The news that the Three Emperors Alliance had defeated the Marines and killed Fleet Admiral Sakazuki spread across the seas like a tidal wave, plunging the entire world into shock.
In the first half of the Grand Line, many pirate crews who had yet to enter the New World began to hesitate. With the Three Emperors Alliance now dominating the New World, any crew that ventured there would likely have no choice but to submit. The opportunity to rise independently and make a name for themselves seemed slimmer than ever.
Yet others saw it differently.
To them, this was an era of opportunity. If they could reach the New World and align themselves with the Three Emperors Alliance, they would no longer have to fear the Marines. With the Fleet Admiral himself having fallen at the hands of the alliance, the balance of power had clearly shifted. For ambitious pirates, this was the dawn of a new age.
Across the world, civilians reacted with fear. The growing strength of pirate forces made many feel that darkness was swallowing the seas.
Those who believed in justice rushed to enlist in the Marines, determined to fight back against the tide and restore order.
Others, driven by greed or ambition, viewed the chaos as fertile ground. In their eyes, turbulent times were when legends were born. One after another, they set sail, hoping to carve out territories of their own.
Meanwhile, in the East Blue at Foosha Village, the had already arrived.
Inside Makino's small bar, sat with a newspaper in hand. His expression was unusually serious as he read the headline about Sakazuki's death.
Even he found it hard to believe that a Fleet Admiral had fallen in battle.
At the same time, he felt a faint sense of relief. Leaving the New World earlier had been the right decision. Had he remained, the Red Hair Pirates would inevitably have been treated as an obstacle by the Three Emperors Alliance. Given their current overwhelming momentum, even his crew might have struggled to withstand them.
"The New World has really changed," Shanks muttered, lowering the paper.
Under the current circumstances, maintaining balance would no longer be easy. Fortunately, Luffy was still training and would not set sail for more than a year. That time was crucial. When the boy finally entered the sea, the world he stepped into would be far more dangerous than before.
On the other side of the Red Line, at the newly constructed Marineford, tension filled the air.
Following the death of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, former Fleet Admiral had come out of retirement to reassume the position. His return brought a measure of stability to the shaken ranks. With their Fleet Admiral killed and the Marines suffering a crushing defeat, they desperately needed a figure of authority and experience.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku stared at the mountain of documents before him.
When he had first handed the position to Sakazuki, the Marines had been stable. Their high level combat power remained intact. But now the situation was dire.
In just over half a year, the balance had collapsed. Kuzan had resigned. had been captured. Sakazuki had died in battle.
The losses did not end there.
During the Whole Cake Island conflict, Marco had personally killed Vice Admiral Candidate Tokikake, along with Vice Admirals Yamakaji, Onigumo, Doberman, Gion, Strawberry, Bastille, and many other officers. Numerous Rear Admirals had also perished.
The result was a massive gap in the Marines' combat structure.
Sengoku felt his jaw tighten at the thought of Marco. He had never expected that after Whitebeard's death, Marco would rise to such prominence and unleash such destructive force.
The situation reminded him of the fall of the Rocks Pirates more than thirty years ago. When Rocks D. Xebec died, figures like Whitebeard, Shiki, Big Mom, and Kaido surged forward like beasts freed from chains, reshaping the era.
Now history seemed to be repeating itself.
Leaning back in the Fleet Admiral's chair, Sengoku felt none of the pride he had experienced the first time he occupied it. Back then, the seas had been relatively stable, and the next generation of Marines had been full of promise.
This time, he had returned in the middle of crisis.
The Marines' current predicament was far worse than when he had stepped down. In fact, it was nearly ten times worse.
Nearby, burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, Sengoku, how does it feel to sit in that chair again?"
"Be quiet, Garp," Sengoku snapped, rubbing his temples. "You know the state the Marines are in. This is not the time for jokes."
Garp paused, then laughed again, though more softly.
Despite the chaos, Sengoku remained composed. Having served as Fleet Admiral for over a decade, he quickly began sorting through the urgent matters before him.
There were plans to counter the Three Emperors Alliance, strategies to restore the Marines' prestige, arrangements for Sakazuki's funeral and those of the fallen soldiers, compensation for their families, expanded global conscription, and promotions to fill vacant Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral positions.
Each document represented both loss and responsibility.
As Sengoku worked, Garp remained uncharacteristically quiet.
Suddenly, the den den mushi on the desk began to ring.
Sengoku answered immediately. "This is Sengoku."
On the other end, a Marine reported, "Mr. Sengoku, we have located Admiral Kuzan. According to our information, he is currently in Dressrosa."
Sengoku's eyes sharpened. "Contact him immediately. Put him through."
"Yes, sir. Please hold."
The line went silent.
Sengoku set the receiver down calmly. When Kuzan responded, the call would return.
Garp glanced over with a grin. "So you found Kuzan."
"Yes," Sengoku replied, a faint smile crossing his face. "That is good news."
Locating Kuzan had not been particularly difficult. Though he had resigned from the Marines, the World Government continued to monitor him discreetly. Kuzan knew it, of course, but chose to ignore it. That was simply his nature.
Soon, the den den mushi rang again.
Sengoku picked up at once. "This is Sengoku."
The snail's expression shifted into a lazy, half lidded look, unmistakably resembling the former Admiral.
A relaxed voice came through.
"Mr. Sengoku, long time no see. I heard you were looking for me?"
Sengoku did not waste time. "Kuzan, I will be direct. The Marines need you. I want you to return."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then Kuzan replied in his usual laid back tone, though with a hint of surprise.
"Hey, hey, Sengoku-san, what kind of joke is that?"