"We are the Navy. We carry the weighty duty of protecting all the people of the world... and now, the whole world is watching us."
"If an Admiral is killed and the Navy does nothing in response, what will the world think of us? How will the Navy maintain its authority over these seas?"
"Kuzan… we have no choice."
Sengoku let out a deep sigh.
He had long since realized that Whiteflame was incredibly dangerous. He had even tried to recall Kizaru from his mission to intercept him… but Kizaru had ignored that warning.
Still, Sengoku had never imagined that Kizaru would actually die at Whiteflame's hands.
After all, Kizaru was a man with the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit (Pika Pika no Mi)—a literal embodiment of light-speed. With his cautious personality, even if his opponent had been someone like Whitebeard, Kizaru could've easily escaped if he wanted to.
But now…
Kizaru was dead.
Killed by Whiteflame.
"I've already spoken to the surviving soldiers who were spared. Kizaru wasn't the only one who died."
"Six of Big Mom's Ministers, all dead."
"Queen the Plague, one of the Beasts Pirates' 'Three Calamities,' was also defeated by Whiteflame—and nearly killed, had Shanks not intervened."
"One man, singlehandedly took on Kizaru, six of Big Mom's top officers, and one of Kaido's top three lieutenants… That's beyond dangerous."
Kuzan (Aokiji) spoke in a rare serious tone, abandoning his usual lazy demeanor.
As an Admiral, he never admitted inferiority lightly.
But with Whiteflame—
He had no choice but to acknowledge: he wasn't his equal.
Had Kuzan faced that lineup himself, he doubted whether he'd even survive, let alone win.
But Whiteflame didn't just survive.
He slaughtered Kizaru and six of Big Mom's strongest fighters.
He nearly killed Queen the Plague.
If not for Shanks intervening at the last moment, there might've been no survivors at all.
The more Kuzan thought about it, the more a sense of dread began to grow in his chest.
"Kuzan… what are you trying to say?"
Sengoku narrowed his eyes.
"For the Navy to launch such a large-scale expedition… against a single individual…"
"If we succeed, great. But if we fail—the blow to the Navy would be far worse than the loss of Borsalino."
"I urge you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku—please reconsider this operation. Call it off."
Kuzan met Sengoku's eyes, dead serious.
"…I never misjudged you, Kuzan."
Rather than scolding him, Sengoku gave a faint, somewhat bitter smile.
"You know, I said the exact same thing to the Five Elders earlier today, when I tried to persuade them to drop the expedition."
"But all they told me was one thing—"
"The reputation of the World Government comes before all else."
Sengoku's expression hardened, his jaw clenched tightly with suppressed frustration.
Kuzan gave a helpless shake of his head.
As men of reason, they knew this war should not happen.
But as soldiers, they had no choice but to follow orders.
Meanwhile…
Totto Land – Big Mom Pirates' Headquarters
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Big Mom shot up from her throne, eyes filled with murderous rage. Her fury burned so intensely it seemed ready to erupt into flame.
"M-Mama… their Vivre Cards... they've all… turned to ash…"
Baron Tamago trembled as he delivered the report.
"DAMN IT!!!"
"DAMN IT ALL!!!"
Big Mom screamed at the sky. Her massive hand lashed out and ripped a chunk of soul from Tamago's body—a full fifty years of his lifespan!
The surrounding homies—sentient soul-creatures—immediately fled in terror, afraid they'd be next to lose their souls.
Tamago didn't die outright, but he collapsed to the ground—utterly drained, frail, and barely able to breathe.
"Bastard… that rotten little bastard!!"
"How DARE he kill my beloved children… I'll NEVER forgive him!!"
"Brûlée! Get everyone together—summon the Wrath Battalion! Leave only the royal guard behind. The rest of us are sailing out!"
Big Mom's roar shook the very walls.
"Mama… have you forgotten?"
A soft, melodic voice chimed in. It belonged to a stunning woman with a third eye on her forehead.
"You've been negotiating with 'that man' recently. If you abandon it now, you'll lose your one true chance to become Pirate King…"
At the mention of "that man," Big Mom's expression calmed… slightly.
She knew very well: if she could pull off this alliance—a political marriage—she'd gain a terrifying new force under her command.
With it, even Kaido, Shanks, Whitebeard—no one could stop her from claiming the throne of the Pirate King.
"Where's Lola?! Find her! NOW!"
A panicked chess soldier sprinted in moments later.
"Bad news, Mama! Lady Lola… she's gone!"
"WHAT?!"
Big Mom's barely-contained fury finally exploded like a volcanic eruption.
BOOM!
The once-clear skies over Totto Land turned black. Thunder rolled, and lightning danced wildly across the clouds.
"Zeus and Prometheus are raging!"
"They've never looked this furious—Mama's lost control!"
"Run for your lives!!"
The citizens of Totto Land scattered in panic.
"FIND HER!"
"That ungrateful brat ruined the plan I spent YEARS preparing! If you find her—kill her on sight!!"
"Wrath Battalion, prepare to sail! I'm going to personally tear that Whiteflame to pieces! This time, I'm not sparing anyone!"
Her roar echoed like thunder across the islands.
Somewhere in the icy mountains…
"Red-Haired… You dare show up here with this many people—is this a declaration of war?!"
Kaido, clad in heavy armor, looked down at the much smaller Shanks like a mountain glaring at an ant. His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
The Beasts Pirates quickly surrounded them. They wielded clubs, cannons, and other monstrous weapons. Their eyes gleamed with bloodlust.
At Kaido's signal, they'd tear Shanks' crew to shreds without hesitation.
"You've misunderstood, Kaido. I'm not here to fight."
Shanks smiled coolly.
"Even if I were… now isn't the time."
"But I did bring someone I thought you'd be interested in seeing."
At his signal, his men dragged forward a figure in seastone cuffs—limbs bound, body bruised, but alive.
"Queen the Plague?!"
"You worthless idiot! You let them capture you?!"
Kaido's eyes burned with rage.
"Don't get it twisted, Kaido-sama! I wasn't captured by Red-Hair."
"I was defeated… by Whiteflame!"
Queen puffed out her cheeks and muttered with a pout.
"He's mine now. So don't you dare touch him!"
Her cheeks flushed faintly with embarrassment.
"Wait… she's blushing?"
Lucky Roux nearly dropped his drumstick in horror.
"The Demon Queen has a crush? Poor Whiteflame... he's doomed."
Even Benn Beckman and Yasopp twitched slightly at the sight, privately offering a moment of silence for Whiteflame.
"HAHAHA! You hear that, Kaido?"
Shanks laughed.
"Your girl's got her eyes on my friend's son."
"So how about you drop this whole vendetta, yeah?"
Suddenly—BOOM!!
A massive kanabo (spiked club) swung down toward Shanks with crushing force!
Shanks' eyes narrowed. In a flash, his saber unsheathed—and CLANG! The weapons collided with a shockwave of explosive power.
"Red-Haired. You dare tell me what to do?"
Kaido glared at him, voice brimming with menace.
"Red-Hair!!"
"That's too much!"
"They attacked our captain—let's wipe them out!!"
Shanks' crew instantly drew their weapons. Eyes sharp. Killing intent rising. A fight was just a heartbeat away.
"Enough!"
Shanks raised a hand.
"Put away your weapons. We're not here to fight."
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