The guard was unsettled, glancing at Sengoku.
Seeing the dim look in the Fleet Admiral's eyes, he was stunned.
For the highest commander of the Navy to show such an expression...
"Marshal..." he asked hesitantly, "are you alright?"
Sengoku took a deep breath and shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I'm fine. Let's go."
He no longer dwelled on why Magellan hadn't appeared, nor on the insults hurled at him.
Perhaps this was the price of wearing the cloak of justice.
Whatever happened, the World Government could not fall. The Navy could not fall.
Otherwise, the people would live in unending suffering.
Not all pirates had codes or order; most were nothing more than madmen.
Sengoku gathered his composure and stepped into Impel Down — the endless dark prison.
But efforts to recruit Whitebeard's crew, Shanks' men, and the Revolutionaries failed utterly.
Their bonds were too strong.
Whitebeard's pirates were bound as family.
Shanks' crew was united by freedom and companionship.
The Revolutionaries fought for ideals and convictions.
No matter how skilled a negotiator Sengoku was, he could not break ties forged so deeply.
He next turned to the Supernovas.
The Straw Hats refused outright. Their ties were just as strong.
Nico Robin, for her part, felt Impel Down was the safest place she could be.
Even CP0 had no authority to take prisoners directly from here.
That was why, even in the original timeline, when Doflamingo was defeated, CP0 could not extract him from this prison.
Kid and Killer were too proud and unyielding.
They would never bow to power or authority, determined to build their own legacy.
Capone Bege, Urouge, Bonney, and Hawkins were all terrified of Good.
They had faced him once, and like Redfield, the psychological scar was deep.
Better to rot in prison than ever confront that monster again.
Only Drake and Apoo remained.
Drake, being part of a secret government faction, was released without question.
Apoo, a spy under Kaido, chose to side with the Navy — for now.
Law was different. His only goal was revenge against Doflamingo.
He already intended to become a Warlord to gain the privilege of exposing Doflamingo's crimes.
So he accepted immediately, skipping the bloody path he had once envisioned of hunting pirates to claim the title.
Thus, Drake, Law, and Apoo joined the Navy.
But Sengoku felt little joy.
These additions could not compensate for the massive losses already suffered.
Only the global conscription order might bring the strength they needed.
Just as Sengoku was preparing to leave, an unexpected figure arrived — Emperor Kaido.
He stormed in with overwhelming presence, knocking guards into the sea.
Even Magellan was roused by the disturbance.
Just as the two were about to clash, Sengoku's arrival halted the fight.
"Heh heh heh... I've been waiting for you, Sengoku," Kaido sneered.
His ferocity, once dulled, now burned bright again.
Sengoku's eyes narrowed.
"Why are you here, Kaido? Planning to die again?"
For in the past, Kaido's boredom had driven him to suicide attempts, leaping from Sky Islands or storming Marine branches and Impel Down itself.
Though none could kill him, he had earned the title of the most captured Emperor in history.
Kaido laughed.
"Back then it was boredom. But now... I've found something fun.
And I have your former Fourth Admiral to thank. He's made this world interesting again."
Sengoku remained calm.
"Oh? Seems you've developed a taste for pain."
Kaido's grin stiffened but soon returned.
"Sengoku, the Government wants to erase Good. You need strength, don't you?"
Sengoku was silent, watching.
Kaido continued:
"I'll help you. But on one condition: free every member of the Beasts Pirates."
Sengoku hesitated, then agreed.
Though he had no wish to fight Good, events had reached a point where he had no choice but to strengthen the Navy's hand.
Kaido was still an Emperor — still a force that mattered.
Thus, the Beasts Pirates formally joined the Navy's side.
Soon, Kaido's men, along with Law, Apoo, and Drake, followed Sengoku back to Navy Headquarters.
Now relocated in the New World, they reached G5 Base in just over an hour, carried by Kaido's flaming clouds.
There, in the meeting hall, stood Shiki, Bullet, and the three Admirals.
The moment they saw Kaido, all were shocked.
Shiki mocked him:
"Kaido, after the beating Good gave you, you still dare ally with the Navy?
You do know why they're recruiting, don't you?"
Kaido snorted coldly.
"Not until Good is dead will I find peace."
Besides Shiki and Bullet, Blackbeard had also answered the call as a Warlord.
The others had not.
But two new Warlords had been appointed: Gild Tesoro, the Golden Emperor, and Whitebeard Jr.
And just when it seemed the gathering was complete, Kong entered — bringing two more.
Aramaki and Fujitora.
The victors of the global conscription.
The stage was set.
(End of Chapter)
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