Watching Luoyu's figure disappear down the corridor, Saint Topman Warcury's expression turned pitch black.
Especially as the suffocating tension in the war room vanished in an instant.
That kind of charisma—even as the head of the Five Elders, Warcury could feel the gap between himself and Luoyu.
"Warcury, anything else to say? If not, then please leave. Marine HQ has more urgent matters to attend to—we won't be hosting you for lunch," Sengoku said coldly, watching Luoyu depart, his face returning to its grim pallor.
Warcury snapped out of his daze, swept his gaze across the room, and replied:
"Hmph. Sengoku, don't celebrate too early. What you're facing now is far worse than three days ago."
"That brat's words were certainly arrogant. I just hope he has the strength to back them up. If he dies halfway through, it'll all be for nothing."
"Since you've rejected my generous offer of support, I'll return to Pangaea Castle and await your good news."
With that, Warcury clearly had no intention of staying.
He slammed his cane to the floor, unleashing a massive spatial ripple that formed a vortex and swallowed him whole.
As he vanished, Sengoku's expression didn't ease—it only grew heavier.
Tsuru, standing nearby, noticed his concern and said quietly:
"Don't worry, Sengoku. Have you ever seen that guy fail to collect his bounty?"
"Don't forget—he's the one who took down Kaido head-on. If even he can't make it back alive, then no one can."
"Besides, everyone's watching. You'd better stay sharp."
"Tsuru, I'm not worried about whether he'll survive," Sengoku muttered. "I'm worried about whether I can scrape together enough to pay him. If you've got any spare funds, maybe you could—"
"Scram." Tsuru shot him a glare.
She had been worried Sengoku might overthink things and ruin the morale Luoyu had just restored.
She hadn't expected this kind of whiplash.
Still, watching Sengoku slink off to borrow money, a trace of concern lingered on her face.
This time, Totto Land was crawling with monsters.
Even Tsuru wasn't sure Luoyu could face two Emperors and walk away unscathed.
If he overestimated himself and got captured by Big Mom and Kaido…
Marine HQ's situation would only spiral further out of control.
Meanwhile, in the Grand Hall of Pangaea Castle, Mary Geoise…
A massive spatial ripple surged through the air.
Saint Marcus Mars, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, and Saint Shepherd Ju Peter turned toward it immediately.
Seeing Warcury appear, Mars asked at once:
"Warcury, is it done? Did the Fleet Admiral succession dispute weaken Marine HQ?"
"At the very least, you should've taken down one or two Admirals, right?"
As fellow Five Elders and shadowy manipulators behind the scenes, Mars, Nusjuro, and Ju Peter all hoped to tighten their grip on the Navy's power structure.
But seeing Warcury's stormy expression, Nusjuro frowned.
"Warcury… don't tell me something went wrong?"
"Hmph. The plan was simple," Warcury growled. "I'd push for Akainu, stir internal dissent, and spark a clash between him, Aokiji, and that brat. The chaos would fracture Marine HQ."
"But we underestimated that brat's popularity. More people backed him for Fleet Admiral than Akainu and Aokiji combined."
"I even tried to use Gion's disappearance to pressure them—but he flipped the whole situation around with one line: 'Just pay me.'"
"Now he's heading to Totto Land alone to rescue her. I should be pleased—but instead, I feel uneasy."
"I'm starting to wonder… what if even Kaido and Big Mom together can't stop him?"
Nusjuro's expression shifted.
"Are you serious? Kaido and Big Mom are legends of the old era. You're saying they can't beat a single upstart?"
Mars and Ju Peter stared at Warcury, stunned.
Feeling the shift in the room, Warcury scowled.
"I don't know why I feel this way. But just in case—Nusjuro, alert Yamato. Tell him to be careful. I don't want any surprises."
The three exchanged glances, their faces darkening.
They didn't fully understand Warcury's unease—but they obeyed.
One day later…
With Big Mom and Kaido's propaganda machine in full swing, a bombshell rocked the seas once again.
Kaido, thought dead, had returned—and allied with Charlotte Linlin.
The long-buried history of the Rocks Pirates was dredged up and paraded before the world.
A pirate empire built overnight. A massive territorial expansion.
The Four Emperors Alliance now stood at the peak of global power.
And as the world recalled the battle at Impel Down just three days ago—the one that marked the fall of an Emperor—they realized:
The war between the Navy and the Emperors was no longer a matter of "if."
It was a storm waiting to break.
On Sphinx Island, Grand Line…
The remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates had gathered.
Alongside them stood members of the Red-Haired Pirates.
They stood before Whitebeard's grave, solemn and silent.
Ace clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His lips were bleeding from how hard he bit them.
He still couldn't accept Whitebeard's death.
"Ace… I know it hurts," Shanks said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Whitebeard gave everything to save you. He wouldn't want to see you like this."
"And I know this isn't the best time—but I have to tell you: don't go looking for revenge."
"I just got word—Kaido isn't dead. He's formed an alliance with Big Mom."
"Gion, the Admiral candidate assigned to monitor them, has gone missing."
"And that guy… he's gone in alone to rescue her. He's walking straight into death."