Third Party

The time rewound to a day earlier, at Marine Headquarters.

"What?! You're saying Kaido and BIG MOM assembled massive fleets at the same time? Both sides are fully armed and appear to be preparing to make contact?!"

Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, a burly, stern-looking man was bellowing into a Den Den Mushi. His voice was so thunderous that the Den Den Mushi trembled in fear, while the distant windows creaked beneath the force of his voice.

"Y-Yes, Fleet Admiral Kong."

The Marine intelligence officer on the other end was clearly terrified and answered in a trembling voice.

"Huff..."

Hearing the distorted voice of someone too nervous to speak properly, the man took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed his anger. "When did they leave port?"

"O-One day ago."

"..."

"Bastards!"

This time, the windows could no longer hold out. The glass set within them shattered and scattered across the floor.

"What are you intelligence officers even for?! Why are you only reporting this now?!"

"R-Reporting, Fleet Admiral, we originally thought it was a routine departure. We never expected..."

"Enough! Keep watching them. The moment you determine their movements, report to me immediately!"

Without listening to the explanation any further, the Fleet Admiral immediately made the necessary arrangements.

Those bastards!

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Kong, now calmer, shouted toward the outside of his office, "Get Sengoku and Zephyr here immediately! And if that bastard Garp is back, bring him too!"

"Yes!"

The communications soldier outside shook her ears, which were ringing slightly from the noise, and immediately began contacting Sengoku and the others.

Tch! That bastard Rocks left behind so much trouble even after dying! Without his restraint, who knows how many storms those ambitious bastards will stir up across the seas!

After smoking two cigars, the two Marine Admirals, Sengoku and Zephyr, finally arrived at the Fleet Admiral's office.

"Did something happen, Fleet Admiral Kong?" Zephyr immediately asked upon entering.

Kong looked at the two men who had rushed over, then craned his neck to look outside, but failed to spot the troublesome figure he had been expecting.

Forget it.

Kong did not waste any more time and directly told them the information sent by the intelligence department.

"Just now, our intelligence personnel in the New World sent word. The Beasts Pirates and the BIG MOM Pirates have both set out, and neither fleet is small. It looks like they intend to meet.

Their rendezvous point is currently unknown. I've ordered our people to keep watching them."

"Are they going to attack Hachinosu Island?"

Upon hearing the news, Sengoku almost immediately thought of that famous pirate island.

"The only thing that could make those two join forces is probably Rocks' Treasure."

Kong and Zephyr were both stunned by Sengoku's speculation before nodding in agreement.

According to the recent intelligence reports, Hachinosu Island had indeed been far from peaceful. More than twice as many ships as usual had been coming and going.

"That's very possible. Captain John's recent movements have also been unusual, but we'll have to see what they do next. By the way, has Garp not returned yet?"

"No. The G-5 Branch was attacked a few days ago, and Garp's group is helping rebuild it."

Remembering his old friend's furious voice over the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku replied helplessly.

"That bastard! Rebuilding a base is the engineering corps' job. What the hell is he doing there causing trouble?!"

At the thought of Garp's carefree behavior, Kong, the Fleet Admiral known as "Steel Bone," felt his anger rise once more.

"Should I lead a team there? If BIG MOM and the others are truly going to war with John, this may not be a bad opportunity for us." Zephyr volunteered to head to the scene.

Just as he said, if it was confirmed to be an internal pirate conflict, the Marines might have a chance to swoop in afterward and wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

"Mm. Sengoku, what do you think?"

Kong nodded, but still asked for the opinion of Sengoku, the Marine's renowned "Wise General."

"This isn't that simple."

Sengoku shook his head. As an Admiral, he felt there was another hidden force behind this matter.

"Based on the intelligence we received earlier, Hachinosu Island seems to have been in frequent contact with the forces of Silver Axe and Ochoku not long ago. Combined with this latest information, it's highly likely they're preparing to deal with an alliance between BIG MOM and Kaido."

Sengoku adjusted his glasses and continued his analysis. "But there are still several problems. With John's strength, dealing with BIG MOM and Kaido at the same time might be difficult, but there would be no need for him to recruit both Silver Axe and Ochoku.

Every additional person means another share of the spoils. Given John's miserly nature, he would never do that unless..."

"Unless?"

Sengoku changed tack. "Unless another force has pressured him into recruiting both Silver Axe and Ochoku!"

"Also, this contact between Kaido and BIG MOM is very strange. We never received any news about it beforehand.

Logically, an action that resembles an alliance could not have been settled so simply through a Den Den Mushi. Members of both Pirate Crews must have met face-to-face, yet we received no information at all."

"Could the two have secretly met in private? After all, both of them can fly. They can cross the sea without relying on ships," Zephyr said.

"Mm, that's possible. But speaking of flying..." As if recalling something, Sengoku's eyes suddenly widened behind his glasses.

"Fleet Admiral Kong, what have Golden Lion's movements been lately?!"

"We haven't received any information... You mean?!"

Kong reacted as well and immediately picked up the Den Den Mushi to call the head of Marine intelligence.

"Hello! This is Fleet Admiral Kong. Immediately compile Golden Lion Shiki's recent movements and send them to me."

"Understood! Please wait a moment, Fleet Admiral Kong. We'll compile and organize the information now."

After receiving the call, the person on the other end immediately instructed their subordinates to gather the records and activated an anti-eavesdropping Den Den Mushi.

Three minutes later, the intelligence chief's voice came from the Den Den Mushi again.

"Reporting, Fleet Admiral. Golden Lion Shiki's fleet did indeed disappear for a period seven days ago. However, it reappeared shortly afterward, and we detected no other activity, so we determined it was merely a normal movement and did not report it to your office."

"Seven days ago..."

As he listened to the intelligence report, Kong was angry but also somewhat helpless.

Golden Lion's ability was practically a nightmare for Marine scouts. The Sway-Sway Fruit allowed Golden Lion's fleet and the islands under his command to float high above the clouds almost year-round, far beyond the reach of sight.

The Marines could not possibly keep their heads raised at all times, watching every movement ten thousand meters overhead.

Therefore, for the intelligence department, Golden Lion's fleet vanishing for a day or two was completely normal. There was simply no need to report every such occurrence to the Fleet Admiral's desk.

"Disappearing a week ago... And Hachinosu Island's recent large-scale personnel movements, along with the tacit contact between Kaido and BIG MOM.

That's it! The one John fears must be Shiki!" Sengoku reached a definite conclusion.

"That's right. If someone intends to attack Hachinosu Island, that man could not possibly be uninvolved." Zephyr agreed with Sengoku's deduction.

"Rather, it makes more sense that this joint pirate operation was initiated by him in the first place."

"Mm."

Hearing this, Steel Bone Kong, the Marine Admiral, did not hesitate and immediately issued his orders.

"We can't delay any longer! Zephyr, go to the G-5 Branch and meet up with Garp immediately. The two of you will head to the waters around Hachinosu Island at top speed.

Sengoku, remain at headquarters and work with Tsuru's staff to stay in constant contact with the intelligence department and Zephyr's group. Keep track of the battlefield's movements at all times.

I'll report to the Gorosei. Taking this opportunity, even if we can't capture all of Rocks' remnants, we must at least eliminate several of the most troublesome ones!"

"Yes!" ×2

The time returned to the present. In the waters near the outermost edge of Fenrir Island, the Beasts Pirates fleet, led by the Taurus, was quietly sailing across the sea.

"Men, get ready! We're almost there."

Burufatt lowered his telescope from the bow and shouted to the pirates behind him.

At this point, he could already see the outermost island of the area on the distant horizon.

Their current position was nearly the closest they could approach without being discovered by the enemy's scouts.

"You lot, get ready. Take the bubble coral and Den Den Mushi, then dive into the sea first. The moment you notice any unusual movement from the ships around the island, notify us immediately."

Burufatt selected several Fish-Men and had them approach through the sea to observe.

"Leave it to us, Brother Burufatt!" The several differently shaped Fish-Men promised confidently.

"Good! Then I'll wait here for your news."

Burufatt nodded approvingly, then said to everyone else aboard the ship, "Everyone, sharpen your weapons, check the cannonballs and cannons, and be ready to fight at any time!"

"Yes!" ×n

The pirates aboard the ship immediately scattered back to their respective posts and began their final preparations.

"Obe, Obe~ Listen, the real battle is about to begin!"

Amid the crowd, Oshi excitedly shook Obe's arm. She was clearly full of anticipation for the coming fight.

"I've been ready for a long time. You, on the other hand, should settle yourself down before you get too excited and trip over your own feet again."

Obe helplessly pulled her hand free. What she really wanted to tell Oshi was to prepare herself mentally for taking lives, lest she freeze up on the battlefield and cause trouble.

"Don't worry. I'm so strong, there won't be a problem. Besides, aren't you here?"

"Now you remember me? Two days ago, when you sold me out in front of Big Sis, you didn't hesitate at all."

Obe narrowed her eyes at Oshi. She clearly had not forgotten how Oshi had sold her out in front of Ra.

"Ha... Haha~ It was all a misunderstanding. I panicked at the time~" Oshi awkwardly twirled her hair.

"Besides, that was ages ago. You're my most trusted little sister. Our bond can't be tarnished by such a tiny misunderstanding~"

"Hmph. Do whatever you want." Obe turned her head and looked out over the sea.

Looks like it's fine now. What a stubborn little tsundere~

Watching Obe avert her gaze, Oshi silently pinned that label on her.

Although she seemed carefree, Oshi could still feel Obe's concern for her, including the worry hidden in her words that Oshi might be endangered because she was not used to the battlefield.

Huff... So this day has finally come... The day I take someone else's life with my own hands.

She quietly took several deep breaths and suppressed the faint stirrings in her heart. Ever since gaining the Underworld God Authority, Oshi had become extremely sensitive to the passing of life.

At first, I didn't care at all whether the humans in this world lived or died... How strange.

Oshi recalled the operation shortly after meeting Kaido, an operation that could practically be called the destruction of a nation.

Almost everyone in an entire palace had died before her eyes. Some of those people deserved death, while others had been completely innocent victims.

Back then, she had clearly heard their wails and cries for help, yet she had not cared in the slightest, as though she were watching unfamiliar NPCs die in a game.

Even when Ra had deliberately asked about it afterward, Oshi had merely brushed it off without concern.

But she did not know when, or why, she had begun to feel the weight of those lives.

Perhaps she had been affected by her own authority. Perhaps her time with Burufatt and the others had given her a faint sense of belonging in this world. Or perhaps it was the sight she had seen one morning several days ago, when the blacksmith in town had sent his father, who had died of old age, off for burial.

Wagner, usually stern and unsmiling, had cried like a child that day... And she had silently watched from afar.

For ordinary pirates, taking another person's life was nothing more than swinging a blade or firing a bullet, as commonplace as eating or drinking.

After all, when people were killed, they died.

Some even took pleasure in slaughtering civilians. To them, human lives were as worthless as weeds by the roadside.

But for Oshi now, for this young goddess who had awakened her authority, she could truly feel the weight of life—or rather, the weight of souls.

The authority originating from the Underworld had begun to let her touch that unknown world beyond death.

Oshi had spent a long time thinking about this afterward.

During that time, she had tried viewing it from many different positions and perspectives—an ordinary person, a person from another world, divinity, humanity, as You Ling, as Osiris...

She had truly thought a great deal about taking lives.

And after all that long contemplation, Oshi reached a conclusion—perhaps "thinking" simply did not suit her.

When the time truly came to make a choice, rather than relying on answers imagined in her mind, her instincts would control her body and make the right decision. Just as they always had.

Her gilded eyes looked toward the beach on the far edge of the island. A crab resting there was snatched up in the beak of a passing seabird, then swallowed whole in midair.

The island, whose outline Burufatt could barely make out even with a telescope, was so clear in Oshi's eyes that every tree and blade of grass upon it was visible.

That included even a single feather that had fallen from the seabird's flapping wings as it flew away.