The atmosphere in the conference hall of Marineford was heavy.
Outside, the sky was a gloomy grey, threatening a downpour that mirrored the oppressive mood inside.
Nearly all of the Marine's high-ranking officers had gathered, their faces etched with a shared gravity.
An unprecedented storm was brewing, one that threatened to plunge the world into chaos.
At the front sat the Marine's highest combat strength: the three Admirals.
Akainu's fists were clenched, his gaze burning.
Aokiji maintained his usual lazy calm, though a flicker of anxiety was visible in his eyes.
Kizaru wore his trademark smirk, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Beside them, Vice Admiral Tsuru was deep in thought, while Garp loudly crunched on rice crackers.
"Everyone."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice cut through the suffocating silence.
He took a deep breath before speaking again, his tone heavy.
"I believe you all know why you're here. That bastard Morgans somehow got his hands on our intelligence and has broadcast the secret of the Whitebeard Pirates' dual-fruit users to the world."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Not only that but a Celestial Dragon has been murdered. The World Nobles are demanding action."
A tense silence settled over the room.
The news was a dual crisis.
The world now knew that the fundamental laws of Devil Fruits could be broken, emboldening every pirate and revolutionary with ambition.
Faced with such a paradigm shift, even the most seasoned officers were hesitant to speak.
Any decision carried immense risk.
"Let's hear it," Sengoku said, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"What are your thoughts?"
Finally, it was Akainu who shattered the oppressive atmosphere.
He ignored the matter of the dead celestial dragon entirely.
"The number of abilities is irrelevant," Akainu growled, his voice like grinding stone.
"Whitebeard is old. His stamina is gone. If he dares to come to Marineford, this will be his graveyard."
Hearing this, Kizaru simply shook his head.
Before his mission, he might have agreed with him.
Now, he wasn't so sure.
Aokiji remained silent as ever, lounging lazily in his seat.
"Alright, Sengoku." Vice Admiral Tsuru's sharp voice cut through the tension.
She stood slowly, her gaze sweeping over the room.
"All of these changes stem from one man—Ron. We must capture him as soon as possible and uncover the secret behind his crew's abilities. Only then can the Marine's strength be truly enhanced, putting an end to this so-called Great Pirate Era!"
"Hahaha, exactly!" Garp suddenly roared with laughter, slamming his fist on the table.
"Tsuru always cuts right to the heart of it! Sengoku, I strongly support this plan!"
The room erupted in murmurs.
Everyone recognized the urgency.
This wasn't just about Whitebeard's power; it was a challenge to the entire world order.
After a moment of contemplation, Sengoku nodded.
Tsuru was right.
It was the only way to turn the tide.
He stood, his presence commanding the room to fall silent once more.
"I have made my decision," he announced, his voice ringing with authority.
"First: To appease those above and send a message, issue a Buster Call. Annihilate Jaya Island."
"Second: From this moment on, the pursuit of Ron is our top priority. All departments will cooperate to investigate the truth behind the Whitebeard crew. This is not just for the Marine's honor, but for the stability of the entire world."
"Third: Notify every branch. Any division that encounters Ron or receives intelligence about him must report to Marineford immediately. No exceptions."
A unified roar echoed through the hall.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
*****
After the meeting, Sengoku sat alone in his office.
The gloomy sky outside seemed ready to burst, mirroring the oppressive weight on his shoulders.
This incident—the news leaks, the death of a Celestial dragon—was a humiliation that threatened to trigger a catastrophic chain reaction.
After careful consideration, he knew he had to report directly to his superiors.
He picked up the Den Den Mushi and dialed a private line to Saint Jaygarcia Saturn.
The call connected instantly.
The voice on the other end was cold with fury.
"Sengoku. Do you have any idea what the death of a Celestial Dragon means? This has made us a laughingstock! As the Fleet Admiral, you will take responsibility for this!"
Faced with the harsh criticism, Sengoku remained unshaken.
"Saint Saturn," he responded with calm authority. "Allow me to explain. We have already taken emergency measures. A Buster Call has been issued for the island, and our strongest forces are being deployed to pursue our target, Ron. I believe our efforts will mitigate the damage."
"Hmph," came a cold snort. "You think that's enough? This involves the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the Four Emperors! If we mishandle this, the consequences will be unimaginable. And," the voice added with chilling gravity, "now is not the time for an all-out war. You understand."
"...Indeed," Sengoku conceded. "That is why we are seeking a balance—to ensure justice is served while avoiding a larger conflict. Maintaining peace is our top priority."
"To hell with your balance!" Saint Saturn suddenly roared, his composure finally breaking.
"The others can wait, but you will spare no effort in capturing Ron. I want the secret to his multiple Devil Fruit abilities. Furthermore, we need blood samples from the Whitebeard Pirates for Vegapunk's research. Am I understood?"
The situation had escalated beyond negotiation.
"Understood," Sengoku affirmed immediately. "I will act according to your orders."
*****
[ Dressrosa ]
On this day, the island's peace was shattered by the arrival of Bellamy.
He was weather-beaten and disheveled, looking as if he had been drifting at sea for weeks.
His clothes were in tatters, and his face was gaunt with exhaustion.
"I need to see Doflamingo! I have urgent news!" he shouted weakly before his consciousness faded, collapsing to the ground with a soft thud.
When he woke again, he was lying in a simple but clean room.
Before he could sit up, a man in a white cape entered, holding a golden scepter.
He wore a slimy smile, but his eyes held a cunning curiosity.
"Nee, nee, who are you? What do you want with our Doffy?" Trebol asked in his distinctive nasal tone.
Bellamy was startled, but he quickly recognized the man before him: one of the Donquixote Family's top executives, Trebol.
"You... you're Trebol!" Bellamy stammered, his heart racing.
"Behehehe, you know me? If I hadn't returned just now, you might've been beaten to death by the toys," Trebol said, a sinister grin playing on his lips.
His tone was light, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes—a ruthless, dismissive light that sized up Bellamy as something to be disposed of.
Bellamy felt a chill crawl up his spine. He could clearly sense the man's killing intent.
"Wait!" he blurted out. "My name is Bellamy! I escaped from Jaya! I'm a devoted fan of the Young Master! I've dreamed of joining the Donquixote Family!"
The more Bellamy spoke, the more fervent he became, his body trembling with excitement.
"I know everyone in the Family, from you to Diamante to the Young Master himself!"
"Stop, stop, STOP!" Trebol's expression shifted to one of intense surprise. "You said you came from Jaya Island?"
"Yes! Trebol-sama, please, ever since I was a child—"
"Wait!" Bellamy was cut off again.
Trebol stared at him with an unsettling excitement, a massive glob of snot dangling precariously from his nose.
"Tell me," he hissed. "You must know about the Whitebeard Pirates, right?"
"...Yes, I know a little," Bellamy said, shrinking back slightly.
"Behehehe... I'll take you to see Doffy!"
.....
In the palace gardens of Dressrosa, dappled sunlight filtered through the lush foliage.
Doflamingo sat on an exquisite wicker chair, observing Bellamy with an amused expression.
His gaze held a mix of disdain and curiosity, while the latest newspaper lay on the table beside him, its headlines boldly announcing the Whitebeard Pirates' recent movements.
"Everything you told Trebol," Doflamingo's deep voice was smooth, yet laced with an unsettling chill.
"Is it true?"
"True! Absolutely true!" Bellamy nodded frantically, his eyes burning with a fanatic's zeal.
To finally meet his idol was the most thrilling moment of his life!
At these words, the smile on Doflamingo's lips faltered.
His fingers tightened on the arm of his chair, a single vein pulsing on his temple as his red-tinted glasses clouded over with a dark gloom.
-----------------------------
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