The Pirates Expo brought a surge of life to the New World. Although wars still smoldered across many seas, their intensity had eased, as if the entire ocean had taken a brief pause to watch what was coming.
Sicily Island, famed for its beauty, gradually turned lively. The Expo was still a month away from its official opening, yet that did nothing to stop people from arriving early.
The island already had a stable population. Most buildings only needed minor repairs, while the central district underwent rapid reconstruction to serve as the heart of the event.
Members of the Nightfall Pirates had long since arrived to maintain order, and with each passing day, more pirate ships filled the surrounding waters.
At Marine Headquarters, four figures exited a conference room together: Monkey D. Garp, Tsuru, Gion, and Tokikake.
They had been assigned to infiltrate the Pirate Expo.
Their true mission was intelligence gathering. Although it was already known that Morgans would broadcast the event live, relying solely on that would not provide clear or reliable information.
The fact that Morgans had secured cooperation with the Nightfall Pirates suggested an underlying relationship, though the Marines had no practical means to interfere.
Field intelligence, gathered firsthand, remained far more valuable.
Naturally, the responsibility fell to Tsuru. Garp would serve as protection. With no Yonko attending in person, his presence alone was enough to ensure their safety.
As for Gion and Tokikake, they were there to gain experience. Still, neither of them could be considered weak. As rising core talents of the Marines, their combat strength already rivaled that of standard Vice Admirals.
"Besides us, will others be infiltrating?" Tokikake asked, slightly uneasy.
"Of course," Tsuru replied calmly. "No one would miss such an opportunity. Pirates, underground brokers, and even unknown factions hidden in the shadows will gather. Some want fame. Others will treat this as a marketplace. And some…" She paused briefly. "Some will try to cause trouble."
Gion frowned. "Even with the Nightfall Pirates' current strength?"
"The chance is small, but not zero," Tsuru said, shaking her head. "If someone believes they can step on the Nightfall Pirates to rise to prominence, they might take that risk. And trouble does not always require direct confrontation."
Tokikake nodded, his expression turning serious. He still remembered how overwhelming the Nightfall Pirates had been in the past.
Tsuru remained silent afterward. Her mind was already considering deeper possibilities.
The world was vast, far deeper than what was visible on the surface.
The upcoming World Conscription alone proved that powerful individuals still existed, hidden from view.
Even nations could not be underestimated. Some, like Wano Country or the giants' homeland Elbaf, possessed terrifying strength.
There were also mysterious kingdoms with unknown foundations, and non-human races such as the Longarm, Longleg, and Snake-Neck tribes, all forming their own powerful factions.
Even great pirates would think twice before provoking them.
In a distant sea of the New World, chaos unfolded.
"You bastard! Why are you still chasing us?" a pirate screamed in despair.
Behind them, a lone man stood on a small boat, his expression indifferent.
"To pass the time."
The answer froze the pirates in disbelief.
Then he swung his black blade.
A massive slash, towering hundreds of meters high, tore across the sea, engulfing the fleeing ship and splitting the ocean itself.
Silence followed.
The man glanced ahead, his hawk-like eyes calm.
"It seems I need to hurry."
With another swing, the recoil propelled his small boat forward like an arrow.
Far away, within the Calm Belt on Rusukaina, two pirate crews trained relentlessly.
The Red-Haired Pirates and the Buggy Pirates had spent nearly a year on this island of beasts, growing stronger through constant battle.
Gathered together with Silvers Rayleigh, they reviewed the latest news.
"Haha, the Pirate Expo…" Shanks laughed, nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "Buggy and I nearly got beaten to death performing circus tricks at one back in the day."
"You bastard! Why would you say that out loud?" Buggy shouted, face red with fury.
Laughter erupted around them.
"Anything more normal you remember?" Benn Beckman asked dryly.
Shanks rubbed his chin. "Does challenging Shiki count?"
Buggy's eyes widened in horror.
"That's worse!"
"Haha! We didn't even start before Uncle Jabba beat us and dragged us away," Shanks admitted cheerfully.
Despite the laughter, his expression softened slightly.
"Too bad… I can't make it this time."
Elsewhere, in a far darker corner of the sea, a chilling scene unfolded.
A grotesque woman held a severed head, her lips curling with twisted delight.
"Such beauty… especially when it cries," she murmured.
This was Catarina Devon, known as the Crescent Moon Hunter.
Her subordinates trembled nearby, too afraid to approach.
"The Expo…" one of them said cautiously. "The total bounty of active pirates there may exceed 30 billion Berries."
Devon's eyes gleamed.
"Then it will be the perfect hunting ground."
A month passed.
Sicily Island was now overflowing with life. Over a hundred thousand pirates gathered, their ships crowding the port in endless rows.
Trade had already begun, turning the Expo into a massive marketplace long before its official opening.
At the center stood a newly constructed palace, magnificent and imposing. It would host the final auction, the true highlight of the event.
On a Marine warship sailing toward the island, Tokikake felt completely out of place.
Garp ate donuts leisurely. Tsuru sipped tea. Gion chatted calmly.
It felt less like a mission and more like a vacation.
"Isn't this too… blatant?" Tokikake finally asked. "We're wearing Marine coats and sailing straight in."
Tsuru set down her cup. "Do you think disguises would help? Pirates respect strength. If we appear weak, we invite trouble. If we stand firm, most will avoid us."
Tokikake blinked.
"So… this is the safer approach?"
"Exactly."
Garp suddenly laughed. "No wonder I got in so easily back then. I probably forgot to take off my coat too!"
Before Tokikake could process that, explosions echoed across the sea.
Another pirate fleet had attacked.
Cannonballs rained down, only to be deflected by invisible Haki, crashing into the ocean and sending waves soaring.
"This is the seventh or eighth group," Tokikake muttered.
Garp grinned. "You all rest. I'll handle this."
Moments later, chaos erupted among the pirates.
Their laughter turned into screams the instant they recognized him.
"Garp?!"
Panic spread instantly.
"Retreat!"
Too late.
Garp tore off a chunk of the deck and hurled it like a projectile, splitting a pirate ship in half.
Within moments, the fleet scattered in terror.
A week later, news of Garp's arrival had already spread across the New World.
And finally, Sicily Island appeared on the horizon.
"Beautiful…" Gion murmured.
Tsuru nodded. "Once the territory of the Scorpion Pirates. Now it belongs to the Nightfall Pirates."
As the warship docked, Garp stepped forward without hesitation.
"Let's go."
Deep within the central palace, Marshall D. Teach smiled.
"The Marines have arrived."
Even without reports, his Observation Haki had already confirmed it.
"Should we act?" Mostima asked, frowning.
Teach chuckled.
"No need. If they want to play…" His grin widened. "Let them."
The exhibition district was already packed with pirates.
When Garp and the others entered, the lively atmosphere froze.
"Are those… Marines?"
"No… that's Garp…"
Fear spread instantly.
Garp frowned, annoyed. "Why did everyone stop? This is boring."
Without hesitation, he walked to an arm-wrestling table, kicked one participant aside, and sat down.
"You. Let's play."
The giant pirate across from him nearly collapsed from fear.
Before he could respond, chaos erupted again.
Then, a voice rang out.
"An executive of the Nightfall Pirates is here! Slada, the Emperor Crocodile!"
The crowd parted as a towering man approached, dragging a massive anchor behind him.
He stopped before Garp and smiled.
"Arm wrestling? I'll join you."
The tension eased slightly, though anticipation filled the air.
Their hands clasped.
"Three… two… one… start!"
The ground trembled as their strength collided.
Even from a distance, pirates could feel the pressure.
In the end, Garp won.
Laughing, he picked up both his coat and the wagered money.
"Not bad!"
With that, he wandered off in search of more games.
The crowd finally breathed again.
Elsewhere, Tokikake stood before a grand casino.
"I'm just gathering intelligence," he muttered.
Inside, a beautiful woman greeted him with a smile.
"Welcome, Mr. Marine."
Moments later, he had already borrowed twenty million Berries.
And somewhere unseen, fate had quietly begun to shift.
Across Sicily Island, the presence of the Marines no longer caused panic.
They did not disrupt the Expo.
They played, observed, and moved freely.
And so, the Festival of Darkness continued, its surface lively and vibrant…
While beneath it, currents of danger quietly gathered.