Today, Princess Otohime called to warn him that Whitebeard intended to seek him out. Grimm found this very strange.
"What could he want?"
He asked the question, then immediately added, "Never mind. You don't need to tell me. If he wants to come, let him do as he pleases."
Without waiting for Otohime to reply, Grimm hung up the call.
Back on the Twin Islands — the new home of the fish‑men — the Moby Dick, flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates, had just departed.
Otohime listened as the line went silent, then put down the receiver and walked over to Neptune.
"I could not stop him."
Neptune shifted his heavy, bulky body and looked down at his wife. "This was never something we had the power to stop… We can only hope that when these two giants clash, the storm does not sweep us up as well."
"I hope so too," Otohime nodded.
She turned her gaze toward the two islands. In the past, Grimm had wiped out the royal families and wealthy nobles here, and the common people had been relocated to other territories some time ago.
Now, these two cities belonged entirely to the fish‑men. Given time, she was certain they could build a paradise as magnificent as the one beneath the sea.
Grimm walked toward the docks and looked up at the sky.
"Whitebeard… are you just looking for a way to save face?"
Meanwhile, the Marines were overwhelmed with work.
In just half a month, Fleet Admiral Kong felt as if a whole year's worth of problems had crashed down upon him all at once.
First, Kaido of the Hundred Beards started a war against Big Mom. Then Grimm fully established himself in the New World.
Next came news that Fish‑Man Island was relocating to the surface — settling on lands that originally belonged to Grimm — yet they were flying Whitebeard's flag.
What in the world is going on? Have those two formed an alliance?
Knock, knock, knock…
A knock sounded at the door. Kong rubbed his throbbing head, exhausted.
"Come in."
The door to the Fleet Admiral's office opened, and Sengoku strode in. He offered no formal salute and spoke immediately.
"Kong‑sama… Boa Hancock has refused the position of Warlord of the Sea."
Because of her connection to Grimm, Hancock had led many expeditions even during the previous Empress's reign.
She had displayed immense strength, and the Marines had taken notice long ago.
Sengoku had actually set his sights on her back when extending invitations to Gecko Moria and Crocodile.
"Is her refusal really so surprising?" Kong asked, puzzled. "Other pirates have turned down the Warlord title before, haven't they?"
To Kong, this was nothing unusual. Many pirates viewed the Warlords as nothing more than the Government's lapdogs or the Marines' attack dogs.
Despite the great privileges that came with the title, many proud pirates disdained it.
Although Hancock had proven her strength, she hadn't done so very often.
Recently, however, she had crushed two pirates with bounties over 100 million and five more with bounties in the tens of millions near the Sabaody Archipelago.
That display finally convinced Sengoku of her true power.
He had sent a Vice Admiral with a fleet to Amazon Lily to formally invite her.
But after reporting their arrival, that warship had never sent another message.
Sengoku had sent a second ship to investigate… only to find Amazon Lily completely empty.
Every useful item had been stripped from the castle and homes, leaving the island like a dead city — yet there was absolutely no sign of battle or conflict.
"This is far more than just a refusal. Look at this."
Sengoku took several photographs from his suit pocket, his brow furrowed deeply.
"These were taken yesterday by patrol ships near the entrance to the New World."
Kong took the photos, and his pupils shrank.
More than twenty ships were shown — all bearing the emblem of the Kuja Pirates. Among them was even one captured Marine battleship.
On the sails, the Kuja symbol was clearly visible. But on the reverse side, instead of a skull and crossbones, was a white fox's head, with a greatsword and a hammer behind it.
This was the flag Grimm flew over all his territories!
Every ship bore the Kuja mark on one side and Grimm's fox emblem on the other.
The meaning was unmistakable — just like the crews serving under Whitebeard — the Kuja Pirates had formally joined Grimm's faction.
THUD!
Kong slammed his fist onto his desk, struggling to contain his fury.
"One crisis has barely passed and another arises… these unruly pirates!"
"The Kuja Pirates only number about five hundred people," Sengoku analyzed.
"They wouldn't need twenty warships just for themselves. Combined with the fact that when I sent Vice Admiral Momonga there, he found the island deserted… there is a ninety‑nine percent probability they are relocating their entire nation to the New World — directly into Grimm's territory."
"It doesn't surprise me that they moved their base — not after we found a way to cross the Calm Belt," Kong said, resting his chin on his hands. "But why join him?"
"I originally intended to raise her bounty to 200 million Berries," Sengoku said gravely.
"But now that she has aligned with Grimm, she is a far greater threat. I will increase it by another 50 million. The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock… will have a bounty of 250 million Berries."
"There is something else that strikes me as odd — even more than her joining him," Kong said, tapping his finger on the desk.
"Is it the matter of Fish‑Man Island?" Sengoku guessed.
"Yes… Otohime has been trying to move her people to the surface for years. She petitioned the World Government many times, only to be ignored. Now they move onto islands under Grimm's rule… yet they fly Whitebeard's flag. It makes no sense to me."
"That is exactly what troubles me," Sengoku replied. "Grimm is the type who remembers every slight. Can you really see him allowing Whitebeard's flag to fly over lands he claims as his own? Grimm never does anything that doesn't benefit him."
"I agree," Kong nodded. His eyes narrowed sharply. "Interfering with Grimm directly is difficult. But Fish‑Man Island is different. The Government has already sent people to investigate. We will decide our next move once the reports come in."
"Now is not the time to provoke any of the Four Emperors," Sengoku said, concerned.
"Gathering intelligence is never a mistake," Kong replied.
Knock, knock, knock…
The door knocked again. Kong gave permission to enter, and a marine officer hurried in to report.
"Fleet Admiral! News just arrived from Ragna — the New Fish‑Man Twin Islands. It appears Whitebeard intends to meet with Grimm."
Kong's jaw tightened. "Kaido and Big Mom haven't even started fighting yet… and now these two are going to cause trouble first?"
"Wait, Kong‑sama — it is a meeting, not necessarily a war," Sengoku said, frowning as he analyzed the situation.
"We don't know what game they are playing. But you can be certain… this meeting is entirely related to Fish‑Man Island. We will watch and see what they intend… and then we will make our plans."
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