A shadow flashed by as Kalifa threw herself into Roya's arms.
She said excitedly, "Admiral~ I've already received Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders to become your adjutant. I'll take good care of you along the way, making sure you're comfortable."
Roya twitched slightly at Kalifa's actions. Lately, for some unknown reason, she had been acting strangely, constantly trying to "tempt" him.
"Alright, Kalifa, go get ready. We're setting off immediately!"
"So soon?"
"Of course! Justice waits for no one!"
The impact of the newspaper continued to spread.
Ohara.
Robin, who had just finished training her Devil Fruit abilities, sat in Olvia's lap, reading the newspaper in her hands.
"The Three Admirals Officially Announced! White Dove Roya Emerges as the Strongest!"
This was the bold headline dominating the front page.
Following the headline, Robin saw Roya's picture. Though it was her first time seeing him, her intuition told her instantly that this was the real Roya!
After all, on these seas, there was virtually no one else named Roya.
"Mom, when will Roya-brother come back to see us?"
Robin looked up at Olvia with her sparkling eyes, filled with unspoken anticipation.
"Don't worry, Robin. Your Roya-brother will come back to see you soon," Olvia reassured her.
Robin nodded and turned her gaze back to Roya's picture in the newspaper, an unconscious smile often playing on her lips.
Amazon Lily.
Thanks to the island's unique training methods, Hancock had awakened her Conqueror's Haki.
By now, she could hold her own against the current Empress using her Devil Fruit powers—a true genius among geniuses.
But then again, even in the original timeline, Hancock's strength had always been noteworthy.
At this moment, Gloriosa approached Hancock.
Hancock glanced at her and asked, "Any news about Roya?"
"Yes, it's all in this newspaper."
Hearing Gloriosa's words, Hancock's usual aloofness vanished instantly.
Her cheeks flushed a deep pink as she snatched the newspaper from Gloriosa.
Looking at Roya's picture, Hancock felt so overwhelmed with happiness she thought she might faint.
"Wonderful, Roya! I finally have news of you!"Gloriosa watched as Hancock continuously rubbed her face against Roya's picture on the newspaper.
The wrinkles on her face, already numerous, now bunched together even more tightly.
"Hancock, Roya has now joined the Marines! Even I can't guess what Roya intends to do. We must be cautious when dealing with him in the future!"
"What's wrong with joining the Marines? Roya must have his reasons. He saved my life—if he ever wants to take it back, I won't have any complaints!"
Hancock glared at Gloriosa and added, "So, were you just trying to drive a wedge between us?!"
Her expression turned icy as she declared, "Anyone who speaks ill of Roya is my enemy!"
With those words, Hancock's long legs—already showing signs of their future grace—coated in Armament Haki, sent Gloriosa flying into the sky with a single kick.
——
Meanwhile, out at sea.
A storm raged, with gales whipping the rain into a frenzy.
The waves surged violently, each one towering higher than the last!
The unpredictable temperament of the Grand Line's weather was on full display.
Amidst this tempest, a massive pirate fleet of over fifty ships sailed across the turbulent waters.
Yet, in such conditions, even fifty ships seemed pitifully small.
"Captain Krieg, Ship 34 is taking on water—the hull is breached!"
"Captain Krieg, the mast of Ship 12 has snapped! If we don't evacuate the crew, they'll likely perish at sea!"
"Captain Krieg—"
Krieg stood on the deck, gripping his golden Battle Spear tightly as reports flooded in, his face dark with frustration.
He had been brimming with confidence when he set out from the East Blue, entering the Grand Line to spread his infamy far and wide.
But never had he imagined encountering such conditions the moment they arrived.
"Abandon any ship that's damaged beyond repair!"
"Abandon them?! But Captain Krieg, that would drastically reduce our combat strength!"
"Drastically? It's only four or five ships—at most, four or five hundred men!"
Krieg raised his Battle Spear high and declared to his subordinate, "Remember, we are a fleet of five thousand! Losing four or five hundred is nothing—our combat power won't be significantly affected!"
"Understood, Captain Krieg!"
As the subordinate retreated, Krieg remained on the deck, staring defiantly at the churning waves.
"The Grand Line—the dream route all pirates yearn to conquer. Only those who sail its entirety can claim the title of Pirate King!"
"And only a title like Pirate King is worthy of my strength!"
"So what if we lose a few hundred men? Once we reach an island, I'll replenish them easily!"
To Krieg, personal strength mattered, but numbers mattered more.
With enough bodies, even the strongest could be overwhelmed.
His reliance on sheer numbers had allowed him to dominate the East Blue for years—which was why he remained so arrogantly confident.
Yet, he had no idea he was nothing more than a frog in a well.The storm came and went quickly.
After about half an hour, the wind and waves finally subsided.
"Captain Krieg, we've lost a total of six hundred and seventy-two men and six ships!"
The subordinate standing beside Krieg continued, "Additionally, we've spotted a battleship rapidly approaching in the distance. However, this one seems different from the ones we've seen before—it's much larger!"
"A battleship?! Can we estimate how many people are on board?"
"According to the navigator's report, around a hundred."
"Only a hundred? On a battleship! Hahaha, they must be delivering it to us as a gift!"
Krieg burst into laughter, swinging his Battle Spear as he commanded his crew, "All hands, listen up! Hold your fire and surround that battleship ahead. I'm taking this Marine vessel for myself!"
"Long live Captain Krieg!"
"Long live Captain Krieg!"
"Long live Captain Krieg!"
...
As Krieg's words echoed, the crew erupted in cheers, chanting his name excitedly!