Time is the most powerful force in the world. It can turn the vast ocean into mulberry fields. It can also turn a deserted island into a man-eating steel beast.
Two years passed quietly.
In these two years, the New World underwent earth-shaking changes.
The most eye-catching was none other than the legendary Aloof Red— Patrick Redfield.
Now he was crowned with the new title of "Crimson Reaper," appearing and disappearing like a ghost, specifically "visiting" those filthy rich great pirates and greedy kings.
Without exception, everyone he "visited" would lose their entire fortune, "voluntarily" donating their life savings to a mysterious organization called the "Construction Foundation."
According to incomplete statistics, in two years, this legend who had reappeared in the world had at least robbed... no, recruited funds from dozens of top-tier pirate groups and kingdoms, with the total amount reaching an immeasurable, terrifying figure.
The entire New World turned pale at the mention of "Red."
Countless great pirates would rather provoke the World Government than see that damned red umbrella on the sea.
And this immeasurable, terrifying sum of money eventually flowed to one place.
Punk Hazard.
That once-deserted island had completely changed its appearance.
A majestic and ferocious steel fortress rose from the ground. It was like a steel beast perched on the sea, guarding the throat of the New World.
The towering alloy city walls were covered with a thick layer of Sea Stone, enough to make any Devil Fruit user hesitate.
On the walls, dense giant battery arrays gleamed with a cold metallic luster, their barrels pointed outward, as if ready to blow any invading enemy to pieces at any moment.
Inside the fortress, ports, training grounds, research centers, living quarters... everything was available.
This was no longer a "branch."
This was an independent Marineford!
When Kong first took a warship to inspect the place, he was stunned on the spot.
Looking at the fortress before him, which was even more exaggerated than the Marine headquarters, Marineford, he rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating.
"Tatsuki... this... what's going on?" Kong pointed at the fortress, his voice trembling.
"The headquarters only approved eighty billion for you. How could you possibly build something like this?!"
"Fleet Admiral, please lower your voice."
Tatsuki wore a pure white Justice mantle, spotless, with a sincere smile on his face. "This is all thanks to the World Government."
"The World Government?" Kong was taken aback.
"Yes."
Tatsuki sighed heavily, his face filled with the difficulty of being forced into a corner.
"The Gorosei felt that the Marines' control over the New World was too weak, so they specially approved a secret fund and wanted me to establish a bridgehead here that could suppress all petty criminals."
"You also know, being caught in the middle, it's hard for me."
Kong believed it instantly. Or rather, he could only choose to believe.
Because other than this explanation, he couldn't think of any other possibility.
A surge of anger rushed to his head.
Those damn old men were making moves behind the Marines' back again.
But immediately after, that anger turned into a complex sense of relief.
Regardless, with the Marine possessing such an indestructible fortress, the landscape of the New World would be completely rewritten.
On the other side.
Holy Land Mary Geoise, Room of Authority.
The Gorosei also learned of the dramatic changes at Punk Hazard through CP0 intelligence.
When they questioned Tatsuki via den den mushi, Tatsuki adopted a tone full of grievance and loyalty. "Lords, this was all the intention of Fleet Admiral Kong and the Marine headquarters."
"Fleet Admiral Kong felt that relying solely on our G-5 to fight alone in the New World was too risky, so he initiated a donation drive on behalf of the Marines, barely managing to complete this fortress."
"He said this is all to better maintain the rule of you, the Celestial Dragons."
After hearing this, the Gorosei believed it.
Although they felt the Marine brutes were a bit spendthrift, the result was good. The New World now had a nail capable of crushing all resistance.
Just like that, relying on his Oscar-level acting and the information gap, Tatsuki perfectly deceived both sides, allowing this "independent kingdom" completely under his personal control to stand legitimately upon the seas of the New World.
Marineford thought it was at the behest of the World Government.
The World Government thought it was the masterpiece of Marineford.
No one knew that every brick and every screw of this fortress was stained with the blood and tears of the New World's pirates.
At the highest point of the fortress, the Governor's Mansion.
Tatsuki stood before a giant floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city below that belonged to him, gently swirling the red wine glass in his hand.
Behind him, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino stood quietly.
Two years of hellish special training had completely transformed them.
A scorching aura radiated from Sakazuki at all times. Just by standing there, the surrounding air became distorted. That was a sign that the Mag-Mag Fruit had been developed to its limit and was about to awaken.
Kuzan's temperament had become increasingly cold. He yawned, and a trace of frost escaped from his mouth, instantly freezing the air by the window and condensing into a brilliant ice flower.
Borsalino still had that nonchalant look, but the sharp glint that occasionally flashed behind his lenses was heart-stopping. His Light Speed Kick was already so fast that even Observation Haki had difficulty capturing it.
Tatsuki turned around and looked at these three strongest trump cards, revealing a heartfelt smile of satisfaction, like a capitalist seeing high-quality assets.
Tatsuki took a sip of red wine, his eyes flashing with bottomless ambition. 'Although they're still not Admiral-level, it's barely enough to bury this old era.'