Nusjuro nodded in agreement. "There is no time to delay. Let us go and request an audience with Imu-sama at once."
He stood up, and the others rose as well. After straightening their attire, they headed toward the deepest part of Pangaea Castle.
* * *
South Blue, Maleg Island.
At the harbor, the ship of the Bonney Pirates was docked, yet the crew was nowhere to be seen.
On the mountain peak of the island, Sabo held a newly updated intelligence map as he spoke with Dragon.
"In that case, all the conditions are in place. We can conquer the Four Blues at any time. But with the pirates and the Marines at war in the New World… the will of the people…"
The core strength of the World Government was concentrated in the Grand Line, while the member nations in the Four Blues were all agrarian kingdoms. For the Revolutionary Army, which had already entered the early stages of industrial development, they were hardly a match.
The only slight complications were nations like Kano Country, known for powerful individual fighters, or technologically unique kingdoms like Germa. But Germa had already been removed by the World Government and destroyed by the Marines.
That left only places like Kano Country, and strong individuals were not difficult to deal with.
Dragon's voice came from the other end. "The development of the Revolutionary Army is fundamentally different from that of the Marines. Our primary goal is to overthrow the nobles and the corrupt kingdoms.
"With the Marines' continued suppression, the scourge of pirates has greatly diminished. What affects the people daily now is only the oppression of the nobles.
"Our governing policies do not currently conflict with the Marines'. We do not interfere with each other."
Sabo nodded slightly. "In that case, there's no problem. What about Bonney? Do we send her back, or continue toward the Grand Line? After declaring war on the World Government, it might be better to keep her under protection."
There was silence on Dragon's end, as if he were thinking.
"Bring her back. If she refuses, bring her back by force. Prepare. In seven days, we declare war on the World Government."
The war between the Marines and the pirates had erupted too suddenly, and the world had not been prepared. Many arrangements had not yet been issued. They had been in meetings all afternoon without pause, discussing their next steps.
By the time the morning newspapers were distributed worldwide, only a few hours remained before the execution, directly igniting the New World.
Though they had obtained only limited intelligence, it was enough to understand how intense the situation was, and how deep the Marines' reserves ran.
In the New World, the Four Emperors had all mobilized against the Marines, yet the Marines were fighting four against one and still had strength to spare. Sakazuki was stationed at headquarters, while former Fleet Admiral Sengoku guarded the Sabaody Archipelago.
Of course, the Four Emperors were not to be underestimated. If they fought to the death, the outcome was still uncertain. But given the Marines' lineup, it was hard to imagine them losing. The real question was how much strength they would have left afterward.
Now that the Marines had committed all their power to the New World, this was the best moment to declare war on the World Government.
The Marines' forces were too terrifying. If the Revolutionary Army fought them head-on, they would have no chance of victory.
Only by moving at the fastest speed, conquering the Four Blues, then advancing into the Grand Line and reaching the Holy Land Mariejois before the New World war concluded, could they succeed.
They would replace the rulers of the world.
If that happened, even if the Marines won in the New World, they could not go against the will of the people. They could not massacre the entire world's population.
Sabo nodded.
"Understood. I'll—"
The Den Den Mushi's expression suddenly turned shocked, as if Dragon had seen something terrifying.
"Wind—!!!"
Before he could finish, a thunderous roar cut him off.
Boom!!!
The Den Den Mushi in Sabo's hand trembled violently, then went limp as if it had fallen apart.
Sabo's pupils shrank as he hurriedly lifted the limp snail and dialed again, but no matter how many times he tried, it would not connect.
"Damn it!"
After several failed attempts, Sabo rose and transformed into wind and snow, drifting toward the harbor like a massive snow cloud.
* * *
At the harbor tavern.
Bonney had ordered a full table of food and was eating heartily. Suddenly, a burning sensation flared from her chest, and she hurriedly pulled something out.
It was a Vivre Card.
Under her horrified gaze, within just a few seconds, it turned to ash and slipped through her fingers onto the floor.
She froze completely, disbelief written across her face, as her trembling hand reached toward the ashes. Yet she did not dare touch them, afraid it was real.
That was her grandmother's Vivre Card.
"No… I must be seeing things… just seeing things…"
But the scorching heat at her chest and the ashes on the table proved it was real.
She abruptly stood up, overturning the table, and rushed madly toward the harbor with tears streaming down her face.
"Impossible… impossible!!!"
She hadn't even reached the docks when a massive snow cloud swept in from afar, wrapped around her, and soared into the sky.
Before she could recover, Sabo's voice rang out.
"We'll talk later! First, we go back!!!"
She clenched her fists and held back her words, her face filled with anxiety and tears as Sabo carried her toward the Sorbet Kingdom.
* * *
North Blue, Shogai Island.
This was where Dragon had first witnessed the tragedies of humanity, and it was also one of the islands suspected by the government to house a Revolutionary Army base.
It was already night, and no one noticed the massive shadow appearing high above the sky.
As the shadow emerged and covered the island, a blinding light suddenly ignited.
People outside their homes shielded their eyes and looked upward in confusion as countless streaks of light descended.
Boom!!
The falling lights converged and erupted.
An explosion several times larger than the island itself illuminated the night, dazzling and terrifying, and even people on distant islands turned in confusion to look toward the light.
* * *
Holy Land of Mariejois.
Deep within the Room of Flowers, before a mysterious figure, a map was spread out with several red X marks already drawn upon it.
The figure lifted a pen and paused above Alabasta.
After a moment, the pen was slowly lowered.
The map was discarded, and the figure left.
Except for Alabasta, which had not been marked, all the islands reported by the Five Elders had been crossed out.
Exactly seven.
And those seven islands marked with red X's had not only disappeared from the sea charts… they had disappeared from the world.
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