"Extra! Extra!"
"The Marines are recruiting and will be adding another Admiral!"
"The two new Admirals are Fujitora and Aramaki!"
"The current Marine Admirals are Silver Dragon Enel, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, Aokiji Kuzan, Fujitora Issho, and Aramaki!"
"The World Government has convened the World Summit ahead of schedule. Kings from over one hundred allied nations are heading to Mary Geoise!"
"The Savior Group in the New World is aggressively capturing pirate crews. The entire New World is being brought under control!"
"This is an arms race. Both the World Government and the Savior Group are amassing strength. A war is inevitable!"
"The World Government's eight hundred year rule is facing its greatest challenge. Will the world witness a change in era?"
Newspapers flooded the seas like falling leaves in a hurricane. Across every ocean and island, the headlines revolved around two colossal forces, the World Government and the Savior Group.
"This era is moving too fast."
"The calm before the storm will not last."
"It happened without warning."
"All because of the Savior."
"Where will the world go from here?"
"The sky itself feels different."
Civilians of every race stared at the papers in disbelief. It felt as though the world had shifted overnight. There had been no gradual escalation, no slow deterioration. The situation had leapt directly to the brink of catastrophe.
Anyone with even a shred of awareness could see it clearly. The World Government and the Savior Group were destined to collide. This would not be a minor conflict. It would resemble the collapse of a dynasty.
And war always meant death.
While the outside world trembled, Cake Island remained undisturbed. It had now become the headquarters of the Savior Group.
Inside the vast hall, the atmosphere was heavy. Lucien sat lazily on his throne, one leg crossed over the other, a cigarette dangling from his fingers. Smoke curled upward as his amethyst eyes scanned the figures below with open satisfaction.
Douglas Bullet.
The Golden Emperor.
Zephyr.
Golden Lion.
Many others stood silently.
Their subordinates had already been converted into Demons, but these top tier powerhouses required Lucien's personal attention.
From his back, black thorns extended and pierced into their flesh. They were suppressed completely, unable to resist. Over the course of half an hour, the process concluded. One by one, they completed their transformation.
Lucien did not flinch at the blood that splattered the marble floor. If anything, he seemed pleased.
His current forces were terrifying.
The Whitebeard Pirates.
The Beasts Pirates.
The Big Mom Pirates.
The Blackbeard Pirates.
The Revolutionary Army.
Impel Down's forces under Magellan.
Nearly all of the Seven Warlords of the Sea except Mihawk.
The Golden City.
Zephyr's newly formed Marine faction.
Silvers Rayleigh.
Redfield.
Garp.
Kizaru.
Douglas Bullet.
Golden Lion.
The rulers of the Underworld.
It was no exaggeration to say the Savior Group now controlled half the world. Only the World Government, with its eight centuries of foundation, could still stand against it.
Once these individuals were fully utilized, Lucien would harvest everything they were worth. They were not just powerful, they were catalysts of fate, stepping stones for greater evolution.
"Still no trace of The Furious One or Rose Queen?"
Lucien exhaled smoke slowly. His voice was calm, yet a cold edge lingered beneath it.
"No."
Despite the combined intelligence networks of multiple factions, no one had discovered Emma or Ethan.
Lucien's expression darkened slightly.
"Turn the world upside down if you must. Offer five billion Berries for confirmed information on The Furious One Ethan or Rose Queen Emma. Fifty billion Berries if they are captured."
His tone remained casual, as if he were discussing pocket change.
Money meant nothing to him now. He was arguably the richest man alive.
"Yes."
The hall echoed in unison.
Lucien shifted his gaze to Caesar.
"How is the Da Ivan project progressing?"
If Da Ivan could be mass produced, Mary Geoise would be reduced to ash.
Caesar wiped cold sweat from his brow. The Savior Group had been capturing scientists across the seas to accelerate development.
"Master, it is nearly complete."
Lucien leaned forward slightly, shadows cutting across his face.
"Do not test my patience."
"Yes!"
Caesar swallowed hard.
After finalizing several matters, the meeting adjourned.
Lucien remained seated long after the hall emptied. He only needed Da Ivan. Once it was ready, the assault on the World Government would begin, and the world would drown in fire.
Three months passed.
The atmosphere across the globe grew heavier with each day. Small scale clashes between the Savior Group and the World Government erupted frequently. Though labeled localized, entire islands were destroyed as collateral.
Tens of thousands died in what were considered minor engagements.
Fear gripped the civilian population. If this was restraint, what would total war look like?
The Great Pirate Era had effectively ended.
Few dared to set sail anymore. Those who once dreamed of freedom now joined criminal syndicates or underground forces.
If your bounty remained under fifty million Berries, you might survive unnoticed. But once it crossed that threshold, congratulations, you were prey.
Both factions were hunting.
At Grove 34 in the Sabaody Archipelago, inside a quiet café on the second floor, Ethan and Emma sat disguised beyond recognition. They sipped coffee while waiting.
They had become the world's most hunted prey.
Five billion Berries for information.
Fifty billion each if captured.
A combined bounty of one hundred billion Berries.
Emma's hatred burned intensely. If given the chance, she would skin Lucien alive.
The café door opened.
Enel entered with his hands in his pockets. His presence was calm, yet sharp.
Ignoring the staff's greeting, he walked upstairs and entered the private room.
He pulled out a chair and sat casually, eyes filled with ridicule.
"You two look miserable. I'm surprised you dared to contact me."
The arrogance in his tone was unmistakable. The tables had indeed turned.
Emma did not react to the sarcasm.
"The Savior is Darkness itself. He specifically hunts Reincarnators, Children of Destiny, and Transmigrators. Your situation is no better than ours."
"And?"
Enel shrugged, indifferent.
Emma frowned slightly. His composure was unexpected.
"Did you not understand? He will kill you too."
"So what?"
Enel scoffed lightly. He was no fool.
Any so called brotherhood formed at Sabaody meant nothing now. Survival required pragmatism. At present, he could only rely on the World Government. There was no alternative.
If fortune favored him, perhaps both sides would weaken each other. In that chaos, establishing a new order would not be impossible.
"We can cooperate."
Emma spoke after a brief silence.
Enel tapped the table with one finger, his expression filled with mockery, yet his eyes remained calculating.