Shanks felt a moment of dizziness. They had been drinking together just before… but.
His crew looked at him with worried expressions:
"Boss."
"Captain..."
The soft calls, spoken in a babble of voices, pulled Shanks back to his senses. He waved his hand:
"I'm fine."
He stared intently at Barrett's name and photograph.
The crew members spoke:
"Captain, why don't we head back now?"
Shanks finally calmed down:
"No."
"We'll stay in Foosha Village for a while."
"We'll face him sooner or later."
His clenched fist unconsciously crushed the newspaper. Mr. Rayleigh, and Mihawk...
-----
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
The sword-wielding Gorosei hung up the phone and snorted:
"Trash."
"As expected, it failed again."
The burly Gorosei said:
"Wasn't it to be expected?"
"Zoan-type Devil Fruits inherently carry a will."
"Not to mention this fruit that bears the 'name of a god'..."
The tall, thin Gorosei frowned:
"Send someone to retrieve it."
"The time that guy predicted is almost here."
"Eliminating all uncertain factors is the priority."
The curly-haired Gorosei shook his head:
"Even if we do this, how good can the result be?"
"Over the past hundreds of years, successive governments have not stopped retrieving it."
"But it never reached our hands."
The burly Gorosei nodded:
"That's right."
"And, for us, that fruit has long since become a legend, hasn't it?"
"In the past hundreds of years, none of its successive owners have awakened it."
"The priority is still to sort out the world."
"The chaos in the Grand Line isn't over, and the Four Seas are starting to get chaotic again."
The tall, thin Gorosei disagreed, saying:
"I don't agree."
"If there were no danger."
"Why would the World Government specifically give that fruit another name?"
"Hito Hito no Mi - Mythical Zoan Model."
"Nika Form!!!"
-----
Grand Line, G8 Branch.
A merchant ship slowly docked in the harbor. Marine Vice Admiral and G8 Branch Director, Jonathan, stood at the port.
Seeing Sakazuki disembark, he smiled:
"Long time no see, Sakazuki."
"And Carol."
"Your 'Extermination Operation' took too long this time."
Carol said with a smile:
"Vice Admiral Jonathan."
Sakazuki also smiled:
"The longer it takes, the better. We can kill more pirates."
Jonathan shook his head:
"You..."
"You haven't changed at all these years."
"Come on, let's go in for dinner. Jessica made a feast for us."
Sakazuki smiled:
"Let's go."
The three walked into the fortress.
Looking at the spirited soldiers around, Sakazuki turned to Carol:
"How do you feel about the soldiers here?"
Carol praised:
"They have a lot of spirit."
"I can see that these soldiers are very proud."
"Vice Admiral Jonathan leads them very well."
"No wonder they've been called the 'Iron Wall Fortress' in recent years."
"It's well-deserved."
Jonathan turned and smiled:
"Not at all, it's just an empty title."
"Hahahaha."
The G8 branch, under Jonathan's leadership, was flourishing.
Its influence grew year by year, and if it continued, in a few more years, no pirates would dare to visit these waters.
It would likely become a 'Peace Fortress'.
"We're here."
"Jessica! Bring out those good bottles of wine of mine."
-----
Good friends who hadn't seen each other for years chatted over drinks.
After several rounds of drinks, it was late into the night.
Sakazuki and Jonathan, each holding a bottle of wine, walked to the topmost floor of the fortress.
Gazing at the bright moon, Jonathan took a sip of wine:
"Phew—"
"What are your plans for Amazon Lily?"
"That woman's personality is too harsh."
"She probably won't easily turn the soldiers back."
Sakazuki sneered:
"If we can't handle it, then we won't."
"A fallen nation, a destroyed race, a pirate country, who do they think they are?"
Jonathan smiled and shook his head:
"You..."
"By the way, do you know what's happening at Headquarters?"
Sakazuki looked at Jonathan:
"What's wrong with Headquarters?"
Jonathan said:
"This is just circulating among the higher-ups."
"The Fleet Admiral is retiring, and the next Fleet Admiral will undoubtedly be Sengoku."
"Then the Fleet Admiral at that time..."
Sakazuki shook his head:
"I have no intention of competing."
"The chaos in this sea is just beginning."
"Let them cause trouble for now."
"Once the situation becomes clear, we'll round them all up."
Jonathan smiled:
"I see..."
He raised his wine bottle and clinked it with Sakazuki's:
"Cheers."
-----
Early morning.
Seeing the two large warships piled high with stone statues, Sakazuki's expression darkened.
It wasn't just the over a thousand petrified soldiers, but also the stone statues of many soldiers that had been shattered and lay scattered in pieces.
These were only the collected ones; there were piles of fragments that couldn't be reassembled.
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes:
"Looking for death..."
-----
Several days later.
Two large warships sailed through the Calm Belt.
Because of the Conqueror's Haki that Sakazuki vaguely exuded, no Sea Kings dared to approach.
They sailed unimpeded to the outer reaches of Amazon Lily.
Seeing the outline of Amazon Lily, Sakazuki said softly:
"Carol, use the Den Den Mushi to inform the Kuja Country."
"Tell their Empress..."
"To come out and 'receive' the Shichibukai appointment."
Carol said:
"Understood."
----
Amazon Lily, within the Kuja Palace.
Boa Hancock threw the Den Den Mushi in her hand to the ground and stomped on it, shattering it:
"Bastards!!!"
"Mere Marines."
"They truly don't know their place!"
"How dare they order this empress to greet them."
"Sonia, Gloriosa, gather the warriors!!!"
The two exceptionally tall snake-people smiled, sticking out their forked tongues:
"Yes, Elder Sister."
Elder Nyon looked troubled:
"No, Hancock!"
"Joining the Shichibukai this time is a major national affair that will allow the Kuja Country to coexist peacefully with the Marines."
"Don't act on impulse."
"And the one coming is a Marine Admiral!"
"Sakazuki's brutal reputation echoes across the sea."
"If conflict arises..."
But Hancock's expression was blank as she strode forward.
Looking at Hancock radiating her oppressive aura, Elder Nyon's mind went blank:
"You... you..."
*Bang—*
A powerful force struck, and she was kicked flying.
Boa Hancock adopted a condescending pose, pointing at Elder Nyon, who was struggling to get up:
"Your era ended long ago, Empress of the Amazon three generations ago."
"Even if it's because of my momentary whim that we face annihilation, this empress will be forgiven no matter what."
"Because this empress is too beautiful."
Her two sisters chuckled beside her, sticking out their forked tongues:
"Sss—"
"Sss—"
Boa Hancock turned her head with haughty pride:
"Gather the soldiers."
"To these ignorant Marines..."
The three of them gradually disappeared outside the palace doors.
Elder Nyon's face was covered in cold sweat:
"This is bad..."
Trembling, she pulled out a Den Den Mushi. After a few seconds:
"Shakky!"