Marineford rang with grand, majestic music.
Marine flags snapped sharply in the wind.
Christian Raleigh stood behind the promotion platform, wearing the Marine coat that symbolized the highest authority in the organization.
His gaze was deep and unreadable.
Around him, the people present looked at this young Fleet Admiral with all kinds of emotions in their eyes—joy, excitement, worship, and even unwillingness.
Raleigh sensed every one of those gazes, but he did not speak.
Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru, Borsalino, Momonga, Gion, Enel, Bullett, and the others had all gathered behind him.
Cleveland raised a hand and glanced at the watch on his wrist.
"Fleet Admiral Raleigh, it is time."
Raleigh nodded.
Cleveland and Momonga left the viewing platform and headed below to arrange the various details.
Soon, the celebratory music was replaced by a heavier, far more imposing melody.
Listening to the accompaniment, Raleigh stepped forward one pace at a time and ascended the platform that symbolized power.
Raleigh walked ahead, while Sengoku followed half a step behind him.
The reporters went mad the instant Raleigh appeared, slamming their shutters over and over.
Photographs poured out like running water.
On the platform, once Raleigh and Sengoku had taken their places, Sengoku stepped forward first and waved to everyone present.
Boom!
The entire crowd erupted into cheers, roaring at the top of their lungs.
"Ahem. Everyone, quiet down for a moment. The promotion to Fleet Admiral—Raleigh—"
After Sengoku finished reciting the ceremonial words, Gion came forward carrying the medal that symbolized the authority of Fleet Admiral.
Sengoku picked up the medal from the tray in Gion's hands. He rubbed it lightly between his fingers, as if reluctant to let it go.
But very quickly, he cast that feeling aside. He walked up to Raleigh and solemnly pinned the medal onto him.
The two of them did not exchange a single word.
Their eyes merely met for a moment. Then Sengoku nodded, turned around, and walked down alone.
At that moment, the eyes of the entire world were fixed on the young Fleet Admiral standing at the center of the screen.
Everyone wanted to know what kind of shocking words this Admiral, known for slaughter and overwhelming strength, would say after ascending to the position of Fleet Admiral.
Raleigh slowly walked forward and stopped before the speech microphone.
"Good morning, my fellow Marines, viewers across the world, and friends from the press."
"This Fleet Admiral promotion ceremony did not prepare too many performances because that is directly related to what I am about to say next."
"Taking this opportunity, I announce an order to every Marine across the world."
"Order: From this moment onward, all Marines throughout the world, whether in the Grand Line, the Four Blues, or the New World, are to enter a state of war."
"This war will not end until one side is dead."
After Raleigh finished speaking, he paused.
He was waiting for the world's reaction.
No one in the entire world had expected Raleigh to announce the beginning of war so cleanly and decisively!
They had thought he would be like the previous Fleet Admirals, denouncing pirates and declaring that he would severely crack down on piracy during his tenure to ensure the safety of the world's people.
Never had a Fleet Admiral activated a state of war.
Never.
At that moment, everyone around the world watching the ceremony instinctively sat up straighter, wanting to hear what Raleigh would say next.
...
In the New World, on Whole Cake Island, Charlotte Linlin was surrounded by sweets.
Sitting below her were the children she was proudest of.
At this moment, shock could be seen on all their faces.
Charlotte Linlin tossed a doughnut into her mouth and chewed noisily, using the sweetness to spread out her thoughts.
"Mama, who is this Fleet Admiral declaring war on?"
Cracker, seated below, asked curiously.
Charlotte Linlin swallowed the doughnut, rinsed her mouth with a glass of red wine, and only then replied.
"That man is not declaring war on one particular faction."
"Or rather, he is declaring war on every force in the world that stands against the Marines. That includes us."
Her children below burst into laughter.
"We have Mama. How could the Marines possibly fight so many forces at once?"
"Exactly. The Marines cannot even enter the New World, yet they want to deal with us?"
A cold glint flashed through Charlotte Linlin's eyes.
She slapped the table.
"Enough. Do not think the Marines are weak. It is only that no one before has allowed that massive organization to unleash its full strength."
"I heard that Kuzan has already led soldiers into the New World and begun establishing a new Marine Headquarters. From now on, Marine Headquarters will be located in the New World."
...
There was no time to care about the commotion within the Charlotte Family.
Because at that same moment, on the Red Force of the Red Hair Pirates, also in the New World, an argument had already broken out.
Shanks' expression was extremely dark.
After listening, Benn Beckman could not help but speak.
"This new Fleet Admiral certainly talks big."
Yasopp cut in, "People who talk that big usually do not survive long in the New World."
The crew members roared with laughter.
Only after a long while did Shanks slowly open his mouth.
"Christian Raleigh is not simple. Back when Captain Roger was still alive, he said more than once that if we could not become friends with Raleigh, then we had to kill him before he fully matured."
"It was also because of him that Dark King Rayleigh, as well as Captain Roger's wife and child, died miserably."
"We must avenge Captain Roger and Uncle Rayleigh."
The other pirate crew members did not hate Raleigh as deeply as Shanks did.
After all, Shanks had been close to Roger and Rayleigh, while most of them had merely heard those names and had no personal relationship with them.
"And Bullett, that traitor. If there is a chance, we have to kill him too."
Shanks began calling the pirate captains in the New World with whom he had already established contact.
Those pirate captains who had previously united because Raleigh and Sakazuki had caused havoc in the New World were now forced to gather once more because of the Marines' threat.