--January 23, 1518.
At a coastal harbor in the New World, thousands of Marine soldiers were reinforcing their positions, gradually turning the port into a temporary fortress.
The streets around the fortress were now covered with fully armed soldiers, cannons, and countless barracks.
They were the expeditionary fleet dispatched by Marine Headquarters, and their commander was the mohawked Headquarters Vice Admiral Momonga.
At that moment, the Vice Admiral, dressed in a pale purple striped suit, sat in a tent inside the temporary fortress, staring at the terrain map and the surrounding nautical charts with a deep frown.
Besides him, Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals Doberman and Yamakaji were also in the office.
"I wonder how Admiral Akainu's battle with Big Mom is going."
Hearing the morning birdsong outside the office window, Momonga spoke in a grave voice.
Ever since Kaido of the Beasts had attacked Babylon a month earlier, he had not ventured out.
Not much news had come out of Wano Country. All they knew was that Kaido had been injured. But "injured" covered far too broad a range; no one knew exactly how badly.
One thing, however, was certain. Kaido had not left Onigashima for a month. Meanwhile, the Great Angel was still alive and kicking, and even had a maid with him.
Every faction had raised its assessment of the Great Angel another notch.
...Although the Great Angel's formidable strength had put the World Government in a difficult position, another urgent problem now lay before them.
"They're exchanging heavy fire. According to the latest intelligence, they're evenly matched. We haven't received any further battle reports."
Doberman, wearing a red jacket beneath a white Justice Coat, was also frowning deeply. His handlebar mustache tilted upward, and the many scars on his face twisted.
--Big Mom had made her move.