Minutes earlier, communications from Dressrosa, Karai Bari Island, and several other islands were all connected to Renji at roughly the same time.
In Dressrosa, on a beautiful, sunny day, Doflamingo lay comfortably on his chair after reporting the news.
"Fufufu! Straw Hat has indeed reappeared, just as that guy predicted. Even the time and place are so precise." Doflamingo laughed loudly, the astonishment beneath his sunglasses lingering.
"Is this sea about to stir up a storm again? Fufufufu..."
On Karai Bari Island, Buggy, now a warlord, had established "Buggy Delivery." If Renji's words were true, he only needed an opportunity to gain control of the world's largest arms supply chain.
At that time, if various forces around the world wanted to launch a large-scale war, they would have to operate through him. For Buggy, it was a golden opportunity.
However, he still hadn't figured out Renji's true objective. In two years, Renji had not only helped him expand his influence but also slain many disobedient high-bounty pirates, which further spread Buggy's reputation.
"Renji... What exactly is your plan?"
...
Shambles.
"It's been a long time, everyone. Hehe! Two years."
Luffy ran with a wide smile, his long-lost companions by his side, their faces also beaming with joy.
Behind Luffy was Rayleigh, who had meticulously guided him for two years.
With his companions reunited, his powerful mentor covering his retreat, and having emerged from the shadow of Ace's death, undergoing a transformation, he would soon set sail again for the New World.
At this moment, Luffy was full of vigor, having shed his decadent and regained the sharp spirit of his youth when he first set out to sea.
At this moment—
Boom!
A half-naked man crashed heavily onto the path of Luffy, Zoro, and the others.
"Usopp!"
While Luffy was still confused, Sanji was the first to recognize the identity of the fallen man.
"Who did this to you?"
Sanji rushed forward to check Usopp's condition. Under the release of his powerful Observation Haki, he could sense that at least half of Usopp's bones were broken, blood was continuously gushing out, and he had already fallen unconscious.
"Damn it! Who was it?!"
Sanji's face was grim, and the expressions of the rest of the Straw Hats were not much better.
As the smoke and dust cleared, Luffy clenched his fists even tighter after seeing Usopp's tragic state.
Boom!
Surging wind emanated from Luffy, radiating outwards. In his rage, his powerful Haki roared like a torrent within his body due to his anger.
On the hillside, Rayleigh's eyes were fixed on the figure clad in a coat of justice. The killing intent in his pupils trembled deep within his eyes like the eve of an earthquake.
"Renji!" Rayleigh gritted his teeth, forcing out the word.
His arm muscles were engorged and bulging, and the pulsing of his veins could even be clearly seen.
Facing the terrifying aura emanating from the front, hundreds of Marine soldiers, even those who hadn't awakened Observation Haki, uncontrollably felt fear.
It was an animal's instinct to seek good fortune and avoid disaster. Even ordinary people sensed the great terror contained ahead.
But when they saw Renji's arrival and recognized his identity, they all trembled, as if injected with adrenaline, their fighting spirit soaring.
"It's Admiral Seiryu!"
"The azure eyes! The Admiral's emblem! There's no mistaking it! It's Admiral Seiryu!"
Further back, beside Miguel, were the commanding officer and Sentomaru, who had followed closely behind.
"With him here, isn't it stable now?"
Sentomaru looked at that figure, recalling Kizaru's evaluation of him, "Whether I can retire early in the future depends entirely on Renji."
Kizaru's unspoken meaning was that Renji might one day be capable of purging all pirates from this sea.
Such an evaluation was undeniably high.
In the current New World, four Sea Emperors reign, and there are also many incredibly powerful super pirates like Marshall D. Teach and Crocodile.
Marine has been unable to sweep them away for many years, only maintaining a balance. The difficulty is imaginable.
"This opponent... is a living legend, the Pirate King's right-hand man, Pluton Rayleigh. Can he win?" The commanding officer was a bit apprehensive.
Although Renji was very strong, he had never witnessed his power firsthand.
Miguel merely curled his lips at the words. "He will win. Admiral Seiryu is the strongest."
Confident and powerful!
Whoosh!
Rustle... Rustle...
On the verdant grassland, green shoots danced wildly with the untamed wind, rustling, symbolizing endless hope.
Renji stepped on it, and then an extremely majestic aura suppressed it. The vibrant wild grass prostrated itself under this power, and the terrifying pressure seemed to solidify the entire space.
At the same time, the bounty poster in Renji's hand was carried away by the wind, spiraling into some unknown corner.
"Silvers Rayleigh, bounty of 3.556 billion Berries. This is the coffin money I specifically applied for you. How is it?"
Renji smiled, a powerful aura surging from within him, and divine light flickered in his eyes.
With just one step, at this moment, even Rayleigh, who had traversed the seas for countless years, was completely overwhelmed in terms of aura.
[Ding! Detecting Host's current situation! Please make a choice!]
[Choice One: Facing the Straw Hat Pirates who are about to set sail, as an Admiral, you choose to directly strike with a heavy punch, sink the Thousand Sunny, and crush the Straw Hat Pirates' dream of setting sail!]
[Reward: Shadow Clone upgraded to Lv. 8]
[Choice Two: Facing the obstruction of Silvers Rayleigh, a peak pirate from the old era, kill all pirates who attempt to challenge Marine's authority on the spot, to demonstrate that Marine's justice is inviolable!]
[Reward: 100,000 Bounty points]
[Choice Three: Due to the opponent's great strength, you choose to endure, remain inactive, and watch as Silvers Rayleigh shows off in front of you, and the Straw Hat Pirates successfully set sail!]
[Reward: Prestige level drops to Lv. 4]