The next morning, Dressrosa's East Coast port bustled with activity. Wide streets stretched out, sidewalks and roadways clearly marked. Pedestrians streamed along the sidewalks like a steady river, while motorcycles and cars powered by Breath Dials zipped past in the double-lane center.
As Breath Dial production surged, so did the tools they powered. Motorcycles and cars became wildly popular overnight. But wind energy had its limits—these vehicles could only travel tens of kilometers before needing a recharge. They were perfect for daily commutes but useless for long distances. Still, their convenience made them highly sought after.
The only drawbacks were the steep price tags, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of Berries, and the hefty maintenance costs. Otherwise, most people would've snatched them up without hesitation. The Umbrella Corporation held a monopoly on Breath Dial production, with no competitors in sight. Its profits from the vehicle industry were astronomical.
Out on the sea, three pirate ships flying black flags drifted into port. The dockworkers barely glanced their way, too busy with their tasks. Pirate ships docking openly in Dressrosa was nothing new. After all, this was the New World's largest arms trade hub, attracting buyers from both the underworld and the surface world—pirates included.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The three black-sailed ships opened fire while still some distance from the port. Cannonballs rained down on the town, igniting explosions. On the largest ship, a pale man wrapped in bandages and clutching a saber laughed maniacally.
"Hahaha! Holy Land Mary Geoise is destroyed, the World Government's in chaos, and the New World will be a pirate's paradise! Minions, for your captain Albert Ang, plunder to your heart's content!"
"The pirates are here to attack!" someone shouted. "Alert the Kingdom Army!" "Grab your weapons!" The dockworkers, though caught off guard, evacuated toward the town center with surprising efficiency.
But some didn't flee. They pulled out rocket launchers, automatic rifles, grenades, and sniper rifles from their homes. The sheer variety of arms was staggering. Boom! Boom! Tatata! Gunfire erupted from the town. Two rockets struck the pirate ships flanking Albert Ang's vessel, reducing them to splinters.
Albert leaped onto the dockyard, ducking behind a stack of containers. "Damn it!" he muttered. "What the hell? These civilians are brutal! And their weapons... Are they soldiers in disguise?"
Before entering the New World, Albert had heard Dressrosa was the wealthiest and strongest nation there, a kingdom of love, passion, and arms. It was said to be unimaginably rich. When he saw yesterday's newspaper headline—Holy Land Mary Geoise destroyed, the seas plunging into chaos—he'd hatched a plan.
He had the idea of coming to Dressrosa to pull off a big job, rake in some money and arms, and then use them to recruit soldiers and expand his power. But...
Albert Ang never imagined the citizens of Dressrosa would be so ruthless. They'd casually pulled out an arsenal and opened fire on his pirate crew without hesitation. Now he understood why this place earned the nickname "Kingdom of Arms."
Years ago, after Dressrosa severed ties with the Whitebeard Pirates, some foolish crews thought they could raid the island, grab loot, and escape unscathed. Those attempts never ended well.
To bolster the nation's defenses, Scarlett had persuaded King Riku to implement a nationwide military reserve system, acting on Sephiroth's suggestion. Every Dressrosa resident who met the age requirement, maintained good health, and had a clean record underwent three months of military training. Afterward, they became reservists of the King's Army.
These reservists could purchase a limited number of weapons from state-owned stores for personal defense. Those in high-risk professions could even apply for heavy firepower. The program proved wildly popular among Dressrosa's citizens.
Armed with this newfound right, people began stockpiling weapons at home. In the lawless Great Pirate Era, pirate raids had become commonplace. Preparedness wasn't paranoia—it was survival.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Heavy footsteps echoed through the streets, cutting through the gunfire. Albert peeked out from behind the shipping containers. A squad of Kingdom Army soldiers marched toward the port, flanked by twenty stone statue guards.
Albert gritted his teeth. Retreat crossed his mind, but he'd already lost two ships. Fleeing now would destroy his reputation. His crew would lose respect, question his leadership, and rebel against his orders.
"Minions, charge with me!" Albert roared, raising his saber. He led the charge toward the stone guards, determined to crush them, loot the port, and escape with whatever remained of his crew.
His blade flashed, cleaving through three stone guards in a single swing. Their fractured bodies collapsed to the ground. But before Albert could savor the victory, the severed torsos of two guards latched onto his legs. He struggled, but couldn't break free.
Sharp stone spikes erupted from the ground, stabbing upward. They pierced Albert's body, leaving gaping, bloody wounds. One spike drove straight through his chest.
"How... What is this?" Albert coughed up blood, his eyes wide with disbelief. He stared at the spikes protruding from the ground, confusion etched across his face. Then his body went limp, and he collapsed, lifeless.
The pirates' uprising was swiftly quelled under the relentless assault of the stone guards. The body of Albert Ang, who was leading them, was hanged on the execution platform at the East Coast port, a grim warning to any pirate bold enough to threaten this nation.
Meanwhile, several minutes earlier, in the Dressrosa Royal Palace...
Scarlett sat in her study, her slender frame draped in an elegant light blue gown that shimmered in the soft light. The golden crown resting atop her head caught the sun's rays as she set aside the documents she'd been reviewing. Her gaze drifted toward the East Coast, her expression pensive.
"Your Majesty?" Sephiroth's voice broke the silence. He placed a steaming cup of black tea before her, his smile gentle but probing. "Something on your mind?"
Scarlett sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "I was thinking about my son," she admitted, her tone tinged with melancholy. "The future prince of this country... what should we name him?"
Sephiroth choked on his words, coughing awkwardly. "Ah, yes... Speaking of names, I just remembered—Violet and I have something urgent to discuss." Without waiting for a response, he hurried out of the study, leaving Scarlett glaring at his retreating back.
Alone again, Scarlett turned her attention back to the documents. She muttered under her breath, "Spineless man."
The destruction of Holy Land Mary Geoise dominated the headlines of the World Economic News. Pirates across the New World devoured the reports, their seasoned instincts sharpened by years of survival. The implications were clear: the World Government's grip was slipping.
Confident in their strength, pirate crews began targeting member nations of the World Government, eager to claim territories and resources once firmly under its control. The Marines, however, were stretched thin. Their mid-to-high-level combatants had been redeployed to Marineford for the ongoing war, leaving the New World's defenses critically weakened.
The result was chaos. Calls for help flooded into Marineford from besieged nations and outposts, the den den mushi in the communications department ringing ceaselessly. Sengoku and Kong scrambled to respond, but the Red Line blockade made reinforcements impossible. They could only watch helplessly as pirates ran rampant across the New World.
Meanwhile, in the East Blue, five countries, including the Kingdom of Goa, rose in rebellion. Inspired by the Revolutionary Army, citizens hoisted the banner of freedom, overthrowing their rulers and igniting a wave of revolution that further destabilized the already turbulent world.