Aftermath! The Age of Pirates!

The exact amount of gold in the legendary Roa Golden Land unknown.

What he knew was that the legendary Lamp of Shandora, the giant Golden Bell, had a single pillar that was tens of meters long and several meters wide!

Just one pillar must weigh over a thousand tons!

The Golden Bell, on the other hand, consists of two pillars, a massive bell body, and an even heavier base.

It's no exaggeration to say that tens of thousands of tons of gold are involved!

The Golden Bell alone was already a staggering sum that even the wealthy and powerful Roa found astonishing.

Not to mention that the Golden Land also contains a large amount of other gold!

It's gotten so large that even Roa is worried it will impact global gold prices, causing a sharp drop in gold prices!

Hmm, I'm probably overthinking it.

After all, compared to the gold controlled by the future Gild Tesoro, the so-called Golden Kingdom is nothing but a drop in the ocean.

However, with this funding, Judge's research should proceed much more smoothly.

What if the money runs out, but the research isn't finished?

Doesn't this already mean we have a vast territory?

Alas, it seems the common people will have to suffer.

As Roa huffed and puffed his way towards the Sky Island, at the summit of the Red Line, in Mary Geoise, deep within the Pangea Castle, in a room called the Flower Room.

"Ughhhhh!!"

Screams like those of a pig being slaughtered echoed through the spacious room, which was filled with blooming flowers.

If the world were to witness this scene, they would likely find it unbelievable.

Because the one lying on the ground groaning in pain was Celestial Dragons of the five Celestial Dragons who held the highest power in the world, known as the Five Elders!

The five elders who controlled the world were writhing and squirming on the ground like maggots, seemingly experiencing some indescribable pain.

Black energy emanated from their bodies, and their faces were visibly aging.

"Lord Imu! Lord Imu! Please! Please forgive us!"

The bald Five Elders, Warcury pleaded in terror.

The other four Five Elders also wailed and begged for mercy.

The figure they were pleading with, wearing a long crown and shrouded in a black robe, was carefully pulling up a weed from the ground.

Beside this figure stood a maid, also slender, wearing a mask, and with heterochromatic eyes.

The maid silently looked down at the wailing Five Elders, without uttering a word.

At this moment, the figure wearing the crown, the Celestial Dragon above Celestial Dragons, the true Celestial Dragons of the world, the mysterious being revered as Lord Imu, spoke.

"The New World was lost, the Marine Headquarters was destroyed, the Fleet Admiral was publicly murdered, and the government's reputation was trampled underfoot by arrogant pirates."

Imu said slowly, "I entrusted the world to you for management, and this is how you repay me?"

"I'm so sorry, Lord Imu! It's all our fault!"

The Five Elders wailed, "We underestimated Roa! That's why we're in this situation now!"

"But please give us another chance to atone for our mistakes! We promise we won't let you down again!"

Imu finally turned his head slightly.

In an instant, the invisible force acting on the five old men seemed to dissipate somewhat, and the five men instantly felt much more relaxed, immediately turning over and kneeling respectfully.

What do you intend to do?

"Lord Imu!"

The Five Elders hurriedly replied, "It now appears that the Rocks Pirates have indeed been resurrected, and those pirates are once again on the same side!"

"What's more troublesome is that Roa and Rocks, who are now leading them, are different. They don't seek a direct victory; they use destruction to coerce the government!"

When Rocks was mentioned, the Five Elders lowered their voices slightly.

It was because of this man back then that they suffered unspeakable torment just like they do now!

Roa and Rocks are truly in the same vein of madness!

No, Roa was even more insane Rocks.

After all, Rocks never truly conquered the New World.

Therefore, we conclude that even with the combined strength of the government and the navy, it would be very difficult to retake the New World head-on.

Mars said cautiously, "But pirates fight only for the same interests! Without us as an external factor, internal conflicts become the main theme!"

"Our plan is to sow discord among the pirates and ultimately cause them to fight each other!"

Imu made no reaction, listening quietly and watching the Five Elders silently.

But it was precisely this calm that sent chills down the spines of the Five Elders.

If this lord so desires, a single thought can reduce them to ashes.

Don't let Mu down.

A calm voice rang out.

The Five Elders instantly felt as if they had found a new path after a long and difficult journey.

One by one, they hurriedly kowtowed deeply.

"Yes, Lord Imu!"

The most difficult hurdle has finally been overcome.

However, many more headaches are yet to come.

The navy needs to be appeased.

Public opinion also needs to be addressed.

The New World, the Great Naval Fleet.

Although Mars of the Five Elders was directly summoned back, the Marines will have to obediently evacuate the New World by sea.

Yes, the large fleet has begun its return voyage; they are withdrawing from the New World.

"So, we're just going to compromise with the pirates like this?"

In an office somewhere in the fleet, Zephyr brushed his purple hair back with one hand, his voice indifferent.

There were four people in the office: Zephyr sitting on a single sofa, Garp and Tsuru sitting side by side on a double sofa at a distance, and Admiral Sengoku sitting behind his desk, constantly rubbing his forehead.

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Sengoku's voice was soft. This man, the only Admiral in the navy at the time, a man with earth-shattering strength, showed signs of fatigue, his face filled with helplessness.

"We simply can't handle those guys."

"So,"

Zephyr's voice grew increasingly shrill, "So the destruction of Marineford is just going to be left like this? So the murder of Brother Kong is just going to be left like this? Are we just going to hand over the New World to those pirates who deserve to be torn to pieces? Are we just going to betray those Affiliated Nation that are still waiting for our rescue so easily?"

"Alright, Zephyr!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru said with some helplessness, "Sengoku was just following orders."

"Order?"

Zephyr continued to sneer, "We have to obey such stupid orders? Where has the Navy's sense of justice gone?"

"Shut up, Zephyr!"

Sengoku finally raised his head, gritting his teeth slightly, "Stop saying such things! As soldiers, obeying orders is our duty!"

"Ordinary soldiers do only need to obey orders! But Sengoku, as Admiral, don't you have your own will?"

Zephyr suddenly stood up, veins bulging on his forehead. "Oh, right, you're in a hurry to go back and take over as Fleet Admiral, aren't you? And you still need to cooperate with the World Government to continue staging this charade of chasing the pirate alliance!"

"Haha! They've already been kicked out of the New World like stray dogs, yet they still want to prove to the world that they are still relentlessly pursuing those scum!"

"Enough! Zephyr!"

Sengoku slammed his fist on the desk in front of him, shattering it. The man, about to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, had bloodshot eyes. "Do you think I'm not in pain? Do you think Marineford and Brother Kong aren't important to me?"

But what can we do now?

As Sengoku spoke, he even sounded somewhat aggrieved, "Do you think we can defeat Roa and his group just by staying in the New World? Will they give us a chance to fight them head-on? They'll only attack other bases or Affiliated Nation!"

"Neither the government nor the navy can afford any more losses!"

"That's better than doing nothing!"

Zephyr roared, "Even making a mistake is better than doing nothing!"

"Zephyr!!"

The flames of anger were also rising in the Sengoku.

Does he really feel any better about it?

Was he really willing to do it?

Zephyr, why can't you understand!

Should we fight?

At this moment, Vice Admiral Tsuru, arms crossed, coldly spoke, "If you're going to fight, then do it now. Anyway, your voices have already echoed throughout the entire ship, aren't you afraid of making things even more embarrassing?"

"Or do you want me to cry and beg you to stop arguing?"

The two men, panting heavily, finally stopped arguing, but they still glared at each other intently.

After a long silence, Zephyr turned around without hesitation, slammed the door, and left, leaving behind only the words, "Just keep indulging them, Sengoku. You'll regret this sooner or later!"

Sengoku took a deep breath, his voice low and resonant, "No matter what the future holds, I will take full responsibility, because I am the future Fleet Admiral!"

After Zephyr left, the office fell into a deathly silence.

Until.

Click, click.

A crisp sound rang out.

"Hahaha! Sengoku, you brought senbei and didn't even tell me!"

Garp the Hero pulled out a bag of senbei from somewhere and started happily munching on it.

Sengoku's cheek muscles twitched. "Garp! You bastard, get the hell out of here too!"

Hahaha! How terrifying!

The Marine Hero grinned and ran off with the rice crackers.

Just before leaving, he glanced back, but there wasn't a trace of a smile in his eyes.

"The Sengoku and the pirates are insatiable."

Do you think I don't know that?

Sengoku slumped back into his office chair, rubbing his hair with a pained expression.

But what can be done now?

Zephyr walked toward his office with a gloomy face. The news of his argument with Sengoku was impossible to keep quiet because both of them were shouting so loudly, and it had now spread throughout the entire ship.

Therefore, none of the sailors he encountered along the way dared to cross his brow; they simply greeted him respectfully and then silently retreated.

However, in reality, Zephyr was not nearly as angry as the Navy imagined.

On the contrary, he understood the Sengoku very well.

Zephyr knew that staying in the New World wouldn't change anything.

Even without government aid, and without the help of the Knights of God and the Five Elders, if the Navy's fleet were to actually go to war with the pirate alliance, it would probably only end up being completely annihilated.

The enemy was too powerful, and more importantly, too unscrupulous. It was obvious that the pirates' plan was orchestrated by Roa; that guy was no human being at all.

In this situation, it seems there's no better option than compromise. Are we really going to watch the pirates destroy all the Navy's high-level bases and plunge the world into chaos?

Even so, Zephyr still chose to loudly question Sengoku.

It sounds despicable, but Zephyr genuinely believed it was a great opportunity.

Very good.

The noisy sounds inside abruptly stopped after he pushed open the door to his office.

Some naval commanders who had heard about the argument between Zephyr and Sengoku hurriedly gathered here.

"Mr. Zephyr, are we really just going to retreat like this?"

"Retreat? Isn't that just running away?"

"Did Fleet Admiral Kong die in vain?"

"My family is all in Marineford! Is this really going to be left like this?"

"My wife, my children! This can't end like this! How can it end here!"

Zephyr took a deep breath, went into his office, and closed the door.

He glanced around at his impassioned colleagues, and a thought inexplicably arose in his mind: Now, you finally understand me, don't you?

A wave of sorrow followed immediately.

Zephyr, what have you become?

The suffering of your colleagues and the triumph of the pirates—does it actually bring you some joy?

No!

But in the blink of an eye, he had reaffirmed his belief.

The fault lies not with me, but with the World Government!

What I have chosen is true justice!

Z, the champion of justice, will forever walk the path of justice!

"Professor Zephyr! Say something!"

Young and passionate, Kuzan and Admiral angrily, "Just say the word, and we'll all follow you to protest against Sengoku and the World Government!"

"Protest?"

Zephyr shook his head. "It's pointless now. The government and Roa have reached an agreement. The pirates will stop causing trouble, and we'll cede the New World. That's a fact, and it can't be changed."

"Are you kidding me!"

Having joined the Navy less than a year ago, Kuzan, still a passionate young man, suddenly felt his worldview crumble.

"Kuzan,"

Zephyr gave this disciple he admired a deep look. "You also think this is wrong?"

"Of course!"

Kuzan roared without hesitation, "To compromise now would be to betray the sacrificed Fleet Admiral Kong, to betray everyone killed by the pirates, and to betray the Affiliated Nation of the New World!"

Not only him, but the crowd was indignant.

Everyone's face was filled with anger and resentment.

"In that case, we need to think carefully about what to do in the future!"

The world is about to face unprecedented chaos!

Although the pirates' activities have ceased, their actions have deeply shocked the world and will undoubtedly bring immeasurable negative consequences!

The Navy needs to make a choice!

The agreement reached between the World Government and the pirate alliance is naturally unknown to anyone at the moment.

However, this did not stop newspapers around the world from frantically spreading news of the battle, or rather, the public execution, that took place in Marineford.

And so, the world went mad.

People who couldn't watch the live broadcast felt like the sky had fallen when they received the newspaper.

"They... they attacked Marineford?"

"The Fleet Admiral has been killed! How is that possible! Has such a thing ever happened in eight hundred years?"

"It's over! The world is over! Who in the world can stop them?!"

In just a moment, a sense of despair had spread throughout the world.

The great fortress of justice was destroyed, and the supreme commander of justice was killed in a manner that was almost humiliating.

Where this world will go next, no one really knows.

Although the government has been making every effort to declare in the newspapers under its control that it will never compromise and will fight the evil pirates to the end, the people's sense of uncertainty has not diminished in the slightest.

Because, as Roa said, all the previous victories were fake.

Discerning individuals have already realized the underlying weakness and bluster revealed in the government's declaration.

In the North Blue.

"The pirates have finally achieved a great victory."

Dragon's face was grave. "The World Government had no choice but to compromise. What will the New World face next? Where will this world go from here?"

Where will the wind blow?

"At least there's some good news,"

Doctor Trafalgar gave a wry smile. "Mr. Zephyr has gained a great many supporters."

"..."

Dragon's feelings became very complicated.

The number of people in the Navy who support Zephyr has greatly increased, which is certainly a good thing.

However, the cost of this event filled Dragon with sorrow.

At the same time.

Dressrosa.

King Riku's face was ashen, and his hands, holding the newspaper, trembled. "This is terrible!"

"Your Majesty, is that not correct?"

At the scene, the young Kyros, dressed in soldier's clothes, asked with some confusion, "Although Marineford has been wiped out, the government still says it will never compromise with the pirates."

"Roa said that the previous victory was fake! Then, is this so-called 'never compromise' real?"

King Riku closed his eyes in anguish. "The World Government can no longer afford the consequences of continuing the war with the pirates!"

Kyros's face gradually turned pale.

At the Sphinx.

The Whitebeard Pirates were silent.

The Whitebeard quietly closed the newspaper, his chest heaving violently.

"Pops, it seems that those guys are destined to divide up the New World."

Marco's forehead was beaded with sweat. "What should we do then? After dealing with the World Government, we'll probably become a thorn in their side!"

Although my Pops and the others were once members of the Rocks Pirates, what use are those past camaraderies now, in the face of this new Rocks Pirates?

Not to mention, the Whitebeard Pirates and Roa, the key figure in the pirate alliance, are complete enemies!

The Whitebeard remained silent.

Yes, what should we do next?

In the Giant Kingdom.

"Hahahaha! The Rocks brought back back then have already caused this much trouble? Interesting. Dividing up the New World? Then let them come! Elbaf awaits them!"

In the first half of the Grand Line, there is Paradise, Water 7.

"Wow! They actually took down the Fleet Admiral! The newspapers are saying it was all Roa's doing! Roger, you've met that guy, haven't you? The boy known as the Calamity, just what kind of person is he?"

"Hahaha! Didn't I already say? It's a natural disaster! Don't go near it, or you'll become unlucky!"

The impact of this event goes far beyond that.

The Marineford, and the death of the Fleet Admiral, had a most direct impact.

"Hahaha! The navy is so weak! What's there to be afraid of! I'm going to sea!"

"That's right! Even the Fleet Admiral was killed! The Navy is nothing special! Nobody can stop me from going to sea!"

"I'm going to join the pirate alliance! It's the New World now, but sooner or later they'll definitely take over the whole world!"

"I'm going to go to sea too! I'm going to be as Four Seas as Roa Golden Lion!"

The Navy's prestige suffered a devastating blow, while the madmen of the pirate alliance became idols for countless people overnight, with countless individuals setting sail with them as their role models.

As Zephyr said, the actions of Roa and his group have had an immeasurable and detrimental impact on the people of this world.

People haven't quite realized it yet, but in the future, it will be widely believed that this moment marks the very beginning of the era of pirates.

At the same time.

The Snail Fleet was rumbling headlong into a thick fog.

Before reaching Sky Island, let's stop by Water 7.

The blueprints for Pluton —why not take them while they're free, right?