“Worororo, that brat Jack actually did pretty well. He really exceeded my expectations.”
[The Beasts Pirates claim responsibility for this attack.]
On the newspaper’s front page, the note Jack had left behind at the time was extremely eye-catching.
If it had been any other pirate, their first reaction after doing something like this would definitely have been to run. Jack’s behavior of deliberately leaving a note, as if afraid the other side would not know he had done it, was undoubtedly a slap in the Marine’s face.
Because the person who did this was Jack, the level of mockery was even higher. After all, the impression Jack usually left on others was one of crudeness. Actions carried out by someone like that struck an even greater blow against those who prided themselves on being the Resourceful General.
They often used the most direct methods to break through other people’s meticulous arrangements.
And that method also gave those in charge of defense a headache.
The more something simple developed to the point where it could no longer be dealt with, the harder it became to handle. For example, the Fish-Men’s attacks. Everyone knew how they attacked.
They lurked in the deep sea and looked for opportunities to launch assaults, yet this happened to be a difficult problem for the World Government.
Unless someone of Admiral level personally escorted the convoy, no one could guarantee nothing would go wrong.
In the past, the Fish-Men had behaved themselves, and the occasional extremists who appeared had also been dealt with. This made the World Government look down on Fish-Men more and more, until Fishman Island completely flipped the table. Only then did they experience the terror of this aquatic race.
“But that birdman Morgans is really wasted as a reporter. To think he could even get this kind of intel. I underestimated him a little.”
Red Port had just been attacked by Jack, and Morgans was able to get the news right away. Even Kaido admired that kind of efficiency. These part-time photographers truly counted as the strongest intelligence organization on the sea.
“Governor-General, everything is just about ready. The communication channel has been prepared.”
Bao Huang hopped in. Quite a few capable officers had already been sent out, so she, Kaido’s secretary, finally had the chance to work again.
“It’s been so many years. This war had better not disappoint me. We’ve played around enough. From here on, it’s serious business.”
Clenching his fist, Kaido wore a smile he could hardly conceal. After taking the microphone Bao Huang handed him, Kaido’s bold voice immediately spread throughout the whole of Wano Country.
“Everyone! It’s time for war!”
At the same time, Morgans’s newspaper had already sent the news all across the world, and this also caused no small amount of panic.
Red Port beneath Mariejois, and Marineford, the former Marine Headquarters—these two places were, in the understanding of most citizens of affiliated nations, the safest places in the world.
Now that even places like these had been attacked by pirates, where else was safe?
After this news spread, in less than an hour, all kinds of people gathered at the port.
Rich merchants, nobles, and even World Government staff all wanted to leave this island as soon as possible.
Whether it was Marineford or Red Port, both were far too close to this place. In order not to get caught up in it, they all wanted to hurry to some countryside to hide from the storm.
Then they would come back after the pirates were wiped out.
Things like this had happened before. The Marines would always be the final victors, whether it was Roger, who had completed a full circuit around the Grand Line, or Golden Lion, who had charged into Marine Headquarters alone.
Countless powerful pirates had been born on the sea, but in the end, they had all fallen at the hands of the Marines.
For a time, the port became utterly chaotic. Condemnations, curses, crying, pleading—all the many uglinesses of human nature were displayed vividly at this moment.
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think those pirates had already fought their way here. Did they really need to be scared to that extent?”
“Who knows? Maybe they think their lives are more precious. I actually think this is pretty good. Those nobles have been scared off, and the Celestial Dragons don’t dare come out either.
As for pirates, there are usually plenty of pirates here anyway.”
“What you said actually makes a lot of sense.”
In the slums of Sabaody Archipelago, the residents there merely sat and watched all these changes unfold, without the slightest anxiousness at all. Though they were clearly on the same island, it was as if it had been split into two different worlds.
“Rayleigh, have you seen the newspaper?”
At Shakky’s Rip-off Bar, Shakky brought the newspaper over to Rayleigh.
The Human Auctioning House run by Doflamingo had collapsed long ago, but after that, a new auction house soon appeared, and Rayleigh returned to his old trade as well—auctioning himself off.
The auction house’s owner had just run away, so Rayleigh simply picked the lock himself and came back.
“I saw it. Kaido really did cause a huge commotion.”
“They previously moved New Fishman Island and Amazon Lily away, then after Fishman Island announced its separation from the World Government, they began attacking Celestial Dragon transport ships. Now they’ve done something like this. You don’t think they’re only trying to scare people, do you?”
“How could that be? Kaido… that guy worships war.
Golden Lion, Whitebeard, John, Ochoku—the old-timers have left the stage one by one, while the apprentice from back then has instead become a monster even more terrifying than Rocks.
His goal won’t be that simple. Something like this is probably only the prelude.
A new era is coming again.”
“What, are you reminiscing about the past?”
The ladies’ cigarette in Shakky’s hand continued to burn, but Rayleigh said nothing. The rum reflected the lights in the bar, and even Shakky did not know what Rayleigh was thinking now.
“Maybe… Roger, is the situation now something you would have wanted to see?”
That young figure wearing a straw hat once again appeared in Rayleigh’s memory, but he could no longer give him any response.
In Mariejois, the Five Elders naturally received this intelligence as well. After all, what had just happened had taken place right under their feet.
“These undersea creatures, Fish-Men, really are troublesome.”
“It is of no great consequence. This only further proves that our decision was correct. Do they really think a single pirate can change the world? Once the Beasts Pirates vanish from this world, that race will regret what they have done.”
“No, they will have no chance to regret it. A race that has committed a grave crime has no reason to continue existing. Having offended the dignity of the gods, the only fate awaiting them is disappearance.”
The Five Elders did not think there was anything wrong with their actions, nor did they feel they had oppressed the Fish-Men too harshly. They did not even think Charlos trying to seize Shirahoshi as a slave in public back then had been wrong.
“There was a mistake as well. Perhaps agreeing to change their classification from fish to humans back then was the mistake.”
Nasjuro added one final sentence, then continued, “Were it not for the existence of Poseidon, this race would have long since disappeared from history. Your ideas go too far. If this race were to vanish, the madness of the colossal Sea Kings would destroy the sea.”
“Indeed. Garling has already set out. It is reasonable to leave that matter to him. We should depart as well. Marines alone are no longer enough to deal with the situation before us.”
Saturn acknowledged Nasjuro’s words, then walked outside with his cane.
“Sakazuki’s operation has begun as well, correct? Although his dignity is of no importance, this is indeed a passable plan.”
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