Red Line, Mary Geoise, Room of Authority.
The battle that had broken out in the seas surrounding Wano Country had already reached the ears of the five highest authorities, forcing them to gather and discuss the situation in the New World.
Since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, the New World had never been as dangerous as it was today.
A full six powerful Emperors had their forces gathered there, keeping each other in check, which was the only reason they hadn't burst out of the New World.
Now that balance had been broken, causing the five in the Room of Authority no small amount of headaches.
"Haruno Sakura, what does that madwoman actually want?" Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the Warrior God of Finance, held his long sword and sighed softly.
They had already let her take Punk Hazard. The research facility and the Galleila on it had also fallen into her hands. Yet she still refused to stay quiet and develop her forces properly.
It gave the five of them the feeling of that ancient story… ceding five cities today, ten cities tomorrow, only to look around and find the enemy's forces at their gates once more.
"Goa Kingdom, Foolshout Islands, Enies Lobby, Punk Hazard... To deal with her, we've invested far too much combat power, yet the results have been minimal."
Topman Warcury, the Warrior God of Justice, held his head in pain. "Now Garp has been defeated on her turf. CP's high-end combat power still hasn't recovered. We have no more means left to deal with these people."
When Garp and his group had set out, they had brought plenty of manpower… a Buster Call configuration of Vice Admirals, plus the high-level combatants Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru, and Kizaru. Yet they still hadn't been able to crush Sakura's forces.
So what price would they have to pay next time they tried to corner her? Mobilize the Marine's entire fighting force?
That was clearly impossible!
Not to mention that the G-1 Branch below Mary Geoise and Marine Headquarters at Marineford each required an Admiral to guard them year-round, and the remaining Emperors in the New World needed to be monitored with available forces-
Under normal circumstances, they simply couldn't assemble such a luxurious team for the subjugation of just one Emperor.
"Should we... request permission from that person to use the National Treasure?" Shepherd Ju Peter, the Warrior God of Agriculture, who had been gazing out the window for a long time, turned around and proposed.
"Would it be wise to disturb that person's slumber? But we haven't yet reported the loss of the Pacifista PX-0 to that person." Jaygarcia Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense, spoke with slight embarrassment, his ten fingers gripping his cane tightly.
The other four darkened at his words, regretting their past decisions.
"Even if we ignored the energy cost, it's already too late to use the National Treasure." Marcus Mars, the Warrior God of Environment, tossed a stack of reports onto the tea table in front of him.
From the scattered documents, the others could see that the papers contained records of weather and hydrological observations of Medical Island Marian over the past two years.
"Based on the data, she has most likely built a Sky Island above her territory. If we rashly launch a strike against her, it will most likely fail. At that point, not only would the existence of the National Treasure be exposed, but we might also face a counterattack."
Marcus Mars sighed, "That woman knows us inside and out. It's as if she knew all of the World Government's trump cards from the very beginning. Every step she takes is carefully planned to hit us where it hurts."
Saturn lowered his head, lost in thought. "After all, she is the contingency left behind by those traitors eight hundred years ago..."
"Focus on dealing with the pirates who might break out of the New World first. As for Haruno Sakura... hand her over to the Knights and the Blades to handle." Ju Peter's eyes flashed with a fierce light.
Warcury nodded, stroking his beard. "What about Garp? The Justice Department's CP agents received a medical bill from Haruno Sakura."
"That amount is nothing compared to the profits we've made trading her pharmaceuticals." Nusjuro's glasses glinted. "Pay it for now. We can deduct it from Garp's salary later."
Thinking about the pharmaceutical profits comparable to the Heavenly Tribute of several large nations, Mars couldn't help but sigh. "If only a woman of such talent would join us."
"Sigh..." x4
…
Meanwhile, the New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
"Hey hey, she's even defeated that monster Kaido?"
The division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates fought over the newspapers, their gazes repeatedly drifting toward Marco, who was sitting at the bow.
"You're so noisy! I'll train harder, alright!"
Unable to bear being stared at by everyone, Marco raised his fist and waved it at them in frustration.
Whitebeard watched his children's commotion, a smile on his lips as he raised his sake cup and drank deeply.
Then he was scolded by the nurses on board, and his treasured sake was confiscated.
"Shihahaha! Newgate, that woman has already taken down that brat Kaido. Next, she'll be coming for the title of the World's Strongest."
His voice preceded him, and it was a long while before Shiki came laughing down from the sky.
Facing his old friend whom he hadn't seen in years, Whitebeard tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Shiki, if you came all this way just to spout this nonsense, don't blame me for sending you to the bottom of the sea."
"So cold. We were comrades who trusted each other with our lives back on the ship, weren't we?"
Shiki laughed and landed on the Moby Dick's gunwale, looking seriously at Whitebeard. "Speaking of which, I have a proposal. Do you want to hear it?"
"Hmm?"
…
The New World, Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.
"Ah?" The enormous woman clutching her head let out a piercing roar. "Kaido? How could that bastard Kaido be defeated by that brat from Roger's ship?"
Her eyes rolling back, she smashed through the walls of the Cake Castle and walked out. Her roar, carrying the force of Conqueror's Haki, shook the entire island.
"Cake—!"
The assembled children in the square watched in terror as their mother's body continued to expand. She went on a rampage, destroying buildings on the island, grabbing pastry houses and devouring them.
"Oh no, Mama's food madness is acting up!"
"Katakuri-nii, what should we do?"
"Don't panic! Go get the head chef!"
The entire island descended into chaos. Flames spread from the center of the island outward, dyeing half the sky.
…
The first half of the Grand Line, Sabaody Archipelago.
"You've drunk too much, Rayleigh!"
Shakky looked helplessly at the man before her, moving the sake cup away from him.
"That child has reached Wano already."
Rayleigh reached out and grasped Shakky's arm, his thumb gently stroking it.
"I really can't do anything with you."
Giving Rayleigh a helpless glare, Shakky took out a new cup, added ice, and poured fine sake into it.
Outside the window, a news coo carrying newspapers took flight, spreading the news to the four seas beyond the Grand Line.
The news of Kaido's defeat spread across the world like the wind, and scenes like those described began to play out in various places across the seas.
The clash between old and new powerhouses of the sea, the defeated Emperor, and the vacant throne sent countless young people with dreams and ambitions rushing out to sea.
The seas, which had cooled somewhat after more than a decade, began to boil once more.
Against the backdrop of the World Government intensifying its crackdowns and the Marine working overtime to the point of collapse.
In a certain sea region of the New World, near an island flying a pirate flag of crossed swords with three claw marks.
A small, hastily repaired ship made of Wood Release, carrying many people, drifted ashore.