Four days later.
Marine Headquarters.
A fiery red figure streaked across the sky, descending over Marineford.
Sakazuki had rested for two days, fully recovering his strength.
Then, using his ability, he flew nonstop for two more days to return.
From the air, the sight below was clear.
At this moment, Marineford was filled with scaffoldings and construction rigs.
The plaza and port in front of Headquarters had been utterly destroyed.
Even the distant fortress bore several massive sword slashes, with countless soldiers working tirelessly to repair everything.
Sakazuki said coldly:
"These damn pirates."
"One after another... completely lawless."
He landed atop the massive fortress of Headquarters.
Click-clack—
The crisp sound of leather shoes hitting the ground echoed as Sakazuki deactivated his ability.
He strode toward the Fleet Admiral's office.
Just as he reached the door, a somewhat weary voice came from inside.
"Come in, Sakazuki."
Sakazuki pushed the door open.
"Fleet Admiral Kong."
Kong grunted in acknowledgment and gestured.
"Sit."
"Now talk."
"What exactly happened?"
"What's the situation with the civilians? Roger's child. And you and Garp. Two Vice Admirals fighting each other. Luckily, it didn't get out."
"Or it would've been a massive disgrace."
Sakazuki nodded and sat down on the nearby couch.
"It started when we received a report that someone had seen Roger on Baterilla Island in the South Blue."
"We didn't make contact—just sent people to gather information on the island."
"They found out Roger had a wife and even a child."
"Coincidentally, Roger surrendered himself shortly afterward, and we passed the information on to the people of Kegesi Island."
"You know what happened at Kegesi Island. I left the decision in their hands."
"But for some reason, the information got leaked. The same day I got back, we received intel that the pirate Rayleigh was heading toward Reverse Mountain."
"I suspected he was going to the South Blue, so I rushed to Baterilla Island."
"Fortunately, I arrived just in time and intercepted him before he could make a move."
Kong furrowed his brow.
"I see."
"Did you take him down?"
Sakazuki smirked.
"I did."
"Rayleigh's corpse is still on my ship—Bullet killed him."
"After Roger's execution, we'll release the news of Rayleigh's death and the Golden Lion's capture together."
"That will deal a huge blow to the pirates."
Kong also showed a slight smile, picturing the scene in his mind.
"Not bad."
"Well done."
"And what about you and Garp?"
Sakazuki's expression darkened.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, are you sure he's not secretly working for the pirates?"
"I have no idea how Vice Admiral Garp got the intel."
"But he actually showed up on Baterilla Island and tried to protect Roger's child."
"He chased Roger for over ten years and never caught a single member of the Roger Pirates, fine."
"But now, when we finally have a chance to wipe out that cursed bloodline, he steps in to interfere."
"He even attacked a fellow Marine."
"What the hell is he thinking!"
"I request a full investigation into Vice Admiral Garp."
Kong's expression darkened as well after hearing this.
But he also understood Garp's personality... not exactly the most rational type.
Defecting from the Navy was unlikely, but the matter still had to be investigated thoroughly.
"I understand."
"Once Garp returns, we'll convene a meeting and address this."
"But for now, the priority is Roger's execution in two days."
"Sengoku has already escorted Roger to Loguetown."
"Your injuries..."
"Take a few days off."
Sakazuki shook his head.
"No need. I want to lead the troops now and strike back into the New World."
"Right now, we only have the G1 Branch in the New World—it's far too passive."
"With the Pirate King and his right hand both dead, and the Golden Lion captured..."
"This is the perfect time to reclaim the New World."
"Securing the Golden Lion's territory and gaining a foothold in the New World is what matters most."
Kong was tempted.
"Are you confident?"
Sakazuki answered firmly:
"Absolutely."
"The New World may be a pirate's paradise, full of powerful foes..."
"But there's no one left who can stop me."
"Besides, we don't need to take over too many islands—overextending our lines would be bad for command."
"We just need to occupy the islands near the Red Line and establish them as Navy-controlled territory."
Kong nodded.
"If you're confident, then go ahead."
"Tell me whatever support you need."
Sakazuki said:
"I'll lead Enel and Borsalino in a surprise assault."
"It'll be good training for the two of them."
"Then, have the other Vice Admirals lead fleets and begin taking control of each island one by one."
Kong nodded.
"Alright. I'll arrange the personnel now."
...
Marineford Plaza, at the ruins.
Civilians, soldiers, and cadets were all hard at work.
Enel and Rosinante were moving fragments of the monument to the fallen.
During the great battle, the monument in the plaza had been shattered into countless pieces.
Enel found a large chunk, lifted it with a grunt, and hoisted the over four-meter-tall slab onto his back.
He turned to see Rosinante hugging a smaller piece and grinned.
"Rosinante, you still need more training."
"I'll send you back to Instructor Zephyr for a bit of special training."
"Hahahahaha!"
At the thought of Instructor Zephyr's hellish training...
Rosinante's face fell.
"No way!!!!"
Enel laughed loudly.
"Then let's race!"
"First one to deliver the stone chunk over there wins!"
With that, he bolted off, effortlessly sprinting with a stone several times his size on his back.
Rosinante hurriedly ran after him, still hugging his stone.
"Enel, that's cheating!!!"
"Hahahahahahaha!!"
Enel's laughter echoed in the distance.
Borsalino reached up and wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead and sighed.
"Young people sure are full of energy~"
He turned to Kuzan beside him and said:
"It's so hot~"
"Make some ice cream."
Kuzan lifted a huge boulder and replied helplessly:
"I'm the Ice-Ice Fruit, not the Ice Cream Fruit."
Borsalino lifted a massive stone too.
"Eh eh~!"
"That's such a shame~"
Kuzan looked at him, exasperated.
"You guy..."
In the distance, Sakazuki walked over holding the latest map of the New World's territorial divisions.
"Enel! Borsalino!!"
"Come with me!"
Boom—
The fiery red silhouette of Sakazuki shot straight into the sky.
Enel's clear voice rang out:
"Understood!"
Crack—
A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky and vanished instantly.
Borsalino put down the boulder and scratched his cheek.
"So troublesome~"
Looking in the direction the two had gone, he placed his palms together at his abdomen.
A beam of light, like a mirror, shot into the sky, forming a trail of light that turned into sparkles and disappeared.
...
Two days later.
East Blue, Loguetown.
Noon.
The road leading to the execution platform was packed on both sides with a dense crowd.
Among them were civilians, pirates, bounty hunters, and newspaper reporters...
Countless soldiers were maintaining order.
"They're here! They're here!"
"What?!"
"Where?!"
"Hiss!"
"The Pirate King!!"
In the distance, two standard-bearers holding the Government flag led the way to the execution platform.
Behind them, several soldiers holding long blades surrounded Roger in the center, escorting him to the execution site.
Roger, in the middle, had shackles and iron chains on his hands, yet walked calmly.
Like a victorious general... no one knew what he was thinking.
At the foot of the platform.
The surrounding soldiers took their positions, and Roger slowly walked up alone.
In the corner—Doflamingo.
Among the crowd—Shanks, Buggy.
The young swordmaster—Mihawk.
Already a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Crocodile.
The young pirate of the New World—Moria.
And... the future leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon.
Almost every future powerhouse had gathered here.
In the distance, a breathless Smoker ran through the crowd, having followed his parents to Loguetown... terrified of being late.
He stared at that figure.
As Roger stepped onto the platform, he sat cross-legged and grinned widely.
"Alright, let's get this over with."
The executioner raised the long blade high after performing the ritual.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd:
"Hey! Pirate King!!"
"Where did you hide the treasure you plundered?!"
"You found that legendary treasure, didn't you?!"
"That treasure! The one-piece treasure!"
"ONE PIECE!!!!"
Roger suddenly burst into wild laughter.
"Ahahahahaha!!"
"Looking for my treasure, huh?"
"If you want it, you can have it all."
From atop a tall building in the distance, Sengoku watched and suddenly had a terrible premonition... he roared:
"Execute him now!!!"
The executioner's long blade aimed at Roger.
Roger's voice, filled with Haki, thundered across the heavens.
"Go and find it!!!"
"I left everything the world has to offer in that place!!"
Schlick—
The long blade pierced Roger's body instantly, but... the world erupted!!!
To chase after the vast fortune he left behind—what people called the legendary "One Piece,"
Countless individuals raised the Jolly Roger and set sail.
The Great Pirate Era had begun...
That night of the execution... lights blazed across Navy Headquarters and the Holy Land Mary Geoise.
But... none of that mattered to Sakazuki.
...
New World, above an island under the Golden Lion's command.
At an altitude of a thousand meters, three figures and a small ark floated in the air.
Sakazuki took out a pen and marked a red X on this island on the map.
"Alright, let's begin."
Borsalino sighed.
"This is already the eleventh island. Aren't we going to take a break~"
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki~"
Despite the complaint, he crossed his arms and posed elegantly with glowing fingers.
Sakazuki said:
"Enough with the whining."
"Time is tight, and the mission is critical."
"By now, Roger should have been executed."
"The news of the Golden Lion's capture is about to be released."
"Seizing control of the New World before the pirates react—that's the most important thing."
Borsalino replied in a helpless tone:
"Yeah yeah~"
Countless brilliant light bullets arched downward, bombarding the pirate base below. Continuous explosions echoed.
"Enemy attack!"
"Hurry!"
"Where's the enemy?!"
"Damn it!!!"
"Get to the cellar!!!"
"Don't panic! You there!!"
"Get over he—"
Above them, behind Enel, the small device churned out endless thunderclouds.
Bzzz bzzz—
A lightning sphere nearly a hundred meters wide formed.
Enel directed it downward.
In the terrified eyes of the pirates on the ground, it plummeted.
BOOM——!!!!!!
It exploded instantly—thundering lightning rampaged alongside the explosive shockwave.
A massive crater hundreds of meters wide appeared, and nearly no one at the pirate base survived.
Whoosh!
A blade of sword energy tens of meters long shot up from the ruined ground.
A battered figure covered in Haki burst out—it was the pirate leader who had just shouted,
"Don't panic! You there!"
Covered in dust, the pirate shook his head:
"The sky... dammit! Who are you?!"
"To dare set foot on Golden Lion-sama's territo—"
BOOM!
A Meteor Volcano fell from the sky—an endlessly extended Dark Hound that crushed the pirate leader armored in Armament Haki.
"Next island."
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