Three Days Later — World Economy News Paper Headquarters
"President Morgans! Emergency news! This is huge—absolutely earth-shattering!"
A staff member stumbled as he burst through the office doors, still splattered with half-dry ink, and slammed an urgent telegram onto the desk.
Big News Morgans lounged back in his chair, a cigar hanging casually from his beak as he unfolded the report with practiced indifference.
The very next second, his pupils shrank violently.
The cigar slipped from his beak, sparks scattering across the carpet.
"Th—This is impossible…! The Battle of Ed War only happened not long ago, and now…!"
He shot to his feet, feathers standing on end as his wings trembled uncontrollably, his voice nearly hoarse.
"A Marine Vice Admiral—Gern Reginald Sigmar—openly beat Celestial Dragons at the Sabaody Archipelago?! One crippled, one incapacitated?!"
The entire office fell into instant dead silence.
Every reporter and editor froze mid-motion, eyes wide as if they had just heard a fairy tale—or a nightmare.
"Move! Print an emergency special edition immediately! Front page! Every paper in the world runs this headline!"Morgans screeched in near hysterical excitement, wings flapping wildly."The Marines striking Celestial Dragons right as the Seven Warlords system is barely taking shape—hah! This will be the most explosive, imagination-igniting news of the century!"
There was no way to suppress it.
Within a single day, the entire world boiled over.
[Marine "Heaven-Shaker" Vice Admiral Gern Brutally Beats Celestial Dragons! World Government Enraged!][Seven Warlords System Announced—Marines Vent Their Resentment?][Celestial Dragons Attempt to Enslave Marines—"Heaven-Shaker" Strikes Back!]
This incident would later be known across the seas as—
The Celestial Dragon Incident of Grove No. 23.
...
Meanwhile — Fish-Man Island, Fish-Man District
Fisher Tiger clenched the newspaper in his hands, his knuckles turning white from the force.
On the front page was Gern's cold, resolute face, the chaos of Sabaody behind him. The headline was painfully conspicuous:
Marine "Heaven-Shaker" Vice Admiral Gern Brutally Beats Celestial Dragons! World Government Enraged!
"That bastard…"Tiger muttered hoarsely, his throat dry."Has he lost his mind…?"
He suddenly looked up and shouted at Arlong and Hatchan beside him.
"I'm going to Ryugu Palace!"
Arlong glanced at the paper, his saw-shaped nose twitching as he scoffed."Hah. Human infighting—what's that got to do with us?"
"Shut up!"Tiger snapped, veins bulging beneath his crimson skin—something rarely seen."You don't understand what this means at all!"
Hatchan nervously handed him a coat, six arms flailing in a panic."T-Tiger-boss, the ship's ready…"
Tiger snatched the coat and strode toward the exit of Fish-Man District.
In his mind echoed Gern's words from the Sea Forest—
"Kindness needs power to protect it."
And now, that man had declared his "power" to Fish-Man Island in the most extreme way imaginable.
Ryugu Palace — Throne Hall
Neptune sat solemnly upon the throne, the newspaper trembling slightly in his hands.
Queen Otohime stood beside him, both hands covering her mouth, disbelief filling her eyes.
"K-King Neptune…"The head guard rushed in, about to announce Tiger's arrival—only to see Tiger already striding into the hall, gripping the same newspaper.
Their gazes met.
For an instant, the air itself seemed to freeze.
"You've seen it," Neptune said at last, his voice low.
"Yes," Tiger nodded. "And judging by the timing… he struck the Celestial Dragons immediately after leaving Fish-Man Island."
Otohime trembled as she picked up the paper, softly reading the headline aloud:
'Marine Vice Admiral Gern, citing legitimate self-defense, severely injures two Celestial Dragons'… Th-This… is this really true?'
"Absolutely," Neptune sighed deeply, his whisker-like beard quivering."The World Economy News Paper wouldn't fabricate something like this. And besides…"
He pointed to the fine print in the corner.
"Even the World Government's statement acknowledges that a 'conflict' occurred."
Tiger stared at Neptune intensely."He's showing resolve toward our alliance."
Neptune was silent for a moment—then suddenly smiled.
"Yes. In the most reckless way possible."
He looked up at Tiger, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"But he proved this much—his 'justice' is bold enough to shake even the Celestial Dragons."
Otohime set the paper down anxiously."But openly provoking the World Government like this… won't Vice Admiral Gern—"
"Don't worry," Neptune interrupted gently, tapping the armrest as he recalled Gern's words before leaving, a faint smile forming."The network of influence he has within the Marines… the World Government won't dare move against him lightly."
Tiger frowned."But the Celestial Dragons will never let this go."
"So what?"Neptune suddenly stood, his towering frame casting a heavy shadow.
"Don't forget—he's Heaven-Shaker.
"And when someone possesses absolute strength and occupies the moral high ground…"His voice rang with certainty."Everyone will end up standing behind him."
...
Marineford — Marine Headquarters
"GERN!!!"
Fleet Admiral Kong slammed his fist down, obliterating his desk. His roar echoed through the entire building, sending seagulls outside scattering in panic.
Sengoku rubbed his temples, the documents in his hand already crushed into scrap."That brat… he really thinks things aren't chaotic enough."
"Well done! Those pigs deserved it a long time ago!"
Garp sat sprawled on a sofa, shoveling senbei into his mouth and speaking through crumbs."They even tried to grab Lipo. If I'd been there, I'd have thrown hands too!"
"Garp!"Kong glared at him."Do you understand what this means?! The World Government has ordered the Marines to immediately hand Gern over!"
"Hand him over? Heh."Zephyr let out a cold laugh, his eyes sharp beneath his sunglasses."On what grounds? Gern acted in legitimate self-defense. The Den Den Mushi recordings and witnesses from G-33 Base are all there!"
"He attacked Celestial Dragons!"Kong snarled through clenched teeth."And you call smashing a Celestial Dragon's head into his own neck 'self-defense'?!"
"Isn't it?"Zephyr shot back without yielding an inch."Marine Regulations, Article 37—any assault on an officer of general rank permits immediate retaliation!"
"ZEPHYR!"
"KONG!!"
Zephyr slammed his hand on the table and stood, calling him by name.
"We are Marines! Do Celestial Dragons now have the right to lay hands on our people whenever they want?!
"Lipo is a Headquarters Ensign! I personally approved her file!And think carefully—what does it mean that Celestial Dragons suddenly dared to attack Marines?!
"First they bypass us entirely to announce the Seven Warlords system, and now they target Gern and his people while on leave—what does that tell you?!"
His tone eased—but grew colder still.
"Or are you saying…""…that even you have let the Celestial Dragons climb onto your neck?"
Faced with Zephyr's accusation, Kong fell silent, veins throbbing on his forehead.
And only then did he realize—
Even Sengoku, who usually supported him the most, was standing on the opposite side.
"So you all think we can't hand him over?!"
Silence answered him.
"I'll say this once,"Zephyr said, draping his Justice coat over his shoulders."If the World Government dares send anyone to lay a hand on my student…"
He turned toward the door, his voice like steel.
"I, Marine Headquarters Admiral Zephyr, will strike first."
"And I believe…""…I won't be the only one."
With that, Zephyr pushed the door open and walked out.
Behind him, the future three Admirals—Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino—rose simultaneously.
"Sorry about this, Fleet Admiral~"Borsalino smiled faintly."Even if I'm a corporate slave, I've got no intention of upgrading to an actual one~"
"Gern did nothing wrong,"Sakazuki snorted coldly."If the World Government sends people, my 'justice' won't compromise."
Kuzan shoved his hands into his pockets, agreeing for once with Sakazuki."I'm with Zephyr-sensei."
The two men who usually couldn't stand each other walked side by side, their backs resolute.
With the Seven Warlords system ahead, and the Celestial Dragons' attempted enslavement of Marines behind—
This time, the Marines would not yield.
Because this was no longer just a question of whether to hand someone over.
In everyone's eyes, Gern's actions were the Marines' most direct act of resistance.
"Those who carry firewood for the masses must not be left to freeze in the storm."
At last, only Sengoku remained in the office.
Standing by the doorway, he looked back at Kong and spoke calmly—but with unshakable resolve:
"Fleet Admiral Kong, whether this was an accident or something more…"
"At this moment in time, what Gern represents—is everything the Marines stand for."
"Zephyr was right. This time…""…we can't stand on your side."
..
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