As time passed, the movements of the World Government and the Revolutionary Army became increasingly frequent and less concealed.
Through the overwhelming news reports and rumours in recent days, people across the world had come to one conclusion.
A great war between the World Government and the Revolutionary Army was imminent—just days away—and would take place in the holy land of Mary Geoise.
That stretch of the Red Line would become a battlefield of unprecedented carnage.
Meanwhile, pirates sailing the East Blue, West Blue, North Blue, and South Blue had all halted their voyages during this time.
Even their usual pillaging and plundering in various countries had dropped to an all-time low.
They knew this war would determine whether the World Government's regime could maintain its eight-century-long rule or if history would be rewritten once more.
Everyone was closely watching the conflict, their attention fixed on predicting the outcome and the world's future trajectory after the battle.
....
By a barbecue stall on Cloud Edge Island...
"Sizzle!!"
The glowing red charcoal emitted scorching flames as golden-brown ham sizzled over the fire.
A plainly dressed man in a tall hat removed the ham from the grill and placed it onto a tray.
"Coming right up!"
Responding to a customer's impatient call, the man deftly weaved between tables, balancing the still-dripping ham with effortless grace.
He set the ham down before four ordinary-looking men.
"Enjoy!"
With a polite nod, the owner bowed slightly before returning to his grill to prepare more food.
The men eagerly grabbed the golden-brown ham, raising their mugs with satisfied smiles.
Once their bellies were full and their thirst quenched, they began discussing the recent events in the world and their own observations.
"Man, what's going on lately? The World Government and the Revolutionary Army are sending ship after ship—I've never seen so many warships in my life!"
"All heading towards Mary Geoise. This time, the World Government isn't just mobilizing the Marines—they've even pulled forces from Enies Lobby, Impel Down and allied nations."
"The Revolutionary Army's gathered a massive force too. Bob's planning to flip Mary Geoise upside down!"
"Honestly, I'm rooting for Bob. Those Celestial Dragons deserve to die!"
"Keep it down! The World Government's still around. If the wrong person hears you, we're done for!"
"What's there to fear? The World Government's too busy saving its own skin to bother with trivial matters like this!"
"Tch. A war like this is no less intense than the Summit War. Too bad we don't even have the privilege to watch it!"
"..."
They went back and forth, dissecting the world's recent events.
For once, everyone was invested in global affairs.
"Hey, why don't we go check out the Red Line?"
One of them—a burly man—scratched his head and spoke up.
The oldest of the group gave him a look as if he were an idiot.
"The Red Line's ten thousand meters high, and Mary Geoise sits at its peak!"
"Even if we went, you think we'd see anything? We'd just end up as cannon fodder!"
The other pirates shared the same disdainful expression, staring at their clueless companion like he was a complete moron.
They were concerned about the battlefield, but not foolish enough to throw their lives away!
"Ah! It's just... a bit of a pity, that's all!" The burly man sighed heavily.
"Maybe it'll be like the last Summit War—there might be a live broadcast!"
"After all, last time, the World Government was humiliated in front of the entire world. This bloody battle with the Revolutionary Army is their only chance to wash away that disgrace!"
The middle-aged man paused before speaking slowly.
Hearing this, the others' eyes lit up.
Just then, commotion erupted outside the barbecue shop.
For some reason, people began running towards a certain place, their faces filled with strange expressions.
Amid their hurried footsteps, fragments of conversation could be heard.
"Hurry, to the square!"
"The screen in the square just show the Red Line and Mary Geoise!"
"..."
Hearing these words, the group's expressions changed instantly.
They exchanged glances.
The next moment—
They hastily pulled out a handful of loose change from their pockets, tossed it onto the table, and then followed the crowd, sprinting towards the largest square on the Island.
The scattered coins left on the table trembled in the wind before fluttering to the ground.
Yet, the shop owner made no move to pick them up.
Whoosh!!
Another gust of wind swept through.
The barbecue shop owner dashed past the table, the coins swirling up from the ground.
But he paid them no mind, charging headlong towards the square without a backward glance—as if afraid of missing even a single moment.
.....
The square was already packed to the brim, every pair of eyes fixed on the island's sole large screen.
The image displayed was none other than the Red Line, with Mary Geoise standing prominently at its highest point.
"Is this where those Celestial Dragons live? So beautiful, so dreamlike!"
"Those white clouds surrounding it—it's like it was built in the sky!"
"Those scum Celestial Dragons actually live in a place like this? Unbelievable!"
"I wonder how the Revolutionary Army plans to attack, This is the World Government's headquarters, atop the Red Line, ten thousand meters high!"
"..."
As the Red Line and the holy land of Mary Geoise appeared on screen, some people couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
For most of them, this was a place they had never seen—or even heard of.
Only now, witnessing Mary Geoise with their own eyes, did they grasp its full grandeur.
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, it held an overwhelming geographical advantage.
The Revolutionary Army's assault would face severe limitations.
"Compared to that, the forces gathered around Mary Geoise are even more worth discussing!"
"I can't even begin to count how many people are there!"
The middle-aged man, who had finally arrived from the barbecue shop, spoke up.
His eyes burned as he stared at the screen.
The sheer scale of the forces assembled atop the Red Line sent a tremor through his heart—even for a former pirate like him.