It was Sea Era 1482. Nearly three years had passed since that battle, yet the world had never settled down.
With strong support from its affiliated nations, the World Government had rapidly expanded the Marines to five hundred thousand, restoring part of their strength.
Many new Marine Branches had also been established throughout the Four Seas to maintain stability and protect merchant ships.
Yet against the Rocks Pirates, the Marines and the World Government remained on the back foot.
The entire New World remained fertile ground for rampant piracy.
The Marines stationed large forces at the World Government's gateways, but pirate attacks inflicted considerable losses every year.
The Rocks Pirates would never stop plundering and killing.
Over those three years, they had launched numerous operations to weaken the Marines and the World Government.
They had even plundered considerable amounts of the World Government's heavenly tribute.
The fearsome "Golden Lion" Shiki was notorious. Over the past four years, more than ten affiliated nations had been destroyed at his hands, and he had plundered untold wealth.
The number of nations affiliated with the World Government was plummeting. Royal families were slaughtered, and kingdoms were devastated.
Even after the Rocks Pirates' Pirate Army departed, kingdoms that had escaped outright destruction would still suffer a succession of upheavals.
Political turmoil and attacks from within and without followed.
Other affiliated nations seized the opportunity to wage war and grab territory.
Under the weight of all these pressures, many affiliated nations had already lost the ability to pay the heavenly tribute.
To pay it, many kingdoms began raising taxes, squeezing ordinary citizens and merchants dry.
These measures made life unbearable and caused even greater chaos.
Without the heavenly tribute, the arrogant World Government would show them no consideration. The Marines would not waste troops protecting them;