Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
[The Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea have been defeated!]
[The world's most beautiful woman has become a prisoner!]
[The Pirate Empress's tragic fate!]
The latest edition of the newspaper was released, and the news of the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock being captured by the Beasts spread rapidly across the globe.
The pitiful photos of her in a prison cell brought countless admirers to tears, filled with sorrow and anger, wishing they could rush to rescue Hancock immediately.
In a seaside restaurant in the East Blue.
"Waaahhh!!!"
A man held a plate, his face drenched in tears.
"My little Hancock-chan!"
"Stop crying, it's annoying!"
The restaurant staff yelled in frustration.
This guy had been crying all day after seeing the newspaper.
Flames of rage ignited in his eyes!
"Damn Calamity Gurd, how could he do such an outrageous thing to the beautiful Hancock-sama? I will never forgive him!"
"Are you jealous of the Calamity?"
His companions mocked him: "A woman as stunning as her falling into the hands of pirates, you can imagine what will happen."
"Shut up, waaahhh!"
Similar scenes unfolded around the world.
As the world's most beautiful woman, countless men had her posters plastered on their walls, deeply infatuated with her.
But despite the thunderous roars, the rain was light.
The one imprisoning the Pirate Empress was the Beasts, and no matter how much courage they had, they wouldn't dare to rescue her; even speaking out was considered brave.
Sabaody Archipelago, Island 17.
Shakky's bar.
"Hancock."
"She's gotten herself into trouble with the wrong people."
Rayleigh looked at the newspaper, his face filled with sorrow.
Inside the bar, Shakky, also with a cigarette in her mouth, wore a worried expression.
As the previous Pirate Empress, Snake Princess was her family, and seeing Hancock in distress, she naturally wanted to rescue her.
But why did she have to provoke the Beasts of all people?
Not long ago, Shanks had visited them while passing through Sabaody and discussed the battle at Gotei.
That Calamity is incredibly strong.
Moreover, they are on the Beasts' territory.
Rayleigh took a sip of his drink.
Even if he was the legendary Dark King, the chances of rescuing Hancock from the Beasts' stronghold were nearly zero.
After a long silence.
Shakky finished a cigarette and sighed, "The Beasts want the World Government to strip Hancock of her title as a Warlord of the Sea."
"Yeah."
Rayleigh nodded slightly.
As a Warlord of the Sea, once defeated, it meant the title would be revoked; the Beasts likely released this news for that very purpose.
Losing a Warlord of the Sea would be a significant loss for the World Government, and finding a successor would take considerable time.
In this way, Hancock would become an ordinary pirate, and with Kaido's temperament, it was very likely he would want to recruit her.
"At least Hancock is still alive."
They comforted themselves in their hearts.
If the Beasts wanted to kill Hancock, they wouldn't be seeing news of her imprisonment, but rather her death.
Thus, for now, Hancock was safe.
Rayleigh set down his glass and stood up.
"Shakky, I'm going to take a trip!"
"Don't act impulsively!"
"Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless."
Rayleigh shook his head: "I'm just a mere coating craftsman now, not very noticeable. I've heard the atmosphere in the Nation of Labor is decent; I'll blend in and gather some information."
"I'll go with you."
Shakky lit another cigarette.
"I'm a hundred times better than you at gathering intelligence."
"Then thank you very much."
Naval Headquarters, Admiral's Office.
"Sorry, Admiral Sengoku!"
Momonga and Dore bowed their heads, apologizing with guilt.
If they had been able to stop Hancock, things wouldn't have escalated to this point; the capture of a Warlord of the Sea affects the World Government's reputation.
"It's not your fault."
Sengoku shook his head.
That Pirate Empress, it's no surprise she would do something like this; it's just unfortunate she ran into a brick wall this time.
The biggest problem now remains the Beasts.
Sengoku rubbed his temples, recalling the conversation he had with the Five Elders days ago, his mood growing heavier.
"If the Navy goes all out, what are the chances of defeating the Beasts?"
"Thirty percent!"
Only a thirty percent chance!
Offense and defense are not the same.
Wano Country is located in the heart of the New World and is a natural fortress; naval ships find it difficult to ascend the waterfalls and invade Wano, making it hard to leverage their numerical advantage.
And then there's Kaido!
Even he and Garp have no confidence in defeating Kaido, who is in his prime and at the peak of his strength.
The title of "strongest" is earned through battle!
In this era, Kaido might truly be the strongest.
Moreover, the New World is the domain of pirates; if the Navy were to launch a full-scale attack, restless pirates might take the opportunity to strike.
Even if they focused on the fortress the Beasts are constructing, it would be futile; a destroyed fortress can be rebuilt, at most delaying things for a while.
The Navy cannot afford to waste time.
Furthermore, if the Navy fails, the entire world will plunge into chaos, potentially shaking the foundations of the World Government's rule.
The risks are too great.
Days passed, and the Holy Land had yet to issue any orders, clearly hesitant to gamble, and unable to afford the stakes.
"Admiral Sengoku!"
Branu arrived outside the office.
"The World Government has just issued an order to officially strip the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock of her title as a Warlord of the Sea!"
"…"
Sengoku took a deep breath.
At this juncture, abandoning the Pirate Empress is unwise; it will cause discontent among the other Warlords of the Sea, after all, Hancock provoked the Beasts due to the World Government's orders.
But the news of her defeat has spread across the world, and to maintain their own reputation, the World Government had no choice but to act.
Holy Land Mariejois.
Power Hall.
The Five Elders wore grim expressions.
"That man's abilities could very well become the greatest threat to the Holy Land!"
"I never expected there would be a special ability to create land from the sea, and we were completely unaware!"
"The [God of Earth] Groudon!"
"More terrifying than Nika!"
The "Sun God" Nika, the liberating warrior.
The enemy that gods fear the most!
But now, a being even more terrifying than Nika has emerged.
"Calamity" Gurd!
Nika is merely a legend; it's uncertain whether he truly exists, while the threat of the Calamity is imminent, even more fearsome than Nika.
If nothing changes, in a few years, sea levels will rise to submerge all islands, leaving only the Holy Land on the Red Line and those slaves who submit to them safe from disaster.
At that time, they will create a new world.
But now the situation has changed!
The Calamity, capable of creating continents, has shattered the fate of the world's impending destruction; the land created by the Calamity will become the hope of the ants!
In other words, the Calamity will become the god of the ants!
This is absolutely intolerable!
Unstable factors must be eliminated!
But the power of the Calamity is no longer something that can be easily crushed; the cost of eliminating him is something they cannot bear.
"Lord Imu has ordered to wait a few more years."
"You mean…"
"According to Vegapunk's report, in three years, the Mother Flame will be born!"
"…"
With the Mother Flame as a power source, they can activate the Ancient Weapons; even Kaido's Wano Country could be obliterated in one strike!
"Before that, we must try every means to eliminate the Calamity!"
"Elders, I have a proposal!"