The Holy Land of Mary Geoise, symbolizing the highest peak of human authority, was also brightly lit tonight.
Inside the enormous palace, everyone aside from the Five Elders had already been dismissed.
Only the Five Elders remained, seated face-to-face as they carefully read through the latest intelligence from around the world.
The sword-bearing Elder frowned deeply, as if something in the intelligence felt wrong.
"What exactly have we raised? A loyal dog, or a fierce tiger that will bite its master?"
There were many things in the New World intelligence that left them extremely dissatisfied.
First was the fact that the Marines, led by Raleigh, had played them for fools.
They had clearly prepared everything in advance, yet when the Five Elders called to question him, Raleigh had played deaf and dumb, refusing to admit that the Marines had already captured Red-Hair's daughter, Uta.
If they had known about this earlier, they might have used Uta to make a deal with Red-Haired Shanks.
But now, everything had been ruined.
Moreover, because of the Marines' actions, Red-Haired Shanks had most likely begun to resent the World Government and the Five Elders.
No one wanted to gain a Three Emperors-level enemy for no reason.
Especially when that enemy had originally maintained such an ambiguous relationship with them.
Now, the Marines were launching one offensive after another in the New World, turning an already unstable situation into a pot of boiling porridge.
Both the Red Hair Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates had lost core members. It was unlikely that either side would let the matter go.
If this continued, the situation in the New World would only become more unstable.
Anyone could see that clearly.
But even though they could see it, the Five Elders no longer had any way to stop it.
Before the Marines launched their offensive, the Five Elders could have used their authority to restrain the Marines' actions.
But once the Marines had already achieved glorious results and carried out large-scale propaganda across the world, the World Government had been placed over the fire.
Even something like secretly reducing supplies made the Five Elders worry that their enemies might use it for propaganda.
The long-bearded Elder sighed helplessly.
"Perhaps we personally raised a fierce tiger capable of devouring all of us, but he is only showing off for a short time."
"Once Lord Imu awakens, all opposing forces will collapse."
"We can no longer interfere in the great war in the New World. Let them act on their own."
"However, we can still tamper with the situation from within, so that even if the Marines win against the pirates, their remaining combat strength will be greatly reduced."
The burly Elder suddenly spoke.
"When Raleigh first came to power, the reason we supported him was because he could completely eliminate the Revolutionary Army. Yet how much time has passed? The Revolutionary Army is still active in the Four Blues."
"Put pressure on Raleigh. Make him shift the Marines' focus to the Four Blues. That way, the pirates of the New World can catch their breath."
The tall, thin Elder looked at the intelligence in his hand and said, "It will be very difficult to find sufficient reason to sanction Raleigh. After all, the Four Blues fleet led by Sakazuki has basically brought the West Blue under control."
"At present, there are only three islands in the West Blue still occupied by the Revolutionary Army. If Sakazuki had not intentionally slowed the offensive to absorb the captured islands, the West Blue would have fallen to the Marines long ago."
The sword-bearing Elder rubbed his brow.
"No matter what, the Revolutionary Army is currently the World Government's greatest enemy. Their ideology is a fundamental blasphemy against the gods."
"Pirates cannot stir up any real waves. What the Rocks Pirates failed to accomplish after unifying the New World back then, future pirate crews will certainly fail to accomplish as well."
"Lord Imu is awakening. Before he awakens, we must eliminate the Revolutionary Army, or everyone seated here will certainly be blamed by Lord Imu."
...
At this moment, something no one had expected was quietly happening within the Four Blues.
The first to move was the Four Blues Fleet led by Sakazuki.
They gathered silently on the vast parade ground of the Marine base.
If not for the bright moonlight, one would probably only have seen a dense black mass.
Under the command of their superiors, they stood in neat formation.
Logistics soldiers held torches high, urgently transporting large amounts of weapons, equipment, and supplies onto the warships.
Everything was proceeding silently.
Sakazuki stood on the platform of the parade ground, quietly watching everything below. Behind him stood none other than the newly appointed Marine Admiral, Green Bull Aramaki.
At this moment, Aramaki looked excitedly at the soldiers below.
He had never been someone who liked peace and quiet.
The reason he had joined the Marines was entirely because the Marines had a large number of iron-blooded officers he admired.
In particular, the methods they used against pirates were enough to excite Aramaki just from hearing about them.
However, reality and ideals were always different.
After meeting Raleigh, he did not find Raleigh to be the bloodthirsty person described in the rumors.
But he was not disappointed, because Raleigh had already become Fleet Admiral.
For the sake of maintaining his dignity on the surface, the Fleet Admiral naturally would no longer choose to do those brutal things himself.
Such matters should be handled by the officers under him.
That was why Aramaki had strongly requested to come to the Four Blues and seek out Sakazuki.
He wanted to see how the Revolutionary Army would be beaten helplessly beneath Sakazuki's iron fist.
Unfortunately, after arriving in the West Blue, Sakazuki spent every day in the meeting room simulating his plans.
Aramaki had once discussed his own ideas with Sakazuki, only to be rebuked. Sakazuki believed that he showed too little respect for life.
He respected neither the lives of enemy Revolutionary soldiers nor the lives of Marine soldiers.
Because of that, Aramaki had once felt extremely disappointed.
Later, he could not resist using a spar as an excuse to fight Sakazuki.
It was during that battle that Aramaki realized the truth.
Sakazuki had never changed at all. His iron-blooded style had been carved into his bones, and it was impossible for it to disappear.
After the battle ended, through Miles' explanation, Aramaki finally understood Sakazuki's way of doing things.
Before the war began, Sakazuki would do everything in his power to create the most complete plan possible, in order to reduce Marine casualties.
Once the war began, even if the death toll exceeded the estimate, Sakazuki would still mercilessly send the remaining men forward for the sake of completing the mission.
"In the name of justice, we will recover the islands and kingdoms occupied by the Revolutionary Army!"
"Under the guidance of justice's banner, we will ultimately achieve the most glorious victory!"
"Long live the Marines! Justice will prevail!"
Sakazuki did not say much in his pre-battle mobilization.
Only three short sentences.
But the effect had already been achieved.
The Marine soldiers shouted one after another, roaring "Long live the Marines!" and "Justice will prevail!" before boarding the warships with their blood boiling.
Even if they might die on the road of the charge, nothing could extinguish their pursuit of justice.
Seeing this scene, Aramaki's heart itched.
He could not help but said, "Admiral Sakazuki, please allow me to follow them and launch an attack on the Revolutionary Army."
"I have been in the Four Blues for quite some time, but I still have not participated in battle against the Revolutionary Army."
Sakazuki turned his head, looked at Aramaki, then shook his head.
"Fleet Admiral Raleigh has a special order for you."
"It is also an attack against the Revolutionary Army, but your mission is different from ours. Your mission is even more difficult."
Those words left Aramaki somewhat confused.
"What mission?"
Sakazuki drew a piece of paper from his coat, with several locations written on it.
"These are the Revolutionary Army's production factories and material transfer stations in the Four Blues. After discussing it with Fleet Admiral Raleigh, we concluded that only your ability can deal with the Revolutionary soldiers guarding these places without damaging anything."
"This is something I cannot do. Your ability is extremely powerful, enough to complete this difficult task."
"In addition, Fleet Admiral Raleigh instructed that aside from ensuring the safety of the production factories and supplies, you may freely use all your methods, but you must not let anyone else know."
After Sakazuki finished speaking, he took out a Den Den Mushi from his coat.
"This is a special Den Den Mushi that can directly contact the aerial Marine force led by Miles. After you finish dealing with the Revolutionary soldiers guarding the islands, call this number. Miles will take over the remaining work."
Aramaki was so excited that his entire body trembled.
He shakily accepted the Den Den Mushi from Sakazuki's hand and said excitedly, "Fleet Admiral Raleigh really said that? I can freely use my ability as long as no one else sees it?"
Aramaki found it hard to believe.
Because his ability was enough to cause panic among ordinary civilians.
If such methods were exposed, it would actually be very difficult for the Marines to continue tolerating Aramaki.
Because of that, Aramaki had always hidden those methods and only used ordinary techniques against pirates.
But now, Raleigh's order had been personally spoken by Sakazuki.
That meant Aramaki could finally unleash himself and make a big move.
"Yes. That is exactly what Fleet Admiral Raleigh said."
"It is getting late, Aramaki. You need to move quickly, in case the Revolutionary Army becomes desperate and destroys the things on those islands first."
Sakazuki gave the warning.
Aramaki opened his mouth wide and laughed.
"Please enjoy my performance, Admiral Sakazuki. Since Fleet Admiral Raleigh chose me, I definitely will not disappoint him!"
After saying that, a strange flower suddenly grew from Aramaki's hand.
Then, as the flower spun and flapped, it carried Aramaki's body into the sky.
Watching Aramaki leave, Miles silently appeared behind Sakazuki.
"Miles, your master said that Aramaki is still under observation. Keep a close eye on him. If you discover anything wrong, distance yourself from him immediately, then inform me and Fleet Admiral Raleigh. Don't try to show off."
Miles nodded, then said confidently, "Don't worry, Uncle Sakazuki. With my current strength, I will not be defeated easily. If I want to run, he cannot stop me."
Afterward, Miles went to gather his troops.
Looking at the base, which had gone from bustling with people to almost becoming an empty city, countless thoughts flashed through Sakazuki's mind.
Then his figure disappeared, appearing aboard the Marines' flagship.
A large-scale Marine mobilization was impossible to conceal completely.
Even though they had already departed with great caution, they were still discovered by a Revolutionary Army sentry nearly thirty nautical miles away.
Whoosh!
Three signal flares instantly shot into the sky from a reef.
At the same time, the Revolutionary soldier began calling the Den Den Mushi of the Revolutionary soldiers guarding the island.
Sakazuki, wearing a red suit, appeared in midair. In his hand were the three signal flares that had just flown into the sky.
Then his right hand turned into magma. He gripped the three signal flares in his palm and crushed them viciously.
Immediately afterward, a scorching fireball smashed toward that reef.
...
"Pick up! Hurry and pick up!"
Looking at the fireball drawing closer and closer, the Revolutionary soldier responsible for sentry duty broke into a cold sweat.
"Hello… what happened?"
The Den Den Mushi had just connected, and the voice from the other side had only just come through.
Then, after the Revolutionary sentry managed to utter only the word "Marines," the call turned into lifeless static.
At this moment, after the sentry on the island found that the Den Den Mushi in his hand could no longer connect, he hurriedly rang the great bell that signified a Marine attack.
The bell rang urgently and loudly, soon waking the Revolutionary soldiers on the island.
"What happened?"
The Revolutionary regional commander, Benjamin Leo, appeared at the sentry post and asked.
The sentry quickly replied, "Lord Leo, a message came from the front. The Marines are suspected to have launched an attack on them."
"Now the front line can no longer be reached. They are most likely already dead."
Benjamin Leo's face turned livid.
He had long prepared for a Marine offensive. He simply had not expected it to happen at this time.
Not long ago, he had received an order from Dragon stating that if Sakazuki led the Marines in an attack, they could abandon the Revolutionary strongholds in the West Blue and transfer to the East Blue.
But Benjamin Leo had been unwilling to do that, because he was a native of the West Blue and deeply understood the suffering the people here had endured before the Revolutionary Army arrived.
Because of that, he had missed the best chance to escape.
"Have all soldiers prepare for defense. The Marines are attacking!"
After leaving those words behind, Benjamin Leo returned to his office and summoned the Revolutionary commanders to divide their wartime duties.
Thirty nautical miles was not a distant distance for the current Marine warships.
At full speed, Marine warships only needed forty minutes to arrive.
Forty minutes.
Most of the Revolutionary Army had not even fully woken up yet. Forcing themselves to stay alert, they prepared to face the Marines' attack.
When all the Revolutionary commanders returned to the front line, the enormous Marine fleet appeared before the Revolutionary Army's eyes.
"Good heavens, am I dreaming?"
The cry of one Revolutionary soldier echoed the thoughts of the others.
Because there were simply too many Marines in front of them.
So many that they felt as if they had not truly woken up.
But in the next second, the violent roar of cannon fire reminded them that all of this was real.
The moment the Revolutionary Army's position came into view, Sakazuki's order had already been transmitted to the artillery crews aboard every warship.
Ten thousand cannons roared at once.
Every bird on the island was startled awake, fleeing desperately into the distance.
Even the Sea Kings deep beneath the sea hurriedly swam toward deeper waters after hearing that terrifying sound.