Calm Belt.
Amazon Lily.
Inside the palace, one of the Shichibukai—the "Empress" Boa Hancock—was lounging lazily on her throne.
Between her slender fingers, she pinched a compulsory summon from Marine Headquarters. Those beautiful eyes that looked down upon all creation were filled with contempt and loathing.
"Hehehe—"
A soft laugh, crisp like jade beads falling onto a plate, yet cold and piercing.
"Marines, World Government—"
Hancock raised the summon before her eyes.
"A group of lowly men think themselves worthy of issuing commands to me?"
"Ridiculous!"
She suddenly sat upright, fury surging.
"I am the Empress of Amazon Lily! The noblest woman upon this sea!"
"The mere title of Shichibukai is nothing but a shackle I reluctantly accepted, only to protect my country!"
"Rip—"
The summon was torn into shreds in her delicate hands.
Scraps of paper fluttered through the air like falling snow.
Hancock slowly rose and walked toward the window.
"War holds no interest for me."
...
Kuraigana Island. Inside a gloomy castle.
"Hawk Eyes"—Dracule Mihawk—was carefully polishing the blade of the Supreme Grade Sword "Yoru" with a spotless white handkerchief.
On the table before him lay the freshly delivered Marine Times, brought by a News Coo.
The bold headline on the front page did not stir the slightest ripple in those hawk-like sharp eyes.
"A public execution, huh..."
He set down the handkerchief, picked up the newspaper, and read it again.
"Whitebeard... Ace..."
Letting out a faint sigh, Mihawk casually tossed the paper aside.
Boring.
Utterly boring.
Not long ago, on a whim, he had ventured to the so-called weakest of the seas—the East Blue.
He had expected perhaps some amusement, to see reckless fledgling pirates, maybe even discover one or two swordsmen worth anticipating.
But the result...
The entire East Blue was calm as stagnant water.
Pirate sightings had all but vanished, leaving behind only rumors of the Marine rising star, "Blood Hawk"—Rayne Hawke.
"Sigh..."
Another long breath escaped Mihawk.
On this sea, besides that red-haired fellow, was there truly no opponent of interest left?
"Sleep, then."
He turned and walked toward his bed.
To him, this war was far less interesting than a good night's rest.
...
New World, Dressrosa.
Within the royal palace, sunlight poured in bright and clear.
"Fuffuffuffuffu—" The eerie laugh echoed through the hall.
Doflamingo held a Shichibukai summon between his fingers, a twisted, feral grin spreading across his face.
That old fossil Sengoku had thrown one of the Donquixote Family's top executives—Vergo—into Impel Down!
And now he still had the gall to send him a summon?!
Did the Marines really think he was some pawn they could shuffle around at will?!
"Fuffuffuffuffu—"
"They want me to help fight Whitebeard?"
He picked up the Marine Times from the table.
"Keep dreaming!"
"Fight then... let chaos reign..."
He crumpled the summon and the newspaper into a ball and tossed it into the fireplace.
With a roar, the flames flared up, devouring the paper in an instant.
As the firelight danced, his grin grew even more deranged.
"Best if Marineford is torn to the ground!"
"Fuffuffuffuffu—!"
...
Fishman Island, Ryugu Palace.
Ten thousand meters beneath the sea, yet peace was nowhere to be found in this kingdom.
Inside the palace.
King Neptune sat upon his throne, his face grave.
Before him stood a towering fish-man with blue skin and a stern expression—one of the Shichibukai, "Knight of the Sea" Jinbei.
On the coral table between them lay a fresh copy of the Marine Times and a summon from Marine Headquarters.
"Newgate has already sent word..."
Neptune's voice echoed through the vast chamber.
"He intends to pass through Fishman Island en route to Marineford."
"..."
Jinbei remained silent, though his clenched fists betrayed the storm raging within him.
Neptune sighed.
"Newgate has shown kindness to Fishman Island..."
"I gave him my word."
"..."
Still, Jinbei said nothing.
The Marine summon had arrived too late—or rather, the Marines had acted too swiftly.
By the time the order reached him, news of Ace's public execution had already spread to every corner of the world through the Marine Times.
On one side stood Whitebeard, the "old man" who sheltered all of Fishman Island.
On the other, the Shichibukai title he had accepted solely to protect that same island.
Loyalty and righteousness, duty and gratitude—two mountains crushing down upon his heart.
"Neptune, I want to help the old man."
At last, Jinbei spoke.
"Ace is my family, a brother I acknowledge."
"But..."
He didn't finish. Yet Neptune understood.
If Jinbei chose to act, his title as Shichibukai would inevitably be revoked.
And if the Whitebeard Pirates lost this war...
Then Fishman Island, stripped of Whitebeard's banner and bereft of the Shichibukai's protection, would once again be exposed to the greed of the world.
That would be... the end of Fishman Island.
"..."
"Go, Jinbei."
Neptune's voice rang once more.
"Had Newgate not planted his flag here back then..."
"We would have been torn apart by countless pirates and slavers long ago."
"As for what follows... we'll face it when the time comes."
"Mm."
Just then—
"Report!!!"
A Ryugu Palace guard rushed in.
"Your Majesty! Boss Jinbei!"
"The Whitebeard Pirates have arrived..."
"!!!"
Neptune and Jinbei exchanged a glance, then immediately bolted from the palace.
There, a massive whale-shaped ship encased in an enormous coating bubble was slowly sailing into the island's outer perimeter.
The Moby Dick!
The flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates!
And trailing behind it—
One ship. Two ships. Ten ships. Dozens!
An armada of pirate vessels, each bearing Whitebeard's flag, converging like stars guarding their emperor.
At the prow of every allied ship stood a figure.
Each one a fearsome pirate of renown across the New World.
But now, not a trace of arrogance or wildness remained on their faces—only grim resolve and unyielding determination.
They stood in silence, their eyes fixed upon the Moby Dick, awaiting the command of that man.
The Whitebeard Pirates—fully assembled!
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