At Mariejois, the Holy Land, Sengoku, Garp, and Doflamingo had returned from the Sabaody Archipelago.
Though they were physically in Mariejois, their minds were still on Delta Island.
"You know, I never realized you were this interesting before. I always thought you were just a bastard," Garp said, playing chess with Doflamingo. However, neither of them was particularly skilled at the game.
Doflamingo had a wild and unrestrained personality, while Garp was a shameless rogue. Before this, they had little interaction, partly because Doflamingo harbored resentment toward the Marines and partly because Garp, knowing Doflamingo's background as a former Celestial Dragon, had no fondness for him either.
As a result, they never developed any friendship.
However, after working together on this operation, they unexpectedly found some camaraderie.
Hearing Garp's remark, Doflamingo let out his signature laugh. "Furafurfurfur! Garp, has no one ever told you that your words can be quite hurtful?"
Since avenging himself, Doflamingo had been in an unusually good mood. The gloom and cunning in his demeanor had lessened, replaced by a more cheerful and enthusiastic attitude. He didn't take offense to Garp calling him a "bastard" at all.
Meanwhile, Sengoku took a sip of tea and advised, "As someone who's been around the block, let me give you some sincere advice—don't associate with that bastard Garp too much. Otherwise, you'll end up getting pissed off sooner or later."
"Oi, Sengoku! We've known each other for years! If you keep spouting nonsense, I might have to sue you for slander," Garp retorted. Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, "Or are you just worried that Doflamingo and I will get along too well and leave you out? Don't worry, we've all been friends for a long time!"
Sengoku raised a hand to stop him and said flatly, "If you stopped being friends with me, I think I'd laugh out loud in relief."
"Furfurfur!" Doflamingo chuckled. He was just about to say something when his expression suddenly changed. He swiftly reached out and grabbed Garp's hand, pressing it down on the board. "This is the third time, Garp. Can you at least pretend to have some integrity?"
Garp had been about to sneakily cheat again but got caught in the act. Yet, instead of feeling embarrassed, he shamelessly replied, "Oh, come on, let an old man have his fun."
"You really have no shame," Sengoku said, shaking his head in exasperation.
"We're all friends here! Who needs dignity?" Garp said dismissively.
Then, completely abandoning any sense of fairness, he suddenly flipped the entire chessboard into disarray. "Enough! Enough! Who cares about the game? We still don't know what's happening with Claudius and the others. I'm in no mood for chess. I'll let you off this time, Doflamingo, but next time, we'll go for 300 rounds!"
Doflamingo blinked, momentarily stunned. He had been just a few steps away from victory. Yet, Garp had shamelessly turned the board upside down to avoid losing.
But he didn't really mind. He hadn't been all that invested in the game anyway—he was only playing because Garp had dragged him into it. Deep down, he was also preoccupied with thoughts about his cousin.
At that moment, the door to Sengoku's office swung open, and Tsuru walked in.
She glanced at Sengoku, then at Doflamingo and Garp, and remarked, "You three certainly look relaxed."
Garp immediately stood up, not bothering with pleasantries, and asked directly, "Tsuru, is there any news? What's the situation?"
Tsuru nodded, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. Seeing this, Sengoku's eyes lit up. "It's done?" he asked eagerly.
"Gion just contacted me," Tsuru confirmed.
"According to her report, we can declare complete victory. Golden Lion Shiki, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido of the Beasts—all three have been eliminated. This time, the operation code-named 'Operation Mania' has been a total success!"
Tsuru spoke with a rare hint of excitement in her voice.
With a loud bang!, Sengoku slapped the table, his face filled with exhilaration. "We won?"
"We won!" Tsuru nodded with a smile.
"Hahahahahahaha!!!" Sengoku burst into laughter, his voice filled with the energy of a man decades younger.
Before his laughter even faded, Zephyr walked in, peering into the room before speaking. "Seeing you laugh like that, I take it you've received news from the front lines? Truly incredible."
For twenty years, the Great Pirate Era had run rampant.
And now, in the hands of Saint Claudius, that era had finally come to an end.
At that moment, Doflamingo turned his head to look out the window, a rare, gentle smile forming at the corner of his mouth. He whispered softly, "The sword in your hand has severed an era and forged a new future. Claudius, just as you vowed, this era is over."
Before Claudius set out, he had sworn to eradicate evil, cut off the era, and create the future. Now, with the victory in his hands, he had fulfilled that oath. And so, the blade he wielded could be called the Sword of the Oath of Victory.
"Yes, the end of the Great Pirate Era," Garp murmured.
He felt happiness, excitement, and pride, but at the same time, a faint sense of loneliness.
For a moment, his thoughts drifted back almost forty years—to the God Valley Incident, where he and that bastard Roger had fought side by side.
Then his mind turned to what came next, how Gol D. Roger became the King of the Pirates, how his brilliance overshadowed all others, how he became the undeniable Son of an Era.
And how, with his final act, Roger had set off the Great Pirate Era, plunging the world into two decades of chaos.
Yet, in the end, the world did not follow the course Roger had intended. Instead, that era had ended at the hands of Claudius.
It was as if the Sons of Two Eras had passed the torch.
Gol D. Roger, the King of the Pirates, had created a legend of chaos, unleashing a tidal wave that swept across the world. He was the one who opened the Great Pirate Era.
And now, Donquixote Claudius, the King of the World, had wielded the Sword of the Oath of Victory to end the era, quelling the greatest storm in history and restoring order to the world, forging a new legend—one of stability and the future.
"This world has never belonged to pirates, Roger... Do you see this?" Garp whispered, his tone laced with emotion and nostalgia.
In the end, he smiled, walked to the window, looked out over the peaceful Mariejois, and whispered, "Justice will prevail."
---
New World – Aboard a Marine Warship
On the deck of the ship, Claudius stood with a relaxed expression, humming a tune, clearly in an excellent mood.
"I would like to ride the wind and waves, and walk across the golden sands and the vast ocean~~"
At that moment, Queen Stussy emerged from the cabin. She had not personally participated in the battle, instead remaining in the surrounding waters as part of the support forces.
Hearing Claudius hum his song, a smile appeared on Stussy's lips. She walked up to him and asked softly, "Your Highness, what are you thinking about?"
"Oh? Stussy?" Claudius turned his head with a grin and replied, "I was just thinking about something very important. My major personal goal for the next stage."
Stussy was momentarily taken aback. Then, with a curious look, she asked, "That does sound important. Your Highness, as the King of the World, every move you make affects the fate of the entire world."
"And what of it?" Claudius smirked before continuing, "The Great Pirate Era is over. The remaining clean-up is Marine's responsibility. The New World no longer has any obstacles. So… it's time for the next phase to begin."
"If you ever need any help, I will always be at your service, Your Highness," Stussy said softly, gently taking hold of Claudius's arm.
Claudius nodded before replying in a deep voice, "This is indeed something I cannot accomplish alone. No matter how hard I try, I will need your help."
"That difficult?" Stussy asked, surprised. After all, in her eyes, Claudius had just ended an entire era—what could possibly be more challenging than that?
"Of course," Claudius said solemnly. "This is one of the most important things in my life. Stussy, will you help me?"
Stussy first smiled, then, seeing his serious expression, replied just as seriously, "I would give everything for Your Highness. I will do my utmost."
"Excellent."
Claudius suddenly scooped Stussy into his arms, carrying her effortlessly. With a gleam in his eyes, he declared,
"My next goal is to cultivate someone who can inherit my throne. But before that… I must first have an heir."
"In short, Stussy…"
"We need to make a child."
With that, Claudius rushed into the cabin with Stussy in his arms.
"Ahhh~~ Your Highness!!! We're at sea!!!" Stussy yelped in a mix of embarrassment and panic.
"What are you afraid of? A child born this way would be a true Child of the Sea!" Claudius replied shamelessly.
Just as the two disappeared into the cabin, Hancock peeked out from a nearby corner.
Her eyes flickered as she muttered, "No… I can't let Stussy get too far ahead. I need to join forces with Sister Gion!"
Without hesitation, Hancock turned and hurried off to find Gion, planning a surprise attack of her own to even the playing field.
---
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mariejois…
Inside a grand chamber, Nia was sitting with Nami and Robin, discussing some rather serious matters.
"His Highness has secured victory, just as expected. So now, there's an important matter we must discuss," Nia said gently.
Robin frowned slightly. "What is it? Shouldn't we wait for him to return before discussing such things?"
Nami, as bold as ever, smirked. "Nia, you're obviously planning a surprise for Claudius, aren't you? Just tell us already. If it's fun, I'm in!"
"Yes, it is a surprise," Nia admitted with a smile. "I believe it's time for His Highness to have an heir. Such an event would bring stability to the world."
At her words, Robin and Nami both froze.
Robin, clearly flustered, said hesitantly, "Why are you telling me this?"
Nami, her face turning slightly red, averted her eyes and muttered, "Yeah, I-I'm still young. I don't get what you're talking about."
"Oh? Is that so?" Nia smirked, pulling out a small notebook. "In that case, I'll exclude you two and leave this matter to Hancock and Stussy…"
"NO!"
"NO!"
Nami and Robin both shouted in unison, their faces flushed.
Nia chuckled. "Well, it seems you two do agree after all."
It appeared that Claudius's life was about to become even more… interesting.
(THE END.)