"Marshal Kuzan!"
"Marshal Kuzan!"
"Marshal Kuzan!"
A deafening roar surged from below the platform, echoing across the entire world.
Kong and Sengoku exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads with faint smiles before stepping down from the high platform, leaving Kuzan standing alone above the masses.
Kuzan scratched his forehead repeatedly, clearly uncomfortable with the overwhelming attention.
With his appointment as Fleet Admiral now a reality, Marines such as Ghost Spider and Doberman had no choice but to accept it, even if reluctance lingered in their eyes.
After a while, Kuzan raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"Ahem, as the new Fleet Admiral, I will now issue my first order."
At once, every Marine present straightened, their expressions tightening.
They all knew what it meant when someone new took power. Changes were inevitable, and often ruthless.
Tension spread through the ranks as many feared that the first order might directly affect them.
Ghost Spider and Doberman exchanged uneasy looks, both seeing the same concern reflected in each other's eyes.
"Marineford was completely destroyed during the war and can no longer function as headquarters. Therefore, after discussion among high command, we have decided to relocate headquarters to the G1 Branch."
A wave of relief immediately swept through the crowd.
"So that's it, I thought it would be something worse."
"G1 Branch, that's here, right?"
Far beneath the sea, ten thousand meters below the surface, Fish-Man Island.
Inside the Fishman Cafe.
A giant blue shark mermaid sat on a bubble sofa, a pipe resting between her fingers. A stack of newspapers lay on the table before her.
Beside them was an opened bounty poster featuring Rolan and his crew.
Her gaze slowly shifted to the crystal ball in front of her.
"Lord Rolan, my power is still too weak. I cannot see further into the future. If only I could, I might have been able to help you."
Moments earlier, she had attempted another divination.
In that vision, the world itself was collapsing.
Amid the ruins, a lone figure stood tall.
It was Rolan.
Opposite him stood a slender silhouette, its pupils twisted in a disturbing, unnatural way.
Above them loomed an enormous shadow that blotted out the sky.
She tried to focus, to see more clearly, but the moment her attention locked onto that figure, those distorted eyes suddenly turned toward her.
They pierced through time itself.
The vision shattered instantly.
A crack formed inside the crystal ball, and she broke into a cold sweat, her body trembling as exhaustion washed over her.
A terrifying thought surfaced in her mind.
That figure had seen her.
If that was true, then it meant the person possessed the same ability to peer into the future.
There was no need to guess their identity.
It had to be Imu, the supreme ruler of the World Government, just as Rolan had once mentioned.
She knew Rolan also possessed the ability to glimpse the future, he had used this very crystal ball before on Fish-Man Island.
But this attempt yielded nothing useful.
Instead, it damaged her ancestral treasure.
Even if she told Rolan, it would not change anything.
Meanwhile, inside Ryugu Castle.
King Neptune and his sons sat together, reading the latest newspaper.
Fukaboshi stared at the long string of zeros attached to Rolan's bounty, his expression filled with disbelief.
"I never imagined Lord Rolan would reach this level. This has to be the highest bounty in the pirate world so far, right?"
Neptune frowned slightly, concern evident in his eyes.
"With such a bounty, countless people will target him."
Ryuboshi shook his head calmly.
"With a bounty like that, very few would actually dare to make a move."
Manboshi nodded in agreement.
"For someone like Lord Rolan, the bounty itself no longer matters."
Fukaboshi sighed, his expression turning serious.
"The World Government is not something easily dealt with. They have ruled for over eight hundred years."
"Shirahoshi, my Shirahoshi…"
Neptune suddenly muttered, his tone shifting completely.
Seeing his father like this, Fukaboshi sighed before speaking.
"Father, with that flag protecting us now, we no longer need to remain confined to Fish-Man Island. We could visit the surface, perhaps even Peach Garden."
Neptune's eyes lit up instantly.
"Good, then let's go right away!"
Far away, in the Kamabakka Kingdom.
"Don't run, little candy!"
"Stop denying yourself, candy boy!"
"Come on, join us and become a New Human!"
"Shut up, you freaks! I want to see real women, beautiful women, long-legged women, not you hairy-legged maniacs!"
A group of flamboyant figures in skirts and makeup sprinted wildly, chasing after a man in a black suit.
The man had golden hair, neatly styled, with a distinctive curled eyebrow.
Vinsmoke Sanji.
He ran with all his strength, his face filled with despair.
Glancing at the setting sun, he let out a long sigh.
"That sunset… I remember running like this before. That was my lost youth."
At that moment, a bell rang out.
Dong.
Dong.
Dong.
The pursuers suddenly stopped and turned, rushing toward the harbor instead.
Sanji slowed down, confusion written all over his face.
"What's going on?"
He looked into the distance and spotted a massive ship docked at the shore.
The crowd was gathering there rapidly, their expressions filled with excitement.
Someone important had arrived.
Sanji's eyes lit up.
If it was someone powerful, they might know how to leave this place and return to Sabaody.
Without hesitation, he ran toward the harbor.
By the time he arrived, the area was already packed.
Then, a sharp, rhythmic sound echoed.
The sound of high heels.
Step.
Step.
Step.
A tall and elegant woman descended from the ship.
The moment Sanji saw her, his entire body froze.
His nose instantly erupted, steam blasting out as his face flushed bright red.
His eyes turned into hearts.
"This… this is a real beauty! Oh, beautiful lady, I love you!"
He forced his way through the crowd and dropped to his knees before her.
"Oh, divine being, you have finally appeared! You've allowed me to witness true beauty again!"
His gaze swept over her figure, completely captivated.
Two streams of nosebleed flowed freely from his nose.
The woman looked down at him, her expression calm.
"Who are you?"
Sanji trembled, overwhelmed.
"Even your voice is perfect…"