When your immediate superior's most beloved and adorable daughter is assigned to your side, how should you, as a subordinate, respond?
This is a fatal question. No matter how you handle it, something feels off.
Setting everything else aside, according to Sanguinius' own thoughts, he did not want to bring Lady Arisa along to purge the pirates of the New World.
Her Majesty Selene had sent Lady Arisa away from her side to command independently. The implications of that decision had already been interpreted countless times by every stratum of the Empire.
Balancing the Imperial military system. A whimsical new toy. Cultivating a future heir to the throne. The interpretations were endless.
In Sanguinius' eyes, all of it was nonsense.
The Holy Selene Empire, as a transcendent empire, derived everything from the Empress.
Compared to its predecessor, the Thousand-Year Empire, today's Holy Selene Empire was fundamentally different.
There was an important order here that could not be reversed. The Empress' legitimacy no longer stemmed from the Empire as a state.
On the contrary, the vast—one might even say bloated—state apparatus known as the Holy Selene Empire derived its legitimacy from the Empress.
It was precisely because Selene existed as Empress that the Empire could maintain and develop itself as such an enormous force.
Did Selene need to fear these Legion Commanders descending with their armies?
No matter how obedient your troops were under your command, believe it or not—if you so much as revealed the slightest intention of rebellion, let alone mobilizing a Legion to revolt, your orders would not even make it out of the command tent.
And did you think the Inquisition established by Sebas was merely for show?
Sanguinius was certain that Inquisition agents were embedded throughout the Blood Angels Legion. Some were likely even within his own honor guard.
Perhaps Empress Selene did not care to involve herself in such troublesome matters—but Sebas was different. He trusted no one. His loyalty belonged solely to Selene.
So was the Empire truly in urgent need of designating an heir?
Yes, of course—an Empress without an heir naturally worried the populace. Their concerns were not unreasonable. But if you appeared overly attentive and eager, thinking so far ahead—what exactly were you implying?
Could it be... you were hoping for Empress Selene's demise?
Open the door! Inquisition!
...
From Sanguinius' personal perspective, Selene simply wanted to kick Arisa out of the Grand Imperial Palace and give her something to do.
Even if it did not change Arisa's somewhat absent-minded and innocent personality, gaining experience and broadening her horizons would still be beneficial.
As for traveling to the latter half of the Grand Line, the New World, to slaughter pirates on a massive scale—such dirty work—Sanguinius felt it should not trouble Lady Arisa. He would handle it himself.
Although Arisa felt nothing in particular about slaughter—she had once ordered a Decimation across an entire world—that had been when she acted alone.
Now that Lady Arisa was campaigning alongside him, Sanguinius, how could he allow her to do the dirty work? Absolutely not.
More importantly, there were already enough butchers in the Empire. The lone "husky" among the wolves of the Empire's upper echelons could not be allowed to become one of them.
On this point, Sanguinius believed Her Majesty likely shared his view. The Empress probably did not wish for Arisa to become as cold as she was—ah, ahem—merciful!
The Empire needed a touch of warmth.
And besides, had Arisa not shown interest in fish-men and merfolk before? Let her handle that.
Such interesting alien species, presented as trophies to Her Majesty, would surely delight Arisa.
"Which fish-man? And merfolk too?"
Hearing Sanguinius' words, Arisa froze in place, tapping her cheek with a finger and tilting her head.
Taking advantage of the pause, Sanguinius glanced at Liver and blinked meaningfully: Beep beep beep... Senior Liver, you go first.
Liver nodded and blinked back in silent understanding: Beep beep beep... Understood. Lady Arisa is in your hands. I'll slip away—no, I'll proceed with the surrender mission.
Watching Liver quietly depart, Sanguinius offered a gentle smile.
"Ahem, Lady Arisa, didn't you want to see mermaids? They do exist."
"Really?!"
Her joy was impossible to conceal. Arisa's eyes curved into crescents.
But the next moment—
"Disgusting."
Recalling the ugly fish-man who had drooled all over her arm at Sabaody Archipelago, Arisa grimaced.
"If mermaids look like that fish-man I encountered, then forget it... too ugly."
A completely appearance-based judgment.
Suppressing the urge to comment, Sanguinius replied, "Probably not. According to compiled prisoner testimonies and uploaded intelligence from soul-searching, ten thousand meters beneath the Sabaody Archipelago lies a deep-sea kingdom of fish-men."
"A fish-man kingdom?"
"Was it Fish-Man Island? Or the Ryugu Kingdom? In any case, it's all the same."
After a brief pause, Sanguinius continued, "Most importantly, fish-men and merfolk are two distinct races. Mermaids truly do exist."
Then he suddenly crouched down and whispered into Arisa's ear.
"And didn't you say the story of mermaids was told to you by Her Majesty?"
"If we find real mermaids and present them to Her Majesty, I'm sure she will be very pleased."
"I'm going!"
...
"Legion Commander Sanguinius, is this truly acceptable? If we do not participate and leave everything to the Sisters of Battle, what if their casualties become too heavy?"
On the Red Line, a Blood Angels Astartes officer clad in finely crafted power armor approached Sanguinius and spoke respectfully.
"It will be fine. Do not forget that Senior Liver's Third Legion, the Black Marlin, has also arrived with reinforcements. One of their major drop zones is at the Sabaody Archipelago. The Black Marlin will handle everything."
Arisa's figure had already vanished into the horizon. Sanguinius withdrew his gaze and turned toward the New World in the latter half of the Grand Line.
"Order: dispatch the 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 11th Astartes Companies. Sweep the New World from four directions. Leave no blind spots. Every island is to be thoroughly cleansed. I do not want a single pirate escaping."
"If a powerful enemy is encountered, do not engage unnecessarily. Call down orbital bombardment and end the sweep swiftly."
The Red Line, the Four Seas, the first half of the Grand Line—most of the world's land territories had already been occupied. There was no longer any need to restrain themselves over the remaining scraps.
"Yes!"
Just then—
Rumble—!
From the direction of the New World, dark clouds blanketed the sky. Thunder roared, heavy and oppressive.
Lightning fell like rain. Within the dense black clouds, dark red, web-like bolts flickered intermittently.
"It seems someone has come knocking. A power capable of influencing the heavens... according to them, Conqueror's Haki? One of the Four Emperors?"
Resting his hand on the hilt of the Crimson Blade at his waist, Sanguinius stood at the edge of the Red Line, gazing out over the vast sea before him.
Gradually, as the storm grew more violent, a massive two-masted sailing ship painted in gold and red entered the waters outside Red Port, coming into everyone's view.
On its sails, the black pirate flag bearing a skull with three claw marks over its left eye snapped in the wind.
"One of the Four Emperors! The most domineering man in the world—'Red-Haired' Shanks?!"
Even from a distance, many journalists covering the event were overwhelmed by the oppressive pressure radiating from Shanks. His unconstrained Conqueror's Haki knocked a large number of them unconscious.
"I am Shanks! Gentlemen, may I ask—who are you?!" Using his Haki to amplify his voice, Shanks roared across the sea.
"Just a pirate."
Shaking his head in disdain, a Blood Angels officer beside Sanguinius had no intention of replying. He raised his arm, signaling the heavy weapons deployed atop the Red Line, and opened his mouth.
"Fire—"
"Wait. Let us speak with him. Let us see what a mere pirate has to say."
Stopping the order to fire, Sanguinius spread his wings. Brilliant golden radiance surged from his body—and burst outward.
BOOOOM—!
With a thunderous crash that shook the heavens, the sky itself seemed torn apart. Golden brilliance collided with dark red Conqueror's Haki, and the sea outside Red Port trembled violently.
"Holy Selene Empire. Astartes Ninth Legion, Blood Angels. Legion Commander—Sanguinius."
His voice likewise carried clearly to the Red Force, reaching 'Red-Haired' Shanks' ears.
"Then, Commander Sanguinius, may I ask you for a favor? Return the body of the 'Dark King' Rayleigh to me."
Suppressing the anger in his heart, Shanks spoke coldly.
"He was once my vice captain. He once saved my life."
"I refuse."
Without hesitation, Sanguinius rejected him. What did Rayleigh's debt to you have to do with me?
As his words fell, lightning split the skies.
Zheng—!
A dark red flying slash hundreds of meters long tore through the air toward the summit of the Red Line.
Everything in its path was crushed into powder. Beneath that sword energy, it seemed as though even the sea had been cleaved apart.
BOOM—!
...
Meanwhile, in the New World—at the former Marine G1 Branch, now the Marine Headquarters, New Marineford.
Thud!
A shadow fell over the collapsed CP0 agent.
"Sakazuki! What are you doing?! How dare you?! This is rebellion! Do you understand the price of betraying the World Government?!"
"Of course I understand. So what?"
Gulp, gulp—
"Exploding Volcano—Hound Blaze!"
Sakazuki's right fist turned crimson. He clenched it tightly, magma erupting forth as his arm transformed into the shape of a molten hound's head.
Blood sprayed as the CP0 agent's chest was torn open.
Magma scorched flesh with a hissing sound. Pulling his arm free, blood still dripping, Sakazuki spoke expressionlessly.
"The World Government has fallen. Now—where should the Marines go?"
The Marines were indeed the largest military force directly under the World Government. But aside from their bases, they possessed no tax territory of their own. All military supplies and funding came from World Government allocations.
Even Sakazuki could not conjure those from thin air. He was a soldier. You could ask him to wage war or personally execute enemies—but managing military finances was beyond him.
Originally, after seeing the Empire's surrender propaganda, Sakazuki had been somewhat tempted—but he had still intended to wait and observe the outcome.
Unfortunately, events had moved too fast. So fast that before he could formally establish contact with the Empire, the World Government had simply—vanished.
Now there was only one option left.
Aside from the Empire, who else could the Marines turn to?
Declare independence?
With no food, no salaries, no logistical support from the World Government—how could they sustain such a vast force?
Become pirates? Plunder like pirates?
Impossible. Anyone who dared suggest it would be melted on the spot.
Flash!
A streak of golden light appeared.
"Oh my~ Sakazuki, you actually killed a CP0 agent sent by the Five Elders. How frightening."
Hands in his pockets, Borsalino tilted his head, speaking in his usual infuriating tone.
Sakazuki's eyes flickered, as if making up his mind.
"Borsalino. Unfortunately, we've just received confirmation. The World Government has fallen."
He folded his arms and slowly turned around.
"Is the information reliable?" Borsalino's lazy demeanor vanished at once.
"Verified by Den Den Mushi footage. All of Mary Geoise was destroyed."
Rubbing his temples, Sakazuki spoke wearily.
"I intend to negotiate with the Empire."
"The Empire? You mean the rebels?"
"Yes. I've already sent envoys. They responded—one of their high-ranking figures will personally come to accept our surrender."
At that moment—
Wooo—Wooo—Wooo—!
Alarms blared throughout Marine Headquarters.
"They're here."
Pushing open the door to his castle-like office, Sakazuki strode out.
As he walked, he raised the miniature Den Den Mushi on his wrist.
"Stand down. They are not the enemy. All units on alert—do not fire."
Stepping out onto the open grounds, Sakazuki looked up at the sky.
Shadows began to blot out the heavens.
Colossal artificial steel behemoths—war machines of cold mechanical beauty—slowly emerged above Marine Headquarters.
Their wedge-shaped hulls were clad in heavy gray-black armor, seamless and imposing. Gun batteries lined their surfaces. Cathedral-like bridges rose from their spines.
Like floating mountains, they loomed overhead. Each vessel was an island unto itself.
Soon—
Hummm—
Several medium transport craft descended, landing steadily atop the fortress structures before lowering their ramps.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
When hundreds of Astartes marched out in perfect unison, their synchronized steps echoing like thunder, a spark of recognition flashed in Sakazuki's eyes.
These were soldiers—not bandits.
Liver stepped forward, surrounded by the Black Marlin Honor Guard.
Clad in exquisite purple-and-gold power armor and wearing a cape, his helmet removed, Liver approached and met Sakazuki's gaze.
"I am Sakazuki. Greetings, Commander Liver."
"A pleasure, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki. I am Liver, Legion Commander of the Empire's Astartes Third Legion—the Black Marlin."