A gust of wind swept up Queen Dowager Conney, carrying her onto the rooftop and gently setting her down.
Before she could even steady herself, she clutched the telegram and shouted in terror, "Kuma! Run! Run now!"
The three exchanged glances and took the telegram. The words written on it were chilling.
"The Five Elders have just issued an order to the Marines to arrest your son, Bartholomew Kuma. Please take care."
The shocking news left them no time to think of a response.
Purururu~ Purururu~
The royal Den Den Mushi on Kuma's body began to ring.
After calming his mother, he signaled the others to stay quiet and answered the call.
From the Den Den Mushi came a familiar, cold voice. One they had just heard not long ago.
"Bartholomew Kuma, given the influence of the Sorbet Kingdom in the South Blue, after discussion between the World Government and the Marines, it has been decided to grant you the title of Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"You are ordered to arrive at Marine Headquarters, New Marineford, within one month to receive the appointment."
Conney tried to snatch the Den Den Mushi, shouting furiously, "Are you joking?! The Warlord title is given to pirates! The Sorbet Kingdom is a member nation of the World Government! Kuma is its king! Giving a king a pirate title. What kind of joke is this!
"This is lawless! You are humiliating the Sorbet Kingdom! I will unite the nations of the world and lodge a protest with the government! Sakazuki!"
From the other end, Sakazuki's voice remained calm and indifferent.
"Seven days. Arrive at Headquarters to accept the appointment. If you fail to appear, then repent before the Sorbet Kingdom under a Buster Call."
Conney's eyes widened in fury. A Buster Call was meant to destroy demons, and they dared to use it here.
"Saka—!"
Before she could finish shouting, Kuma stopped her.
"Fine. I will go."
Click.
The sound of the Den Den Mushi disconnecting echoed.
Conney collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
Sabo's pupils shrank sharply. His fists clenched tight, filled with anger and helplessness.
The others felt their minds go blank.
There was no other reason. They could not think of a single good solution.
Bet that Sakazuki would not dare to issue a Buster Call?
That was a joke.
That man had no humanity. He truly would do it.
Once he acted, it was a killing blow.
Terrifying Sakazuki…
* * *
North Blue. The Vinsmoke Family.
A massive sea kingdom formed by enormous snails.
Inside the largest palace, Sakazuki's promotion ceremony had already ended.
The broadcast had been cut, yet Judge's eyes were still bloodshot. He panted heavily, his entire body trembling.
"An opportunity… An opportunity! The glory of the Vinsmoke Family will once again rule the North Blue! Hahahahaha!"
He looked completely unhinged.
For years, they had fought across many battlefields, yet gained not an inch of land. No matter how slow he was, he had realized the truth. They had been toyed with by the World Government.
But there was no choice. If they refused to follow the government's schemes, the family's very existence would be in question.
So even knowing the truth, he had swallowed the bitterness.
But today, after seeing Sakazuki's plan, he saw a chance to restore the Vinsmoke glory.
Sakazuki had sealed off the New World. Pirates could no longer enter or leave.
The Four Emperors' strongholds were in the New World. Their businesses were the same.
With the Fish-Man Island route cut off, unless they could cross the Red Line or traverse the Calm Belt, their losses would be unbearable.
And the Vinsmoke Family possessed unique giant snail technology, unmatched in the world. They could cross the Red Line without obstruction.
What was this?
This was an opportunity.
A chance to cooperate with the Four Emperors.
A chance to restore the family's glory.
A chance to rule the North Blue.
A chance to strike back at the World Government.
"The Vinsmokes will be great again! Hahahahaha!"
* * *
Grand Line, first half.
Former Marineford, now G-1 Branch.
Inside the fortress office, just after the promotion ceremony ended.
Sakazuki hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He had originally planned to let the Revolutionary Army grow for a while. After all, they drew attention away. For the Marines right now, pirates were the main target.
But now, even their identities could not be protected. The Five Elders' call had come directly to him.
He shook his head.
"Idiots."
Zephyr and Morris were also seated in the office.
They assumed he was referring to Queen Dowager Conney. After all, she had been given a month, and because of her provocation, it was reduced to seven days.
Zephyr frowned slightly. "Isn't this too aggressive, Sakazuki? It's a World Government member nation. A Buster Call… isn't that too rash. What if they aren't frightened? And today's war mobilization was also too sudden. The people in the New World… if they're pushed too far…"
Sakazuki let out a soft laugh. "You think I was trying to scare them?"
Zephyr's eyes widened in shock.
Morris paused briefly while holding the teapot, then calmly continued pouring tea.
Sakazuki stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the distant sea.
"It's just a kingdom. If they don't know their place, then destroy it. The king of the Sorbet Kingdom chose to join the Revolutionary Army, and the World Government uncovered it. There is only one outcome. Death.
"I don't have the patience to play childish games with them. I joined the Marines at twelve years old. Why do you think I did that? I've killed countless pirates, and I've nearly been killed by pirates myself. Was it for myself?
"Whitebeard's Devil Fruit ability tore through my body. Roger's blade shattered my chest. But so what. They're all dead. And I'm still alive.
"The greatest cancer in this world is pirates. If it's not eradicated at the root, even if I spend my entire life, I won't be able to kill them all. Hundreds of years later, thousands of years later, this chaos would still not end.
"Too extreme? I don't think so. The Marines and the government have been far too gentle in the past. Maintaining balance, fearing sacrifice. It's laughable. With this declaration of war, I am making it clear to the world. The end of pirates has come.
"I want them to watch their own deaths approach, powerless to stop it. So what if they're Emperors? I will personally crush their dreams and their future. Their children, their territory, their companions. Do they deserve such things? I will strip them of everything and let them die in despair.
"If ten years from now, twenty years from now, this sea still has trash like pirates, that will be my failure. But that will never happen. So… from the moment this declaration was made, until every pirate is eradicated, this war, launched for the future of the world, has already begun.
"No one can stop it, not even for a moment. The Revolutionary Army, a single kingdom, it doesn't matter. Anything that stands in my way will be crushed completely, until all pirates are gone.
"Sacrifice… one generation is enough."
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