At Marine Headquarters, inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford, Raleigh held a file in his hand.
Issho.
Devil Fruit ability: Zushi Zushi no Mi, also known as the Press-Press Fruit.
Calm personality.
Fond of gambling.
Born on a remote island in the Grand Line.
Later followed a swordsmanship master and trained in the way of the sword. After witnessing crimes committed by pirates, he blinded himself, unable to bear seeing the evil of the world any longer.
Influenced by the worldwide military draft, he voluntarily joined the Marines.
Due to his formidable strength, he was specially approved to fight Inspector General Sengoku.
After exchanging blows with Sengoku, Sengoku confirmed that he possessed Admiral-level strength and submitted a request for his promotion to Admiral.
Raleigh set the file down.
Fujitora Issho.
A very powerful man.
As a user of the Paramecia-type Press-Press Fruit, he was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.
Unfortunately, he was not a pure soldier.
He had too many thoughts of his own, which was why, in the original timeline, he had been restrained by Doflamingo's status.
Blu blu blu blu.
The Den Den Mushi on the desk rang.
Raleigh raised his hand, picked it up, and answered.
"Hello. What is it, brother?"
"Yo, Fleet Admiral Raleigh. Where did you find this newcomer? His strength is terrifying, like a monster. If I had not run quickly, I might have died by his hand."
Hearing Borsalino's comical tone, Raleigh smiled faintly.
In terms of attack power, Borsalino might not rank in the top five.
But when it came to escaping and surviving, he was definitely number one.
There were very few people who could truly keep him from leaving.
"I fought him. He already has strength comparable to an Admiral!"
Borsalino glanced warily at the man standing nearby.
In their brief exchange just now, he had already realized that this was a troublesome opponent.
His physical combat and Devil Fruit ability were both extremely strong.
On top of that, his ability also somewhat restrained Borsalino.
"Good. Since you have already fought him, bring him back with you. Tell him that his codename has been decided. He will be called Ryokugyu."
At that moment, a faint smile appeared on Aramaki's face.
He was not surprised by this result.
The only thing that excited him was that he would be able to go to Marineford and see the Fleet Admiral who had made such a bold declaration to the world—Christian Raleigh!
"Come back with him, brother. Coincidentally, Inspector General Sengoku at the Sabaody Archipelago has also recommended an Admiral-level fighter to me. We can organize an Admiral promotion ceremony for both of them together."
...
In the New World, the construction of New Marineford was now nearing completion.
Large numbers of buildings and training grounds for soldiers had already been finished and would soon be put into use.
However, Kuzan had temporarily received another order from Raleigh, instructing him to build a speech platform in the center of the training ground and prepare the ceremony according to the specifications of a Fleet Admiral's promotion.
Kuzan did not understand why, but very soon, he also received information from Marineford.
Raleigh had decided to place the relocation of Marine Headquarters and the promotion of the new Admirals on the same day.
That was why the ceremony needed to be held on an even grander scale.
"To think two more Admiral-level fighters have appeared. How terrifying."
Kuzan's mind turned rapidly.
He knew that Enel and Bullett had, in truth, already reached the edge of Admiral level.
Even people like Momonga and Cleveland had reached the level of elite Vice Admirals.
As for the subordinates under his own command, there were not many truly elite fighters.
Those giant Vice Admirals were fine when dealing with ordinary pirates, but against the elite officers of the two Emperor crews, they were simply no match.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Today, Marineford appeared extraordinarily solemn.
Everywhere were neatly arranged Marine soldiers, along with soldiers' families and civilians standing outside the parade ground.
Reporters from the news agencies had arrived early in the morning.
From the very beginning, they had been taking photographs nonstop, capturing the mighty appearance of the Marine soldiers.
Just after eight o'clock, stirring military music rang out through Marineford.
Raleigh, wearing the uniform of the Marine Fleet Admiral, ascended the tallest platform at the center step by step under everyone's gaze.
After looking around, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Good. Everyone's spirit makes me very pleased."
After pausing briefly to clear his throat, Raleigh spoke again under the eyes of all present.
"Today, we will lead all personnel of Marine Headquarters into the New World. This is a brand-new day, and it will also be a day remembered by history."
"In the past, the Marines had very little control over the New World. Countless pirates stirred up chaos there, committing every evil imaginable. But now, we can tell them this: everything has changed."
"The brave Marines will make those sinful pirates pay the price. And the best price they can pay is death."
Under everyone's gaze, Raleigh waved his hand.
Momonga, Cleveland, and the others carried out the flag that symbolized the Marines.
Before all eyes, it was slowly raised.
"Long live the Marines!"
"Justice will prevail!"
No one knew who shouted those two lines first, but there was no doubt that they ignited a flame in everyone's heart.
All the Marine soldiers and civilians watching began shouting the slogans of "Long live the Marines!" and "Justice will prevail!" The atmosphere of the scene instantly reached its peak.
Standing at the edge, Issho and Aramaki were both somewhat unused to it.
In Issho's heart, there was only boundless shock, because the fanatical emotions of the Marine soldiers present could not be faked.
"Fleet Admiral Raleigh's prestige is truly terrifying."
As for Aramaki beside him, his face carried a trace of fanaticism.
He was shouting the slogans as excitedly as everyone else!
Then he murmured to himself.
"I thought Admiral Sakazuki was already worthy of admiration. I never expected Fleet Admiral Raleigh to be the true idol."
"He does not even need to do anything. With just a single sentence, he can mobilize hundreds of thousands of Marine soldiers to fight for his command."
"This is what a real man should be doing."
Before seeing Raleigh's authority for himself, Aramaki had actually admired Sakazuki more.
But after experiencing a scene like this today, he suddenly felt that one person possessing overwhelming strength was not what was truly frightening.
What was truly frightening was when that person possessed overwhelming strength while also commanding a vast number of loyal subordinates.
...
In the New World, on Whole Cake Island, where the Charlotte Family resided, a large red ship was quietly docked by the shore.
The entire Red Hair Pirates crew had arrived in the Charlotte Family's territory.
The person responsible for receiving them was Katakuri, the strongest member of the Charlotte Family.
Inside a hall filled with all kinds of food and desserts, Shanks sat at one end of the banquet. Opposite him were the members of the Charlotte Family.
Shanks set down the wine in his hand and spoke to Charlotte Linlin, who was still eating.
"Big Mom, the Marines' movements are becoming more and more obvious. What do you think?"
Hearing that, Charlotte Linlin set down the snack in her hand and became slightly more serious.
"Mamamama. The Marines are clearly coming for us! They have sealed off the entrance to the New World and sent troops to station themselves here."
"This will be an extremely difficult battle. The Marines have endless supplies, while we do not have that much."
Shanks was also extremely troubled.
He had many intelligence networks.
As far as he knew, the Marines' current level of technology had reached an unbelievable degree.
With only the few broken guns and outdated cannons in pirates' hands, there was simply no way to fight the Marines in a naval battle.
According to the current situation, the best method was to fight the Marines on land and reduce the advantage they held at sea.
"At present, relying on one, two, or even three pirate crews is simply not enough to resist the Marines. Therefore, we must unite."
Shanks spoke decisively.
"Although I don't know as much about the Marines as you do, are you certain that the pirates of the New World can defeat the Marines even if we join forces?"
A mocking smile hung on Charlotte Linlin's lips.
She did not believe that even if the Charlotte Family and the Red Hair Pirates joined forces, they could defeat the Marine offensive.
A successful smile appeared on Shanks' face.
"I know that even if we join forces, we still cannot handle them."
"But what if the Marines' enemies are not only pirates?"
Charlotte Linlin seemed to understand something. She asked curiously, "Are you talking about the Revolutionary Army in the Four Blues?"
Shanks clapped his hands and laughed.
"That's right. The Revolutionary Army."
"And not just the Revolutionary Army."
After understanding the Marines' strength, Shanks had contacted Dragon of the Revolutionary Army without hesitation.
The two sides had hit it off immediately and temporarily reached a secret partnership unknown to the world.