[send power stones please]
Deep within the island fortress, a colossal seagull-shaped stronghold towered into the sky. Near its upper facade, the bold black characters for Marine stood out starkly against white walls and blue-tiled roofs. Heavy artillery lined every level, and the surrounding waters were packed with warships. The entire place radiated discipline and pressure.
On a broad road outside the fortress, ten enlisted Marines marched in formation on routine patrol. White short-sleeve uniforms. Green-trimmed caps. Blue seagull ties.
"One-two! One-two!"
Their sergeant barked cadence as rifles rested on shoulders and boots struck the ground in perfect rhythm.
Then—
A thunderous shout exploded from inside the fortress.
"What?!!!"
The patrol froze mid-step.
The sergeant blinked, stroking his chin.
"That was Admiral Kong… If he's yelling like that, something serious just happened…"
Holy Land — Mary Geoise
High atop the Red Line, inside a circular council chamber, five elderly men sat around a Den Den Mushi sporting a thick mountain-shaped mustache.
They had no personal names in official discourse.
Only a title:
The Five Elders.
The supreme authority of the World Government.
"One of the Celestial Dragons is dead?!"
A white-haired elder in a black suit slammed his hand down.
"What are you Marines even good for?!"
The others looked equally grim.
A Celestial Dragon had not merely been killed — he had been publicly executed under Marine supervision.
The political fallout was catastrophic.
Fleet Admiral Kong had escalated the report immediately after receiving Zephyr's message.
"What about the Marines involved?! Especially the one who dared strike him — execute them all! Anyone connected — wipe them out!"
"Humiliation! Absolute humiliation!"
"That pirate Romu must die! A teenager pushing back an admiral is unacceptable!"
"And the Rocks Pirates — accelerate their extermination!"
"Agreed. Marines bear responsibility. But first, eliminate Rocks… and Romu."
"Seal the news of the Celestial Dragon's death. Raise Romu's bounty to 1.5 billion Beli."
The Five Elders argued, condemned, and calculated.
This was no longer just outrage.
It was fear.
They had already considered removing the Rocks threat. But now Rocks commanded monsters — Whitebeard… and Romu, whose growth bordered on absurd.
Left unchecked, he could destabilize the entire world.
Kong endured the reprimand silently.
He agreed with at least one thing:
Rocks could not be allowed to grow stronger.
"Remember — the Celestial Dragon's death must be completely suppressed. This affects the World Government's legitimacy and divine authority."
"And after the God Valley ceremony in three months… we will settle this."
"All Marine admirals must attend. If anything goes wrong…"
The warning hung in the air.
The lecture continued for another half hour before the call ended.
Back in Marineford, Kong exhaled deeply and looked at Sengoku and the others.
"You all heard—"
The black Den Den Mushi rang again.
A Hachinosu informant line.
Kong answered.
"…What?!?!!"
His roar shook the entire headquarters.
Mercury Island
Near a moored sailboat, a massive grill sizzled with slabs of beef. Smoke rose in fragrant waves.
"Rayleigh!"
"Is it ready yet? I'm starving!"
Gol D. Roger sniffed the air like a hunting dog, eyes shining.
"Almost done, Captain," replied Silvers Rayleigh with a smile, adjusting his glasses.
"Just a little longer."
Roger laughed loudly.
"Today I'm eating a whole cow!"
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Roger answered casually.
"I'm Roger."
Then he froze.
Shot upright.
Mustache bristling.
"…You're telling me…"
"Romu killed a Celestial Dragon… drove Zephyr back… and is now sailing near Hachinosu with the corpse hanging from his mast like a banner?!?!!"
Silence followed.
Even the fire crackle seemed to stop.