"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, we're not exactly doing this as a favor, you know~" Kizaru's voice remained as drawling and mocking as ever.
"I am doing this for Justice!" Akainu's face was stern, his tone characteristically arrogant yet firm.
Hearing these words, Sengoku looked up at the now-empty office. His nose felt a bit prickly, and he scratched his head with a wry smile. "It seems I still underestimated the status Master holds in everyone's hearts..."
Five minutes later.
In a certain stretch of sea in the New World, a warship was sailing at top speed. Headquarters Vice Admiral Doberman stood at the bow, his gaze cold and serious. He had been on his way to execute a difficult mission—coordinating with a local branch to strike a powerful pirate group hidden on a remote island.
Suddenly, an intelligence officer hurried to Doberman's side and explained the new orders from Headquarters in detail. Hearing the names "Rowan" and "Four Emperors," Doberman didn't hesitate for a second.
"Mission changed! Alter course! We head for Dachik Island to support Vice Admiral Rowan!"
Elsewhere in the New World, G11 Base.
After loading captured pirates onto the ships, Headquarters Vice Admiral "Shark-Slayer" Bastille, wearing his distinctive horned mask, exchanged salutes with the Branch Vice Admiral of G11. They had been prepared to escort the prisoners back to Impel Down.
But at that moment, two messengers ran up—one to the ship and one to the base office. After hearing the news, both Vice Admirals looked at each other and barked the same command.
"Situation has changed! All units, prepare to set sail! Destination: Dachik Island!"
"All G11 soldiers, listen up! Leave twenty percent of the personnel to guard the base. Everyone else, enter Grade 1 combat readiness! Follow Vice Admiral Bastille to reinforce Mr. Rowan!"
This scene played out in every corner of the Grand Line. Every Branch base in the New World, every Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral currently on a mission—the moment they received the order from Headquarters, they turned their prows toward Dachik Island without a shred of hesitation!
Marine Headquarters, the Port.
Every Marine soldier currently at Headquarters—whether they were on leave or had just returned from patrol—as long as they were in the combat sequence, had gathered on the massive harbor plaza.
Over a hundred thousand Marine soldiers stood in their pure white uniforms. Looking from a distance, it was a dense, endless sea of white.
Fleet Admiral "Sengoku the Buddha" stood before the assembled masses, holding a broadcast Den Den Mushi. His face was a mask of solemnity. He looked out over the soldiers and spoke with profound weight.
"Dear soldiers! Respected officers! I know that you joined the Navy for the sake of the Justice in your hearts! And I, Sengoku, though I am the Fleet Admiral who leads you, have fallen far short of your expectations in striking down pirates and upholding that Justice over the years. Even now, pirates still run rampant across the seas! For this, I first offer you my sincerest apologies!"
With that, Sengoku bent his waist and bowed a full ninety degrees to the entire army.
Watching the Fleet Admiral bow, the soldiers stood in stiff, silent respect. Though Sengoku blamed himself, they felt only deep reverence for him, not a hint of reproach. It wasn't until a minute later that Sengoku slowly straightened up and continued.
"Now, in the second half of the Grand Line, the pirates entrenched in the New World—including those four Emperors—are mobilizing. They have turned all their blades toward a Marine Vice Admiral. That man is my mentor, Vice Admiral Rowan. Today, I do not ask you as your Fleet Admiral. I ask you as a disciple of Rowan, as a fellow Marine: in such a situation, what should our Marine Headquarters do?!"
As Sengoku's voice fell, there was a momentary, heavy silence. But what followed was an unparalleled eruption of fervor!
"What should we do?! We crush them, that's what!" "They dare touch our beloved Mr. Rowan? They're looking for death!" "Fleet Admiral, say no more! Let's move out now!" "A mere Four Emperors think they can touch our Mr. Rowan?!" "Those who offend our Marine Godfather shall be executed, no matter how far they fly!"
The soldiers were filled with righteous indignation. Even the elite Rear Admirals were shouting. After the duel between Rowan and Kong, Rowan's status in their hearts had ascended to a peak. The name Marine Godfather was now a sacred title. Now that Rowan was in trouble, how could they remain unmoved?!
Seeing the reaction, Sengoku took a deep breath and roared, "In that case, I will say no more! All soldiers of Marine Headquarters! MOVE OUT!"
"OHHHH!"
With a thunderous roar, the soldiers, filled with high battle spirit yet maintaining perfect discipline, boarded their respective warships. Sixty-plus warships and over a hundred thousand Marines grandly departed from Headquarters. The scene was magnificent beyond words.
On this day, to support Rowan, Marine Headquarters was fully mobilized. Including the Branch bases and the officers turning back mid-mission, the total force added up to over 200,000 men!
As the Navy moved, the factions of the New World were also in a state of upheaval.
In the underground port of Dressrosa, three pirate ships bearing the Donquixote mark slowly sailed out. This time, except for non-combatants, every remaining officer of the family was on board. It was a total mobilization.
In the sky near Dressrosa, a figure was weaving through the clouds at incredible speed. This was Donquixote Doflamingo, heading toward Dachik Island. "A mere Marine Godfather... to treat my people like that! I will never forgive you!"
Sabaody Archipelago.
The silver-haired Rayleigh, holding a flask of wine, jumped into a small coated boat. As the ship began to submerge, a smile slowly played on his lips. "I wonder just how spectacular this duel will be... Mr. Rowan?"
In Rayleigh's mind, the image of a white-haired old man in leisure clothes, puffing on a tobacco pipe with a cheeky grin, drifted into focus.
A certain sea in the New World.
Aboard a flamboyant pirate ship, a member of the Beautiful Pirates looked at his captain, the aristocratically dressed "White Horse" Cavendish, and asked nervously, "Boss, are we really going? That's a duel between the Marine Godfather and the World's Greatest Swordsman. Aren't we..."
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