"The Marines claimed the greatest victory in this war!"
After a pause, Xia Le smiled faintly.
"You arrived a step too late."
The atmosphere abruptly froze. Shock, disbelief, and bewilderment visibly spread across Judge's face.
Reiju, Yonji, Ichiji, and Niji sat there in a daze, seemingly unable to process it.
"The war... is over?!"
Only after a long moment did Judge's trembling voice emerge, his eyes fixed on Xia Le.
"The Marines have already won?"
"And your enemies weren't just Kaido and Big Mom?!"
This time, it was not Xia Le who spoke. Smoker, leaning against a wall some distance away, slowly explained.
"Before you arrived, the Marines fought an incredibly fierce war against the various forces that had come to Onigashima."
"Our enemies were certainly not limited to the Kaido and Big Mom Alliance. The Red Hair Pirates, the Blackbeard Pirates, and even Saint Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense representing the World Government, along with the Holy Knights, took part in this war."
"In addition, the Whitebeard Pirates, led by Flame Emperor Ace, also appeared."
"In a sense, the outcome of this war, which brought together the world's greatest powers, has already determined part of the course the world will take."
Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes flickering. He left the rest unsaid.
But Judge and the others could clearly grasp his meaning.
All five sat there dumbstruck, their inner worlds turned upside down.
The war was already over?
They had missed a war that would shake the entire world!
What shocked them even more was that the Marines had faced not only the alliance of Kaido and Big Mom, but also Red-Haired, Blackbeard, and even the World Government's mysterious forces.
It was simply unbelievable! Inconceivable, even!
"The Marines actually claimed the final victory