It was well past midnight when the Whitebeard Pirates, together with the Black Star Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates, held a grand and completely unrestrained banquet on the open sea, just half a day's sail from Marine Headquarters.
The atmosphere had been incredibly lively as everyone clinked glasses and shared stories with one another. Some cheered loudly for their victory in battle, while others quietly mourned the upcoming separation from newfound friends and allies.
No matter how complicated anyone's emotions might be, the solution was simple—just shout, make noise, and vent everything to your heart's content while there was still wine in your glass.
The raucous celebration had gradually subsided only as dawn approached.
Now, with the new day breaking, Jerry stood beside his ship with a wine jug in his left hand and his fishing rod in his right, gazing at the rising sun on the horizon. He began singing loudly and dramatically: "How lonely it is to be invincible! How empty and cold the heights can be!"
Behind him, spread across the decks of more than twenty pirate ships, countless pirates lay wrapped in bandages and passed out drunk on the wooden planking. Their unconscious forms silently testified to the fierce drinking battle that had raged throughout the night.
"Stop talking nonsense," Ace's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Jerry's theatrical boasting. "You have to actually be able to get drunk to compete in a drinking contest. How is that even fair?"
Jerry turned around and shrugged with exaggerated innocence. "Hey, you can't blame me for this. Heaven knows when I first developed that passive ability, but I literally cannot get drunk anymore. Alcohol just doesn't affect me."
The two began chatting aimlessly as the morning sun climbed higher, their conversation meandering from topic to topic without any particular direction.
Before long, people began waking up one by one across the various ships. They rubbed their bleary eyes and looked around in confusion, trying to piece together exactly what had happened during the later hours of the night.
At this perfect moment, the hardworking News Coos arrived to deliver the latest and most explosive headlines to every corner of the world. Even though there had been a live broadcast of the planned execution yesterday, not everyone had watched it, and many people remained unaware of the full story behind recent events.
What's more, almost every single piece of news in today's papers was shocking enough to make headlines on its own. Under normal circumstances, any one of these stories would have dominated the front page for weeks.
Beyond the various personal anecdotes about key figures, the newspapers spared no effort in reporting on the "big events" that had shaken the world.
First and foremost was how they characterized yesterday's unprecedented conflict.
This massive confrontation, already being called either the "Great Incident" or the "War of Marineford," had ultimately ended with what could only be described as a defeat for Marine Headquarters. Even though the Marines had not been completely overwhelmed on the battlefield before the Red Hair Pirates intervened, there was no denying that the two criminals they had planned to execute publicly had escaped without receiving their intended punishment.
Since the Red Hair Pirates were, after all, still pirates themselves, their arrival and the Marines' subsequent decision to cease hostilities looked to the watching world like clear evidence of surrender. No matter what the real strategic reasoning might have been behind the scenes, public perception had already solidified.
In light of this interpretation, subsequent news reports carried rumors that both Marine Hero Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku were considering resignation from their positions, though this information had not yet been officially confirmed by Marine Headquarters.
This speculation alone was enough to shock countless people around the world. In recent years, both Marines and the civilians who supported them had grown accustomed to Sengoku's brilliant strategic planning and Garp's legendary courage and seeming invincibility in battle.
Although Garp had rarely taken direct action in recent conflicts and Sengoku often preferred to work behind the scenes, the achievements and stabilizing presence of both men had become deeply embedded in the public consciousness. They were viewed as unshakeable pillars supporting the entire Marine institution.
Now, the possibility that these two cornerstones of Marine strength might leave their positions brought tremendous shock and regret to people across the world who had relied on their protection.
However, where some felt reluctance and sorrow, others naturally found reason to applaud and celebrate. After all, as the old saying went, a thousand days of good deeds could be overshadowed by a single day of perceived failure.
The Marines' defeat was like dropping a massive boulder into previously calm waters, sending ripples of consequence in all directions.
Countless small-time thugs and unknown pirates who normally only dared commit petty theft suddenly felt emboldened by the apparent weakness. They took advantage of the perceived chaos to cause trouble in communities that had previously been peaceful.
However, most of these opportunistic criminals were struck down with lightning speed by the Marines' surprisingly swift response. Local garrisons and patrol units suppressed the uprisings one after another with ruthless efficiency.
Only after being so decisively crushed did these troublemakers finally recognize a crucial fact: while the Marines might have suffered a strategic defeat overall, they were certainly not the ones who had achieved that victory. The Marines' authority and strength remained formidable, and these small-time criminals were definitely not capable of challenging such power.
Of course, dealing with these minor rebellions was a story for another time.
The widespread speculation about Sengoku's potential successor, sparked by rumors of his resignation, had once again focused the world's attention on the three Admirals and their current condition.
Because of this increased scrutiny, everyone was shocked to discover that all three Admirals were listed among the Marine casualties requiring extended medical treatment.
Kizaru had claimed that Jerry's attacks had severely injured him, breaking several ribs and requiring him to take temporary leave from active duty for recovery.
Aokiji was covered in battle scars following the intense fighting, most of which came from his fierce confrontation with Revolutionary Army leader Dragon. However, his most serious injury had been inflicted by one of Jerry's water clones, which had nearly severed his entire left thigh and would require extensive surgery to repair properly.
But Akainu's injuries were by far the most shocking and severe. The devastating wound across his chest had damaged his heart muscle, his left forearm had been completely severed and lost, and he bore numerous other wounds of varying severity that were truly horrifying to witness.
What stunned the world most was learning that nearly all of these catastrophic injuries had been caused by a single opponent: Jerry.
Yet Akainu's incredible determination and refusal to yield had also moved people across all political alignments. Even while suffering such life-threatening injuries, the Admiral had continued fighting on the battlefield until the very last moment, with the situation changing dramatically multiple times throughout the entire conflict.
No matter which side of the political spectrum someone supported, anyone who fully understood the complete sequence of events during the "Great Incident" couldn't help but be amazed by Akainu's tenacity and unwavering persistence in the face of overwhelming odds.
Apart from Garp, Sengoku, and the three Admirals, most other Marine officers had quickly returned to their respective garrisons to deal with the expected chaos and maintain order in their territories.
The news reports covering non-Marine participants were equally exciting and dramatic.
Most eye-catching among them was the Black Star Pirates, who had suddenly risen before the world's eyes like gods descending from heaven to intervene in the conflict.
Cavendish, who already enjoyed a significant fanbase, had become even more famous overnight. This surge in popularity was due not only to his own impressive combat abilities, but also to his outstanding mastery of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's lightning powers. His performance had allowed him to face Admiral Kizaru immediately upon arriving and later engage in extended combat with Marco the Phoenix.
More remarkably, he had achieved the amazing feat of successfully blocking and countering multiple group attacks from Admiral Akainu himself. In the end, he had completely distinguished himself on the chaotic battlefield through his lightning-fast and devastatingly powerful duel with Vice Admiral Gion, one of the Marine Admiral candidates. The display had left audiences worldwide completely amazed.
However, it was precisely because of this exceptional performance that Cavendish now found himself with both devoted fans and passionate detractors. After all, as one of the rare women holding high rank within the Marines, Gion also enjoyed considerable popularity among certain segments of the population.
Therefore, Cavendish had not only gained a massive number of new admirers, but had also inevitably attracted countless critics and opponents who viewed his actions negatively.
Now, after hearing Jerry's half-joking theories about public image and fan appeal, Cavendish couldn't help but seriously consider whether he should change his appearance somehow. Perhaps wearing practical work clothes like overalls might help him appeal to a broader demographic and win over more supporters who valued substance over style.