Shanks stood frozen. Some time ago, they had been drinking together… yet now.
The men around him looked uneasy, calling out softly.
"Boss."
"Boss…"
Their worried voices pulled him back. He waved his hand. "I'm fine."
But his eyes never left the name and photo of Bullet printed on the paper.
The crew exchanged glances before one of them spoke, "Boss, maybe we should head back now?"
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "No. We'll stay in Foosha Village for a while. Sooner or later, we'll clash with him."
His fist clenched tight, crumpling the newspaper. 'Rayleigh… Mihawk…'
* * *
Holy Land of Mariejois.
The Five Elders sat in silence as Nusjuro ended a call and snorted. "Useless. As expected, another failure."
"That was inevitable," Warcury said with calm certainty. "Zoan fruits already carry their own will. Let alone one that bears the name of a god."
Mars furrowed his brow. "Send men to retrieve it. The time foretold is approaching. Our priority is to eliminate every uncertain factor."
Peter refuted him. "Even if we try, what good will it do? For centuries the World Government has tried to reclaim it, yet the fruit has never reached our hands."
Warcury nodded slowly. "Indeed. To us, it has already become a legend. None of its past users for hundreds of years ever awakened it. The urgent matter is to put the world in order. The chaos in the Grand Line isn't over, and now the Four Blues are stirring again."
Mars did not agree. "I cannot accept that. If there is no danger, why did the government deliberately give that fruit another name? Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Type… Nika Form."
* * *
Grand Line, G-8 Branch.
A merchant vessel eased into port. Waiting there was Jonathan, Vice Admiral of Headquarters and commander of G-8 base. He smiled at the two men disembarking.
"Long time no see, Sakazuki. And you too, Carlo. Your purge operation took quite a while this time."
Carlo laughed and greeted, "Vice Admiral Jonathan."
Sakazuki gave a faint smile. "The longer it takes, the more pirates we get to wipe out."
Jonathan shook his head. "You haven't changed a bit. Come, let's eat. Jessica prepared a full table for us."
The admiral nodded. "Lead the way."
The three of them entered the fortress.
As they walked past the rows of sharp and disciplined soldiers, Sakazuki looked at Carlo and asked, "What do you think of the troops here?"
Carlo studied them with admiration. "They look proud and full of spirit. Vice Admiral Jonathan has trained them well. No wonder people call this place the Iron Wall Fortress. It suits the name perfectly."
Jonathan turned with a modest laugh. "Hardly. Just an empty title. Hahaha!"
Under his leadership, the G-8 Branch had grown stronger each year. If it continued this way, soon no pirate would dare trespass in these seas. By then, it might be known instead as the Fortress of Peace.
"We're here. Jessica! Bring out those bottles of wine I've been saving."
* * *
Reunited after many years, the old friends caught up over food and drink. Laughter and toasts carried them deep into the night.
Later, Jonathan and Sakazuki each carried a bottle of liquor up to the fortress's highest point. The moon lit the sea as Jonathan took a long swig.
"Hu…" He exhaled. "So, what do you plan to do about Amazon Lily? That woman's temper is foul. I doubt she'll ever willingly turn the petrified soldiers back."
Sakazuki let out a cold chuckle. "Then she won't. If a kingdom falls or an entire race is wiped out, so be it. A pirate nation thinks too highly of itself."
Jonathan said with a weary smile, "You never change. By the way, have you heard what's happening at Headquarters?"
Sakazuki glanced at him. "What about it?"
He leaned forward slightly. "It's just a rumor floating among the higher ranks. The Commander-in-Chief is about to step down. Naturally, Fleet Admiral Kong will take over. But that means the next Fleet Admiral—"
Sakazuki cut him off with a shake of his head. "I have no interest in that struggle. The chaos on these seas has only just started. Let them play their games for now. When the time comes and the situation is clear, we'll wipe them all out in one sweep."
Jonathan raised his bottle and clinked it against his friend's.
"I see… Then let's drink. Cheers."
* * *
Morning.
Two massive warships stood in harbor, their decks loaded with stone statues. Sakazuki's face hardened as he walked past the frozen figures.
Over a thousand petrified soldiers. Worse still, many of the statues had been shattered, their fragments scattered in pieces. What stood on the decks now was only what could be collected. The rest lay in heaps of dust and rubble that could never be put back together.
His eyes narrowed. "Boa Hancock..."
* * *
Days later.
The two warships sailed through the Calm Belt. Not a single Sea King dared to approach, their instincts warning them away from the faint but oppressive aura of Conqueror's Haki that Sakazuki released.
Unhindered, the ships reached the waters outside Amazon Lily.
Staring at the island's silhouette, Sakazuki spoke in a low voice, "Carlo, contact them. Tell the Kuja. Their empress will come out and 'welcome' her new position as a Warlord of the Sea."
Carlo gave a simple nod. "Understood."
* * *
Amazon Lily, Royal Palace.
A Den Den Mushi was smashed against the floor. Hancock crushed it beneath her heel, fury burning in her eyes.
"Bastards! The Marines dare to order me to receive them? Insolence!"
She clenched her fists and shouted. "Sonia, Mari, summon the warriors!"
The two massive snake sisters flicked their tongues and grinned.
"As you wish, Big Sis."
Elder Nyon held her head with both hands, her voice full of worry. "No, Hancock! You can't act recklessly. This is a matter of state. Joining the Seven Warlords means peace between Amazon Lily and the Marines. Don't let your temper ruin this. And the one coming… is an Admiral. Sakazuki's brutality is feared across the seas. If you provoke him—"
But Hancock's steps echoed as she approached, her face expressionless, her presence suffocating. The pressure of her will bore down on the old woman, leaving her mind blank.
"You… you…"
Bang!
The kick came without warning. Nyon's frail body was hurled across the hall.
Hancock raised her hand in disdain, pointing at the elder as she slowly rose again. "Your era is over, former Empress of Amazon Lily. Even if, on a whim, I led this nation to ruin, I would still be forgiven. Because… I am too beautiful."
Her sisters hissed in delight at her side.
"Sss!"
"Sss!"
With her chin lifted in arrogant pride, Hancock turned toward the doors. "Rally the soldiers. We'll show these insolent marines the price of disrespect."
The three sisters disappeared beyond the hall, leaving Nyon trembling with cold sweat.
"This is bad…"
Her hands shook as she pulled out a Den Den Mushi. A few seconds later, she whispered urgently into it.
"Shakky!"
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