Somewhere in the East Blue of the One Piece world, a spatial rift suddenly tore open in midair. Several figures stepped out of it, their gazes sweeping across the endless ocean that stretched out before them.
"So this is the region we're responsible for?" Shion looked out over the vast sea and spoke to her companions. "We mustn't disappoint Lord Rimuru's trust!"
"Relax! The East Blue is supposed to be the easiest of the four seas. For us, it shouldn't pose any challenge at all." Hakurou behind her spoke in a calm, almost carefree tone.
Shion nodded in agreement. "That's true."
At the same time, across every corner of the world—West Blue, South Blue, North Blue, and the Grand Line—spatial rifts were opening one after another. Rimuru's subordinates, along with other demon lords' followers, began pouring into the One Piece world, each starting their own mission.
"This guild really is unbelievable. They even have the ability to cross worlds?" Roger emerged from a spatial rift, eyes wide with amazement. Rimuru and Milim followed closely behind him.
"If we didn't have this kind of ability, how else do you think we got here? Is this really something worth being shocked over?" Rimuru shot him a sideways look, clearly not sharing the enthusiasm.
"Well, this is my first time traveling between worlds," Roger replied with a sheepish chuckle. "I think I'm entitled to a little awe, don't you?"
"Alright, enough chatter." Rimuru clapped his hands. "Time to get moving. I'll go find old man Whitebeard. If we can get him on our side, it'll be a huge boost for our cause."
"Whitebeard, huh…" Roger stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, considering his personality, there's a good chance he'd join us. And with his influence in the New World, he'd be an excellent ally."
"Well, I'm off." Rimuru's body shimmered as a pair of wings sprouted from his back. With a powerful flap, he soared into the sky and disappeared beyond the clouds in a flash.
"I'd better get going too." Roger smiled suddenly, his eyes lighting up with mischief. "Can't wait to see the look on Rayleigh's face when he sees me. That alone is worth the trip." With that, he oriented himself, picked a direction, and strode off with purpose.
Meanwhile, sailing across the East Blue was a dog-headed Navy warship. Garp reclined in a chair, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Damn that Roger… Now I've gotta work overtime chasing down pirates. What a pain…" he grumbled as he picked up a donut and took a bite.
"Enemy approaching!"
Suddenly, Garp shot to his feet. His Observation Haki had just picked up an overwhelming presence charging straight toward them.
The ship lurched violently, then came to an abrupt halt.
"What's going on?! Why'd the ship stop?"
"No idea! We're at full power! Could it be… a malfunction?"
"No, it's not a malfunction." A figure appeared on the deck as if they'd always been there.
"Who are you?!" the officers beside Garp shouted in alarm. Even with their own Haki, they hadn't sensed this intruder at all.
In an instant, the entire Navy crew raised their guns and aimed them at the stranger.
"So this is how the Navy welcomes guests?" the figure said calmly, completely unfazed by the guns.
"Who are you?" Garp stepped forward, his voice sharp.
"You must be Vice Admiral Garp?" the man said politely, offering a small bow. "Lord Rimuru spoke highly of you—a Marine worthy of respect. I am Diablo, first secretary to Lord Rimuru, and I offer his greetings. I apologize for this unannounced visit."
At the mention of Rimuru's name, Garp's expression darkened. He remembered what that young man had told him before.
"You're one of Rimuru's men?"
"Indeed," Diablo replied with a serene smile. "I serve as Lord Rimuru's first secretary. I've come to discuss something important with you."
"What is it?"
"We hope the Navy will withdraw from the World Government… and help us overthrow it."
The moment Diablo spoke those words, the air on the deck turned icy. The surrounding soldiers froze in disbelief. Overthrow the World Government?! What kind of lunatic idea was this?! The World Government had ruled for over 800 years—it was practically a god to the world.
Garp took a deep breath. Diablo's words had stunned even him.
"You want to overthrow the World Government? And you want the Navy to help? Do you have any idea what that means? You'd be declaring war on the entire world!"
"The World Government doesn't represent the entire world," Diablo replied with his usual calm smile. "And to be honest, we don't see the World Government as an actual threat. If Lord Rimuru hadn't been concerned about the global chaos that would result from dismantling them too quickly, the World Government would already be history."
Garp fell silent. He couldn't believe how lightly this man spoke of such a colossal power. "Do you even understand what the World Government is?" he asked, starting to doubt Diablo's sanity.
But Diablo only asked in return, "And do you understand what we are? We've never once considered the World Government to be a real opponent. As Lord Rimuru said, they're nothing more than a rotting corpse clinging to life—a decaying beast teetering on the brink of destruction."
Garp exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry. That's not a decision I can make."
He wasn't just a soldier. He was also a grandfather. He had friends, comrades, people he loved. He couldn't gamble everything based on a stranger's words, no matter how compelling they sounded. He couldn't afford to lose everything if they were wrong.
Diablo, however, didn't seem disappointed in the slightest. He spoke with the tone of someone who had already foreseen this response.
"No matter. Soon enough, you'll witness our strength for yourself. The World Government's days are numbered. When the time comes, the Navy can still choose to join us. It's never too late to stand on the right side of history."
With those words, Diablo turned and vanished as suddenly as he had appeared.
Garp slowly sat back down in his chair, a heavy silence settling over him.
He said nothing.
He simply stared at the horizon.