At that very moment, across the seas, Jack of the West Blue was leading the First Division in a ferocious campaign against one of the most defiant non–World Government nations—the Kingdom of Ophira.
Ophira was a poor and rugged land in the West Blue, a kingdom so destitute that its mountains and rivers seemed to breed nothing but rebels and rogues. Even the World Government had long found it impossible to control.
And when the Great Pirate Era began, Ophira's people poured onto the seas in droves—every other villager turning pirate in search of fortune.
After Rosinante's legendary victory over the Dark World, Jack had decided it was time to stop playing small. If the Gray Nation was to thrive, they needed territory, recruits, and fear. His first target: the wild and unruly Ophira.
The choice fit his taste perfectly. These lawless folk were just his kind of people—stubborn, vicious, and unyielding. Conquering them wouldn't just give him land—it would forge an army that didn't fear death.
And indeed, before the campaign had even ended, hundreds of Ophirans, awed by the First Division's ferocity, began defecting to Jack's banner. They helped the Gray Nation invade their own homeland—a madness that thrilled Jack to the core.
Jack's only rule for recruitment was simple: Don't fear death.
Strength didn't matter. Skill didn't matter. As long as you were fearless and willing to charge into hell itself, you could join his ranks.
And in this age of pirates, that philosophy struck a chord. People who once lived in fear found purpose under Jack's banner. The First Division grew like wildfire—from a few thousand to nearly twenty thousand men in a matter of weeks, even with heavy casualties from constant battles.
They were fearless—but not immortal. Every victory came soaked in blood.
After a month of relentless assaults, Jack's division had conquered nearly all of Ophira's territory. Only the royal capital remained, its defenses collapsing. Jack's blood boiled with battlelust as he gave his final command:
"By nightfall, the Ophira capital falls. No excuses!"
Just then, a soldier came sprinting across the battlefield, breath ragged.
"Captain Jack! Captain Jack!"
Jack turned, scowling. "What is it? Speak!"
"Captain, orders from Vice Captain Sol!" the soldier shouted. "We're to retreat immediately—all troops are to regroup at once!"
Jack's expression darkened. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
The soldier trembled, sweat pouring down his face. The killing intent rolling off Jack was suffocating.
"Vice Captain Sol said it's a direct order from the Captain himself! The command was issued to all four divisions across the seas. It's marked as top priority—ten thousand flames of urgency! It must be obeyed immediately!"
Jack froze for a moment, then his anger gave way to surprise.
"Did he say why?"
"The Vice Captain said… Captain Burs is dead. His head was taken."
Jack's eyes narrowed to slits. "Burs… beheaded, huh? So that's it. The Captain's going to avenge him."
He turned to his men, voice like thunder. "Pass the order—First Division, withdraw immediately! Leave nothing behind!"
Without another word, Jack strode back toward headquarters, his coat billowing in the smoke of battle.
…
At the same time, the Second Division received the same order. Once the largest of the Gray Nation's units, it had grown to over thirty thousand strong after descending from the sky islands into the Blue Sea. They were simultaneously attacking several kingdoms in the North Blue when the command came.
"Order all officers to lead immediate retreat," said Rellman, his face grim as he listened to Rosinante's voice through the Den Den Mushi. "Abandon all spoils and captured territory. Regroup at headquarters at once. No delays—this order is absolute!"
Across the seas, the Fourth Division in the East Blue and the Fifth Division in the South Blue received the same message.
All four major divisions of the Gray Nation were in motion.
…
The World Government hadn't planned for war yet, but it had been watching the Gray Nation very closely.
On Sabaody, Rosinante's movements were under constant surveillance—spies in plain sight, spies in the shadows, government agents posing as traders and travelers. Yet the government knew well that if Rosinante wanted to hide something, they'd never notice.
That was why the real focus of their intelligence network wasn't him—it was the Four Divisions scattered across the seas.
When reports suddenly came flooding in that all four divisions were simultaneously mobilizing—tens of thousands of men abandoning campaigns and retreating at once—the World Government was thrown into chaos.
"Find out what's happening!" barked Cipher Pol commanders. "I don't care what it costs—every agent, every mole embedded in the Gray Nation, uncover the reason for this movement!"
…
"Rosinante… what are you planning?"
In Marineford, the Navy's top brass convened an emergency meeting. The atmosphere was heavy.
By now, the Gray Nation had become one of the world's dominant powers. Every move they made had to be taken seriously.
And when the gathered admirals and strategists examined the latest intelligence report, even the calmest among them gasped.
"The combined strength of the four divisions… over one hundred thousand troops?" one officer whispered in disbelief.
"And that's not even counting the Sky Island forces or Rosinante's personal elite—the BloodSworn Guard," another added grimly. "Just these divisions alone could rival some of the great powers of the New World."
"Something big is coming," said Vice Admiral Tsuru, her voice low and thoughtful. "The order came from Rosinante himself. It was delivered with top urgency. The First Division was in the middle of conquering Ophira—on the brink of victory—and yet they abandoned everything to regroup. That kind of recall means only one thing: a crisis of the highest order."
"Could he be preparing another strike against Marineford?" a rear admiral asked nervously.
Tsuru shook her head. "Impossible. The current relationship between the World Government and the Gray Nation is… delicate, but peaceful. Neither side is ready for war. And Rosinante just invested a trillion Berries into constructing the Evernight City in Sabaody. Launching a war now would serve no purpose—it'd destroy everything he's building."
"But… what if the Evernight City is just a ruse?" another officer suggested quietly. "A way to lull us into complacency—make us drop our guard while he prepares for something bigger?"
The room fell silent.
No one wanted to admit it—but it wasn't impossible.
And as the thought took hold, an uneasy chill spread through the chamber.
For if the Gray Nation was truly preparing for war… then the world was about to tremble once again.