When a Celestial Dragon is attacked, a Marine Admiral will be dispatched to carry out retaliation. This is common knowledge on the seas.
Countless people hate the Celestial Dragons, but the vast majority fear their power too much to resist. The deterrent force of the Admirals is one of the main reasons for this.
Over a year ago, when Luffy beat up Celestial Dragons, it immediately triggered Kizaru's deployment. But now, the Marines did not react in the same way. One reason for this is the change in Admirals.
Akainu was promoted to Fleet Admiral, Kuzan resigned and temporarily joined the Beasts Pirates, and of the original three Admirals, only Kizaru remained. Although the Marines filled the vacant Admiral positions with Fujitora and Ryokugyu through the World Military Draft...
Compared to the era when Sengoku served as Fleet Admiral, the overall strength of the Marines has declined.
As Marine Admirals, guarding Mariejois is also one of their responsibilities. This duty used to be rotated among the three Admirals, but the newly appointed Ryokugyu and Fujitora were not yet trustworthy enough, so the task of guarding Mariejois had to fall solely on Kizaru.
Without Kizaru's mobility, relying on Fujitora's anti-gravity flight and Ryokugyu's "plant bamboo-copter," by the time they reach the place, World would have vanished long ago.
He is not some rookie waiting to head to the New World at Sabaody Archipelago. He is the World Destroyer, who made a name for himself thirty years ago. His personality forces the World Government to tread carefully. No one knows what this madman might do.
Moreover, with Fujitora's personality, he naturally dislikes the Celestial Dragons. If he were sent to carry out this kind of mission, he would likely just go through the motions without real effort.
Ryokugyu, on the other hand, does support the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, but unfortunately, he lacks Kizaru's high-speed mobility and does not have the veteran Admiral's reputation that inspires trust.
"According to unreliable sources, it seems World intends to take revenge against the World Government, but the specifics are unclear. That's the latest information. If you have no other instructions, I'll go prepare today's schedule for Governor-General Kaido."
"Go."
"Yes."
Bao Huang walked out of the office backward and began a new round of mission reporting, while the matter regarding World was not taken seriously. Thirty years ago, he was defeated by Kaido, and now, he was even less likely to be a match for him.
On a newly built ship of the World Pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, the crew of the World Pirates were also gathered together, but many of World's old subordinates were worried about his recent actions.
"Byojack, isn't Captain World... getting too short-tempered?"
In the previous operation attacking the Celestial Dragon, dissatisfied with the slow actions of the subordinates he had dispatched, he simply launched an indiscriminate attack himself.
To him, anyone who disobeyed orders, failed to complete tasks on time, refused to fight for him, or was unwilling to die for him was worthless. Compared to thirty years ago, World had become even more cold and ruthless.
"There's no helping it. After all, he was ambushed by undercover Cipher Pol agents back then and completely lost trust in others, even if they're people I spent the last thirty years painstakingly recruiting... cough cough"
Byojack coughed as he spoke. Though they were brothers, he didn't have World's physique. After thirty years of hardship, he was plagued by chronic ailments, and Nightin had prepared several medicines to slowly nurse him back to health.
"But no matter what, World has ultimately 'revived.' With that, we can also…"
Boom! Boom!
Before Byojack could finish speaking, the ship's massive cannon fired a shell into the distance. With the hundredfold amplification from World's More-More Fruit, that single shot leveled all surface structures on the target island.
"Barorororo!! Gairam, Nightin, Sebastian, Byojack, thank you all for your hard work over these years.
This is the ship we dreamed of building thirty years ago, and now it's finally a reality. With this giant cannon combined with my ability, even the World Government and Mariejois will be reduced to ashes in an instant!
Everything is ready. Let's go all out! Barorororo!"
Although he lost to Kaido back then, World placed most of his hatred on the World Government that orchestrated the betrayal. Compared to powerful enemies in direct combat, it was the schemers behind the scenes that truly enraged him.
Frozen for thirty years, World's mind was still stuck in the time before his imprisonment. His deep-seated hatred had not diminished with the passage of time.
But just as he was getting carried away, Byojack poured cold water on him.
"Cough cough, World, things might not go so smoothly, cough cough..."
"Hm?"
"Because of your recent attack on the Celestial Dragon, the World Government has already gotten your news."
"Hmph, that's exactly why I did it. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"But to deal with us, they've reportedly summoned the Shichibukai."
"Shichibukai? Are you sure about that, Byojack?"
Hearing Byojack's words, Nightin had a bad feeling. The Beasts Pirates had dealt with the Shichibukai many times over the years, and Nightin knew just how powerful those Shichibukai were. Each of them was a powerful monster. If they were gathered together...
"I'm sure. My intel isn't wrong."
"Shichibukai? What's that?"
World had been imprisoned too early. Back then, even Crocodile wasn't a Shichibukai. The term was completely unfamiliar to him.
"Right, since you've been imprisoned for thirty years, you don't know. The so-called Shichibukai are pirates officially recognized by the World Government, granted a license to plunder. In return, they must act as lapdogs and follow orders from the World Government.
Though they are lapdogs, their strength is not to be underestimated. They've already accepted the summons this morning."
"This morning? Perfect timing then. Let's make good use of this. Byojack, which of those lapdogs is closest to us?"
"Let's see… Doflamingo of Dressrosa, Jinbe of the New Fishman Island, Boa Hancock of Amazon Lily… All three are about the same distance away. Cough cough, World, what are you planning?"
As his biological older brother, Byojack once thought he understood World well. But now, World seemed like a different person, and even Byojack found him unfamiliar.
"What am I planning? Since those lapdogs want to help the World Government deal with us, we'll strike first and eliminate these so-called Shichibukai.
Doflamingo and Jinbe are in the New World, so we'll start with that so-called Pirate Empress! Set sail!"
At this point, World had become completely headstrong. Once he made a decision, he wouldn't listen to anyone's advice. Byojack and the others had no choice but to change course and head toward Kuja.
Meanwhile, one of the Shichibukai had already accepted the World Government's summons and was on the way, but he was beginning to regret it.
"Roronoa, my biggest mistake was trusting your sense of direction!"
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