Back then, even during the reign of Rocks, only two of the Gorosei had been dispatched to oversee the battle—and even then, neither had fully taken action.
Yet Rocks had still fallen under the combined might of legends like Garp and Roger.
Now, for the sake of Thorne Ashveil, the World Government had mobilized an even greater force.
Apart from Imu, every one of the government's hidden trump cards had been deployed.
Inside Marine Headquarters, the tension was palpable.
Upon hearing this, the gathered admirals and vice admirals finally exhaled, their brows loosening.
Even if Ashveil possessed the strength of two Rocks, with the Five Elders moving personally this time, his defeat seemed inevitable.
"Regarding Thorne Ashveil, considering the crimes he's committed and his overwhelming strength, his bounty will be set at 20 billion Berries," the long-haired Elder declared in a calm, chilling tone.
(Holyyy fvckkk...)
A murmur rippled through the room.
Even Garp and Sengoku exchanged shocked glances.
Twenty billion?
Even Rocks D. Xebec, who once dominated the seas, had been worth only ten billion Berries.
This was a number that shattered every precedent.
"Twenty billion Berries…" Sengoku muttered under his breath, his expression hardening.
"Hmph. Twenty billion means nothing to Imu-sama," another of the Five Elders said coldly.
"Under a heavy reward, brave men will rise. This bounty will attract every pirate desperate enough to challenge Ashveil."
He turned toward the Fleet Admiral's seat.
"Sengoku, the Marines must not fail again. The World Government's honor cannot be tarnished twice."
With that, the Gorosei rose from their seats and exited the conference room, their heavy footsteps echoing in the silence they left behind.
The Marine officials stood frozen, struggling to process the magnitude of what they'd just heard.
That same day, the 20 billion Berries bounty spread across the world like wildfire.
Every corner of the seas buzzed with the same name—
Thorne Ashveil.
---
"Did you hear? Marineford was destroyed because of him!"
"They had to relocate Marine Headquarters entirely!"
"The World Government isn't hunting him for justice—they're terrified of him!"
"The seas are going to descend into chaos again…"
---
On Whole Cake Island, a heavy stillness fell over the room as Big Mom stared at the bounty poster in her hand.
Her heavily painted eyes widened, lips frozen mid-chew.
"Kaido… this brat—is he really that strong? A bounty higher than Rocks?" she asked, her voice low with disbelief.
Kaido, seated across the table, slammed his jug of sake down with a snarl.
"That's right! That damned brat has the power to kill a Yonko in an instant!"
The memory of Ashveil sent a dull ache through the scars on Kaido's body.
"The strength to instantly kill a Yonko?" Big Mom's eyes narrowed, her gaze falling on Kaido's still-healing wounds.
"If that's true, then he's beyond monstrous. Even back in our era, Rocks was the mightiest of all!"
Her tone turned grim.
"If that boy can kill a Yonko, then Ashveil is already standing above the level of Rocks himself!"
"You called me here to face him, Kaido, but if his power is that great—how do you expect us to win?" she asked.
During the chaos of the Marineford War, her connection with Morgans had been lost, leaving her blind to the true events that unfolded.
She'd thought Ashveil was merely on par with a Yonko… but now it was clear—he'd already surpassed them.
Kaido poured himself another drink, his expression unreadable.
"What if… we join forces—with the World Government… or even the Gorosei themselves?"
Big Mom's eyes widened.
"The Gorosei?"
A pause, then she threw her head back and laughed.
"Mamamamama~ I never thought I'd see the day the World Government would treat a single man like this!"
She remembered vividly—
When Rocks had fallen, two of the Gorosei had been present.
They hadn't even fought, yet their mere presence had been suffocating.
Kaido smirked.
"This time, it's not two."
"Oh? Three of them?" Big Mom asked sharply.
Kaido grinned, his fangs glinting.
"No, all five will be dispatched."
Big Mom's laughter died instantly.
Her pupils dilated, and her expression hardened.
"All five…? Kaido, those two from before—just their aura alone was overwhelming. Any one of them could rival the Pirate King!"
Kaido downed the rest of his sake in one gulp, the corners of his lips twisting upward.
"That's why this time, the brat's dead! Hahahaha!"
Big Mom's eyes gleamed with cunning.
"Fine then, Kaido. If I help you avenge your defeat, your Wano Country will supply me with ten tons of Sea Stone every year."
Kaido slammed his cup down with a roar of laughter.
"No problem! As long as that brat Ashveil dies, I'll send you even more!"
Their laughter thundered through the hall as dark clouds gathered above Whole Cake Island, lightning splitting the sky.
---
Meanwhile, far above the New World, not far from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, a Marine contingent drifted silently across the sea.
A man in a dark green coat stood at the bow, his sharp eyes fixed on the horizon.
His hair was slicked back, stubble roughening his jaw, a red square tattoo marked his left cheek.
"Ivankov," he said at last, his deep voice breaking the silence. "Is it true what you told me? That this man—Ashveil—destroyed Marineford… single-handedly?"
The one he spoke to, the flamboyant Ivankov, clenched his fists, recalling the chaos of that day.
"It's true, Dragon! I saw it with my own eyes! That man—Thorne Ashveil—is the strongest pirate I've ever encountered!"
Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army and the world's most wanted man, narrowed his gaze at the endless ocean ahead.
"…So, a new era begins," he murmured.
"I only hope Ashveil can lead it toward something better."
---