So, from beginning to end, Sakazuki never expected the Revolutionary Army to overthrow the government.
Their role was simply to throw the world into chaos, to keep the government from ever finding peace. Once Sakazuki's plans were complete and the pirates had been utterly annihilated...
Everything else would no longer be a problem.
But that was still far off...
Sakazuki shook his head, returning to the present.
"Let's get this to Dr. Vegapunk first. After that, head to the West Blue to find us."
Enel perked up.
"Alright."
He summoned several soldiers from afar, who carefully wrapped up the equipment on the ground.
Lifting the gear, Enel turned into a bolt of lightning and vanished.
...
Unknown waters, Red-Haired Pirates.
Having just defeated another pirate crew and seized a mountain of treasure, the crew piled their loot on the deck and celebrated.
Suddenly, a baby's cry cut through Shanks's laughter.
Rubbing his chin uncertainly, he walked over to one of the treasure chests and lifted the lid.
His eyes widened at the sight of a baby lying atop a half-full chest of gold, crying.
Even Bonk Punch's pet monkey, Monster, clambered up to the chest's edge, peering in curiously.
Beckman frowned in surprise.
"That pirate crew..."
Suddenly noticing all the people around, the baby who had been crying moments before let out a giggle.
Shanks gave a helpless smile.
"No way... hey!"
Sensing Shanks's exasperation, the baby promptly started crying again.
Shanks fumbled awkwardly, unsure how to soothe a child, then seemed to think of something and, looking rather embarrassed, began to sing.
The baby froze, staring blankly at him before breaking into a smile.
Shanks stopped mid-note, stunned.
In his mind, he was back at God Valley.
Captain Roger had opened a chest, and Shanks had seen the shocked expressions on Roger and First Mate Rayleigh's faces.
The baby's laughter pulled him back to the present.
Looking at this infant with hair split down the middle—half red, half white—his gaze softened.
"What a twist of fate..."
It was as if destiny had come full circle.
Once, Shanks himself had been placed inside a treasure chest and unknowingly brought aboard the Roger Pirates' ship, only to be discovered later.
Now, after forming his own crew, he had found a baby inside a looted treasure chest... a baby named Uta.
...
East Blue, Oykot Kingdom.
In the port town, towering flames consumed everything.
Marine soldiers who had rushed in on orders were locked in battle with a band of pirates.
Unlike the clashes between true powerhouses, this fight among ordinary people was a messy, chaotic brawl.
Pirates armed with cutlasses and Marines with rifles clashed in a desperate melee.
Flames, flashing blades, and blood covered both rooftops and streets.
Under the command of a burly man wearing a horned helmet, the pirates gradually pushed the Marines back.
Behind a pile of collapsed rubble, Belle-mère and several Marines knelt with rifles, firing repeatedly at the distant pirates.
Even so, the hastily assembled Marines were being cut down one after another.
Until the last one fell...
The pirates, having looted all they could carry, abandoned the corpses of their comrades, set massive fires, and burned the entire town to the ground.
Leaning against a broken wall, Belle-mère was covered in blood, her body riddled with cuts.
Her blood kept flowing, her consciousness growing hazier.
"So this is it..."
She tried to will her body to move, but it wouldn't obey. It was as if she had lost all control.
She struggled for a long moment with no success. She was too tired...
"Guess... I'll just give up."
Memories flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.
For some reason, the last person she saw in her mind was that idiotic village security guard in his uniform.
"Stupid Aken..."
Her eyelids slowly shut. She no longer had the strength.
Suddenly!
A baby's cry rang out in the deathly still town.
Belle-mère's muddled mind snapped back to clarity. This was—!!!
No!
I have to get up!!!
There's still... still... a baby alive.
If I die... she...
Somehow, from a place she couldn't name, a surge of will pushed her to her feet.
In the distance, a blue-haired little girl walked aimlessly, expressionless, cradling a crying baby.
Belle-mère staggered toward her, her voice weak.
"Your little sister?"
The girl turned, startled, to see Belle-mère soaked in blood.
She shook her head expressionlessly.
"Don't know whose child it is."
Thud...
Belle-mère collapsed to the ground before them, unable to go any farther.
She looked at the girl with warmth and reached out to gently touch her cheek.
The orange-haired baby giggled.
Seeing that carefree smile, Belle-mère's tears flowed freely.
"You really... don't understand how I feel at all."
No one is born strong. This blue-haired girl, whose town, family, and friends had all been slaughtered by pirates, could no longer hold back—tears poured from her eyes.
Smiling through her tears...
Belle-mère softly pulled both of them into her arms.
"I'll take you... home."
...
North Blue, an island before Reverse Mountain.
Nine massive warships formed a fleet, all Marines already lined up on deck.
At Sakazuki's order, they slowly sailed out of port.
Not long after departure, a huge warship caught up and rejoined the formation.
From it, Douglas Bullet—dressed in his custom black Marine uniform—leapt several times before landing on Sakazuki's ship.
On the deck, Sakazuki was reading a newspaper, his brows furrowed.
He glanced at Bullet.
"Take a break, Bullet. There are desserts in the mess hall—just for you."
Bullet grinned.
"Thanks, boss. What's wrong? Something bad in the paper?"
Sakazuki handed it to him.
"Not really. Just another Warlord of the Sea added to the list. "
Since Sakazuki had been on assignment in the Four Seas, another Vice Admiral had handled this conscription.
Bullet nodded.
"Gecko Moria, huh? We'll just find a chance to teach him a lesson later."
Sakazuki said,
"That one doesn't matter. He's trash. But this one on page three—Dracule Mihawk. He's got some nerve."
Bullet's interest sparked.
"Oh?"
Rustle—
The sound of pages turning.
Bullet's eyes narrowed as he read, his tone growing colder.
"A Marine hunter? Doesn't know his place. Want me to deal with him?"
Sakazuki said quietly,
"Such a fine piece of work. Make sure the body's intact..."
---
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
read +170 chapters on Patreon tambeerg