a flimsy justification for their crimes. For the pirates, it was a rare opportunity to stand on the moral high ground and ridicule their sworn enemies.
Mockery of the Marines had become so widespread that it almost seemed ritualistic. For some pirates, it was now standard practice to insult the Marines before engaging them. Even the Supernovas had taken advantage of this trend, leaving their Marine pursuers humiliated time and again. The resulting frustration and resentment had built up among the rank-and-file Marines, much of it directed at the higher-ups.
This was Daniel's naked scheme, and Sengoku was fully aware of it. But resolving the situation was easier said than done. The only way to regain the upper hand would be to ensure that the Marines were above reproach—but how could they achieve that when so many of their actions were indefensible?
In one notable interview with the press, a reporter asked Sengoku why the Marines had not outlawed the human trafficking trade. Sengoku, unable to provide an acceptable answer, had stormed out of the room in frustration.
Following the incident, Sengoku had raised the issue with the World Government, but the Gorosei (Five Elders) dismissed his concerns outright. They accused Sengoku of incompetence, blaming him for failing to control the situation. Sengoku was left fuming, nearly driven to the brink by their indifference and arrogance.
At times, Sengoku had seriously considered resigning, washing his hands of the mess and walking away. However, his pride wouldn't allow him to leave in disgrace. To resign now, under these circumstances, would tarnish his legacy forever. He would be remembered as the worst Fleet Admiral in Marine history—something Sengoku couldn't stomach.
His predecessor, Kong, had retired in glory after overseeing Gol D. Roger's execution. Sengoku wanted his tenure to end on a similar high note. If he could accomplish one monumental feat, it might be enough to salvage his reputation.
To achieve that, there was only one option: take down a Yonko.
Eliminating one of the Four Emperors would shake the world and restore the Marines' image. The trick was choosing the right target. Among the Four Emperors, Whitebeard seemed the most feasible. The man once known as the "Strongest in the World" was now a shadow of his former self. Moreover, his personality and sense of loyalty made him an easy target for manipulation. With the right bait, Whitebeard could be provoked into launching an attack on Marineford itself.
Neither Kaido nor Big Mom would risk such a move, and Shanks was at his peak, surrounded by some of the strongest crew members in the New World. Compared to Whitebeard's aging and fragmented forces, Shanks' Red-Hair Pirates were far more dangerous.
Sengoku had already begun laying the groundwork for his plan. First, he needed to capture Ace. Without Blackbeard to deliver Ace into the Marines' hands, Sengoku would have to orchestrate his capture himself. The Summit War of Marineford was inevitable.
In the original storyline, even without Blackbeard, Sengoku would have found a way to ignite the war. It wasn't just about taking down Whitebeard—it was about ending the Great Pirate Era that Gol D. Roger had begun.
From Daniel's perspective, Sengoku's plan was pure folly. The idea of ending piracy was laughable, especially when the Marines and World Government themselves were complicit in its perpetuation. But Sengoku lacked the omniscient view that Daniel possessed. Even as a "strategic genius," Sengoku couldn't foresee the long-term consequences of his actions.
"Report!"
Sengoku's musings were interrupted by a Marine captain entering his office with a fresh intelligence report.
"What? They've entered the New World?" Sengoku exclaimed, his voice tinged with shock.
"What's going on?" asked Tsuru, the Chief Staff Officer, her curiosity piqued.
"Take a look for yourselves," Sengoku said, passing the report to Tsuru. The document was then handed to the Admirals present—Aokiji and Kizaru. Akainu was currently away on a mission to hunt down pirates.
"So, they've entered the New World. Not surprising," Tsuru remarked calmly after reading the report. "Given their strength, it was only a matter of time. The real question is—who will they target?"
"They've had run-ins with Whitebeard before, haven't they? Perhaps they're aiming for him," Kizaru speculated in his usual nonchalant tone. "How scary…"
"If they really do clash with Whitebeard's forces, it might actually be a good thing for the Marines," Aokiji added. "If they manage to weaken or even replace Whitebeard, it could shift the balance of power."
Aokiji's comment made Sengoku frown. In ordinary circumstances, Sengoku might have agreed. Pirates fighting among themselves was usually a boon for the Marines. However, with his plans to bring down Whitebeard already in motion, the prospect of Daniel taking credit for dismantling the Whitebeard Pirates was anything but welcome.
Still, Sengoku couldn't voice his concerns openly.
"There's nothing we can do to stop him," Tsuru noted. "Don't forget—he still holds the title of Warlord. If anything, the World Government would likely be thrilled if a Warlord were to replace a Yonko."
Her words left the room in silence. As long as the Marines answered to the World Government, their hands were tied.
"Helmsman, change course to this heading."
On the deck of her ship, Esdeath examined a nautical chart and issued a command to her navigator.
"That's Whitebeard's territory! It's not our destination," Leonie protested immediately.
The New World had three main routes, each leading into territories controlled by different Yonko. Red-Hair Shanks, Kaido, and Big Mom held dominion over the later stretches of these routes. Whitebeard's territory, on the other hand, spanned the earlier regions of the New World. Even Fishman Island fell under his protection.
Esdeath's original route was meant to follow the leftmost path toward Wano, mirroring the course taken by Luffy in the original storyline. However, it was now clear that Esdeath had other plans.
"I know. That's why I want to go there. The 'Strongest Man in the World'—I want to test his strength for myself."
Esdeath's words left no room for argument. Her thirst for battle, especially against powerful opponents, was unquenchable. Whitebeard's reputation made him an irresistible target.
"Are you serious?" Leonie turned to the others for support, hoping they might dissuade Esdeath.
"We might as well go," Ida said after exchanging glances with Robin and the others. They knew Esdeath well enough by now to understand that once she had made up her mind, there was no stopping her. Even if Daniel were present, he wouldn't be able to change her course.
Besides, they had already made a promise to Esdeath when they brought her into this world: she would be free to challenge the strong.
"You idiots! Do you know who you're messing with? We're part of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
On a burning ship, a surviving pirate screamed defiantly at Esdeath's crew as his comrades were slaughtered around him. His bluster failed to intimidate.
"Whitebeard Pirates? So what? You think you're the only ones allowed to kill?" Leonie sneered, punching him with enough force to send his body crashing through the burning wreckage and into the sea.
As Esdeath's ship pressed deeper into Whitebeard's territory, it encountered numerous pirate crews. Some were direct affiliates of the Whitebeard Pirates, while others were independent groups. All met the same fate—annihilation.
Esdeath's group had no tolerance for insults or lecherous advances, which were all too common from the pirates they encountered. Even Whitebeard's subordinates were no exception.
While White
beard's main crew was known for their camaraderie and respect, many of his allied crews abused his name to act as tyrants. Such arrogance earned them no mercy from Esdeath's crew, whose ruthlessness knew no bounds.
"I'll kill you all!"
On a shattered deck, the infamous "Great Whirlpool Spider" Squard roared with fury as he swung his massive blade at Black Hitomi. His ship was in ruins, his crew slaughtered, and his pirate flag—a spider emblem—was engulfed in flames.
In the original timeline, Squard would go down in history as the man who stabbed Whitebeard in the back. Now, he was reliving the nightmare of his youth when Roger had annihilated his crew.
Squard's rage temporarily gave him the upper hand, forcing Black Hitomi to retreat. Using Geppo (Moonwalk), she leaped into the air to evade his frenzied strikes.
"Get down here!" Squard bellowed, leaping after her with his massive sword raised.
"You fool," Hitomi muttered coldly. As Squard's blade missed its mark, she sidestepped in mid-air and positioned herself behind him. With precision and lethal intent, she thrust her sword toward his exposed back.
"Squard, watch out!"
Just as Hitomi's blade was about to pierce Squard, a powerful voice rang out. A blue-skinned figure emerged from the sea, launching a water bullet like a high-speed arrow toward Hitomi.
It was none other than Jinbe, one of Whitebeard's most loyal allies.
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Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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