In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.
A great many things had happened in that time.
For example, Marine Headquarters had gained two new Admirals:
Fujitora, Issho.
Ryokugyu, Aramaki.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea had also gained two new members:
Buggy and Edward Weevil.
At the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, inside the Room of Authority:
After setting down the latest bounty posters, the Five Elders sat in silence for a moment, then exchanged glances.
"If there are no objections, then let us finalize these two as replacements for the vacant Warlord seats."
Saint Saturn leaned on his cane and nodded expressionlessly at those words.
"Ozz has chosen to oppose the World Government. Although that means we have lost a measure of deterrence and convenience in certain matters, the undeniable truth is that we no longer need to consider Ozz's opinions in everything we do."
"The right to choose the Seven Warlords now rests fully in our own hands."
The current World Government, having reached a deadlock with Ozz, naturally no longer had to defer to his wishes in all things.
Edward Weevil's Warlord status had been decided unilaterally by the World Government.
As for Buggy...
Given the dazzling display of his connections and command during the Summit War, the World Government would never truly place him on the same level as Ozz or Shanks, but they did acknowledge his "strength" to a certain extent. Borrowing his name would help maintain the balance of the seas.
Saint Mars put down the papers in his hand and placed them on the table. His eyes turned cold as he looked at his colleagues.
"The matter of the Seven Warlords ends here. Next, let us discuss something far more important."
Bang.
A bounty poster was slapped onto the table.
Shock. Confusion. Fear.
The moment they saw the face on that poster, every one of the Five Elders stiffened, a chill running through their bodies.
"This is..."
"No. Impossible. There is no way such a thing could still exist in this world!"
"Eight hundred years have passed. Not even scraps of a corpse should remain. How could this be possible?!"
As they stared at the newest poster, even breathing became difficult.
Bounty Poster:
Dark Sun Sadgeo
Details: Giant race. Suspected double Devil Fruit user of the Logia-type Dark-Dark Fruit and the Paramecia-type Gum-Gum Fruit. Proficient in all three forms of Haki.
Bounty:
1,163,200,000 Berries
Dead or alive. Heinous criminal!!!!!!!
"There is no need to think about this any further!"
Saint Peter looked ready to spit fire. Terrifying pressure surged around him.
It was difficult to imagine the Five Elders, who always sat calmly at the peak of the world's power, showing such naked agitation.
"This was absolutely Ozz's doing!"
"He is always capable of creating horrors beyond mortal imagination. We just do not know how he did it. Could he really have obtained Joy Boy's Lineage Factor?"
"How else could it look exactly the same..."
"Should we report this to Imu-sama?"
The Five Elders discussed the matter grimly, their expressions heavy, the atmosphere in the room suffocating.
In the end, after deliberation, they decided not to report it for the time being.
After all, the last time they had informed Imu-sama about Ozz's research, they had been harshly rebuked. Imu had flatly declared that Joy Boy could not be replicated.
Perhaps Ozz was simply putting on a show again. After all, Roger, who had appeared at the Summit War, had since vanished completely from the seas once more.
At last, the Five Elders reached a unified decision. Their eyes turned cold.
Saint Warcury took out a Den Den Mushi.
"By order of the highest authority in the world, under the command of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki..."
"Launch a Buster Call against the giant pirate known as Dark Sun."
...
Elsewhere, at the Sabaody Archipelago:
Inside Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, a figure slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"What, none of them are here yet?"
Dressed in a green samurai-style outfit, with a scar over one eye, Zoro had arrived at Sabaody ahead of the others.
Rayleigh, who had been drinking inside, turned around and smiled when he heard the voice.
"So you're the first one here. I did not expect that."
Now that the two-year promise had come due, the members of the Straw Hat Pirates were gradually arriving at Sabaody, preparing to regroup before heading into the New World.
At the same time, a noble-style ship docked at the harbor.
The port workers hurried over to serve it, because they recognized its owner at once.
This was the personal ship of the old man, the grandfather of the master of Sabaody himself.
"Thanks, old man!!!"
Luffy grinned, took off his straw hat, and gave Old Gick a deep bow.
But Old Gick wore a stern expression.
"Cut out the mushy nonsense, brat. Just make sure you carve out a bigger name for yourself on the seas."
"Honestly... if not for that meddling fool Rayleigh, there is no way you would only be at this level now!!!"
Watching the straw-hatted boy wave and run off, Old Gick stood with his hands behind his back.
After a long silence, the corners of his mouth lifted faintly.
"Do not go and die too easily in the New World, kid."
"..."
"Old man, what did you just say?"
At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded beside Old Gick, startling him.
He turned and saw a tall, familiar figure.
"Ozz!!! You brat!!!"
A flush rose to Old Gick's old face. It was obvious he felt embarrassed that Ozz had overheard him.
"You suddenly show up just to laugh at me, is that it?!"
"How could that be?"
Ozz waved his hand with a smile and walked over to lean against the railing.
"It just seemed like things were getting lively today, so I came to have a look. I just did not expect you to come in person."
"Hmph..."
Old Gick hopped onto the railing and stood there with his hands clasped behind him. Apparently, he was also curious about the "liveliness" Ozz had mentioned.
"You brat, what big thing is happening on Sabaody this time? Do not tell me the Straw Hat Pirates setting sail again has been exposed?"
That was the only major event he could think of lately.
A bad feeling rose in his heart.
Could it be that the second monster he, Gick the Kingmaker, had only just begun to raise was about to be crushed by a Marine siege before even setting sail?
"No, no."
Ozz shook his head and lazily draped himself over the railing, gazing off into the distance toward another part of Sabaody.
From behind one of the Yarukiman Mangrove trees, a young man emerged. He was even taller than an ordinary giant.
He steadied the straw hat on his head and wore a helpless look on his face.
"Stay alert!!!"
The Marines surrounding him were drenched in cold sweat as they drew their blades and stood before Sadgeo.
This young giant bore a face somewhat similar to Luffy's and Roger's.
"Seriously... why are you all so determined to keep chasing me?"
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