The Turbulent Seas
A small town on the Grand Line.
The bar was no longer as noisy as usual; everyone was quietly drinking, their faces showing their worries.
"Do you think the Marine Headquarters and the Shichibukai are about to start fighting?"
"Perhaps. Didn't they already start fighting yesterday? I heard they sank a perfectly good island. What a demonic force!"
"The entire Grand Line is no longer safe. I really envy those people who live on the Four Seas!"
"Sigh, these are truly troublesome times. Forget about those worries, let's drink and have some drinks."
The people in the bar were all drowning their sorrows in alcohol. No wonder they had such a negative attitude. It would be abnormal for them to remain calm after witnessing yesterday's apocalyptic battle.
"Great news, great news, fantastic news!" A portly businessman rushed in, waving a newspaper in his hand.
"What, Plank? Are you trying to trick us into buying things with discounts again? Give up, who has the time or inclination for that these days?" an acquaintance bluntly exposed.
"Idiot! I meant there won't be any fighting, everyone is safe, no one has to leave their homes, no one has to worry about being separated from their families, hooray!"
Seeing that the others were still looking at him with suspicion, Plank spread out the newspaper in his hand and shouted loudly, "Look, this is an official statement issued by the Marine Headquarters. Everything yesterday was a misunderstanding and was Admiral 'Akainu personal decision. The Marine Headquarters and the Shichibukai will continue to maintain a friendly cooperative relationship."
Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, everyone was stunned by the shocking news before swarming around to snatch the newspaper from Plank's hands.
"It's true, it's really true!"
"Hiss, Admiral Akainu has failed in his duties and has been stripped of his rank of Admiral. His duties will be temporarily assumed by Admiral Candidate Momousagi."
"This... this is too shocking! Could it be that the Marine Headquarters has given in to Nightmare Roy?"
"How is that possible? The Marine Headquarters is the most powerful force in the entire Grand Line!"
"Don't forget, many newspapers have claimed that the Phantom Sword Pirates' combat strength is now almost on par with the Marine Headquarters!"
"Does that mean the second Pirate Kings is really about to be born?"
Everyone was stunned by this terrible conclusion.
On an Unnamed Island near Sabaody, the five Supernovas were recuperating. It was Ace, while Roy was fighting Akainu, used his last strength to lead the other four Supernovas to escape the source of the disaster.
"Even Marine Admiral has been defeated?" Yorkson seemed somewhat silent, no longer displaying his previous arrogance.
"If the New World is full of monsters like this, we'd better give up as soon as possible." Vincent was even more depressed, his body trembling from time to time, as if recalling that nightmarish experience.
Ace stared at the newspaper in his hand, speechless. As a lower- Devil Fruit User of the Magma-Magma Fruit, he was the one who felt it most deeply. When he saw the sky full of magma being annihilated by a single sword strike, he could even sense the collapse of his inner faith.
The Moby Dick was in an uproar.
"Hmph, how dare they claim to be the future Pirate Kings? They're practically disregarding the Whitebeard Pirates!" Diamond Jozu clenched the newspaper in his hand, unable to hide his anger.
"Gurararara, the Pirate Kings isn't decided by them. Only the one who stands at the top of the Grand Line is the true Pirate Kings!" Whitebeard truly deserves the title of the World's Strongest Man; there's not a trace of old age in him.
"Don't let these ridiculous rumors cloud your judgment, Jozu. Overnight, these gossips have spread all over the world. I absolutely do not believe that there is no Navy or World Government behind this." Marco said casually, rolling his dead fish eyes.
"Marco is right, and this underhanded tactic is probably the work of that old fox, Sengoku." Whitebeard took a big gulp of wine and glanced at the arrogant figure in the newspaper. "However, this kid is quite something to make Akainu look so pathetic. I'm quite looking forward to seeing him in the New World."
In the New World, on an island near the Navy's g-5 Branch, the Red Hair Pirates boarded their ship to prepare for evacuation.
"What an unexpected guy. It feels like just yesterday that we heard the news of his defeat of Doflamingo two years ago." Shanks seemed quite surprised. He had just fought Akainu not long ago and naturally knew how terrifying the radical Marine Admiral's strength was.
Ben Beckman, however, looked serious. "Although the Navy is suspected of sowing discord, we really have to be wary of them. Looking at Nightmare Roy's growth trajectory, we know that he is definitely not someone who is content with mediocrity. It's hard to say that he won't challenge for the position of Four Emperors. Moreover, with his current strength, he certainly has the confidence to challenge the Four Emperors' pirate crews. We need to prepare for this as soon as possible."
"Haha, relax. Let him come if he wants. This era is not for them to rule!"
"He dares to claim to be the future Pirate Kings after defeating a Marine Admiral? Who gave that brat the guts?" Big Mom's massive body bent down, obscuring the sky like a small mountain.
"Mom, this is nothing more than the Navy's scheme to use one enemy against another. Nightmare Roy is not an easy character to deal with. It would be unwise to provoke such an enemy for no reason." Only Katakuri, the greatest masterpiece of the Charlotte Family, would dare to speak to Big Mom like this.
The brothers and sisters on the side watched this scene with trepidation, not daring to go against Big Mom's wishes.
"Haha, what an interesting kid. I think I sent him an invitation to Tea Party two years ago." Big Mom really valued Katakuri and didn't get angry because of his obstruction.
"Yes, but Roy suddenly disappeared two years ago, so the invitation could not be delivered to him."
"Then let's send him another invitation to the Tea Party. I heard that he has two Giants on his ship!"
"Damn bastard, if he's the future Pirate Kings, then what am I? Waaaaah!" Kaido hugged a wine jar and inexplicably burst into tears.
Everyone around was terrified, not daring to make a sound, for fear of being noticed by Kaido. After all, their captain was always unpredictable, and being killed by Kaido in his rage was just bad luck.
"Hurry up, go find him for me! If he can't kill me, glug glug!" Kaido the last sip of sake, smashed the sake jar he was holding, and roared, "Then let me kill him!"