[World Economy News – Special Extra Edition! Front-Page Headline]
Shockwaves Through the New World! Red-Hair Defeated—The Illusion of a New Era Shattered!
This paper brings you an exclusive report by a veteran correspondent who risked their life to infiltrate the scene.
Just yesterday, in the brutal sea long hailed as the "Pirates' Ultimate Paradise," a clash erupted—one powerful enough to rewrite the balance of forces itself!
The newly crowned Emperor, "Red-Hair" Shanks, suffered a catastrophic defeat at the very heart of his territory—Palta Island!
According to confirmed information, the one who brought down this young Emperor, who had only just ascended to the throne and stood at the height of his momentum, was not another Emperor of the Sea—
But rather, the long-renowned yet long-silent absolute trump card of the Marines!
Marine Headquarters Admiral "White Qilin," supreme controller of G-10's "Heavenly Disaster," the man revered as the Grand Strategist of Catastrophes—Heaven-Shaking Gern Reginald Sigmar!
Reports describe how Admiral Gern, accompanied by only two subordinates, forcefully stormed into the Red-Haired Pirates' core territory...
[Defeated Immediately After Ascending—Has Red-Hair's "Imperial Throne" Ever Truly Been Secure?][In the New World, It Is Ultimately the "Fifth Pole" Who Has the Final Say!]
Renowned industry authority and commentator Morgans personally penned an editorial stating:This battle was far more than a simple victory or defeat—it proclaimed an ironclad truth to the entire world.
On the storm-tossed chessboard of the New World, standing above the four Emperors of the Sea—
Has always been the solitary force that dominates all directions—
The "Fifth Pole"!
The stabilizing pillar of Marine power in the New World,The controller of G-10's "Heavenly Disaster"!
["One Man Suppressing the Four Emperors" is no longer a legend nor mere intimidation—it is a reality personally manifested by Admiral Gern Reginald Sigmar!His very existence is the cruelest mockery of the pirate "Emperors," and the most unbreakable shackle placed upon them!]
Additionally, this incident will undoubtedly trigger enormous upheaval across the New World—and the entire globe!
Will the Red-Haired Pirates' prestige collapse? Will their territorial influence shrink?How will the remaining three Emperors respond—mourning the fall of a peer, or lying in wait for opportunity?What stance will Marine Headquarters and the World Government take? Does Admiral Gern's action signal a further shift in Marine strategy?
The waves of the New Era roar fiercely—but the colossal beasts of the Old Era still possess the power to tear the heavens apart!
For full details, purchase this issue of World Economy News to uncover the complete story behind "Heaven-Shaking" Gern's royal return and Red-Hair's crushing defeat!
[Illustration: Gern wielding the Eight Desolations, one foot planted beside the half-kneeling Shanks, while the Red-Haired Pirates' commanders rage helplessly in the distance.]
...…
First Half of the Grand Line – Marine Headquarters, Marineford
"Bastard!! That lunatic—!"
A suppressed roar of fury burst from an office.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed the freshly delivered World Economy News extra edition onto his massive desk. The impact was so violent it made the teacups on the surface jump.
Despite the anger in his voice, his face wore a smile so bright it nearly split his face in half.
Yes.A textbook example of someone completely inconsistent inside and out.
"I told him to go warn Red-Hair!" Sengoku jabbed a finger at the shocking photo on the front page."What is he doing instead, huh?!Is he trying to start an all-out war between the Marines and the Four Emperors?!
And such a massive operation—why didn't he notify Headquarters in advance?! Does he have any idea that we currently—"
His tone abruptly shifted to pure anguish as he pounded the desk."—that we currently have a dead salted fish loafing around doing absolutely nothing all day?!
What a golden opportunity! If we'd prepared in advance, maybe—maybe we could've captured an Emperor in one sweep!! Damn it!!"
The more Sengoku thought about it, the more his heart ached—like he'd just missed out on hundreds of billions of Beli. He clawed at his explosive afro in frustration.
Nearby, the man wearing a Marine justice coat—one of the individuals being implicitly referenced—"Kizaru" Borsalino, lounged lazily on the sofa, legs crossed, casually holding a patrol report that simply read "No incidents this week."
Drawn by the commotion, he slowly lifted his eyelids and glanced at the newspaper headline.
"Mm~..." Kizaru puckered his lips, his tone lazy and teasing."Truly terrifying stuff~Charging straight into an Emperor's nest all by himself, and then doing that to them...Tsk tsk, everyone's turning into monsters these days. So scary~"
"Scary my ass!!"
Sengoku whipped his head around, his fury finally finding a more convenient outlet.
He glared at this slacker who, over the past stretch of time, had done little more than fish around and arrest a few pirates with bounties that hadn't even cracked a hundred million.
"Borsalino! Look at Gern! In terms of seniority, he's your junior!Look at the 'example' he's setting! And you? Can't you show even a little ambition?"
Leaning forward with both hands on the desk, Sengoku continued,
"If nothing else... why don't you go solo BIG MOM for me?Let Headquarters share in a bit of the glory too, hm?"
At those words, Kizaru's lazy expression froze solid. He pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Me? Solo Big Mom?"
"That's right."
"Uh, Fleet Admiral..." Kizaru's face twisted into a mix of absurdity and are-you-okay concern."You mean Charlotte Linlin?That… bulletproof, blade-proof 'Iron Balloon'?"
"Who else?! In the past six months you haven't taken a single serious assignment!But the moment it's a G-10 briefing, Egghead Island science cooperation, or escorting Celestial Dragons—you're suddenly the most enthusiastic man alive!
Do you have any shame, Borsalino?!"
"No, no, absolutely not!" Kizaru waved both hands, shaking his head vigorously."That place is way too dangerous. These old bones of mine couldn't survive her tossing me around...Just thinking about it gives me chills~Better let 'young people' like little Gern go make a name for themselves. I'll just focus on maintaining 'peace' at Headquarters~"
Watching Kizaru commit fully to his slacker lifestyle, Sengoku nearly lost his breath. His pointing hand trembled before finally dropping, all his rage collapsing into a long, helpless sigh.
"You two...One of you is recklessly headstrong to the point of giving people headaches, and the other is so lazy it drives them to despair!
Marine Admirals... sigh!!
Forget it. Right—when is Sakazuki coming back?"
"Him? Hmm..." Kizaru tilted his head."He should be planning to pass through G-10."
"He's going to G-10?" Sengoku frowned deeply."Another headache waiting to happen."
Ever since Gern was transferred to the New World to command G-10—and demanded Bullet—Akainu had almost completely stopped speaking to him.
"...Sigh. And to think, back during Marshal Kong's tenure, the two of them were so close."
..…
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