Shanks felt a wave of dizziness. Just a moment ago, they had been drinking together… but now…
The surrounding crew members looked at him worriedly.
"Boss."
"Captain…"
Their murmured voices called him back to his senses. Shanks waved his hand.
"I'm fine."
His eyes locked tightly on Bullet's name and photograph.
The crew spoke again.
"Captain, why don't we head back now?"
Shanks eventually calmed down.
"No. We'll stay in Foosha Village for a while. Sooner or later, we'll cross paths."
His clenched fist unconsciously crushed the newspaper in his hand. Rayleigh-sensei, and Mihawk…
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
The Elder with the sword hung up the Den Den Mushi, snorting coldly.
"Useless. As expected, another failure."
The burly Elder spoke.
"It's only natural. Zoan Fruits inherently carry a will of their own. And this one bears the 'name of a god'…"
The tall, thin Elder frowned slightly.
"Send someone to retrieve it. The time foretold by that man is nearly upon us. For now, eliminating all uncertain factors must be our top priority."
The curly-haired Elder shook his head.
"Even if we do that, what difference will it make? For centuries, governments of the past have tried to reclaim it. But it never once reached our hands."
The burly Elder nodded.
"That's right. And for us, that Fruit has long since become nothing more than a legend. Across hundreds of years, not a single one of its successive users has awakened it. Our top priority remains to sort out the world order. The chaos in the Grand Line hasn't ended, and the Four Seas are starting to stir again."
The tall, thin Elder spoke with quiet insistence.
"I disagree. If it weren't dangerous… Why would the World Government go so far as to give that Fruit another name? The Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Model— Nika Form!!!"
...
Grand Line, G-8 Branch.
A merchant ship slowly docked at port. Standing at the harbor was Vice Admiral Jonathan, branch commander of G-8.
He looked at the disembarking Sakazuki and smiled.
"Long time no see, Sakazuki. And you too, Karol. Your sweeping operation this time really took ages."
Karol grinned.
"Vice Admiral Jonathan."
Sakazuki also gave a slight smile.
"The longer it takes, the more pirates we get to kill."
Jonathan shook his head.
"You… you haven't changed a bit. Come on, let's eat. Jessica prepared us a whole feast."
Sakazuki smirked.
"Lead the way."
The three walked into the fortress.
Seeing the energetic soldiers around them, Sakazuki turned to Karol.
"What do you think of the soldiers here?"
Karol spoke with some admiration.
"They're full of spirit. You can tell they're proud. Vice Admiral Jonathan has led them well. No wonder people call this place the 'Impenetrable Fortress.' It really lives up to the name."
Jonathan chuckled.
"Oh, it's nothing but an empty title. Hahahahaha!"
Under Jonathan's leadership, G-8 was flourishing.
Its power grew with each passing year, and if this continued, soon no pirate would dare intrude in these waters.
By then, it might even be called the 'Fortress of Peace.'
"We're here. Jessica! Bring out those fine bottles of wine I've been saving."
...
Long-lost friends sat around the table, drinking and chatting.
After several rounds, it was already late at night.
Sakazuki and Jonathan each carried a bottle, walking up to the fortress's highest level.
Gazing at the bright moon, Jonathan took a sip.
"Hu— What do you plan to do about Amazon Lily? That woman's personality is far too vicious. She won't easily change the soldiers back."
Sakazuki sneered.
"If she won't, then she won't. The fall of a nation, the end of a race—what is a pirate country, really? They think too highly of themselves."
Jonathan shook his head with a laugh.
"You… By the way, do you know what's happening at HQ?"
Sakazuki turned toward him.
"What about it?"
Jonathan said quietly.
"It's only a rumor among the higher-ups. The Commander-in-Chief is stepping down. As for his successor, there's no doubt it'll be Fleet Admiral Kong. Which means the next Navy Admiral…"
Sakazuki shook his head.
"I've no intention of competing. The chaos of this sea has only just begun. Let them struggle for now. Once the situation becomes clear, we'll sweep it all away."
Jonathan smiled knowingly.
"I see… Then let's drink to that."
He raised his bottle and clinked it against Sakazuki's.
"Cheers."
...
Morning.
Sakazuki's face darkened as he looked at the massive stone statues piled atop two giant battleships.
It wasn't just that over a thousand petrified soldiers stood there, but many of the statues had been shattered, fragments scattered everywhere.
And those were just the ones collected. The pieces too broken to be reassembled formed yet another heap.
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes.
"Courting death…"
...
Several days later.
Two massive battleships sailed through the Calm Belt.
Thanks to the faint but oppressive aura of Sakazuki's Conqueror's Haki, no Sea Kings dared approach.
They advanced unimpeded until Amazon Lily's outline appeared on the horizon.
Staring at the distant island, Sakazuki spoke coldly.
"Karol, use the Den Den Mushi to inform the Kuja. Tell their Empress… To come out and 'welcome' her appointment as a Warlord of the Sea."
Karol nodded.
"Understood."
...
Amazon Lily, palace of the Kuja.
Boa Hancock hurled the Den Den Mushi to the ground, crushing it under her heel.
"Bastards!!! Mere Marines… Such insolence! To dare order me to go greet them?! Sandersonia, Gloriosa—summon the warriors!!!"
The two towering snake-women hissed with their tongues flicking.
"Yes, Sister-sama."
Elder Nyon clutched her head in exasperation.
"No, Hancock! Joining the Seven Warlords is a matter of national importance, allowing Amazon Lily to coexist peacefully with the Navy. You mustn't act rashly! And the one coming is a Navy Admiral! Sakazuki's brutal reputation echoes across the seas. If conflict breaks out…"
But Hancock's expression remained cold as she strode forward, her long legs exuding dominance.
The pressure rolling off her left Elder Nyon's mind blank.
"You… you…"
Bang—!
A powerful kick sent the old woman flying.
Boa Hancock struck a pose of disdain, pointing at the fallen Elder.
"Your time has long ended, former Empress of Amazon Lily. Even if my whims bring ruin to this country, so what? I will always be forgiven. Because I am simply… too beautiful."
Her two younger sisters grinned wickedly, tongues flicking.
"Zss—"
"Zss—"
Boa Hancock turned her head proudly.
"Summon the soldiers. For these Marines who don't know their place…"
The three strode out of the palace doors.
Elder Nyon broke into a cold sweat.
"This is bad…"
Her hands trembling, she pulled out a Den Den Mushi. A few seconds later, she spoke.
"Shakky!"
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