A Marine troop movement on this scale could not be hidden from anyone.
The moment warship after warship from the G1 Branch carried countless Marines into the Calm Belt, the entire sea received the news.
And very soon, the news that the Thunder God Pirate Crew, who had just defeated the Silver Axe Pirate Crew and become one of the overlords of the New World, had also entered the Calm Belt made everyone realize it at once.
This war was finally about to begin.
...
The New World.
On a small sky island held up in the sky by Island Cloud stood a domed building. On its roof and all around it stood enormous radar-like Shells, facing every direction.
Amid excited shouts, Morgans, president of the World Economic News Agency, appeared there.
In front of him were countless screens and staff members constantly moving back and forth.
If anyone were here, they would see countless images on those screens, covering every part of Golden Crow Island from every angle.
And on the largest screen at the center of them all was the exact image being shown on every TV Conch.
Earlier than anyone else, Morgans had received this thing called a TV Conch two months ago.
Along with it came a single sentence from Fire Dragon Yemu.
"Morgans, very soon, I will do something that changes this world. Are you willing to become my ally and witness the transformation of this world..."
Naturally, Morgans would not be so easily moved by one sentence from Yemu. Not until Fire Dragon Yemu personally explained it to him did Morgans realize just how incredible this tool called a TV Conch truly was.
He agreed instantly.
That was precisely why he had been so generous as to release part of the control over his World Economic News Agency to the World Government behind Stussy.
The appearance of the TV Conch meant his outdated newspapers would soon be swept into the dust of history.
But at that time, he had never imagined that the great event Fire Dragon Yemu spoke of would actually be declaring war on the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
And now, he was wildly glad he had made that decision.
Being able to broadcast news that would affect the course of world history was, to him, the most exciting thing imaginable.
Of course, Yemu would not hand over such an important place to him alone.
An unbelievably beautiful blond woman was looking at him with a smile.
"I'll be counting on you from here on, Mr. Morgans..."
Although the woman's voice was so gentle, Morgans did not dare underestimate her in the slightest.
This was not because the woman herself was especially powerful, but because her Devil Fruit ability was so troublesome.
A beautiful voice could bring joy, but it could also turn into poison.
"Rest assured, beautiful Lady Stella. I definitely won't disappoint Captain Yemu. I will present this battle between Rainbow Country and the World Government to everyone in the most perfect way possible..."
"Now cut off all images... and wait for the real show to begin..."
...
As the Sky Pirates and the Marines began to move, the calm of the previous days vanished completely.
The situation across the entire sea instantly grew tense.
Everyone tried every possible method to inquire about information related to this war.
At this moment, the TV Conches provided by the Sky Pirates seemed to have become the only channel for learning about the battlefield.
Even though the images on them had suddenly been shut off, countless people still stayed beside them, waiting for news.
On Wenmigudan Island, beneath the dreamlike glow of the Rainbow Tree that had already grown to a thousand meters tall, three huge screens stood beside the tree's roots.
From the beginning of construction, the people of the island had not been forbidden from approaching this place.
As long as they did not damage the environment, they were free to come here and enjoy themselves.
Because of the attraction of this magical Rainbow Tree, the area quickly became a place where the island's residents came to relax in their free time, a park in a certain sense.
And today, countless people stood before those screens, looking at the images with both nervousness and anticipation.
Among them were members of the Harrot Tribe from Warship Island, people from Baterilla Island, shipwrights from Water 7, and slaves who had gained new lives. There were humans, Fishmen, Dwarves, members of the Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, and Snakeneck Tribe. But now, all of them shared one identity: citizens of Rainbow Country.
Even though there was currently no image on the screens, they still refused to leave, because this war not only involved their loved ones, but also represented their future.
As Wenmigudan Island's current administrators, Fes, Aming, Dana, and Modlin each led a squad of soldiers patrolling the island, preventing accidents while also keeping concerned eyes on the screens.
Among the dense leaves of the Rainbow Tree, Lillilu hid herself and watched over the entire island.
On the sea not far from the harbor, the reborn Alchemi Island stood like an outpost, providing protection for Wenmigudan Island behind it.
On the island, a TV Conch sat beside Dolon and Bobo, who had only recently arrived. Dolon's gaze was fixed tightly on the distant sea.
Below him, along the shore of Alchemi Island, stood nearly fifty soldiers clad head to toe in mechanical armor, their appearances impossible to see.
And beneath the sea, a massive figure shining with golden light swam back and forth underwater.
Just like that, time passed second by second, yet no one showed the slightest impatience.
Only after thirty-six hours had passed did light suddenly appear on the originally dark screens, and static began to flicker across the image.
As the picture became clearer and clearer, everyone saw it.
The image pointed toward the horizon of the sea.
Under the frightened and worried gazes of the crowd, one enormous Marine warship after another appeared.
As those warships slowly approached, the ships that had originally been tiny dots grew larger and larger.
Only then did everyone watching realize that these Marine warships seemed different from the ones they normally saw.
Not only were they several times larger, like small islands, but their speed was also astonishing. Countless massive gun ports covered them, and Marines, black as tiny dots, stood on the decks with murderous auras.
On the three leading warships stood the figures that struck fear into everyone.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Marine Hero Garp, and Admiral Zephyr.
In that instant, even through the screen, everyone could feel the oppression brought by the Marines. It was like dark clouds bearing down on a city, shrouding the entire sea, as if declaring that they were the true kings of this ocean.
"So this is what the Marines look like when they truly get serious?"
At that moment, the same thought appeared in everyone's mind.
Then another thought emerged.
"Against Marines this terrifying, what can the Sky Pirates possibly use to win this war..."