New World.
Moby Dick.
"Clang—"
Shanks slowly sheathed Gryphon.
Opposite him, Whitebeard gripped Murakumogiri tightly.
The negotiations had completely broken down.
"..."
Shanks took a long, deep look at this king of the old era, not saying another word.
He turned, leapt back, and landed on the Red Force.
"Captain."
Beckman walked over. "Talks broke down?"
"Yeah... they broke down."
Shanks drew in a deep breath, staring at the rift in the heavens torn open by him and Whitebeard together, his eyes grave.
"Keep a close watch on every shift across this sea."
"Now's not the time for games."
"Understood."
...
Far away, on a tiny Navy surveillance ship that looked like a black dot.
"Heh—"
Sakazuki stood with arms folded, cold eyes fixed on the two massive ships slowly parting ways.
What a shame.
If only they had clashed in anger—that would've been perfect!
Still, no matter...
The remnants of the old era—your days of bouncing around are numbered.
His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
On Egghead Island, the first batch of deep-sea salvage craft for the "Sea Bottom Dredge" plan had already launched, personally escorted by Borsalino, heading toward the seas near G-3 Branch to begin operations.
From now on, all Navy resources would be rebuilt with G-3 Branch as the core.
Marineford was far too close to Mary Geoise—those prying eyes were sickening.
G-3 Branch had already begun a new round of expansion, designed to be twice the scale of Marineford itself.
After all, the Navy wasn't short on funds anymore.
The provider of the salvage craft's core technology—Dr. Vegapunk—had secretly arrived with the first batch of vessels at G-3 Branch.
There, a brand-new science fortress belonging solely to the Navy was rising rapidly.
The advanced equipment of Egghead Island, thanks to a tireless yellow silhouette, had nearly been cleared out in just a few days.
After all, the Fleet Admiral's offer to his old friend had been far too tempting!
Permanently retain the rank and privileges of Admiral, never again handle tedious military affairs, only provide support as the highest combat power whenever needed.
At that thought, Sakazuki's mouth twitched.
Borsalino, now with free hands, had actually snatched a Vice Admiral-level mission yesterday, running off to the Sabaody Archipelago on his own.
A simple pick-up task, yet that lazy old friend had shown unprecedented enthusiasm...
Strange.
Over on Kuzan's side, things were going smoothly as well.
The gold from Skypiea was being funneled through Alabasta's channels, continuously converted into Navy supplies and funds.
By now, the warehouses at G-3 Branch were overflowing with military goods.
And in the underground vault, trillions of Belly lay quietly...
With more funds still on the way!
A brand-new Navy pay scale and casualty compensation act, revised under Vice Admiral Tsuru's leadership, was complete and about to be implemented across the force.
Zephyr and the five Vice Admirals under Sakazuki's faction had, just days ago, annihilated the second batch of CP investigators sent by the World Government...
Not a single one left alive!
The Elders had been so furious, they personally called the Fleet Admiral.
In Sakazuki's mind, Tsuru's account of that scene in Sengoku's office played back.
"What CP0? The Navy hasn't seen a single one!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had been sipping tea and munching rice crackers at the time.
"Maybe those wicked pirates wiped them out! How tragic!"
"What anomaly at G-3 Branch? That's just a happy little branch base—what anomaly could there possibly be?!"
"There is one? Then send your own people to check!"
"You did? They didn't come back?!"
"Then why bother the Navy? The Navy doesn't look for missing people!"
"The matter with the Shichibukai 'Sand Crocodile'? You have the nerve to question me about that?!"
"Do you even know what Crocodile did in Alabasta?!"
"Alabasta! One of the Founding Twenty Kingdoms! It was nearly usurped by pirates!"
"If not for Hawke's intervention this time, Alabasta would already be a pirate-ruled nation! One of the Founding Kingdoms ruled by pirates—does that sound like glory to you?!"
"And you still think you made the right choice? You're proud of it?!"
"What's that, don't lose your temper? Fine! Next time, the Navy won't interfere!"
"We'll stand aside and applaud!"
"Compensation? Now you're talking!"
"Fifty billion Belly—I expect to see the cash tomorrow!"
"Hahaha..."
The corners of Sakazuki's mouth curved again.
He'd heard even Tsuru, standing nearby at the time, couldn't help but laugh.
The Navy had already begun to separate itself from the World Government.
The Fleet Admiral's highest directive had been issued.
When dealing with Government agents, the Navy no longer needed to show any courtesy.
If no outsiders were present and a total annihilation could be ensured, strikes were permitted!
The Navy was planning new operations...
Before openly breaking with the World Government, they needed to find a chance—
A chance to severely cripple one of the so-called emperors.
On one hand, it would allow them to extort one last massive "war budget" from the World Government.
The Government, lacking solid proof, wouldn't dare sever ties with the Navy first. Their underhanded little tricks meant nothing.
If they dared escalate matters, the Navy would immediately activate the contingency plan.
Abandon Marineford, retreat to G-3 Branch, and leave the quagmire of the New World for them to handle themselves.
On the other hand, it was also a chance to display the Navy's true power to the world, to declare Justice.
"What we need... is a trigger."
Sakazuki looked at the two pirate ships now completely parted, and with a slow wave of his hand said:
"Return to G-5 Branch."
"Yes, sir!"
...
Mock Town.
"Fire Fist kid, since you're here, don't think of leaving!"
Kuzan's voice came from atop the ice coffin sealing Teach.
The freezing killing intent in his words sent a shiver down Ace's spine.
On one side stood the traitor he'd been chasing.
On the other stood the Navy's highest combat power!
Ace was caught in a dilemma, stranded on his little boat, unable to advance or retreat.
"Well~"
Kuzan's gaze settled on Ace, recalling the plan Sengoku had spoken of before.
The Navy needed a trigger.
A spark big enough to ignite the world, a trigger for all-out war with the Yonko.
And now...
Whitebeard's Second Division Commander, "Fire Fist" Ace, alone, away from the New World, away from Whitebeard's protection...
Standing right before him.
Wasn't this exactly the "trigger" the Fleet Admiral had been waiting for?!
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Fire Fist kid!"
Kuzan's eyes suddenly sharpened.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
With a sweep of his arm, a giant ice bird, born of extreme cold, materialized and lunged at Ace!
"!!!"
"Fire Fist!"
Ace roared, flames bursting into a blazing orange-red inferno around his right fist!
The massive flaming punch and the ice bird clashed midair with an earth-shaking crash!
"BOOM—!!!"
Shards of ice and embers scattered, and scalding steam instantly engulfed the ruins!
Before Ace could recover from the shock, Kuzan's calm voice came from every direction at once.
"Ice Age!"
The ultimate chill radiated from him, sweeping across the seas around Mock Town!
Only the five merchant ships disguised nearby were spared with surgical precision.
"Crack—crack crack—!"
Before Ace's eyes, the ocean froze solid at incredible speed, ice spreading to the horizon, completely cutting off his chance to flee!
"Damn it!"
Ace gritted his teeth, driving the Flame-Flame Fruit to its limit!
A colossal fireball, like a miniature sun, rose in his hand, its searing heat straining to melt the frozen sea.
But in this absolute domain forged by an Admiral himself, that sun-like blaze managed only to melt a thin layer of ice...
Before endless cold snuffed it out, fading into nothing.
"Ice Gauntlet!"
A thick, solid layer of ice covered Kuzan's right fist.
His figure flickered through the mist of steam and frost.
The next instant, that ice fist smashed squarely into Ace's gut!
"PUH—!"
Ace's eyes bulged, blood and bits of viscera spewing from his mouth as he was blasted back, crashing hard against the ice.
"Swish—"
Kuzan appeared above him, looking down with icy detachment.
"It's over, Fire Fist."
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