...…
Former Marine Admiral "Aokiji" Kuzan ultimately chose to leave the Marines and, to everyone's astonishment, joined the ranks of Emperor Blackbeard Teach…
If this news were made public in the future, it would undoubtedly trigger an unprecedented storm of public opinion and a crisis of trust across the entire world.
However, as the light curtain had mentioned, Kuzan had already resigned from his position as Admiral. In terms of formal status, he was now merely an "ordinary person."
The path he chose was—at least procedurally—his personal right, even though the deeper implications far exceeded the scope of individual choice.
During these two years of consolidation, the world did not grow calm due to the temporary withdrawal of Luffy and the others. Instead, undercurrents surged, forces rose and fell, and a series of far-reaching dramatic changes unfolded.
The power vacuum left by Whitebeard's death triggered a chain of reactions.
One of the most direct beneficiaries was one of the Four Emperors, Charlotte Linlin.
She swiftly extended her influence into Fish-Man Island, which Whitebeard had once protected.
The light curtain showed that the entrance and main ports of Fish-Man Island now flew massive BIG MOM Pirates flags, symbolizing that the island's protector had changed.
However, Big Mom's "protection" came at a steep price. In return, she demanded that Fish-Man Island pay her a staggering monthly tribute of sweets.
While the people of Fish-Man Island breathed a sigh of relief at being temporarily spared from other pirates' raids, they were now burdened with crushing economic pressure.
Yet what drew even more attention from the God Valley onlookers—and left some of them torn between laughter and disbelief—was the emergence of another figure who called himself "Whitebeard II": Edward Weevil.
About a year after the Summit War ended, a tall, ugly man wielding a massive naginata similar to Whitebeard's appeared out of nowhere, proclaiming himself Whitebeard's biological son.
Relying on his brute—even barbaric—strength and this highly sensational claim, he actually gained official recognition from the World Government and was recruited as one of the new Warlords of the Sea!
"Wha… what?! This old hag… is me?! Aaaaaahhhhh!!!"
When Stussy saw the light curtain showing the elderly, decrepit woman called "Miss Buckingham" appearing alongside Weevil, she froze as if struck by lightning.
Then she let out an incredulous scream, nearly fainting on the spot.
This blow was even more devastating than Gloriosa's shock at seeing herself turned into a tiny old lady in the future!
She had clearly seen her future self as the alluring "Queen of Happy Street," controlling the underworld intelligence network…
So how had another old, ugly version of "herself" suddenly appeared—complete with a dim-witted giant son? What on earth was going on?!
"Hahahahaha!!! Stussy! Did you think you could stay young forever?! Looks like your future isn't so great either—just an old hag!"
Gloriosa, seeing Stussy's devastated state, immediately found her balance. She burst into unreserved laughter, her earlier gloom swept away.
Though she too was puzzled by the existence of two completely different "future Stussys," the image of this "Miss Buckingham" was more than enough to keep her amused for hours.
Whitebeard Edward Newgate himself stared at the light curtain—at the crude, seemingly low-intelligence Weevil who claimed to be his son…
—and the old woman beside him—and felt a powerful chill crawl up his spine.
Though he never prided himself on looks, he was absolutely certain he could never produce a son so… "distinctive."
Look at Ace and Roger, Garp and Dragon, even Rocks and Teach—there was always some resemblance or inherited temperament between father and son.
But aside from the imitation beard and similar weapon, where was even the slightest similarity between him and this Weevil?
"Newgate~ If I really end up like that in the future… would you still like me?"
Stussy finally recovered a little from the double-vision shock, immediately threw herself onto Whitebeard's shoulder, and began sobbing, seeking comfort.
But Whitebeard just rolled his eyes without mercy and stated bluntly in his deep voice: "I never said I liked you."
"Newgate! What do you mean?! How many times do I have to say it—sure, my suitors could line up from the New World to the East Blue, but I, Stussy, have my eyes only on you!"
Stussy jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and started pestering him again.
In terms of being "pestered" by women, Whitebeard and Roger found themselves in remarkably similar situations.
One was constantly entangled by Gloriosa, the other relentlessly pursued by Stussy.
Both, due to their status and personalities, couldn't raise a hand against a woman and could only endure this "sweet torment."
[The light curtain continued to show other changes in the world's landscape during these two years]
Also about a year after the Summit War ended, another Supernova from the Worst Generation entered the World Government's sights: Trafalgar Law.
With his masterful Ope Ope no Mi abilities and cool-headed mind, he orchestrated the shocking "Rocky Port Incident," causing his bounty to skyrocket to 400 million berries!
Later, he even offered the hearts of 100 pirates as a "token of allegiance" to the Marines, thereby securing a position as one of the Warlords of the Sea—a new addition to the system.
At the same time, another highly theatrical figure stepped onto the Warlord stage: the clown Buggy. This man—who, through sheer coincidence (or sheer mishap) during the Summit War—had been regarded by numerous pirates as a "hero" and "leader."
He actually received an official invitation from the World Government and became one of the new Warlords of the Sea!
The Impel Down escapees and admirers who gathered under him formed a force that could not be underestimated—even if the reliability and true strength of their leader remained a perpetual mystery.
The other Supernovas of the Worst Generation had not gone quiet either. Eustass "Captain" Kid, after entering the New World, became infamous for his violent fighting style, specializing in challenging long-established big-name pirates!
His body accumulated countless scars as a result, the most prominent being the loss of his left arm, replaced with a powerful metal prosthetic.
The most widespread rumor outside was that Kid had overreached and recklessly invaded Big Mom's territory.
He couldn't even defeat a single "Sweet Commander," didn't even get to see Big Mom's face, and was humiliatingly driven out—losing his left arm in the process.
However, the light curtain revealed the truth: Kid had not directly challenged Big Mom.
He did clash with the BIG MOM Pirates and successfully injured one of the Sweet Commanders, reclaiming something that originally belonged to him.
The true loss of his left arm occurred in a far more brutal battle—when he crossed paths with the Red Hair Pirates led by Emperor "Red-Haired" Shanks—and had his arm severed by them!
Additionally, that young Marine Coby—who, at a critical moment during the Summit War, had stood with his frail body in front of Akainu to buy precious time for Luffy…
had also grown rapidly during these two years.
In the Rocky Port Incident, he stepped forward to protect a large number of civilians, displaying extraordinary courage and the gradually awakening potential of his Observation Haki, beginning to stand out within the Marines.
The light curtain's scenes switched rapidly, linking together these individuals and events scattered across the world yet collectively sketching the contours of the new era.
The dramatic overhaul of the Warlord lineup (Crocodile, Jinbe, and Moria removed; Law, Buggy, and Weevil added),
the struggles and rises of the Supernovas (Kid, Law…),
the emergence of new stars within the Marines (Coby),
and the subtle balance and friction among the Four Emperors' forces (Big Mom taking over Fish-Man Island, Shanks clashing with Kid)…
All of these formed the far more complex, far more dangerous, yet opportunity-filled vast ocean that awaited Luffy's return.
Every name, every event, was planting foreshadowing for the even grander, more tumultuous chapters yet to come.
...
[ (ง•̀_•́)ง]