"Hawk, my boy…"
From the other end of the Den Den Mushi came Sengoku's voice, urgent and heavy.
"War is coming again."
"Hm?"
Renn Hawk held his cigar between his fingers, listening calmly. "Old man Sengoku, what do you mean by that?"
"According to my intelligence, the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates have already formed an alliance!"
"Oh?"
Hawk nodded lightly, his expression unchanging. "So that's how it is."
He had not even gone looking for Kaido and Big Mom yet, and the two Emperors had already joined forces and were preparing to make a move?
Still, it made sense.
In the original course of history, those two had also formed an alliance, though back then it had felt more like child's play.
This time, however, it was different.
At the Paramount War, the might the Marines had displayed was utterly overwhelming.
Kaido and Big Mom both understood one thing very clearly. Whether it was the Beasts Pirates or the Big Mom Pirates, taken alone, neither stood a chance against the Marines as they were now.
Banding together was their best option, and their only option.
What surprised Hawk was the speed.
The war at Marineford had ended not that long ago.
Those two blunt, reckless monsters should not have reacted this quickly.
"Then…"
Hawk muttered softly. Two names surfaced in his mind.
"Katakuri and King."
They were both exemplary right hands of an Emperor.
If those two had been working behind the scenes, then pushing the alliance through so quickly was entirely possible.
"Hawk, their target is very likely the G-5 base you just took over."
Sengoku's voice came again, tinged with concern. "You are the banner of the Marines in the new era, the idol of countless young soldiers."
"As long as they kill you, they can crush the Marines' soaring morale in one blow."
"Don't worry, Old Man Sengoku."
Hawk stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray. "Let them come."
"I'll be waiting for them at G-5."
From the Den Den Mushi came a low exhale of approval.
This was exactly the bearing a leader of the Marine new generation should have.
"We old men happen to be in the New World as well. We'll set off immediately to support you!"
The corners of Hawk's mouth lifted slightly.
The battlefield being set at G-5 was perfect.
He was the supreme commander of G-5.
Any evil crushed within the base's jurisdiction would be converted directly into Justice Points.
Click.
The call ended.
Hawk slowly turned around and looked at Dane, who had been standing quietly in the office the entire time.
"Dane, make preparations."
"Someone's coming to deliver themselves to death."
Dane snapped a salute and turned to leave.
...
The G-5 base, a steel fortress of the New World, seemed to awaken like a colossal war beast given a soul. Every system began operating at maximum efficiency.
In the base kitchen, Sanji had claimed absolute dominion.
Dressed in a spotless chef's uniform, his hands moved like afterimages as he worked through mountains of ingredients.
"Listen up! The Sea King soup in Zone A, turn the heat higher!"
"Before the battle starts, I want every soldier drinking the hottest, most nourishing broth!"
"Zone B, the grilled meat needs perfect timing. Seal in the juices. Not a single drop lost!"
"Zone C, the vegetable salads must be fresh. Vitamins are critical for stamina!"
He roared orders at the other cooks.
War was not just about slaughter at the front lines.
Logistics, especially food, decided morale.
A hungry soldier could never fight at full strength.
Sanji understood that better than anyone.
He intended for every Marine at G-5 to face those two Emperors in peak condition.
At the same time, on the training grounds.
Zoro slowly sheathed Wado Ichimonji.
Steam rose from his body, sweat flowing like a stream down his skin.
He stopped pushing himself further, conserving his strength and focus.
At Marineford, he had witnessed with his own eyes Hawk's clash with Red-Haired Shanks, a collision of power that felt capable of tearing the heavens apart. It had profoundly tempered both his state of mind and his sword.
After that, Admiral Borsalino had given him guidance without holding anything back.
Compared to his self at the time of the war, he was far stronger now.
His previous opponent, Flower Sword Vista, had been impressive, but only impressive.
Zoro wanted to know if he was now qualified to stand against the right hand of a Yonko crew.
...
The New World, a nameless deserted island.
Buru buru.
Without pause, Sengoku dialed another number.
The Den Den Mushi shifted, settling into the hard, stern face of Sakazuki.
"Old Man Sengoku?"
"Yes, Sakazuki."
Sengoku relayed the intelligence in full, without leaving out a single detail.
...
In the Fleet Admiral's office.
Sakazuki's hand, holding a cigar, froze in midair.
"This…"
Kaido and Big Mom were joining forces to attack G-5?
In the past, that would have spelled a catastrophic crisis for the Marines.
But now…
This was a gift from heaven.
If Sengoku's intelligence was accurate, the Marines could resolve everything in a single decisive battle.
Renn Hawk's current strength already stood firmly at the pinnacle of the Admirals. With the four Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals under his command, that combat group alone was more than enough to swallow an entire Yonko crew.
And Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr, the three legends of the old era, were also in the New World.
Headquarters still had ample forces that could be deployed.
Borsalino could move at any moment.
The two newly recruited monsters whose strength rivaled an Admiral, Aramaki and Fujitora, could also seize this chance to make their debut before the eyes of the world.
This battle had come at the perfect time.
Sakazuki took a deep drag on his cigar. The scorching smoke flooded his lungs, and the light in his eyes burned even hotter.
If the Marines could devour the elite forces of both Emperor crews at G-5…
The balance of the seas would be rewritten entirely.
Kuzan was sweeping through the Four Blues, freezing crime at its roots.
Paradise had been almost completely purged, no longer able to stir up waves.
In the New World, the three great powers stood before them.
Kaido and Big Mom had delivered themselves right to their doorstep.
As for the last force, the Supernova Alliance, even its second-in-command had been persuaded by Sengoku to stand on the side of justice.
Which meant…
The chaotic New World, plagued by turmoil for decades, was about to welcome peace.
And when that time came, the Marines would finally have the freedom to turn their blades toward the festering tumor that had sat atop the world for eight hundred years.
The World Government.
"Old Man Sengoku."
Sakazuki's voice was low and hoarse, suppressing a fervor on the verge of eruption.
"Believe me. In this battle, the Marines will bring the Age of Pirates to an end."