In the Year 1510 of the Sea Circle Calendar, the highest-level military conference convened by the Marines at Marineford became a watershed moment—one that would divide eras.
Under the leadership of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the conference formally passed the "New World Strategic Jurisdiction and G-10 Base Administrative Autonomy Act."
By this act, Marine Headquarters Admiral "White Qilin" Gern Reginald Sigmar was officially appointed to concurrently serve as Supreme Strategic Commander of the Marines in the New World.
The G-10 Marine Base, along with its affiliated sphere of influence, was granted a high degree of autonomy in administrative governance, fiscal management, and military deployment. Only in matters of diplomacy and major principled decisions would coordination with Marine Headquarters be required.
At the same time, a new dual-core strategic framework was formally established:
Marineford would retain jurisdiction over the first half of the Grand Line (Paradise) and the Four Seas,while G-10 would exercise unified command over the New World.
From that moment on, the Marines officially entered a new era of "unified structure, dual governance."
Headquarters and G-10 became the twin wings of the Marines—each bearing clearly defined strategic responsibilities—marking a profound transformation in both power projection and internal governance.
In the following year, 1511, a succession of sea-shaking events erupted across the New World.
The Music Kingdom, Elegia Island, was destroyed by the rapidly rising Red-Hair Pirates.
Their captain, Red-Hair Shanks, gained worldwide notoriety through his overwhelming strength and was widely regarded as a new candidate for Emperor of the Sea.
However, not long afterward, due to relentless pursuit by the core combat power of G-10, led by "Hawk-Eye" Dracule Mihawk, the Red-Hair Pirates made a strategic decision to withdraw from the New World.
After entering the first half of the Grand Line, they attacked a World Government transport ship and seized the Gum-Gum Fruit aboard.
Soon after, Shanks lingered for a time in Foosha Village of the East Blue, where he ultimately wagered his left arm on the "future."
Later that same year, the Sun Pirates, led by Fisher Tiger, were ambushed after being reported while escorting the former slave girl Koala back to her homeland.
They suffered devastating losses.
Captain Tiger was gravely wounded—and, due to his unwavering principles, refused to accept human blood transfusions.
He died with unresolved regret.
The Sun Pirates fractured soon after.
In 1512, former Sun Pirate member "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe accepted an invitation from the World Government in exchange for the freedom of his companion Arlong, joining the ranks of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
That same year, on Amazon Lily (Kuja Island), the previous empress Toritoma died suddenly from illness.
Her younger sister, Torritoma, returned to the island to assist the eighteen-year-old Boa Hancock in ascending the throne as the new Pirate Empress.
Through Torritoma's maneuvering—and under the subtle influence of G-10's growing power—Hancock successfully gained recognition from the World Government and was likewise inducted into the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
In just three short years, the tide of history surged forward.
The Marines' internal division of authority,the struggle for the title of Sea Emperor,the evolution of the Warlord system,and that Devil Fruit which had quietly flowed into the East Blue—
All signs pointed toward a far more turbulent and unpredictable great era, now rapidly approaching.
...
Fish-Man Island — Sea Forest
This deep-sea graveyard, surrounded by towering coral formations and the wreckage of sunken ships, felt even more mournful than usual.
Before a newly erected, unadorned stone monument engraved with the name "Fisher Tiger," the former members of the Sun Pirates gathered in silent remembrance, with Jinbe at their head.
After the ceremony ended, most of the fish-men departed.
Only Jinbe and Arlong remained standing before the grave.
"Arlong," Jinbe said softly, seated cross-legged before the tombstone with his long pipe in hand, his voice heavy with patience,"Brother Tiger's will was coexistence and liberation—not endless hatred."
"You've already regained your freedom. From here on… you must restrain yourself."
"Restrain myself?" Arlong suddenly snapped his head around. His saw-toothed nose twitched violently, eyes burning with venom."Jinbe! You actually went and became a dog for those filthy, disgusting humans!"
"That damn Warlord title—have you forgotten how Brother Tiger died?!Have you forgotten the humiliation we endured?!You've completely disgraced the fish-men!"
"Arlong! It's not that simple!" Jinbe tried to explain, his voice urgent. "This was the only way to—"
"To what?!" Arlong roared, cutting him off. "To show off that you've become some 'important figure' for the World Government?!"
His emotions spiraled out of control, his words growing sharper and crueler by the second.
Their heated argument echoed through the normally tranquil waters of the Sea Forest.
Just then—
A set of steady footsteps approached from the distance.
Hearing someone arrive, both Jinbe and Arlong froze mid-argument and turned toward the sound.
Not far away, a tall figure cloaked in a pure white mantle of justice was walking toward them at an unhurried pace, hair drifting gently in the water, expression calm.
It was Gern Reginald Sigmar, returning from Amazon Lily and passing through Fish-Man Island.
At his side walked a woman with a graceful figure and an unmistakably lethal presence, a sword at her waist.
Former Kuja Pirates officer, now Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral "Snake Princess" Torritoma.
Gern's arrival clearly took both men by surprise.
Jinbe quickly straightened, his expression turning solemn and conflicted.
Arlong, however—
The moment he saw that blinding white cloak and felt the unfathomable depth of the man's aura, his pupils contracted sharply.
All the curses and fury jammed in his throat, replaced by a primal instinct—
Fear of an absolute powerhouse, entwined with even deeper hatred.
Gern's gaze passed briefly over Jinbe before settling on Arlong's twisted expression.
He spoke calmly.
"It seems I may have interrupted your… reunion?"
His voice was quiet, yet it carried an invisible pressure that subtly altered the atmosphere of the Sea Forest.
Arlong's hatred—for humans, and especially Marines—flared violently, overpowering his fear.
"What are you doing here?!" he barked.
Gern's eyes flicked to the plain stone monument.
"To pay my respects."
"Pay your respects?!"The words ignited Arlong like a fuse.
He pointed at Gern, voice trembling with fury.
"You? A human?! A Marine?!What right do you have to pay respects to Brother Tiger?!
Drop that hypocritical act! Brother Tiger was killed by you damned humans—"
Before he could finish, Arlong completely lost control and charged toward Gern, intent on physically shoving him away from the grave.
But he had barely taken a single step—
Clang.
A faint metallic sound rang out—quiet, yet ice-cold.
Torritoma didn't even move her feet.
She merely pressed her crimson-polished thumb lightly against the sword guard, nudging the hilt upward by a single inch.
In an instant, an invisible yet razor-sharp slash shot along the ground.
Shhhk!
A perfectly straight fissure—smooth as a mirror and unfathomably deep—split the solid seabed stone directly in front of Arlong's feet.
The crack lay precisely where his next step would have landed—mere millimeters from his toes.
The killing intent carried in that blade pressure stabbed into Arlong's skin, terror flooding over him like ice water.
His forward momentum seized.
His foot caught the edge of the fissure.
"Thump!"
He crashed to the ground in utter disgrace.
Torritoma didn't even look at him.
Thumb still resting against the sword guard, she spoke flatly:
"Take one more step, and I'll cut you down."
Arlong sat frozen on the ground, staring at the bottomless crack, then up at Torritoma's expressionless face—
and at Gern, whose gaze had never once wavered.
A bone-deep chill finally crushed his rage. His body stiffened, unable to move.
Jinbe had watched everything in silence, releasing a heavy sigh.
He stepped forward, placing himself between Arlong and Gern.
"Admiral Gern," Jinbe said gravely,"Please forgive him. Arlong is… emotionally unstable."
Only then did Gern withdraw his gaze from the tombstone.
He looked at Jinbe—and at the now-silent Arlong—and spoke evenly.
"Qualification is not for you to define."
"I respect Fisher Tiger as a true warrior of liberation."
"He made his choice—and paid its price."
"Nothing more."