Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Baltigo.
White dust covered the island, with the fortress of the headquarters towering at its center.
Revolutionaries clad in gray-green robes hurriedly moved about outside the fortress.
The sounds of footsteps and shouts filled the air, creating a continuous clamor across the island.
Several high-ranking officers within the Revolutionary Army tightly coordinated the movements of their comrades.
Amidst the trampling of countless feet, white dust swirled in the air and the fierce winds whipped at the people's robes, making them flutter noisily.
It was even hard to keep one's eyes open.
Yet, despite this, the revolutionaries neither slowed their steps nor paused in their tasks.
Excitement and fervor were etched on every face.
Thud!
At the shore, a revolutionary set down a heavy crate he was carrying, sending up a cloud of dust.
He dusted off his sleeves as he gazed at the Revolutionary Army Battleship anchored before him.
Haaah~
"The day has finally come!"
The middle-aged man wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice thick with emotion.
His eyes then shifted from the battleship to the docks.
There, even more revolutionaries like him bustled about, and battleships like the one before him lay anchored across the sea, a dark, imposing fleet.
"Yeah!"
"After two years of silence, Leader has called all revolutionaries together for this operation—marching straight on the World Government's headquarters!"
"Attacking Mary Geoise! Slaughtering those damned Celestial Dragons—just thinking about it gets my blood pumping!"
A revolutionary in his twenties hooked the crate in front of the middle-aged man with a pulley and waved to the crew on the battleship.
Creak!
The sound of machinery whirred as the crate of ammunition lifted effortlessly, ascending smoothly onto the deck.
"The moment Leader called that emergency meeting, every alliance mobilized immediately!"
"This time, all our strength will unite as one! The World Government better be ready for our wrath!"
The middle-aged man planted his hands on his hips, his gaze hardening at the mention of the World Government.
After leaving Whitebeard, Bob had returned to the Revolutionary Army headquarters.
There, he immediately convened the largest assembly in their history.
His declaration was clear: in just a few days, the Revolutionary Army would rally all its forces and storm the World Government's headquarters—the very heart of the Celestial Dragons' domain, Marie Geoise!
The very day the meeting adjourned, the alliances under Bob's command sprang into action, swiftly withdrawing from Baltigo to regroup their forces at their respective branches.
Meanwhile, the headquarters itself was preparing for this world-shaking event.
"Enough talk—I can already feel the fire in my veins!"
"Let's hurry and finish loading!"
"In half a month, the moment we've all been waiting for will arrive!"
"Under our Leader's command, we will overthrow the World Government this time!"
With that, the two threw themselves back into their work.
*****
Meanwhile, in another part of the fortress, inside a solitary room...Bob stood by the window, watching the swiftly moving figures outside, with Talia standing beside him.
Despite the decades that had passed, she remained as youthful and beautiful as ever.
The power of the Devil Fruit allowed her to freeze her age at its most radiant moment.
"Are we really going to attack Marie Geoise this time?" Talia asked softly, her gaze fixed on Bob.
"Forming alliances and strengthening the Revolutionary Army was always leading to this day," Bob replied with a smile, patting her shoulder.
"It was only a matter of time."
"Mhm. But I have one condition this time—I'm going with you," Talia said, her striking eyes locked onto his.
The golden light streaming through the window bathed her face, enhancing her beauty.
She knew the worldwide recruitment that had been carried out was for this very purpose—to overthrow the World Government.
She had missed the last great war, but this time, she would stand beside Bob.
She wanted to witness the fall of the World Government with her own eyes, to see the Celestial Dragons—who had inflicted so much suffering on countless civilians—brought to justice.
"Of course."
Bob's eyes gleamed as he looked at Talia.
Then, he shifted his gaze past her to the warships anchored in the distance.
"Imu..."
"Just how strong are you?"
*****
Time passed swiftly, and in just a few days, the world had changed.
Revolutionary Army branches stationed across the globe mobilized urgently.
Operatives on missions were recalled without delay.
Everyone sensed something was amiss—even ordinary civilians could feel the world teetering on the brink of upheaval.
In taverns, restaurants, bustling streets and even the most remote corners, heated discussions erupted.
Piecing together recent events and rumors, people reached one conclusion.
The Revolutionary Army was gathering to assault Marie Geoise, the headquarters of the World Government.
War was coming.
*****
Meanwhile, in the holy land of Marie Geoise...
Inside the Chamber of Power, the Five Elders sat on emerald-green sofas.
Facing them were the Marine's top brass, along with high-ranking officials from Enies Lobby and Impel Down.
Kong, Akainu, Kizaru, Fujitora, Ryokugyu, Tsuru—and Sengoku, summoned specially.
Garp had also been ordered to attend, but he ignored the summons, citing intensive new recruit training as his excuse.
"The purpose of this meeting,"
"You already know, don't you?"
Jaygarcia Saturn, the white-haired elder, broke the silence, his piercing gaze sweeping the room.
His expression was grim, his aged face twisted into something sinister.
"Sigh..." Akainu tensed, exhaling sharply at the elder's words.
Over the past days, Marine officers worldwide had been reporting the Revolutionary Army's unusual movements.
All this information points to one thing—the Revolutionary Army is preparing to challenge the World Government and wage war.
Without a doubt, Bob is going to attack Mary Geoise.