New World.
A massive Marine warship boldly sailed through the territories of the Emperors, heading straight for Totto Land's waters.
When the ship brazenly passed through Blackbeard's domain, he immediately received reports from his subordinates.
Taking the matter seriously, he personally led a group of his strongest men to investigate.
As Blackbeard peered through the telescope handed to him by Van Augur, his body stiffened.
"Akainu, Fujitora, Garp, Kizaru... and who's that old man? Could it be the Commander-in-Chief Kong? Are they here to wipe out an Emperor's crew?"
Beside him, Lafitte, also looking through a telescope, suddenly spoke.
"Their course seems to be heading towards Totto Land."
Blackbeard frowned, puzzled.
"Are they here to avenge Sengoku? Doesn't seem like it. Shiryu, board the ship. Let's follow them."
Blackbeard decided to trail the terrifying warship from a distance, curious about their purpose in Totto Land.
***
On the warship, Akainu's face was dark with killing intent as he glanced at Blackbeard's ship behind them.
"It's the Blackbeard Pirates. Should we stop and eliminate them?"
Garp remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead.
The burly old man—Commander-in-Chief Kong—spoke gravely.
"Ignore them. Remember why we're here today. Sengoku's matter takes priority. Garp, call Caesar."
"Mm."
Garp responded, pulling out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and making the call.
Purupuru.
****
On Sweetheart Island, Caesar, who was sitting around the dining table with others, reached for the Den Den Mushi.
"Garp? What is it?"
Caesar's tone was casual, as if greeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
Beside him, Aokiji stiffened, his gaze snapping toward the Den Den Mushi in Caesar's hand.
"Caesar, the agreed time has come. Bring Sengoku's remains to the outer waters of Totto Land for the exchange."
Garp's deep, resonant voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Borororo! No problem! Though I'm a pirate, I'll keep my word!"
Caesar hung up and stood abruptly, shouting, "Bring out the largest ship in Totto Land! Let's go meet the mightiest legends on these seas!"
"Yes, Caesar-sama!" the crew roared in unison.
Soon after, Linlin's colossal pirate ship, carrying the elite of the Beast God Pirates, set sail swiftly towards the location Garp had specified.
On board, Puding face was a mix of longing and hesitation.
She desperately wanted to see Sanji again, yet she didn't want him forced by Caesar to stay in Totto Land with her.
****
Half an hour later, two massive ships faced each other on the endless sea.
One was a super-sized warship, a symbol of justice.
The other was Linlin's flagship, the Queen Mama Chanter.
On the warship, Akainu stood at the forefront, draped in his Justice cloak.
To his sides were Kizaru, Fujitora, Garp, and Kong.
Meanwhile, on the pirate ship, three towering, fearsome figures immediately caught Akainu's attention.
Caesar stood at the center, arms crossed, flanked by Kaido and Linlin, their expressions cold.
Beside them stood Katakuri and Aokiji.
Further back were King, Queen, Yamato, Daifuku, Smoothie and others.
"Kuzan?!" Garp suddenly staggered, his voice breaking as he stared in disbelief at Aokiji standing besides Katakuri.
Akainu and the others tensed, their eyes locking onto Aokiji, who remained indifferent, his gaze fixed on the deck without response.
"Aokiji! Even if you disagree with the Marine's current justice, you can't join the Beast God Pirates!" Kong shouted, his eyes blazing with fury.
He had heard that Aokiji, refusing to accept Akainu as Fleet Admiral and had fought him for ten days and nights on Punk Hazard before leaving the Marine and joining the Blackbeard Pirates.
Kong had even reprimanded Akainu for this, blaming him for the Marine's loss of a top-tier fighter.
But now, seeing Aokiji among the Beast God Pirates—the very crew that had killed Sengoku—was far worse than his defection to Blackbeard pirates.
It filled them with rage and despair.
"Borororo! Kong, save your breath! He's not 'Aokiji' anymore—he's just Kuzan, the Ice God of the Beast God Pirates. Mind your words," Caesar sneered, his arrogance dismissing Akainu and the others entirely.
Akainu clenched his cigar, his face contorted with anger, but before he could speak, Garp grabbed his arm and shook his head.
Stepping past Akainu, Garp stood at the warship's bow and called out.
"Caesar, we've upheld our end of the bargain. Where is Sengoku's remains? Hand them over."
As Garp's words fell, on the deck of the warship, Bogard led over a dozen people who came forward one after another.
At the forefront was Doflamingo, clad in prison garb, followed by Judge, Reiju and the others.
"Sanji!" Reiju suddenly exclaimed upon seeing the last person in the line, rushing over in pleasant surprise and embracing him tightly.
"Reiju... you too?" Sanji was stunned, noticing Judge, Niji, and the others were all present.
The three groups had boarded the ship in separate batches and hadn't met since coming aboard.
Reiju's eyes reddened as she gently touched Sanji's slightly haggard face and whispered.
"Sanji, are you okay?"
Sanji nodded, then suddenly felt as though someone on the opposite ship was staring intently at him.
Following his instincts, he looked over and saw a cute girl gazing at him with a dazed expression.
Sanji frowned—he didn't recognize her.
"Doffy! You've been released too? That's wonderful!"
In front of Doflamingo, his former subordinates, Diamante and Trebol, looked at him with joy.
"Has everyone been released? Fufufu, we owe Caesar an enormous favor this time."
Doflamingo's gaze, hidden behind his sunglasses, shifted towards Caesar on the opposite ship, his heart trembling with awe.
Caesar's overwhelming, domineering presence alone made him seem like the very center of the sea.
An aura capable of crushing the world radiated from him endlessly, overshadowing even the former Yonko's, Kaido and the Charlotte Linlin, who now seemed mere foils to his brilliance.
"What a terrifying figure... fufufufu... Kaido's elder brother, the legendary peerless monster."
"The people are all here, Caesar! Keep your promise!" Akainu could no longer hold back, roaring to break the silence.
------------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator