"Fufufufu..."
On the Donquixote Pirate ship, Numancia Flamingo, sailing into the Grand Line from the North Blue, Doflamingo looked at today's newspaper and let out a sinister laugh.
He had just killed his brother, Rosinante, in the North Blue. He should have been furious about losing the Op-Op Fruit and his future top executive candidate, Trafalgar Law, but the news in the
paper had him laughing with joy, confusing the other members of the Donquixote Family beside him.
There was no need to even look at the content of the newspaper Doflamingo was holding, as for more than a week, the papers had been dominated by a single topic: the great wars between Alucard and Whitebeard and Kaido and Big Mom. The fighting between these four forces was gradually solidifying the shape of the New World.
"Doffy, is this something to be happy about? The number of monsters is growing, and that Alucard even has the power to rival Whitebeard," inquired Diamante, the top executive of the Spades Army.
Doflamingo tossed the newspaper aside, resting a hand on his forehead. "Happy? How could I not be happy? I've been waiting for this, waiting for it. The crazy new era is coming, and the monsters of the sea are itching for a fight."
"But... if we enter the New World now, we'll draw the enmity of four monsters, and the Marines won't be easy to deal with either." While Diamante was arrogant, he wasn't arrogant enough to underestimate people like Alucard or Whitebeard.
"There's a way around that," Doflamingo said with an evil grin. "What is it?" several executives asked, crowding around him.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea!" Doflamingo's words were shocking.
....
Also in the first half of the Grand Line, having entered from the East Blue, the captain of the Red-Hair Pirates, Shanks, held today's newspaper. It still featured the news of the four monster's great wars in the New World. This sensation would likely last for a long time.
After nearly a decade of forming his crew, Shanks had yet to enter the New World. It was after leaving the weakest of all seas, the East Blue, that this pirate with a bounty over 100 million Berries who had often clashed with Mihawk lost an arm. The news of this was sure to cause an uproar in the Grand Line.
"Captain."
Lucky Roux, the large, glasses-wearing fat man who was chewing on a huge ham bone, walked over and asked, "Are we going to the New World now? Can we finally go?"
At Lucky Roux's words, dozens of members of the Red-Hair Pirates jumped up from their seats, their eyes full of anticipation. Many of them had been waiting for a long time, and they had something pent up inside that they wanted to unleash now!
"Yeah."
Shanks twisted his remaining arm and grinned. "Let's cross the Grand Line first and meet up with Rayleigh-san. After that, we'll head to the New World!"
"YEAH!!!!"
The Red-Hair Pirates all raised their hands in celebration.
....
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"We don't need to get involved with the New Fish-Man Island incident. It will be fully handled by the government's direct intelligence agency, CP."
In the Marines' round table meeting room, all the Vice Admirals and higher-ranked officers who remained at headquarters were gathered. Kong continued his speech. "However, the government has sent down a message. They want to extract something from the Sun Pirates, and Fisher Tiger is a target the Celestial Dragons have been hunting. This time, the government has issued a kill order for Fisher Tiger, and Kizaru will be the one to do it from the base he's stationed at."
A look of pain flashed across Kong's face. "Also... no, I'll save that for later. Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru, please come see me later. There's something important I need to discuss with you."
Half an hour later, in Kong's office. "Take a look at this."
Kong handed a document to Tsuru. The more she read, the more her expression soured. Sengoku and Garp took a turn, and their faces showed the same grim look.
[Pacifista Manufacturing Project]
This was the title of the document. The content, in short, was a plan to create the government's human weapons. The head of the scientific research division, Vegapunk, was extremely eager to study the power of the virus from Alucard that had been infused into Zephyr.
The document proposed using Zephyr's body as the blueprint and Kizaru's light abilities as a supplement to create a human weapon that could rival a pirate with a bounty of 200 million Berries. Of course, to carry out this experiment, Zephyr would have to be sent to a lab.
Vegapunk had been arrested for participating in the human creation project that involved Lineage Factor. They hadn't expected him to be bold enough to come up with a Pacifista plan that was 80% similar. But strangely enough, the government had approved it.
"I can understand," Tsuru said, calming down slightly as she placed the document back on Kong's desk. "The government was genuinely enraged by Alucard's attack on them six years ago. A 'government human weapon' aligns with their interests."
"But it's trampling on Zephyr's dignity!" Sengoku said through gritted teeth.
As top-tier Marine officers and powerhouses, their dignity was on a level ordinary people couldn't comprehend. Being sent to an experimental lab like a lab rat? Who would accept that? Not just Zephyr, but not a single low-ranking soldier would be okay with this.
"So, Vegapunk has a new trick up his sleeve..."
Kong flipped to the last page of the document. The method was written there:
"There's no need for Zephyr to know. We can conduct the necessary body examination and investigation while he comes to the scientific research division for his medicine. The research can be done without his knowledge."
"Heh..."
Garp scoffed twice. "A genius scientist indeed. He thinks of everything."
"Kong-san, you're not going to agree to this, are you?" Sengoku asked, his brow furrowed.
Kong didn't say anything, but he showed them the Gorosei's seal on the last page, which served as his answer.
Knock! Knock!
A rapid knocking came from the door. Kong put the document in a drawer and called out, "Come in."
A frantic Captain walked into the office. After saluting the four of them, he said anxiously, "Fleet Admiral, Kaido in the New World is advancing toward Alucard's territory!"