Time is the most powerful force in the world.
It can turn oceans into mulberry fields.
It can also transform a desolate island into a steel behemoth that preys upon men.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye.
During these two years, the New World underwent earth-shaking changes.
The most notable of all was the legendary "Lone Red" — Baron Redfield.
Now bearing the new title of "Crimson Reaper," he appeared and vanished like a ghost, specifically "visiting" those filthy-rich great pirates and greedy kings.
Without exception, anyone he "visited" would be left penniless, voluntarily donating their life savings to a mysterious organization known as the "Construction Foundation."
According to incomplete statistics, over these two years, this legendary figure who had reappeared in the world had at least robbed... no, raised funds from dozens of top pirate crews and kingdoms, amassing a terrifying, unimaginable sum.
Throughout the New World, the mere mention of "red" struck fear into hearts.
Countless great pirates would rather provoke the World Government than catch sight of that damned red umbrella at sea.
And this unimaginably vast sum of money ultimately flowed to one place.
Punk Hazard.
That once-deserted island had been completely transformed.
An immensely grand and ferocious steel fortress had risen from the ground.
It stood like a steel behemoth perched upon the sea, guarding the throat of the New World.
Towering alloy walls, coated with a thick layer of Sea Stone, were enough to deter any Devil Fruit user.
On the walls, densely packed giant artillery batteries gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, their muzzles all pointed outward as if ready to blast any intruder to pieces at any moment.
Inside the fortress, harbors, training grounds, research centers, residential areas... everything was complete.
This was no longer just a "branch."
This was an independent Marine Headquarters!
When Fleet Admiral Kong first arrived here on a warship for an inspection, he was stunned on the spot.
Staring at this fortress, even more exaggerated than Marine Headquarters Marineford, he rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating.
"Kane... what... what is this?" Fleet Admiral Kong pointed at the fortress, his voice trembling. "Headquarters only approved a hundred billion for you! How could you possibly build something like this?!"
"Admiral, keep your voice down."
Kane stood there in a spotless pure white Justice cloak, a sincere smile on his face.
"This is all thanks to the World Government."
"The World Government?" Fleet Admiral Kong was taken aback.
"Yes."
Kane let out a heavy sigh, his handsome face etched with the helplessness of being caught in the middle.
"The Five Elders felt the Navy's control in the New World was too weak, so they specially approved a 'secret fund' for me to establish a bridgehead here that could suppress all troublemakers."
"As you know, I'm caught in the middle. It's really difficult for me."
Fleet Admiral Kong believed him instantly.
Or perhaps, he could only choose to believe.
Because aside from this explanation, he couldn't think of any other possibility.
A surge of rage shot straight to the top of his head—those damned old men were scheming behind the Navy's back again!
But immediately afterward, that anger transformed into a complex, almost bittersweet sense of relief.
No matter what, the Navy now possessed an impregnable fortress, and the landscape of the New World would be completely rewritten!
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land Mariejois, within the Hall of Power.
The Five Elders had also learned of the drastic changes on Punk Hazard through intelligence from Cipher Pol Aigis Zero.
When they questioned Kane via Den Den Mushi, Kane once again adopted a tone full of grievance and loyalty.
"Esteemed Five Elders, this was all Fleet Admiral Kong and the Marine Headquarters' decision."
"Fleet Admiral Kong believed that relying solely on our G-5 to fight alone in the New World was too risky, so he initiated a fundraising campaign on behalf of the Navy to barely manage the construction of this fortress."
"The Fleet Admiral said that all of this is to better uphold the rule of the Celestial Dragons!"
After hearing this, the Five Elders believed him.
Though they felt the Navy's brutes were a bit extravagant with their spending, the result was favorable.
The New World now had a nail capable of crushing all resistance.
And so, relying on his Oscar-worthy acting skills and the information gap, Kane perfectly deceived both his superiors and subordinates, allowing this "independent kingdom," entirely under his personal control, to rightfully stand upon the seas of the New World.
The Marine Headquarters believed it was the World Government's directive.
The World Government believed it was the Marine Headquarters' masterpiece.
No one knew that every brick, every screw of this fortress was stained with the blood and tears of New World pirates.
At the highest point of the fortress, within the Governor's Mansion.
Kane stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city that belonged to him below, gently swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.
Behind him, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino stood quietly.
Two years of hellish special training had completely transformed them.
Sakazuki constantly radiated a scorching aura; just by standing there, the air around him distorted. It was a sign that his Magma Fruit had been developed to its limit, on the verge of awakening.
Kuzan's demeanor grew even colder. He yawned, and a wisp of frigid air escaped his mouth, instantly freezing the air by the window and forming a dazzling array of ice crystals.
Borsalino remained as nonchalant as ever, but the occasional glint of sharpness behind his glasses was unsettling. His Lightspeed Kick had become so fast that even Observation Haki struggled to track it.
They already possessed the makings of Admirals.
Kane turned around, looking at his three strongest trump cards, and revealed a smile of genuine satisfaction—the kind a capitalist wears when gazing upon premium assets.
"Though still just a rough draft..."
Kane took a sip of red wine, his eyes gleaming with unfathomable ambition.
"...it should be enough to bury this old era."