World Economy News — Front Page Headline
[MARINE JUSTICE STRIKES! New World Pirates Face an "Absolute Justice" Purge]
[New World Frontline — Breaking Report]Shocking! The two highest combat powers of Marine G-3 Base—Vice Admiral Sakazuki and Brigadier General "Heaven-Shaking" Gern Reginald Sigmar—have swept across the New World seas with thunderous force over the past several days!
According to this reporter's high-risk, close-range investigation, the two commanders completely ignored Marine Headquarters' directives, shutting down all communication devices and launching an indiscriminate extermination campaign against the forces under the Flying Pirates of the Sky Admiral Golden Lion!
The Golden Lion's Third Division subordinate Blood Anchor Pirates—entire crew sent to the depths.
The Iron Claw Kozmo officer unit—subjected to a molten lava execution.
Brigadier General Gern—single-handedly destroyed three pirate strongholds.
Exclusive insider information: It is rumored that Marine Headquarters, to ensure absolute operational accuracy, directly ordered both commanders to shut down not only military Den Den Mushi but all private communications as well, achieving a true state of "zero battlefield interference."
Once again—Pirates have felt the presence of Justice!!
...
"Justice my ass—pirates felt justice again?!"
Marine Headquarters — Fleet Admiral's Office
BAM!!
The newspaper in Kong the Steel's hand slammed violently onto the desk. The solid hardwood surface instantly split with spiderweb-like cracks.
His pupils trembled. Veins bulged across his forehead. His breathing turned heavy as his mohawk bristled straight upward.
"Th… is… what… is… this…?"He forced the words out, one by one.
"Fleet Admiral!" A Marine officer rushed in, drenched in sweat."It's been confirmed—everything in the paper is accurate!Two weeks ago, the G-3 Base military communication channels went… completely offline!"
"What do you mean 'completely offline'?" Kong snapped, his eyes blazing with terrifying fury."And you're telling me this happened two weeks ago?!"
"I—I mean it literally!" The officer swallowed hard."It's said… Vice Admiral Sakazuki ordered all military communication devices shut down—even encrypted channels were cut!"
"What about their private Den Den Mushi?!"
"T-they… can't be reached either…" The officer's voice shrank to a whisper."And Brigadier General Gern's private line shows 'powered off,' while Vice Admiral Sakazuki's… shows 'signal blocked'…"
"…Good. Very good."When someone is pushed past the limits of disbelief, they start to laugh—and Kong was smiling now.
After a long moment, he slowly stood up, both hands braced against the shattered desk, knuckles whitening.
"So… let me get this straight…"His voice was terrifyingly calm.
"I—the Fleet Admiral of the Marines—have to learn from Morgans that damned bird's newspaper that my own officers launched a large-scale purge in the New World?"
The officer said nothing. He lowered his head as cold sweat dripped onto the floor.
Kong suddenly grabbed his personal Den Den Mushi and frantically tried to call Sakazuki and Gern.
"Bara, bara—"
"The number you have dialed cannot be reached. Please try again later—"
CRUNCH!!
Kong crushed the Den Den Mushi in his grip. Viscous fluid seeped through his fingers.
"Good… very good…"He sneered, the muscles in his face twitching unnaturally.
"Sakazuki… Gern… you've really outdone yourselves…"
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, a news seagull happened to fly past, a fresh copy of the World Economy News clamped in its beak.
Kong stared at the paper—and then roared toward the heavens:
"PREPARE A WARSHIP—IMMEDIATELY!!!"
"I'm going to the New World myself—and I'm dragging those two bastards—"
"BACK HERE!!!!"
......
New World — Rua Island
"Crack."
Half of Kuzan's body was coated in glittering ice. Cold vapor spilled from his mouth, crystallizing into fine frost in the air.
Beside him, the recently frozen "Crescent Moon Hunter" Catarina Devon was locked in a feral expression, transformed into a lifelike ice sculpture.
"Whew… what a troublesome woman," Kuzan muttered lazily, scratching his head as he caught the latest World Economy News tossed down by a news gull.
He glanced casually at the front page, his eyes lingering briefly on the headline[MARINE JUSTICE RUNS AMOK! The New World Purge!]before the corner of his mouth slowly curled upward.
"Pff—hahahahaha!"Kuzan burst out laughing, ice crystals scattering from his shoulders.
"What was Fleet Admiral Kong even thinking?" he said, wiping nonexistent tears from his eyes, schadenfreude dripping from his voice."Actually putting Sakazuki and Gern together? It'd be weird if that didn't explode."
He slipped one hand into his pocket, lazily flicking the newspaper with the other as he kept reading.
"Oh? Even private communications cut off?" Kuzan raised an eyebrow."That's thorough… but yeah. That's exactly their style."
He glanced at Catarina Devon's frozen form.
"Looks like the New World's about to get lively again…Too bad I've still got a pile of 'odd jobs' to deal with here."
Kuzan strolled forward at an unhurried pace, ice spreading beneath his feet, his lazy voice drifting on the cold wind.
"Ahhh… hope Fleet Admiral Kong doesn't get so mad he tears Marineford apart."
...
Elsewhere — New World, G-3 Sea Region, Gern's Route
The sea wind howled. Waves churned violently.
Gern Reginald Sigmar stood at the bow of the warship, arms crossed, eyes locked on the pirate ship drawing steadily closer.
Because the flag flying proudly in the wind—
Was the symbol of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"So Whitebeard himself didn't come," Gern murmured, his gaze lifting slowly until it fixed on the towering figure standing at the enemy ship's prow."But instead… a troublesome one showed up."
The man was enormous, his hair gathered into a dramatic, circular topknot. A sharp widow's peak and triangular sideburns framed his fierce features.
He wore an orange kimono, legs bare, a crescent moon embroidered on his chest. Thick purple-and-white sacred ropes were wrapped around his shoulders and waist, the knotted ends trailing behind him in the sea breeze.
Most striking of all were the two swords at his waist—
Ame no Habakiri and Enma.
"Kozuki Oden…" Gern breathed, his expression turning grave.
Or rather—
The current Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, samurai of Wano—"The Samurai" Kozuki Oden!
"B-Brigadier General Gern!" A Marine sergeant swallowed nervously."Sh-should we… avoid them? That's Whitebeard's crew!"
"We can't."Lipo's voice was frighteningly calm. Her hands were already clenched tight.Even with her barely awakened Observation Haki, she could clearly sense that pure, blazing fighting spirit.
"Why not?!" the sergeant cried.
Gern didn't answer.
His pupils shrank sharply.
In the distance, Oden suddenly grinned—a wild, blade-drawn smile.
He raised a thick arm high, his thunderous roar rolling across the sea:
"HEY! MARINES—I'VE FINALLY FOUND YOU!"
"Steer the ship toward the nearest island," Gern said quietly, his right hand slowly resting on Black Blade: Eight Desolations.Strange, warped vibration ripples twisted the air around him.
"Once I step onto land, no one—including you, Lipo—is to come anywhere near me."
"B-Brigadier General…" The sergeant stared blankly at the Justice cloak snapping behind Gern.
"You asked why we can't run, right?"Gern suddenly smiled as the wrappings around Black Blade: Eight Desolations spiraled loose on their own.
"Because that lunatic—"
The blade was fully revealed, dark crimson fissures erupting with blinding light.
"—is here for me!!!"