Softly, I departed,
Just as I softly came;
I softly waved my hand,
Bidding farewell to the clouds of Marineford.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Since this was an extremely classified mission, there could be no grand farewell—every action had to be quiet and swift.
At the first glimmer of dawn, Sakazuki hurried to Sabaody Archipelago.
He transferred onto a top-class military ship that had already been coated and inspected the final preparations before the descent.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki! We have had both the military's coating specialists and several civilian craftsmen cross-check the work with no errors found. We are ready to set sail at any time!"
Lindemann, as meticulous as ever, gave his final pre-departure report. The greatest risk in traveling to Fish-Man Island was the possibility of the ship's coating failing, which would result in it being crushed by water pressure.
Sakazuki nodded. He could rest assured with a careful person like Lindemann handling things.
The Vice Admiral noticed that his subordinate's epaulettes had changed to bear blue patterns—a symbol of a flag officer.
Despite the chaos within Marine Headquarters in recent days—caused by the expansion of the Giant Squad and heated debates over modifications to the Warlord of the Sea system—they had not forgotten to recognize Lindemann's past contributions to intelligence work.
"Keep up the good work. Stay vigilant, Lindemann."
Sakazuki patted the newly promoted Rear Admiral on the shoulder.
The fox-eared officer scratched the fur on his tail somewhat shyly before pulling out a copy of the day's special edition newspaper from his coat.
"Thank you for your support, Vice Admiral. By the way, what are your thoughts on the Warlord of the Sea system?"
Sakazuki didn't react immediately.
"Weren't you present at the officers' meeting that day?"
"Vice Admiral, Lindemann's promotion happened after that meeting."
On the helm deck, Onigumo reminded him, glancing at the newspaper in Lindemann's hands.
The bold headline was impossible to ignore:
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea! A New Fighting Force Under the World Government's Banner!"
Onigumo looked at his superior and asked,
"Vice Admiral, do you think any pirate would willingly tighten the leash around their own neck?"
Sakazuki nodded.
"This is the brilliance of the Five Elders. These Seven Warlords are both shackles and lifelines. Those pirates with foresight will understand the balance of profit and loss."
— — — — — — — — — —
That day's special edition sent shockwaves across the entire world. Messenger birds flitted between oceans and islands, rapidly spreading news of the World Government's new policy through various newspapers.
From common townsfolk to noble rulers of grand islands, everyone was discussing this scheme of pardoning and enlisting pirates.
Of course, the ones most affected were the countless pirates themselves.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea? What a load of bullshit! Burning, looting, and pillaging is so much freer—who the hell would willingly become a dog for the Navy?"
Most pirates scoffed at the idea, and even those who were somewhat tempted were quickly dissuaded by the strict conditions required to qualify as a Warlord.
Many mocked the World Government, calling them insane. How could they possibly recruit anyone with such harsh requirements?
Yet, a small handful of people did not blindly follow the crowd.
Ignoring the conditions that most pirates found unacceptable, they had spotted the true benefits hidden within the Warlord system.
"Guhahaha! How could those fools possibly understand the advantages?"
A young man with slicked-back hair sat alone in a private booth inside a tavern, laughing heartily. A fresh, long scar stretched across his face, adding a vicious air to his already grim expression.
His right hand idly played with the earring on his right ear.
"With an official backing, I can finally carry out my revenge openly. Whitebeard!"
His left hand had been severed at the wrist, replaced by a massive golden hook.
Did he care that hunting down pirates would make him the enemy of the pirate world? Not in the slightest. The seas had always been a place where pirates competed, slaughtering one another.
If he had to kill pirates, so be it—as a Warlord, he would have the World Government's approval and protection.
What truly tempted Crocodile was the legitimacy granted by the title.
With official recognition, unlike the constant struggles he had faced in the New World, he would no longer need to worry about the Marines constantly pursuing him.
Not only that, but the government's endorsement presented Warlords with an unprecedented opportunity—
A chance to openly establish legal businesses, gather subordinates, and build a true force of their own.
The financial benefits were more stable, the resources more abundant, and talent recruitment became easier than ever before.
That was the true, hidden benefit that had captured Crocodile's interest.
— — — — — — — — — —
In another part of the ocean, someone else had come to the same conclusion.
A young man with short golden hair, wearing dark red sunglasses, burst into laughter in the middle of a busy street while holding up the special edition newspaper.
"Fufufufu! Interesting, truly interesting! Hahahaha! Those Five Elders have really come up with something amusing!"
Despite having long left the Holy Land, he was of Celestial Dragon descent. Having been raised in that world, he had witnessed many grand events.
His turbulent life, filled with struggle and suppression, had shaped him into someone far sharper than the average pirate.
While most of them were still intoxicated by fleeting pleasures, indulging in the thrill of destruction and pillaging, Donquixote Doflamingo had already grasped a fundamental truth:
Without a solid foundation, without stable finances and power, pirates were nothing but stray dogs, forever hunted by the Marines.
And now, the Warlord of the Sea title was the perfect position for him to obtain.
With his intelligence, strength, and the blood flowing through his veins, he would gain access to vast connections and privileges.
Running businesses, trafficking weapons, dealing in drugs, and engaging in other underground trades—
The legality of the Warlord system would allow him to thrive in both the underworld and the political sphere.
— — — — — — — — — —
"The Seven Warlords? Gurararara! My old rival is going to have a headache over this."
In the New World, the absolute ruler of the seas—the world's strongest man, Edward Newgate—also held a copy of the newspaper.
He knew exactly what kind of people pirates were.
Did the World Government really believe they could make these recruits obedient? Whitebeard found the idea laughable.
His first-division commander, Marco, wearing his usual pineapple-styled hair and his half-lidded eyes, pointed to the Marine Headquarters' signature at the bottom of the article.
"Old man, if the Warlords cooperate with Marine Headquarters, won't they still be a threat to us?"
Whitebeard's eyes were filled with scorn, and his voice boomed with absolute dominance.
"So what? Those little cubs yapping at my heels mean nothing. I am Whitebeard!"
— — — — — — — — — —
While events across the sea were unfolding, Sakazuki remained unaware.
He was fully focused on commanding his warship, steering it past Sabaody Archipelago and down into the depths—toward the abyss of 10,000 meters beneath the sea.
Toward Fish-Man Island.
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