The banquet lasted until late into the night.
Roy didn't linger; having said what he needed to say, he got up and left.
Yamato followed behind him, and the two walked out of the main hall one after the other, disappearing into the night.
At the port, a large warship from Hachinosu had been waiting for some time.
Sengoku and Ryokugyu were placed in two specially made Seastone cages and carried onto the deck.
The cage was completely black and locked tightly, making it difficult for anyone inside to even turn over.
Kaido personally escorted them to the port and watched Roy and Yamato board the ship.
"You'd better keep a close eye on that old man from the Sengoku."
Kaido stood on the harbor, his voice somewhat scattered by the sea breeze.
He's not as honest as he looks.
"It's locked with Seastone; keep a close eye on it, it can't escape."
Roy stood at the ship's railing and waved to Kaido.
"Focus on improving your strength and wait for my news."
"Okay, okay, I know!!"
The ship sets sail.
The sea breeze billowed the sails, and the warship pierced through the thick fog, heading towards Hachinosu.
At the same time, at the headquarters of World Economy News Paper.
Morgans stood on the rooftop, a cigar dangling from his lips, surrounded by a row of News Coo.
He flipped through the thick stack of newspaper samples several times, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"Perfect.
Big News Morgans, really Big News Morgans.
This is much more exciting than boring royal scandals.
He waved his hand.
The News Coo took flight in unison, soaring like a black storm in all directions around the world.
Go! Let the world see--
"The times are going crazy."
Morgans ' loud laughter echoed in the sea breeze, mingling with the flapping of the wings of News Coo as it flew away.
early morning.
Grand Line, Sabaody Archipelago, Area 13.
The Grove Port was as bustling as ever.
Sailors unloaded cargo at the dock, merchants hawked their wares, and several drunken pirates stumbled out of a tavern, leaning against wooden crates and snoring.
The News Coo fluttered down onto the railing at the tavern entrance, tilted its head, and squawked as it peered inside.
The shopkeeper skillfully took a coin from the drawer and exchanged it for a newspaper.
He casually unfolded the newspaper, glanced at it, and dropped his wine glass to the ground.
The crisp cracking sound silenced the entire tavern for a moment.
"Hey, boss, are you alright?" a regular customer asked.
The boss didn't say anything, but simply held up the newspaper with trembling hands so that everyone could see what was on it.
Two lines of bold, large black text were printed side-by-side on the front page, prominently featured on the headline:
"Shocking! Two more Marine Base destroyed! The Navy retreats from the New World in disarray! Hachinosu becomes the sole ruler!"
Breaking News! The Navy has secretly infiltrated Wano Country! Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku and current Admiral Ryokugyu have been arrested!
The tavern was deathly silent for three seconds.
Then everyone exploded.
"You're kidding, right?!"
Are you kidding me!
Former Navy Fleet Admiral Arrested?
This is a combat force directly under the World Government!
"The Ryokugyu Admiral?! I saw him in Sabaody two years ago!"
" Hachinosu... that Roy... he's terrifying..."
The boss, his hands trembling, turned to the second page.
Even more shocking accompanying images come into view.
In the first picture, the wreckage of G-1 Base is billowing black smoke; the once imposing naval fortress is reduced to half a tower leaning precariously amidst the ruins.
Several naval flags were burned to charred strips, swaying helplessly in the wind.
The second picture is even more stunning.
Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku, his entire body bound by Seastone chains, knelt on the ground, surrounded by the figures of King and Queen.
The old man's navy uniform was tattered, but his back was ramrod straight.
The third picture is the most jarring.
Admiral Ryokugyu was bound like a dumpling with Seastone chains, his face so withered he was almost unrecognizable.
His hair was gray and disheveled, and his eyes were sunken; he no longer possessed the bearing of Marine Admiral.
Meanwhile, similar scenes are unfolding in port cities around the world.
The first half of the Grand Line, Alabasta, Rainbase Port.
In front of the naval headquarters building, the soldiers looked at their newspapers and fell silent one by one.
"Even Lord Sengoku... has been captured..."
Someone shouted something with a sob in their voice, and then the entire branch was thrown into chaos.
In the Four Blues square, women hurried away carrying their children, while elderly people whispered amongst themselves on the benches.
" The World Government can't even protect Fleet Admiral... The world is about to change..."
"Don't speak so loudly! Be careful the CP members don't hear you!"
The pirates of the New World, however, reacted in a completely different way.
On a certain pirate island, a group of pirates, after reading the newspaper, smashed their wine bottles and laughed wildly.
"Even the Navy has met its match--!!!"
" Bullet really wiped out G-1 Base! That was satisfying!"
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The alarms blared incessantly, making one's eardrums tingle.
Officers at all levels received emergency summons and rushed back to headquarters from all over the world.
The corridor outside the Fleet Admiral's Office was packed with people.
The old subordinates from the Sengoku were the most emotional.
A Vice Admiral's face was flushed, and his eyes were even a little moist.
" Fleet Admiral! We can't tolerate this any longer! We must rescue Lord Sengoku!"
"And there's also Admiral Ryokugyu!"
He had only been in office for a short time when he was captured by pirates and taken to Hachinosu!
If this gets out, what will people around the world think of our navy?
"Move out! Send out all the warships from headquarters! Let's fight Hachinosu to the death!"
The young officers echoed his sentiments.
This is a matter of the Navy's reputation.
The capture of Sengoku was not merely a military defeat, but also a collapse of the navy's prestige in the eyes of the world.
If even their former Fleet Admiral can be captured alive by pirates, who will believe in the Navy's justice in the future?
The office door opened.
Akainu sat behind his desk, his Fleet Admiral uniform neatly worn, his hat resting on the table, revealing the tattoos on his bald head.
His face was ashen, as if it had been coated with molten iron.
The noise seemed to be cut off the moment he appeared, and the corridor fell silent.
All eyes were focused on Akainu's face.
Akainu slowly stood up and walked to the door.
His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on the Vice Admiral who had been shouting the loudest.
"Attack Hachinosu now."
Akainu's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and distinct.
"Two bases in the New World have already been destroyed by Bullet and Tesoro."
The navy's power in the New World has been completely reduced, supply lines have been severed, and its intelligence network is in complete darkness.
"Are we heading to Hachinosu to rescue people, or to throw our lives away?"
No one dared to speak.
"Both the Red Hair and the Whitebeard Pirates are still eyeing the New World covetously."
The Marine Headquarters is vulnerable and doesn't need pirates to attack it. If any Four Emperors- level force were to attack the first half of the Grand Line, the entire coastal defense line would collapse.
Akainu's speech wasn't fast, but it was heavy and intimidating.
"By then, how much will it take to make up for it?"
He paused, his voice turning eight octaves colder.
"Anyone who dares to mention 'attacking Hachinosu ' again will be punished for disobeying orders."
A deathly silence.
The Vice Admiral exchanged glances, their fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but they couldn't utter a single word.
Eventually, the crowd slowly dispersed.
The office fell silent again.
Akainu closed the door and silently sat back down at his desk.
He looked down at the two newspapers spread out on the table.
The wreckage of G-1 Base.
A photograph of someone bound in chains during the Sengoku.
Ryokugyu looked like he was half-dead.
He slowly closed his eyes.
"Pat-pat, pat, pat..."
Drops of lava overflowed from his palm, landing on the newspaper with a scorching sound.
The paper quickly charred and curled, turning to ash under the high temperature.
Akainu's hands trembled violently, and his facial muscles were contorted with rage to the point of being almost ferocious.
The lava churned between his fingers, scorching a blackened handprint onto the solid desk surface.
He finally stood up and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the waves crashed against the walls of the main fortress, the gray sea stretching to the horizon like a mocking face.
Akainu gazed into the distance, his voice forced out through clenched teeth:
" Roy... Hachinosu..."
"Your deaths are not far off."
He pulled a specially made Den Den Mushi from his pocket and dialed Mary Geoise.
The call connection notification tone rang for a long time in the quiet office.
Akainu's fingers, gripping the Den Den Mushi tightly, turned white from the force.
He needs an answer.
An answer that was enough for him to decide his next move.