Undercurrents Stirring, Ambitious Men Eyeing Marine Headquarters

Douglas Bullet stood on the deck with his arms crossed, his gaze like a sharp blade piercing through the darkness toward the end of the horizon.

A cold smile curled across his lips, as though he had already foreseen the coming storm.

Marine Headquarters, the place that represented world order, was about to face its most frenzied challenge.

Yet Bullet did not know that he was not the only one who had set his sights on this prey.

Somewhere in the New World, on a solitary island hidden within a storm.

Within a ruined palace, a conspiracy was quietly brewing.

The candle flames flickered, casting warped shadows upon the walls, as grotesque as vicious demons.

A group of infamous great pirates had gathered on either side of a long table. Ambition burned in their eyes, and malicious smiles hung on every face.

"The Marines are rushing about everywhere now. Their forces are scattered, and their defenses are bound to be lax."

A sinister-looking man licked his lips, his voice low and icy.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Hmph, while they're run ragged, we'll charge straight in and turn their nest upside down."

A towering brute bared his teeth in laughter and brutally crushed the wineglass in his hand, scattering shards across the table.

"Marine Headquarters has plenty of resources. The weapons in that armory alone would be enough to double our combat strength."

Another hooded man spoke in a sinister tone, greed flashing in his eyes.

"Don't forget, they have Sakazuki, along with old men like Sengoku."

A comparatively calm man reminded them.

"If they discover our intentions beforehand, it'll be hard for us to gain anything."

"Discover us?"

The brute laughed dismissively.

"We aren't acting alone. We have more than enough strength to tear Marine Headquarters apart."

They