"This is…" On the cliff overlooking the desolate swampy lake, Wilder's face was a mask of uncertainty. The shock faded in less than a second, replaced by calm contemplation. "Conqueror's Haki?"
Wilder was almost certain that the sensation he had just felt was the so-called Conqueror's Haki—the one-in-a-million ability.
He tried to summon that feeling again, but found that no matter what he did, he couldn't replicate it.
"So, it's just awakened, then?" Wilder grinned, not dwelling on it too much.
For him, strength was all that mattered.
He glanced down at the beast that had fainted, its eyes rolled back in its head. With a slight movement of his mouth, a hard, sharp spike of earth shot out, flying at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. It instantly pierced the beast's body. Through his Observation Haki, he sensed its life force fading away; the spike had struck its heart.
This was just a small trick of his swamp manipulation, a casual attack born from long, accumulated training. It wouldn't be of much use in a real battle, but it might be good for a surprise attack now and then.
Closing his eyes, Wilder entered his training state once more, carefully sensing the resonance between the swamp gas around him and the wisp within his body.
The sun rose and the moon set. The central area, surrounded by dead trees, looked much like a valley. Purple swamp gas swirled around the cliffs, and Wilder's body remained seated on a protruding rock, holding the same posture for the entire night.
His eyelids trembled slightly. Just as he was about to open them, a strange ringing sound echoed through the valley. Wilder took the opportunity to open his eyes.
"Kacha!"
The call connected, and Claire's serious tone came through. "Boss, the battle is over. The Kingdom of Kanjirgis has been completely eliminated. The royal family was publicly executed last night. Our forces have taken complete control of all regions."
Wilder's expression, which had been calm, grew somber. He began to think. This news was expected. He knew that it would soon spread, and there would be no stopping it.
And when Big Mom found out, it was easy to imagine the storm that would follow.
Wilder had to make his move before the news got out.
He acknowledged the report over the Den Den Mushi but didn't hang up. Instead, he sent out a coded message.
"Now, we just follow the predetermined path. Charlotte Linlin, I hope you enjoy the gift that's coming."
A faint curve appeared on Wilder's indifferent face. He looked into the distance, his gaze unreadable.
After speaking, without even changing his posture, he closed his eyes and resumed his training.
As Wilder re-entered that state, the flow of the swamp gas in the valley seemed to change slightly. All of it was being "watched" by Wilder.
...
Somewhere on the sea, on a warship that had been stationary for an unknown amount of time, Kizaru put down his Den Den Mushi. A glint of light flashed behind his glasses.
"Let's go."
He stared at the blurry black dot in the distant waters and spoke two simple words.
The warship immediately set sail, heading towards the small black dot.
An unknown undercurrent began to stir in the New World.
Before long, the warship reached its destination. Kizaru and his men disembarked. It turned out that the small black dot from a distance was actually a brand-new military fortress. Situated in a peculiar location on the edge of the Calm Belt, shrouded in thick fog, it was built on a black rock reef that was half in the Calm Belt and half out. In just two or three days, a Marine military fortress had been erected.
On the fortress, one could still see buildings and scaffolding under construction. The entire area of the barren reef had been forcibly expanded to more than five times its original size.
On the side facing the Calm Belt, dozens of new warships were docked. The entire base was buzzing with activity.
The island was filled with engineers and Marines, as well as scientists and architects. In the unseen shadows, and even far out at sea, countless hidden outposts completely sealed off the area from any prying eyes.
In this weak point of the Yonko Big Mom's territory, they had already gone to great lengths to ensure that none of this was discovered.
This wasn't just the work of the Marines. The Warlord's own Monitoring Unit had also played a crucial role.
After disembarking, Kizaru walked silently towards the center of the island, observing everything along the way.
"That guy… he's really something. If it weren't for his help, it probably wouldn't have been built to this extent so quickly."
The "guy" Kizaru was referring to was, of course, Wilder. This was all part of their agreement. Besides its formidable Munitions Department, Wilder's organization had also reached a scientifically advanced and top-tier level in construction. This was the main reason his Fish Scale Island in the East Blue had developed so rapidly. Ample funding was one factor, but Wilder's generous investment in architectural talent was the most important reason.
Soon, Kizaru arrived at a spacious and imposing complex of buildings in the central area. This would be another important command and office center for the Marines. It could be said that this was the Marines' biggest gain in many years.
Its importance to the Marines at this moment couldn't be summarized in a few words. This was why, when Wilder had proposed the plan, even Akainu had abandoned his usual attitude and agreed immediately.
Besides… the Marines' justice wasn't meant to be used against "ordinary" citizens. And soon… Wilder would no longer be a pirate.
"What a wise choice. I hope we can become good allies from now on, King of Morass… Lucifer Wilder."
At this thought, a strange smile appeared on Kizaru's face. Even so, it was still as sleazy as ever.
After so many days of being buffeted by the sea breeze, even Kizaru felt tired. This was why he hadn't immediately reported the coded message he received from Wilder. He needed to brew a hot cup of tea, relax, and then think about reporting.
Soon, Kizaru had done just that. Sipping his tea, he sent the message up the chain of command.
...
Meanwhile, at sea, a storm was beginning to brew.
At Marine Headquarters, the new Fleet Admiral, Akainu, soon received the message from Kizaru. He put down his pen and looked up, his ordinary-looking eyes now glinting with a sharp light.
"Lucifer Wilder, you will find that your choice was the correct one."
His deep voice rumbled. For some unknown reason, a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face. However, combined with his stern and scarred features, the smile lost its original meaning.
"Send out the order. Spread the news throughout the world."
"Yes, sir!"
...
As the undercurrents surged, the wind began to pick up at sea.
It started as a gentle breeze, but soon, it swelled into a hurricane that swept across the entire world.
A piece of news began to spread across the seas. By noon, the entire world was filled with it.
[The World Government and Marine Headquarters announce to the world: All past crimes of the current Royal Warlord of the Sea, Lucifer Wilder, and his subordinates, including Vice, Claire, Ashin… and all other personnel, are hereby erased! All is forgiven. This is a special proclamation to the world!]
"Whoa!"
The moment this news broke, the seas erupted.
Countless people were shocked, disbelieving, and utterly confused.
"Hey, hey, with news like this just dropping out of nowhere, is something big about to happen on the seas again?"
"Why would all his crimes be erased? Not even the Warlords get that kind of treatment, do they?"
"I can't believe it. What did the Warlord Wilder do for the Marines and the World Government to make such a decision?"
"WHY?! Why would the World Government and the Marines do this for him!?" Too many people on the seas were in disbelief. All that remained in their hearts was deep confusion and incredulity.
The various powers and famous figures of the world were also shaken by the news. In that moment, there were those who fell silent, those who were suspicious, those who were curious, those who were shocked, those who were worried, those who were interested, and those who were excited. The reactions were varied.
But they all had one thing in common. After the initial shock, every one of them fell into deep thought. They wanted to see through the hidden motives behind it all, and… what would happen next.
On the Sabaody Archipelago, the silver-haired, well-built, and handsomely aged second-in-command of the Pirate King, the "Dark King" Rayleigh, stared at the newspaper in his hands for a long time before putting it down.
"What a headache," he said, looking up at the distant sky and sea. After a long pause, he finally spoke again.
"The rookies these days are really something else. I can't see through them at all." He pushed up his glasses, a smile suddenly appearing on his face. "But, this is what makes the sea exciting. My dear apprentice is going to have a lot of fun."
...
Elsewhere in the New World, the "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe put down his newspaper, his face grim.
"Lucifer Wilder… that man gives me a dangerous feeling. I don't know what you're up to with the Marines, but I hope you don't clash with Luffy-san in the future."
In Dressrosa, within the royal palace, the Warlord "Heavenly Yaksha" Donquixote Doflamingo's trademark smile had vanished. He stared at the newspaper in silence, his face grim, serious, and wary.
In the New World, the Yonko "Red-Haired" Shanks, the near-Yonko "Blackbeard" Marshall D. Teach, the Yonko "King of the Beasts" Kaido, the Warlord and "World's Greatest Swordsman" Dracule Mihawk, the Warlord "Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock, the Warlord Edward Weevil, and the Warlord Trafalgar Law all stared at their newspapers, lost in thought.
No one would take this news at face value. This was an unprecedented move. They knew that the Marines and the World Government must have some deeper meaning behind it. It was almost certain that the Marines would make a move soon. No one knew what would become of the current chaotic situation in the New World, but it didn't stop them from raising their guard.
And as one of the Yonko, "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin naturally received the news at the earliest opportunity.
Her terrifying eyes widened, her presence booming. "Warlord Wilder? Isn't that the brat who called me the other day?"
Charlotte Linlin sensed that things might have changed. At the very least, she knew something was wrong. There were no such coincidences in this world. Vaguely, she felt like she was being targeted.
"Marines… Wilder… what are you planning?!"
Her blood-red eyes glinted with a dangerous light. Big Mom's expression underwent a subtle change, her killing intent fluctuating. "Cracker, go and investigate for Mama. That brat from the other day might have lied to Mama."
"Find out. I hope it's not what I think it is. If it is, then kill him!"
"Yes, Mama." Cracker, encased in his Biscuit General armor, walked out of the castle with a sinister grin.
However, he had only taken a few steps when he saw one of his younger sisters rushing towards the castle in a panic.
"Brother Cracker." She saw him at the same time. Before Cracker could ask what was wrong, she spoke first, her voice urgent. "It's bad, Brother Cracker, look at this." As she spoke, she handed the newspaper in her hand to him.
Cracker took it suspiciously. The moment he saw it, the expression on his face froze, and his pupils contracted sharply.
...
Three hours earlier, as the news of the Marines and the World Government erasing Wilder's past crimes spread rapidly across the seas, Wilder's own plan began.
As Wilder's secretary, Claire knew his plan. So, when she saw that the news had spread across the world, she knew it was time to carry out the mission Wilder had given her beforehand.
The head of the News Coo had been contacted long ago. When the time came, Claire sent a message to the world's largest newspaper company, directly to the owner's desk.
Soon, the News Coo, who had been ready for everything, took to the skies in unison.
This news spread across the seas even faster.
[Lucifer Wilder has ended the tyrannical regime of the Kingdom of Kanjirgis, liberated its people, and established the Kingdom of Morass! This is a declaration to the world!]
"Holy crap!"
This news caused an even bigger uproar.
Everyone was shocked by Wilder's boldness and methods. Yes, methods. As for the part about liberating the people, it was automatically ignored. Besides the common folk, no one would believe such nonsense.
And Wilder had only intended for it to be heard by the world and the citizens of his new kingdom anyway. He couldn't care less if the pirates believed him or not.
Amid the shock caused by this news, people gradually discovered a problem. This discovery pushed the incident to a whole new level.
The former Kingdom of Kanjirgis, now the Kingdom of Morass, was under the control of the Yonko Big Mom.
"Hahahaha! Now things are getting interesting! I can't believe Wilder made a move on Big Mom's territory."
"He's a dead man."
"No matter what, the New World is really going to be lively now."
At the same time, many more famous and influential figures connected this news to the previous announcement from the Marines. Countless thoughts flashed through their minds.