Grand Line, Marine G5 Branch.
A tall, middle-aged man with short hair and lightning-shaped sideburns sat in the base commander's office.
Vergo, code-named Ghost Bamboo.
A Marine Vice Admiral and the base commander of the G5 Branch.
Of course, that was only his public identity.
His true identity was the highest-ranking officer in the Donquixote Family, the first Corazon. He had infiltrated the Marines as a spy, risen through the ranks through his own efforts, and eventually become a Vice Admiral and the base commander of the G5 Branch.
At that moment, he had none of his usual amiable, approachable demeanor. His expression was grave as he watched the Den Den Mushi on his desk, which kept going "Buru Buru."
Only after it had rung three times did he pick it up and ask in a low voice, "Who is this?"
"Vergo, it's me!"
A cool female voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "Doll, base commander of Marine G14 Branch."
"Oh, it's Vice Admiral Doll." Vergo's friendly expression returned in an instant, and he politely asked, "What can I do for you?"
"Did you receive the document signed by Marshal Sengoku? What do you think about Vice Admiral Akira temporarily exercising the authority of Marine Headquarters' Marshal?"
In the base commander's office at Marine G14 Branch, a tall woman who looked to be in her thirties stood leaning against the desk. Beneath her dark, short hair and bangs, her wide eyes were clouded with unease about the future.
"I just got word that many bases across the Four Blues have undergone large-scale personnel changes. Quite a few of the newly appointed branch captains are Akira's trusted subordinates! If nothing unexpected happens, a new Vice Admiral will be parachuted in here soon. After all, I don't have much of a connection with him."
"Vice Admiral Doll, I sense there's more to what you're saying." Vergo's voice was calm and measured. "Based on what you've said, can I assume that you think Akira staged a coup and took control of Marine Headquarters, and is now purging his rivals?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Doll raised her voice slightly, her emotions showing. "Akira took control of Marine Headquarters so quickly and made sweeping personnel changes at every base across the Four Blues and the Grand Line. That's enough to show that at least half the officers at Marine Headquarters, including the Three Admirals, have sided with him!"
"It might even be worse than I imagine. In a situation like this, whichever side we choose, we could end up being purged!"
"Why choose at all?" Vergo shook his head. "What's happening is just an internal power struggle. As long as the Holy Land hasn't made its position clear, there's no need for us to choose sides right away. We should just focus on our current duties."
After a brief pause, Vergo continued, "Vice Admiral Doll, let's end our conversation here. Goodbye."
With that, Vergo promptly ended the call. Then he opened a hidden compartment in his desk drawer, took out an encrypted Den Den Mushi no bigger than an infant's fist, and dialed without hesitation.
"Vergo!"
As soon as the call went through, a familiar voice came from the Den Den Mushi. "Contacting me at a time like this isn't a wise move!"
Vergo spoke with a grave expression. "Doffy. Do you remember what I told you before? The Marines might purge me, though that's only a suspicion. I want to stay here and see how things play out."
"What do you mean? What did you tell me?!" The voice through the Den Den Mushi sounded frantic. "Vergo, have you forgotten again?!"
"Then I'll tell you now." Without hesitation, Vergo briefly explained what he had learned about the situation at Marine Headquarters.
When he finished, silence fell over the office. The Den Den Mushi seemed to have gone quiet, too.
After several seconds of silence, a distinctive laugh suddenly came through the Den Den Mushi. "Fufufufufu! I know this Vice Admiral Akira. I met him once when I went to Marine Headquarters for a Shichibukai meeting. Back then, there was nothing remarkable about him. Who'd have thought that in just two years, he'd cause such a commotion at Marine Headquarters?"
"A coup to seize the position of Marshal? Fufufu, I really underestimated this Vice Admiral."
"Those old fogies in Mary Geoise must be tearing their hair out now. Fufufufufu—"
In the New World, outside the palace at the highest point in the Kingdom of Dressrosa, a flamboyantly dressed man sat beneath a parasol on the edge of an open courtyard. He wore sunglasses, a pink feather coat, and cropped pants. He casually picked up the drink beside him and laughed loudly into the Den Den Mushi in front of him.
Doflamingo—
Leader of the Donquixote Family, king of the Kingdom of Dressrosa, a member of the Shichibukai, and a Paramecia-type String-String Fruit user.
After a burst of laughter, Doflamingo grabbed the Den Den Mushi and spoke in a low voice. "Vergo, you're strong enough to get out safely. So all you need to do now is wait and see. If they really replace you, take the opportunity to offer your justice to the Holy Land. You might get an unexpected surprise! If Marine Headquarters has no plans to purge you, that means they still trust you. Stay undercover, and find out whether Akira only wants to become Marshal of Marine Headquarters or has even greater ambitions."
With that, Doflamingo said no more. He ended the call and quickly dialed another Den Den Mushi.
"Worororo~"
As soon as the call connected, a booming laugh came through the Den Den Mushi. "Joker! Long time no see!"
At the same time—
On an unknown island in the New World, a chilling laugh suddenly rang out from a gigantic pit.
A towering figure, radiating an overwhelming sense of oppression, then emerged from the pit.
"What did you say, Joker?!"
His fearsome head had barely emerged from the pit when his booming voice echoed across the sky. "There's been a coup at Marine Headquarters? Worororo~ This little Vice Admiral named Akira did a pretty good job!"
Before he had even finished speaking, the towering figure leaped out of the pit. His massive frame, over seven meters tall, needed no disguise. His powerful presence spread without restraint, stirring the surrounding air into rippling waves.
Kaido.
The supreme commander of the Beasts Pirates, one of the Yonko who ruled the New World, and a user of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form. He was a terrifying being known as the Strongest Creature among all living things on land, sea, and air.
His bounty was 4,611,000,000 Beli.
"It'd be best if this dreadfully boring world were destroyed!"
"Get moving, Joker! Start preparing for the greatest war!"
As the Revolutionary Army, Doflamingo, and Yonko Kaido were among the first to hear news of the coup at Marine Headquarters, the other forces along the Grand Line received the information in turn.
Soon, the major news agencies along the Grand Line got word of this explosive Big News, and printed it at once for distribution around the world.
The busiest place of all was Sabaody Archipelago.
It was the gateway to the Holy Land atop the Red Line and the only route into the New World, the second half of the Grand Line. It was also close to Marineford, Marine Headquarters. As a result, Sabaody Archipelago drew people from every walk of life and every corner of the world.
Human-trafficking groups, pirate crews, adventurers, World Nobles, and reporters from the major news agencies gathered there. And, of course, there were also top fighters who had once made their names on the seas.
In Grove 13 of Sabaody Archipelago, inside a bar with a sign that read "Shakky's Rip-off Bar," a tall, short-haired woman whose real age was impossible to guess stood behind the counter. She held a cigarette in one hand and a freshly received report in the other.
After reading it, she immediately looked up at the only "customer" seated in the corner of the bar and said unhurriedly, "Don't you want to know what's in this report, Rayleigh?"
Before you continue