Buggy and Shanks setting out to sea was only a minor interlude. The tide of world affairs continued rolling forward, unaffected.
While the top powers kept the seas under control, they gradually retreated behind the scenes. With the tacit consent of the various powers, the entire sea once again became a stage for newcomers to show their abilities.
Every so often, a few promising newcomers emerged to challenge the four great dungeons and the Shichibukai. Though they inevitably failed in the end, they still created one legend after another.
The major powers instead became something like NPCs and backdrops as events continued unfolding according to the original story. Lind of the Oran Empire, in particular, felt as though he were watching a series play out live.
The year 1500 had originally been an eventful one, though Ace was not born that year because Rouge had come to Oran Island.
But the other two major events, Ohara's destruction and Shiki's escape from Impel Down, both happened as they had in the original story.
However, without Sakazuki leading the operation this time, the Navy's handling of Ohara was considerably gentler, although the Tree of Knowledge was still destroyed, just as it had been in his past life.
But with the Oran Empire and the Navy's "cooperation," all the materials and researchers inside were secretly evacuated.
Robin did not end up with a bounty as the Devil Child, either. Instead, she became a transfer student at Oran Elementary School.
And although Shiki successfully escaped from Impel Down this time, after burning through his life force and potential twice and losing both legs, he had largely lost his drive.
Although the pirates who escaped from Impel Down were enough for Shiki to establish an enormous new Flying Pirates crew, he still announced its disbandment.