The Four Emperors' Wrath, the Pre-War Strategy Meeting!

Whitebeard's declaration of war against the Navy echoed above the Moby Dick, lingering for a long time.

"We Are Going To..."

"Start a Top-Tier War in the World!"

After that order was given, the deck miraculously fell still.

There were no fanatical cheers.

No impulsive roars.

Every crew member, every captain, every warrior of the Whitebeard Pirates became silent statues at that moment.

But!

Every crew member's eyes burned with a fire called vengeance!

"Assemble!"

"Raise all sails!!"

"Notify all allied fleets!

Gather at Trident Sea, the entrance to the New World!"

Orders roared from the Division Commanders, concise and sharp, carrying the gunpowder smoke of the coming war.

The Entire Moby Dick let out a dull boom as its enormous hull carved a resolute arc across the sea. The whale figurehead seemed to come alive, opening its massive jaws in a silent roar toward the route leading to Marine Headquarters.

A massive storm had begun.

Barely half a day later.

The entire world heard the roar of this Sea Emperor.

An urgent special edition personally issued by the president of the World Economic News Agency, "Big News" Morgans, blanketed every corner of the world like black snow.

There was no unnecessary text.

Only a photograph of Whitebeard that took up the entire page.

In the photo, his eyes were wide with rage and his beard and hair bristled. The fury that seemed capable of tearing apart the heavens appeared ready to burn everyone who saw it straight through the paper.

The headline contained only one word.

[Declaration of War!]

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

The Den Den Mushi in the Fleet Admiral's Office had been ringing nonstop for the past hour, like a cluster of dying frogs.

"Reporting, Fleet Admiral! G-5 Branch has confirmed that the Whitebeard Pirates' main ship has changed course!"

"Report! The fleet of Squard, the 'Great Maelstrom Spider,' has been spotted in the waters near G-2 Branch!"

"Report! The ship of 'Knight Errant' Doma has appeared as well!"

"And the Dikalban Brothers! Whitey Bay, the Ice Witch!

They're all gathering in one direction!"

One name after another was reported, each representing a famous pirate from the New World.

Sengoku stood silently before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, his expression darker than the storm clouds outside.

Because they had enraged a Sea Emperor!

The office door was violently shoved open.

Navy Hero Garp strode in, still holding a bag of doughnuts.

The smile on his face had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented gravity.

"Sengoku."

"Is there really no room to turn this around?"

Sengoku did not turn around. His voice was as suppressed as a volcano about to erupt.

"Immediately issue a Mandatory Summons! Target: the Shichibukai!"

"Order the Three Admirals to return to headquarters at once!"

"Marineford is to enter the highest level of war readiness!"

Holy Land, Mary Geoise, Chamber of Power.

The five figures at the pinnacle of world power silently stared at Ace's face on the bounty poster.

"That old Whitebeard... is coming after all."

"This will be a war that shakes the world."

"But it is also an opportunity—an opportunity to completely eliminate the Remnant of the Old Era."

"Have CP0 keep a close watch on Kaido and BIG MOM. We cannot let those two madmen cause trouble at a time like this."

"Pass down the order. Let Sengoku... do as he sees fit."

The World Government would support him unconditionally this time!

Moby Dick, strategy meeting room.

The heavy wooden doors were pushed open, and the commanders entered one after another.

There were no unnecessary decorations in the room, only an enormous round table large enough to seat all the core members, along with a massive Whitebeard Pirates flag hanging on the wall.

Marco was the first to enter. He was completely different from usual; his perpetually sleepy look was gone, leaving only a cold expression.

Jozu followed close behind. Every step he took made the sturdy deck groan under the strain, while his diamond-transformed arms reflected the light and gave off a silent sense of oppression.

Vista the Flower Sword kept one hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist. The affectionate eyes of his now held only sharp killing intent.

Izo, Bramank, Lakyo.

All fourteen Division Commanders, the Whitebeard Pirates' greatest fighting force, were present.

Chen Ye was the last to enter.

The moment he stepped into the room, he felt an oppressive presence that nearly crushed him head-on.

This was not Haki.

It was the silent fury gathered from the dozens of Division Commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Everyone found their places and remained standing. No one sat down.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for Newgate, the Whitebeard Pirates' final decision-maker, to arrive.

Creak—

A door reserved exclusively for Whitebeard behind the main seat of the meeting room was pushed open.

Edward Newgate walked in.

He carried no weapon and released no Haki. His mere presence made the tense atmosphere in the room rise another level.

He walked to the enormous chair at the head of the table. Rather than sitting down immediately, he extended a huge palm and pressed it against the tabletop.

Thud.

At the dull sound, every commander's body involuntarily tensed.

Whitebeard's Gaze, like a tangible searchlight, slowly swept over the face of every son.

His eyes paused on Chen Ye for an instant.

The appreciation and warmth from before were gone from those eyes. There was only an unfathomable stillness, the dead calm before a storm.

At last, he withdrew his gaze, pulled out the chair, and slowly sat down.

Boom!

It was as if a mountain had settled into everyone's heart.

A long silence.

A suffocating silence.

Whitebeard finally spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear with perfect clarity. Every word seemed carved from stone.

"That bastard Teach killed a companion for his so-called ambition. Now, to save his own life, he has handed Ace over to the Navy."

"This is the gravest provocation and betrayal against our Whitebeard Pirates."

"The Navy accepted this 'gift' as well. They want to use Ace's execution to proclaim their 'justice' to the entire world, to humiliate the dignity of us Whitebeard Pirates as one of the Four Emperors."

He paused and raised his eyes.

"They want to fight."

"Then we'll give them a war."

As his words fell, he reached out and swept his hand fiercely across the enormous table.

Whoosh!

A huge Sea Chart tanned from the hide of a special Sea Beast instantly unfurled, covering the entire tabletop.

The Sea Chart was densely marked with sea routes, islands, and the strongholds of every Navy branch.

Whitebeard's finger, like the tip of a war spear, traced across the Grand Line, crossed the Red Line Continent, and finally came down heavily at the center of the map.

There stood a heavily guarded Crescent-shaped island lined with artillery batteries.

Marine Headquarters.

Marineford.

All the commanders' eyes converged on that single point.

"Our son is here."

Whitebeard's voice was cold and resolute.

"Now, the strategy meeting begins!"