Several months later.
Time moved forward without anyone noticing.
The New Year had just passed, and the date for the Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral handover ceremony had already been set.
The whole world seemed immersed in the joy of welcoming a new year.
Across the four seas.
The Revolutionary Army, which had thoroughly purged internal parasites, suddenly pulled back its forces for unknown reasons. They redeployed toward the edges of the world, sealed off sea routes, and imposed blockades.
On islands where no information could be sent out, the Revolutionary Army raised factories one after another.
They produced not only advanced machinery, but also weapons that the Marines had discarded. Yet compared to what existed on the seas, these weapons were still far more advanced.
On islands that had relied on manual farming for generations, convenient machinery gradually replaced human labor, greatly freeing the workforce.
The liberated labor force was then continuously absorbed and trained by the Revolutionary Army…
* * *
Within the World Government.
Because of Dragon's massive purge and sea blockades, intelligence gathering on the Revolutionary Army was almost completely cut off.
Even so, agents who feared neither death nor danger kept breaking through the defenses, trying to obtain crucial information for the government.
* * *
As for the Marines.
Before officially taking office, the new Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki, went to the Holy Land and held secret talks with the Five Elders for an entire day.
No one knew what they discussed, or what kind of support he received.
* * *
On the pirate side.
The chaotic Four Emperors war in the New World, which had raged for months, suddenly came to a strange halt.
The reason was the announcement of the new Marine Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki, and the approaching promotion ceremony.
This massive battle over interests came to an abrupt stop.
After that, led by Red-Haired Shanks, the four factions gathered on a certain island to negotiate. When it ended, the island was erased from all sea charts.
The Four Emperors started withdrawing their forces and redrawing their territories based on the land they currently held.
The one who suffered the greatest losses was Knox.
Next was Red-Haired Shanks.
Both their businesses and territories shrank.
Only Big Mom and Kaido gained enormous profits.
But there was no time to dwell on that now. With Sakazuki becoming Fleet Admiral, the seas would not remain peaceful.
Full battle preparations began.
* * *
Grand Line. Alabasta.
Rainbase. The top floor of the Rain Dinners Casino.
There were three days left until Sakazuki's promotion ceremony.
Crocodile stood by the window, staring at the yellow sky outside, lost in thought. On the desk behind him lay a newspaper.
A massive headline read:
"New Marine Fleet Admiral. Sakazuki, Known For His Brutality. Is The Great Pirate Era Coming To An End?"
Below it was a detailed analysis of Sakazuki's past and how his rise to Fleet Admiral would affect the world.
The author was none other than Morgans himself, president of the World Economy News Paper and controller of all News Coo.
This issue's sales directly broke the highest record of the past ten years.
The last time such a record was broken was when Roger became the Pirate King…
Click. Click.
The sound of a door handle turning rang out.
Robin walked in wearing a sun hat, black shorts, and a short-sleeved leather top. She carried a stack of documents.
Seeing Crocodile at the window, she felt a little puzzled by his expression.
"Boss, this month's profit and loss report is ready. Would you like to review it?"
He did not turn around. His voice was calm.
"Put it down."
Robin placed the documents on the desk and looked at him.
"This is rare. I didn't expect to see this kind of expression from you. So even Sir Crocodile has things that trouble him?"
He snorted at her teasing tone and turned around.
"What, nothing to do? You seem to be in a pretty good mood lately, Nico Robin."
Hearing him call her by her full name, she knew he was truly angry.
She shrugged and wisely left the room.
Crocodile returned to the desk and sat down. The huge headline on the newspaper felt painfully glaring.
"Sakazuki…"
That man had already become Fleet Admiral, while he was still standing in the same place.
Year after year, still playing the role of a hero he despised.
Irritation surged in his chest.
He took several deep breaths to calm down. Then he walked back to the window, pushed it open, and leaped out.
"Pluton… Pluton…"
The sandstorms of Alabasta grew even more violent…
Robin, who had just entered the Rain Dinners hall, sensed Crocodile rushing out.
She let out a soft laugh and disappeared into the crowd.
What he said was true.
She had been very happy lately.
Even Sakazuki, her sworn enemy, becoming Fleet Admiral could not extinguish that joy.
She had originally planned to contact the Revolutionary Army to test the waters, but never expected such an unexpected gain.
From the mouth of Dragon himself, she learned that he had once been to Ohara.
Those books rescued from the flames by the scholars and her mother all existed somewhere else in the world now, continuing the will of Ohara.
Ohara had not perished.
A smile slowly rose at the corner of her lips and refused to fade.
A life that had always been shrouded in darkness was now filled with hope.
Having made up her mind, she chose her path.
She would pass on everything that Lorca had taught her, without holding anything back, to the Revolutionary Army and to Dragon.
"Mom, Professor, Saul… and Mr. Lorca… I will carry your share and live on. Until the birth of the new world…"
The scorching sunlight fell on her body, yet to Robin, it felt incomparably warm.
* * *
New World. Sabaody Archipelago.
Evening.
Five groups of Marines and officers gathered from different parts of the Grand Line were about to arrive at Sabaody.
Sabaody Archipelago. Marine branch base.
Enel sat on the sofa in the base commander's office and yawned.
"Hah~ Is everyone here yet?"
Demora stood respectfully beside him.
"Almost, Mr. Enel. The last patrol unit is returning."
Although they were both Vice Admirals, Demora did not dare show the slightest disrespect. As Sakazuki's trusted subordinate, Enel was treated with absolute caution.
Enel stood up.
"They're back. Let's go."
Within his Observation Haki, a squad of soldiers hurried back. After the gates closed, the guards rushed toward the plaza.
All registered personnel had been checked and confirmed.
The massive base plaza was packed with soldiers.
Demora led him forward and shouted at the crowd, "Silence! Vice Admiral Enel will speak."
He stepped aside and stood respectfully.
The corner of Enel's mouth lifted as he stepped forward.
"Everyone is here. Good."
"500 Million Volt: Lightning Net."
Crackle!
Lightning erupted violently from his body, sweeping outward like a massive net made of thunder, covering every single soldier.
No survivors.
Demora, paralyzed by electricity in that instant, stared in shock.
"You…"
Pshhk!
A golden short staff pierced straight through his heart.
He died with overwhelming unwillingness.
**
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