At the top of the Red Line, in the Holy Land of Mariejois, stood the shining heart of the world.
Here lay Pangaea Castle, the seat of the Celestial Dragons and the headquarters of the World Government. This city—the greatest in the world—was where power itself resided.
Inside the Sanctuary's central palace, the Five Elders, rulers who embodied the government's supreme authority, had gathered. The cause: the explosive report on Alabasta released moments earlier by the World Economic News.
"Damn that Crocodile! How dare he cause us such trouble!" growled Jay Gorosei Saturn, the Elder with distinguished, curling locks.
But his fury wasn't born out of concern for Alabasta or its suffering. No—the true reason was the colossal blow this scandal dealt to the World Government's prestige.
It had been less than half an hour since the story broke, and already twenty allied nations had reached out in outrage.
"That fool Morgans—does he not know what should and should not be reported?!" snarled the blond, bearded Elder, his face dark with rage.
"And this man…"
The bald, scarred Elder held up a wanted poster showing a bounty of 80 million.
"Sugisawa Yuuto, Guildmaster of Fairy Tail. Twice now, he has humiliated the Marines and our government—and each time, he grows more famous!"
The Elder dressed in a white training gi, a lifelong swordsman, slammed his hand on the table.
"Fairy Tail? Nonsense! This sea belongs to the World Government. Anyone who sails without sanction may go unnoticed if they keep quiet. But once they stir up trouble—they are outlaws. Pirates, every last one!"
"The most pressing matter is replacing Crocodile," the white-haired, white-bearded Elder said gravely. "The balance of the Three Great Powers cannot be allowed to collapse. If it does, the consequences for the world will be catastrophic."
The others nodded grimly. After a long silence, Saturn finally spoke.
"As much as I despise it, the most pragmatic solution is to offer this Sugisawa Yuuto the vacant Shichibukai seat. He defeated Crocodile—let him shoulder the role."
The bald Elder nodded. "Agreed. Despite being new, Fairy Tail has proven formidable. Their reputation after Alabasta is undeniable. Appointing him would at least salvage our image."
"But… inviting him immediately after he humiliated us? Where is the government's dignity in that?" the blond Elder argued bitterly.
"Dignity means nothing if the balance is broken," the white-bearded Elder said firmly. "These Fairy Tail mages want to play heroes for the people? Then let us give them that stage."
"Hmph." The swordsman Elder sneered coldly. "But if they grow arrogant, we will remind them who rules the seas."
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters in Marineford, the great fortress blazed with lights.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku's fist crashed onto his desk.
"That damned Crocodile! He played the loyal dog for years, all while plotting this treachery in secret!"
Unlike the Elders, Sengoku's fury stemmed from Crocodile's betrayal and the suffering inflicted on Alabasta—not merely from the loss of face.
And unlike before, he found no fault in Fairy Tail's actions this time.
Back in East Blue, Sugisawa Yuuto had destroyed an entire Marine base and killed fellow officers, which had left Sengoku no choice but to brand him an outlaw. At the time, he hadn't known of Colonel Nezumi's corruption until it was too late.
But this… this was different. The Alabasta affair had been laid bare for all to see, and Yuuto's intervention had saved the kingdom—even if it cost the Marines their prestige.
Sengoku exhaled heavily. He realized, perhaps too late, the mistake of his rash judgment before. Yet now, a chance for redemption might exist.
Knock.
The door opened, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, the sharp-eyed strategist known as "The Great Staff Officer," stepped inside.
"Sengoku. Hina is already in contact with Alabasta, and Gion is nearby. I've ordered her to approach Fairy Tail directly—recruit them as official Marine representatives."
Sengoku's expression eased slightly. "Good. I trust your judgment, Tsuru."
But when she lingered, he frowned. "What is it?"
Her gaze sharpened. "Sengoku, Crocodile won't be the only Shichibukai playing such games."
"…I know, Tsuru," he admitted heavily.
One of the other Warlords still sat on the throne of a kingdom. The rumors had circled for years. But the truth was buried under layers of government protection.
"Eight years have passed—it's far too late for us to act. The laws of the Shichibukai and the hand of the World Government tie us down. And that man's ties to the Council run deep…" Sengoku shook his head.
If he could, he would have moved long ago. His jaw tightened. His only "son" had lost his life because of that man's existence.
"Perhaps we cannot act," Tsuru said quietly, "but there are others who can. What we cannot do ourselves… we can entrust to them."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. "Tsuru… are you suggesting—?"
Her silence was the only answer he needed.
Far away, in the New World—
Within the lavish palace of Dressrosa, the kingdom of pleasure and deceit, a throne shook with fury.
"Are you kidding me?! What the hell is that bastard playing at?!"
Donquixote Doflamingo's voice echoed through the marble halls, his sunglasses flashing with dangerous light.
The pieces were moving. And the world was beginning to tremble.