Perhaps the massive actions of the Nightfall Pirates had created a strong sense of crisis among the major powers of the New World.
This rising force was rapidly catching up from behind. If the established powers remained stagnant, it would not be long before they were surpassed.
As a result, conflicts throughout the New World intensified. Expansion became inevitable, and the only path to expansion was war. Territory, resources, and influence could only be gained through battle.
Nowhere was this more evident than in the Sea of Chaos, a region that had long been contested by powerful forces.
The sea originally belonged to two ancient overlords, and its resources were incredibly rich. After the Whitebeard Pirates began dividing the region, they inserted themselves directly into the conflict.
That act completely disrupted the already fragile balance.
What had once been a tense but stable division now teetered on the brink of collapse.
The previous territorial partition had merely been the prelude.
The real struggle had now begun.
In this sea, only strength determined ownership.
Two weeks after the Nightfall Pirates settled in the Kingdom of Christi, a grand event known throughout the world was about to take place at Marine Headquarters.
A massive award and promotion ceremony.
In truth, the ceremony had been delayed for quite some time.
It should have happened much earlier, but events had forced the Marines to postpone it repeatedly.
First came the invasion of Impel Down, the world's greatest underwater prison, by Marshall D. Teach.
During that chaos, countless criminals from Infinite Hell were released.
Such an incident could not be ignored.
The original plan of Marines Headquarters had been to capture the escaped prisoners and return them to Impel Down.
But before they could complete that task, another crisis erupted.
The G1 War.
Facing the terrifying strength of the Edward Newgate–led pirate fleet, the Marines could not afford to underestimate their opponent.
Even after the war ended, a large portion of Marine forces remained busy tracking down the criminals who had escaped from Impel Down.
Throughout the Grand Line and the Four Seas, Marines worked alongside the World Government intelligence agencies to hunt these fugitives.
Even the two Admiral candidates who had not directly participated in the war; Sakazuki and Freda; spent most of their time hunting down these escaped criminals.
Because the fugitives had only recently escaped from prison and had not fully recovered, this period provided the best chance to capture them.
Still, the results were limited.
The Marines had underestimated the criminals' determination for freedom.
After escaping the hell of Impel Down, why would anyone willingly return?
Many disappeared into the shadows.
Some had already begun stirring trouble across the seas.
After the war, the prestige of the Marines reached unprecedented heights.
However, the rise of the Four Emperors and the increasing activity of pirates across the seas meant that pirate fame was also growing rapidly.
The Marines and the World Government needed a public demonstration of power.
And this ceremony would serve exactly that purpose.
Only now, after months of preparation, had the long-rumored event finally begun.
Compared to the chaotic and violent New World, Marineford was filled with cheers.
The normally strict and solemn Marine Headquarters had rarely seen such a lively atmosphere.
Everyone knew that the ceremony would begin in three days.
The Marines were about to enter a new era.
This was a grand celebration that might only occur once every decade.
More importantly, it was not just an awards ceremony.
It was a complete restructuring of the Marine hierarchy.
The promotions included:
Fleet Admiral
Admirals
Vice Admirals
Other core high-ranking officers
Lower-rank promotions would also take place internally, though those were not publicly announced.
If every promotion were publicly celebrated, the ceremony might last for months.
In previous years, such promotions were usually handled separately.
Never before had they been combined into a single event of this scale.
Because of its significance, many powerful figures had gathered at Marine Headquarters.
Observers arrived from numerous institutions connected to the World Government.
From Impel Down came the newly appointed Chief Warden, Magellan.
From Enies Lobby came the three Chief Justices.
From the intelligence organization Cipher Pol Aigis Zero—better known as CP0—arrived the Deputy Director, Arest.
Kings and ministers from allied countries were also present.
Among them was Nefertari Cobra, king of Alabasta.
Two members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea had also been summoned.
The "Heavenly Yaksha" Donquixote Doflamingo.
And the "Desert King" Crocodile.
Their presence was not accidental.
The Marines intended to use the ceremony as a demonstration of power, reminding the Warlords of the authority of the World Government.
After Doflamingo joined the Warlord system, Marine policy had changed.
Instead of waiting for pirates to apply, the government began actively recruiting powerful individuals.
Crocodile had once challenged Edward Newgate in the New World and failed.
After disappearing for a time, he was eventually approached by the government.
With his Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit, Crocodile possessed both strength and reputation.
Once he learned of the privileges granted to Warlords, he accepted the position.
Even if many Marines despised pirates like them, no one dared attack them now.
Doing so would publicly humiliate the World Government and destroy the credibility of the Warlord system.
Meanwhile, the former Warden of Impel Down, Acel, was still recovering from his injuries.
During the prison break, his abdomen had been completely pierced.
Given his age and declining recovery ability, even after all this time he had not fully healed.
Still, Acel had already returned to Impel Down to guard the prison.
The promotion of Hannyabal had been rather unexpected.
Originally, the position of Chief Warden became vacant after Shiryu betrayed Impel Down and joined the Nightfall Pirates.
To fill the gap, Hannyabal was promoted.
It was an incredible stroke of luck.
Once Acel eventually retired, Magellan would likely rise even higher within Impel Down's hierarchy.
Another notable presence was the CP0 deputy director, Arest.
Although he represented the World Government at the ceremony, his arrival also carried another purpose.
He wanted to display CP0's power.
The pressure he emitted was immense.
Even the four Admiral candidates felt it.
They had always known that CP0 possessed terrifying strength, but seeing it firsthand left a deep impression.
Only when Sengoku and Monkey D. Garp arrived did Arest finally conceal his aura.
Even then, no one dared underestimate him.
At the same time, Marine Headquarters continued receiving returning forces from across the seas.
Vice Admirals, Rear Admirals, and countless officers gathered together.
The number of flag officers alone had already exceeded one hundred.
Their combined presence created an overwhelming pressure.
One might say:
Vice Admirals were everywhere.
Rear Admirals were countless.
Below the level of an Admiral, everyone was insignificant.
Such a gathering of strength shocked the allied nations.
Yet this massive military presence was necessary.
The Marines faced numerous terrifying enemies:
The Four Emperors.
The legendary pirate Douglas Bullet.
The rising "Dark Emperor" Marshall D. Teach.
Escaped criminals from Impel Down.
And the terrifying Redfield, known as the "Red the Aloof."
Not to mention the underground criminal world and the growing threat of the Revolutionary Army.
With such enemies, the strength displayed by the Marines seemed almost justified.
Two days before the ceremony, most guests had already arrived.
Among them was a particularly energetic figure.
A large bird wearing a black top hat decorated with feathers, a yellow bow tie, and a camera around his neck.
It was none other than Morgans.
The infamous "Big News" reporter moved around Marineford enthusiastically, constantly taking photos.
However, the Marines carefully monitored him.
Visual Den Den Mushi were strictly prohibited inside the base.
Anything he recorded here would be exclusive news.
Even Morgans knew his limits.
Elsewhere inside Marine Headquarters, a surprisingly quiet scene unfolded.
Inside a simple room, Sakazuki carefully trimmed a bonsai tree.
Despite his reputation as an iron-blooded soldier, he possessed an unexpectedly refined hobby.
At that moment, another figure stood in the room.
A tall man with a laid-back posture and a somewhat mischievous expression.
Borsalino.
He glanced at Sakazuki's upper body and smirked.
"That cherry blossom tattoo looks strangely lively on you."
"Could it be that you actually have a flamboyant heart?"
Snap.
The branch Sakazuki cut instantly burned to ashes from the heat.
Borsalino raised his hands.
"Scary, scary. Let's pretend I never said that."
Sakazuki spoke coldly.
"Did you come here just to talk nonsense?"
Borsalino shrugged.
"I came to see your reaction."
"Reaction?"
Sakazuki continued trimming the bonsai.
"What reaction should I have? Becoming an Admiral is simply the natural outcome."
To ordinary people it might sound arrogant.
But Borsalino knew it was simply the truth.
Both of them possessed exceptional talent, powerful Devil Fruits, and decades of experience.
Reaching the rank of Admiral was inevitable.
Still, Borsalino was not asking about that.
"I meant Freda."
Sakazuki paused slightly.
Then he answered calmly.
"Is there a problem? His current identity is a Marine."
"He's no longer CP0."
Borsalino studied him carefully.
"You've changed a bit, Sakazuki."
Sakazuki glanced at him.
"You're the one acting strangely. Since when do you care about these things?"
Borsalino sighed.
"The World Government approving four Admirals still feels strange."
Traditionally, the Marines only had three Admirals.
Breaking that tradition meant the structure of the Navy itself was evolving.
Sakazuki snorted.
"Freda has served in the Navy longer than he ever served CP0."
"Don't let prejudice cloud your judgment."
"Look at his achievements as a Marine."
"For a combat force like that, what does a little information matter?"
Borsalino fell silent.
Then Sakazuki added one more sentence.
"But if he ever acts against justice… I'll personally destroy him."
The air in the room suddenly became scorching hot.
Yet the bonsai tree remained untouched.
Perfect control.
After hearing that, Borsalino finally relaxed.
"Well, that puts my mind at ease."
He opened the door.
His body transformed into a streak of light.
And in an instant, he disappeared.