Sea Era 1486 had arrived.
Only then did many people realize, almost in a daze, that nearly a year had passed since the Rocks Pirates disbanded.
The situation at sea had stabilized somewhat, but only a little.
The Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line were both vast.
Even if the powerful fighters guarding the Four Seas captured pirates every time they acted, it made little difference against their sheer numbers.
There were more pirates than ever. That was how many in the navy saw it. They seemed impossible to catch.
And when it came to running away, most pirates were first-rate.
A shortage of capable mid- and high-level fighters made it hard for the navy to capture pirates efficiently.
Many former Four Seas Navy leaders had been poached by Affiliated Nations, further weakening Marine Headquarters' control over the Four Seas.
The navy, of course, was doing everything it could to contain the problem.
At least some trade routes linking Affiliated Nations had stabilized.
The World Government's entry had intensified competition in the global arms trade. The first half of the Grand Line was where its control was strongest—and where it dumped the most weapons.
In the Four Seas, plenty of powers were willing to show the World Government some respect, but they would not buy its weapons without question.
Competition in the New World's Underworld had reached a fever pitch, and its Underworld Kings were gradually emerging.
Victor, the "King of Arms," already belonged to the Kronos Kingdom and had not been affected by the fall of the Rocks Pirates at all.
The world's chaos, especially in the Underworld, had only made Victor's business grow. His position as an Underworld King was unshakable.
Umit, the "King of Shipping," became the New World's second Underworld King.
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