In the South Blue, the Sorbet Kingdom was brightly lit.
Queen Dowager Conney and Kuma's daughter, Bonney, stood beside him with tear-filled eyes.
Their hands clung tightly to Kuma's arms, unwilling to let him leave.
Kuma said nothing.
He had long since expected a scene like this.
At some point, Dragon had also arrived.
His face was expressionless, but the throbbing veins on his forehead revealed just how violently his emotions were churning inside.
When Raleigh issued the summons for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Dragon had already known this day would come.
It was an almost unsolvable problem. Unless Dragon's Revolutionary Army could suppress the Marines' offensive, there was no way to change the situation.
If Kuma refused to answer Raleigh's summons, then his title as a Warlord would be stripped from him.
After that, the Sorbet Kingdom would be treated as a pirate-aligned force and purged.
Everyone knew what kind of man Raleigh was.
Back then, even the unborn child of Pirate King Roger carried original sin in Raleigh's eyes. A king who had become a pirate would fare even worse.
In Raleigh's view, whether someone called themselves a pirate or not was meaningless. Anyone who helped pirates was a pirate's accomplice.
For the sake of every citizen in the kingdom, Kuma would definitely choose to go to Marineford.
Queen Dowager Conney's eyes were red from crying.
Her voice trembled as she said, "Kuma… my son…"
"You cannot go to the Marines. I will join with other countries and pressure the World Government."
It seemed Kuma had already made his decision deep in his heart.
He gently patted Queen Dowager Conney's back and said, "Mother, I will be fine."
"This is an order personally issued by Fleet Admiral Raleigh, and it has also been approved by the Five Elders. No one can change it."
"Don't worry, Mother. Although I am one of the Seven Warlords, I am also the king of the Sorbet Kingdom. The Marines will not act against me lightly."
Deep sorrow flashed through Dragon's eyes.
"Kuma, if anything feels wrong after you arrive, you must run immediately. With your ability, it may not be impossible for you to escape."
Dragon did not finish saying everything, but Kuma understood.
If his identity was exposed, then his status as a king would not matter at all.
Whether it was the Marines or the World Government, they would absolutely find a way to keep him there.
Kuma's eyes were filled with determination.
"Bonney, take good care of Grandma, understand?"
"If I don't return, then everything in the Sorbet Kingdom will also be entrusted to you."
After giving his final instructions, Kuma and Dragon walked out of the palace together.
From behind them, they could faintly hear the sobs of Queen Dowager Conney and Bonney.
Kuma raised his head and looked at the pitch-black night sky.
"Dragon, revolution is like carrying a torch through the darkness, searching for the road to dawn. That road is filled with hardships and thorns, but I believe that under your leadership, we will win in the end."
"Dragon, I also have no confidence about this trip to Marineford, but I have no choice but to go. If one day you hear that something has happened to me, do not grieve too much for me. This path was destined to be soaked in blood."
"Even if one comrade after another falls along the way, you must not let grief change your convictions. Do not let our sacrifices become meaningless."
Finally, Kuma looked once more toward the palace. Then he raised his right hand and struck his own body.
"Dragon, our cause is destined to succeed. I will be waiting for your news!"
Whoosh!
Kuma's body vanished from where he stood.
Dragon's hand stretched into the air, but it caught nothing.
...
In the first half of the Grand Line, inside the Kingdom of Alabasta, Crocodile was smashing things inside a massive office.
His subordinates around him did not dare make a sound, afraid that they would become the next unlucky victim.
Then a Den Den Mushi rang.
With a dark expression, Crocodile suppressed the fire in his chest and answered the call.
"Hello. This is Crocodile."
The person on the other end was extremely rude.
They did not care whether Crocodile was a Warlord or the hero of Alabasta. After saying a few simple words, they hung up directly.
They did not leave Crocodile even the slightest bit of face.
Crocodile placed the Den Den Mushi on the desk.
Then—
Boom!
The luxurious desk was smashed to pieces by Crocodile's blow, and the Den Den Mushi was buried under the attack as well.
Wood splinters flew everywhere inside the room.
"Bastards! What do they take me for?!"
"Trash they can summon and dismiss whenever they please?!"
Crocodile's chest heaved violently.
From Alabasta, even traveling by ship would take at least ten days, yet the Marines had only given him seven.
In other words, he could only fly there.
Moreover, the Marines' wording toward Crocodile had been extremely severe.
They had practically said outright that if Crocodile failed to arrive on time, he would be killed.
He was furious.
The last time Raleigh passed through, Crocodile had already been taught a harsh lesson.
How long had it been since then? He had finally returned to being a big boss who held others' lives in his hands, only to be ordered around again.
He had to reach Marineford within seven days.
That meant flying there day and night without rest.
One order from the Marines, and he had no choice but to obey.
It filled him with rage.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
"What are those useless fools doing? How much longer will it take them to crack the secret?"
Crocodile glared coldly at his subordinates.
If he already had that legendary weapon, he would never have to endure this humiliation.
But after spending so long in Alabasta, he still did not know the exact whereabouts of the Ancient Weapon.
It was truly unbearable.
"I'm going to Marineford first. Mr. 1 will temporarily handle matters here. Anything else can wait until I return."
Boom!
A burst of sandstorm appeared out of thin air inside the office, sweeping Crocodile's body out through the window and howling into the distance.
...
In the Calm Belt, on Amazon Lily, Hancock, the ruler of the island of women, also received an order from the Marines.
However, she had never truly dealt with the Marines.
Having spent so many years in the Calm Belt, she knew nothing about the Marines' strength.
"A summons from the Marines? I dont have any intention of going to something so boring."
Hancock had no plans to go to Marineford.
After all, there was no one there she wanted to see, and going to Marineford meant passing by Fish-Man Island.
She did not want to run into any Celestial Dragons.
If she did, she might lose control!
"Hancock, if you don't go, the Marines may very well act against Amazon Lily."
The one who spoke was Granny Nyon, whom Hancock respected greatly.
"Granny Nyon, are the Marines really that powerful? Besides, no one in this world can order me around. After all, I am the most beautiful woman in the world. Beautiful women are always allowed a few privileges."
Although Hancock was extremely unwilling, under Granny Nyon's persuasion, she still boarded the Kuja Pirates' ship together with her sisters, preparing to head to Marineford.