Ten warships, with their hundreds of cannons combined.
They bombarded Ohara incessantly until late into the night.
The raging inferno ignited the entire island, illuminating the heavens and earth in the dark night.
Even from several nautical miles away, one could feel the encroaching heatwave and the crimson sky.
Robin cried as she sat in a small boat, drifting further and further away.
----
Sakazuki and Enel stood on the top deck of a warship.
Neither spoke, merely watching the great fire burn.
They watched the fire burn out, leaving only a patch of black earth and wisps of white smoke.
Morning.
Dada-da-da...
A sound of footsteps approached. Carol walked to the bow of the ship:
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, the rest of the fleet awaits orders."
Sakazuki spoke slowly:
"Organize a search party."
Carol nodded:
"Yes."
After a few seconds of silence, he said:
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki..."
"Last night, the 73rd branch in the South Blue's operation failed..."
"Of the seven-person team sent to the 73rd branch, only one survived. Avis perished along with the branch chief of the 73rd branch."
Sakazuki gazed at the sea:
"Were the traces thoroughly erased?"
Carol replied:
"They were."
"Avis detonated the high explosives, destroying almost half of the branch base."
Sakazuki's mind flashed with the names and faces of Avis and the others sent to the 73rd branch:
"Anything else?"
Carol's voice was a little hoarse:
"Avis asked me to relay a message to you."
"I'm very sorry, he did his best."
Sakazuki was silent for a moment:
"I understand..."
"Summarize the lessons learned, and send people to search around the base."
"Look for Avis's Mogu Mogu no Mi."
"You may all go."
Carol said:
"Yes."
He and Enel turned and left.
Only Sakazuki remained, gazing silently at the sea.
After a long while, he turned and walked away...
----
Ohara, the ruins of the Tree of Knowledge.
The Tree of Knowledge, which covered half the island, was reduced to a giant charred husk, lying on the ground.
Soldiers walked across the island, filled with the smell of gunpowder, searching.
"It's terrifying."
"This is the Buster Call."
"Where could there be any survivors?"
"There are craters and scorched earth everywhere."
"Stop talking about it."
"Search properly."
"Hey! Look!!!"
The soldiers, who were chatting while searching, suddenly discovered something and shouted.
"This lake is filled with books!"
"What!"
"Let me see!"
"This!!!"
Inside the lake, books thrown in by the scholars of Ohara were piled high.
The vast lake was almost completely filled with books, all in an effort to preserve human history...
----
Several days later.
The Grand Line, G-7 Branch.
Spandine and Sengoku met here.
To review the operation and organize the data.
On Sengoku's desk lay a photograph.
Kuzan sat on the sofa beside him, also looking at a photograph.
Spandine said:
"It's this brat."
"I saw her with the scholars of Ohara."
"They must have some connection."
He then looked at his subordinate:
"By the way, where did you find her?"
The subordinate stood at attention and reported:
"We found her on a passenger ship sailing northeast of Ohara."
"But we lost her immediately..."
Spandine scoffed:
"This brat, she's lucky."
"At that time, I saw her myself on a small wooden boat."
"She rushed out of Ohara, surrounded by fire."
"But when I tried to pursue, the ship's helm was as if frozen and wouldn't move."
"It's truly outrageous."
Sengoku subtly glanced at Kuzan, who was sitting on the sofa and sweating.
He said to Spandine:
"Since she's connected to the scholars of Ohara."
"It's not impossible that she can also decipher the Poneglyphs."
"Even if she's just a child, she cannot be let go."
"Find a way to capture her as soon as possible, by any means necessary."
"Otherwise, this entire operation will have been in vain."
Spandine nodded:
"Indeed."
"Then let's arrange a reason."
"Issue a warrant for her arrest."
"I'll report to the Five Elders first."
Sengoku nodded and hummed.
After Spandine left.
Only the two of them remained in the large office, along with the sound of a goat eating documents.
"This is the last time, Kuzan..."
----
Several days after the destruction of Ohara.
Under the organization of the government and the Navy, two pieces of news that occupied the front pages of newspapers spread across the sea.
East Blue, Windmill Island, Navy Branch 65.
Jeram, in a flurry, rushed into the Branch Captain's office with a newspaper.
"Brother! Vice Admiral Sakazuki has been promoted to Admiral!!!"
Megan Lock, who had now become the Branch Captain, sat up abruptly.
"What!!!"
He took the newspaper and showed a happy smile.
Sakazuki was their idol, and he felt genuinely pleased.
"Jeram! Announce it!"
"We're having a feast today!!!"
Jeram grinned:
"Yes!"
----
West Blue, a small island northeast of Ohara.
On the streets, people were holding today's newspapers in twos and threes.
"Hey, hey, is this for real?"
"79 million Berries."
"How can an 8-year-old child have such a high bounty?"
"Don't you know?"
"She's a survivor of the Ohara devils who plotted to destroy the world."
"They say she destroyed six warships by herself."
"That's why the bounty is so high."
"How terrifying..."
"Thankfully, the government and the Navy discovered it in time."
"They were so close to it."
However, details that had somehow spread across the sea added to the fear people felt towards Sakazuki.
People gathered, holding newspapers, and someone started, speaking in a low voice:
"Did you know?"
"The government actually provided evacuation ships for the innocent people of Ohara."
"But the new Navy Admiral, Sakazuki, personally ordered the destruction of those evacuation ships."
The others were disbelieving:
"What!"
"No way, I know Sakazuki. He wouldn't be like that."
"Alas, he must have been pretending too well before."
"Besides, from the previous reports, his cruel methods towards pirates..."
"One can imagine what kind of person he is."
"How could this happen? He's completely inhumane."
"Shhh!!!"
"Keep your voice down! Are you trying to die!"
"If word gets out, he might kill your whole family."
"Right, right, we can't talk about it."
"Let's go, let's go."
A group of people, shocked, dispersed in a hurry.
Robin, hidden in a corner, held her breath. Only when night fell did she secretly slip away...
----
New World, Wano Country.
Dark clouds churned violently in the sky above Onigashima, accompanied by thunder and dancing flames.
Roaring dragon cries circled above Onigashima, never ceasing.
Oden, nine ri away, gazed in the direction of Onigashima, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
"I can't wait any longer..."
Onigashima.
BOOM—
With a deafening roar, a crater nearly a hundred meters wide appeared on the ground.
Kaido, who had been a blue dragon dancing in the sky all day, lay within it in human form.
King, directing the semi-finished Babanuki, had Kaido moved into the palace and let out a sigh of relief:
"It's finally over."
He looked at Queen beside him:
"Next time, don't let Kaido-bro know about Sakazuki's news."
"Especially when he's drunk, Kaido-bro goes mad."
The slightly plump Queen scoffed:
"It was just a newspaper, I didn't expect such a big reaction."
King snorted:
"Idiot."
Queen roared:
"You bastard have no right to say that."
Their usual bickering...
----
The Grand Line, Underwater Prison.
The sixth level, Infinite Hell.
A few guards were throwing food into the cells, chatting as they went.
"Did you know the Navy has a new Admiral?"
"Eh!?"
"Who is it?"
"They say it's the former Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
"What! It's Mr. Sakazuki!"
"You know him?"
"My hometown was saved by him."
"That was eight years ago, and it's why I chose to become a soldier."
"But I didn't expect to be assigned to the prison, sigh."
"Don't be discouraged. At least prison work is stable and safe."
"That's true, maybe I'm just not destined for it."
"Hahahaha."
Deep within, in a solitary cell.
After the guards had gone, Shiki suddenly opened his eyes.
"That kid is already a Navy Admiral..."
"Heh..."
A dangerous glint flashed in Shiki's eyes. He already had a plan to escape, only lacking an opportunity...
"Roger, I'll show you that I am the right one."
"The Great Pirate Era you started is just child's play."
"Wait for me, world..."
----
South Blue, Kingdom of Goa.
Within the grand royal palace, Bartholomew Bear, the ruler.
He was in the royal library, sifting through books, searching for something.
A gentle breeze blew.
Bartholomew Bear suddenly turned and unleashed a palm strike.
Clang!
A black dragon claw grabbed Bear's attacking wrist.
Dragon pulled down the hood of his green cloak:
"I mean no harm."
"I just want to talk to you about this world."
He slowly released Bear's wrist.
Bartholomew Bear looked at the man before him and spoke slowly:
"The world?"
Dragon took out a newspaper and handed it to him.
Bear took the newspaper, which was the page reporting on Ohara, and Robin's massive wanted poster.
"Yes, the world."
The two talked until late at night... At some point, they disappeared.
----
The Grand Line, Rikyu Islands.
The Rikyu Islands are ruled by the Kingdom of Kodaga, seventy percent of whose land area is rock.
Therefore, the islanders make a living by mining and selling huge rocks.
However, the new king who ascended the throne in recent years has increased taxes and oppressed the people, and this has been going on for several years.
The king's main objective was to gain the opportunity to join the World Government.
Bartholomew Bear stood on a mountain peak, looking at the emaciated laboring populace:
"Is this the country you spoke of."
Dragon stood beside him and said in a low voice:
"Yes, this is just the beginning."
"We aim to liberate not only this place, but the entire world."
Bartholomew Bear looked below:
"When do we begin."
Dragon spoke:
"Tonight."
Then he disappeared like a gust of wind, leaving Bartholomew Bear alone to look at the masses.
"A revolution..."
Late at night.
As a civilian stood up, masses of people poured out from the rocky mountains and charged towards the royal palace.
With the assistance of strong winds, storms, and flashes of lightning, they stormed towards the royal palace.
Inside the palace, the ambitious king, who wished to achieve great things, frantically dialed his Den Den Mushi:
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
"Why isn't it connecting!!!"
"Damn!"
"Guards!!!"
"Pack the treasure and prepare a ship quickly!!"
The sounds of shouting and killing grew closer, and it was clear the palace had already been breached. The guards frantically went to pack, no one wanting to die...
As the king, who was about to flee, moved towards the back door.
Crack—
His neck was instantly broken.
Dragon and Bartholomew Bear appeared.
Dragon said softly:
"It's over."
Suddenly, he was attracted by the Den Den Mushi held by the king. He picked it up and his pupils contracted.
"This is..."
"A Den Den Mushi for CP agents."
"Exposed?"
"Impossible!"
"Then this is..."
Dragon took a deep breath, suppressed his scattered thoughts, and called out to Bear, and they disappeared.
Enel and Carol, wearing specially made cloaks, stood on the second floor of a distant civilian house.
Carol watched the kingdom that had already been breached and signaled Enel to put away the magnetic bomb:
"They're still young, after all."
"But after this, they should learn their lesson."
"Let's go, Enel."
He turned and left.
When tracking Dragon's whereabouts, they had discovered that Dragon had been lingering on this island for too long.
Sakazuki had sent Carol to investigate. The results were as transparent as a sieve, and he learned everything without leaving a trace.
He also investigated the king and discovered a CP organization contact Den Den Mushi that he had obtained from somewhere.
The king was not foolish.
The people, who had been boiling with resentment for years, suddenly became quiet in the past two years, their eyes filled with hope.
Upon investigation, he was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat, but he also thought of another angle.
That was to sell these dangerous criminals to the government in exchange for merit and the opportunity to become a member nation.
Therefore, he secretly contacted a friendly member nation's king and obtained the contact Den Den Mushi.
On the agreed date, he had CP agents lie in ambush outside the sea. As soon as the Den Den Mushi was dialed, they would immediately storm the island.
However, even without the magnetic bomb that blocked the signal, Dragon would certainly not have been captured.
But if that were the case, he would grow too slowly.
Therefore, Sakazuki had Carol and Enel bring magnetic bombs to block the signal.
Late at night.
Sakazuki hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He lit a cigar and took a deep puff:
"Hoo—"
"Grow up quickly, puppet."
"Heh..."
He turned and walked downstairs.
Preparing for tomorrow's Admiral inauguration ceremony.
----
The next day, early morning.
Marine Headquarters, Marinford.
In the headquarters square, neatly lined up soldiers stood at attention.
Reporters stood on the sidelines, constantly taking photos and recording the valiant posture of the Marines.
As the morning bell chimed, a group of Marine generals slowly entered the arena.
Leading them was Fleet Admiral Kong, standing in the center of the grand podium:
"I am very pleased that we have gathered here today for the Admiral inauguration ceremony."
"Because this will represent the world's justice becoming even stronger."
"Hereby declare."
"By order of the World Government and Marine Headquarters."
"Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters, Sakazuki."
"Is granted the rank of Admiral."
"Codename—Akainu!!!"
Countless camera flashes lit up, and tens of thousands of Marines in the square shouted the word "Magma," which echoed endlessly.
Fleet Admiral Kong stepped aside, and Sakazuki slowly walked onto the stage.
He wore a red suit and a heavy Admiral's cape, looking exceptionally solemn.
With a gesture, the thunderous shouts immediately ceased, a truly shocking scene.
Sakazuki spoke slowly:
"In the past thousands of years."
"Pirates, like tumors of the sea, have emerged endlessly."
"They do not engage in production, surviving by killing, burning, and plundering."
"Constantly threatening the lives and property of the populace."
"The wicked pirate Roger initiated the Great Pirate Era."
"The whole world thought this was a pirate carnival."
"But today, I want to tell you."
"This is the era of the Navy! This is the era of justice!"
"We, the Navy, bear the justice of the world!"
"We will surely eradicate all wicked pirates!"
"We will fight in the sky!"
"We will fight on the ground!"
"We will fight on the sea!"
"We will eliminate all evil and allow the people to enjoy a peaceful and harmonious world!"
"Justice! Will Prevail!!!"