"Alright," Ezra said calmly.
"I agree."
Hearing those words, Shanks clenched his fist slightly.
Finally.
He agreed.
"But…"
Ezra's tone shifted.
Shanks froze.
He looked up at Ezra, suddenly tense.
Wait.
Was he about to change his mind?
Ezra chuckled softly.
"But in the future, if the 'friends' you speak of are the ones who start a war with the Marines first, I suggest you do not interfere lightly."
A question mark practically appeared over Shanks' head.
He did not fully understand what Ezra meant, but he trusted Whitebeard and the others.
They would never start a war without reason.
"I understand," Shanks said.
With the serious matters settled, Shanks visibly relaxed.
And once he relaxed, his habit of making friends kicked in.
"From what I know, Admiral Blazing Ash is a Marine," Shanks said.
"So why are you here?"
He finally asked the question that had been bothering him all along.
Ezra smiled.
"I already told you.
I am simply speaking on behalf of the Five Elders.
Within the World Government, I am nothing more than an insignificant nobody."
Shanks' mouth twitched.
That excuse was terrible.
He really wanted Ezra to turn around and look at the five old men behind him.
During their entire conversation, none of them had dared to utter a single word.
You were the one making every decision,
yet you still called yourself a spokesperson?
Ridiculous.
"Well," Shanks shrugged,
"if you do not want to explain, then forget it.
The deal here is done. I will take my leave."
He nodded politely to Ezra and the Five Elders, then walked toward the door.
As he opened it, he paused and spoke without turning back.
"I would really like to become friends with you someday, Admiral Blazing Ash."
Ezra smiled faintly.
"Perhaps someday."
"Hahaha! You really are an interesting man!"
Shanks laughed heartily as he left the conference chamber.
Once he stepped outside Mary Geoise, the smile vanished from his face.
"…I seem to have learned something I really should not have."
He rubbed his temples.
This was a headache.
Shanks was not stupid.
Anyone who dared to negotiate on behalf of the Five Elders in that setting
had a status even higher than theirs.
And yet that person was a Marine.
Absurd did not even begin to describe it.
What shocked him even more was that they allowed him to know this secret openly.
Which meant they wanted him to know.
It was also a way of showing how much they valued this deal.
Shanks decided not to think any further.
Some secrets were better left buried.
Shaking his head, he walked off into the distance.
Inside the conference chamber,
Ezra withdrew his perception, a faint smile on his lips.
"That man is really interesting."
He turned slightly.
"Five Elders, keep a close watch on the situation at sea.
Give instructions to Stussy as well.
Tell her to prepare herself to become one of the Four Emperors.
Contact Morgans.
Have him prepare the announcement of the Four Emperors.
Tell him it is my order."
The Five Elders answered solemnly.
"Yes, Young Master."
Ezra nodded and left Mary Geoise.
Several days later, a single newspaper spread across the entire sea.
[THE FOUR PIRATE EMPERORS HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN ESTABLISHED!]
[RULERS OF THE NEW WORLD, THE LATTER HALF OF THE GRAND LINE!]
Through word of mouth, people finally understood what the Four Emperors meant.
Because of their fame, strength, and influence,
they rivaled the legendary pirate who ruled before the Great Pirate Era.
Gol D. Roger.
They were the four strongest pirate crews of the era,
the towering mountains every pirate must face when sailing the Grand Line.
After passing through Paradise and entering the New World,
there were only four possible outcomes upon encountering an Emperor.
Challenge them.
Join them.
Be destroyed.
Or retreat.
The names of the Four Emperors' crews spread rapidly across the seas.
The Whitebeard Pirates, led by Whitebeard.
The Red-Haired Pirates, led by Shanks.
The Beasts Pirates, led by Kaido.
And the Queen Pirates, led by Stussy.
The structure of the New World was finally complete.
And across the entire Grand Line,
the three great powers of the sea were firmly established.
First and foremost, Marine Headquarters.
After all, they were backed by the strongest force of all,
Ezra D. Vale.
Second, the Four Emperors.
And lastly, the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
These three forces defined the balance of the Grand Line.
Gradually, the chaotic seas began to regain order.
Sixteen years after Roger's execution,
the world seemed to be heading toward peace once more.
But no one could imagine that in the years to come,
a truly monstrous era would be born.
No one except Ezra.
At the moment, Ezra had no time to think about Emperors.
Because he was currently locked in a staring contest with Garp.
"So," Ezra said, sitting on the sofa at home, his mouth twitching,
"you are telling me Ace almost set sail while you were not paying attention?"
Garp sat nearby, unusually well-behaved, scratching his head awkwardly.
"I just fell asleep, that is all.
Who knew that kid could run off that fast?"
Ezra pressed his fingers to his forehead.
"Old man, falling asleep while standing is not normal at all."
"I do not care," Garp said stubbornly.
"You have to take responsibility for that kid."
Ezra felt his teeth ache.
"Old man, you are the one who failed to keep an eye on him.
Why are you pushing this onto me?"
Garp casually dug at his nose.
"Isn't he your godson?"
When did I ever agree to that?
Which eye did you see that with?
"Then it is settled. He is your problem now."
With that, Garp stood up and fled without hesitation.
"Garp! You bastard, stop right there!"
Ezra's roar echoed throughout Marineford.
Inside the office, Sengoku sighed helplessly.
"What did that old fool do this time?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled faintly.
"Whatever it was, Ezra is definitely furious."
As she finished speaking, the office door opened.
Ezra walked in, his expression dark.
"Uncle Sengoku, do you have any missions?"
Sengoku froze.
"Ezra, what did Garp say to you?
You never volunteer for missions."
Ezra did not want to hear that name again.
"Just tell me if there is one."
Sengoku adjusted his glasses.
"Unfortunately, there are no missions requiring an Admiral right now."
Ezra said nothing.
He turned and left the office.
After letting out a helpless sigh,
he headed toward the warships docked outside.