On a nearby desk, Karu removed the earpiece from his left ear and said:
"Could he be accumulating strength?"
"After all, the next World Conference isn't too far off."
He continued his work without pause, categorizing and recording government secrets on paper.
On the desk sat the recording device that had been monitoring the previous Fleet Admiral for years.
Sakazuki shook his head:
"I doubt it."
"The Revolutionary Army's reach has become too vast."
"Dragon is being pushed forward."
"This sudden braking... is likely because he's discovered a problem."
"He's trying to find a solution."
Karu pondered:
"A problem, you say..."
"What do we need to do then?"
Sakazuki asked:
"What do you think?"
Karu considered the world's situation and said:
"Do nothing?"
Sakazuki let out a light laugh:
"Then do nothing..."
The world was currently in a peculiar state, with the three overt powers showing no apparent conflict.
On the pirate side, the New World was in chaos. Red-Haired Shanks was advancing rapidly, having just escaped Charlotte Linlin's pursuit, stirring up a storm.
Many followers were flocking to him, and the calls for Shanks to become an Emperor were growing louder. If he were to truly become a new Emperor.
Then the chaos in the New World would continue for several more years.
Because becoming a new Emperor would either mean defeating an existing Emperor, or carving out a territory from the other three Pirate Emperors...
However, either choice would lead to prolonged chaos...
The World Government, with its eight hundred years of foundation and powerful intelligence capabilities, had identified most of the vast network of Revolutionary Army strongholds.
After concealing only a few suspected Revolutionary Army headquarters bases.
The remaining numerous, non-critical base locations were handed over to Marine Headquarters, allowing Sengoku to monitor them closely.
Upon discovering Dragon's identity, Sengoku secretly instructed Garp, and then forcefully suppressed the information, choosing to remain inactive.
Meanwhile, the establishment of Marine intelligence departments, special task forces, and other divisions, at the suggestion of veteran admirals like Zephyr and Momous, was gradually being put on the agenda.
Sakazuki was patrolling the Grand Line, with his hawkish Vice Admirals constantly engaging in operations, a routine they had maintained for decades.
On the Revolutionary Army's side, those rapidly developing in the Four Seas suddenly applied the brakes, accumulating strength.
Dragon was contemplating a solution to the predicament, but his actions did not cease. The plan to ignite a world revolution during the World Conference was proceeding steadily and orderly.
At the same time, the seeds nurtured since childhood at the Revolutionary Army headquarters were quietly expanding their numbers, which had inexplicably quadrupled...
-------
Marine Headquarters, Marinford.
Storoberry, in casual attire, strolled through the town of the headquarters, looking around.
As Borsalino's direct subordinate, he had an excessive amount of free time during his off-hours...
"Storoberry."
Storoberry turned his head:
"It's you."
"Just returned from a mission?"
Momonga, still in his uniform, was followed by several soldiers:
"Yes."
"You're on break again, how leisurely."
"Want to grab a drink tonight?"
Storoberry smiled:
"Sure."
Momonga thought of something and asked:
"Are there any other people at headquarters?"
Different ranks had different circles.
Their circle was the group of Vice Admirals who had risen in recent years.
Storoberry gave a wry smile and shook his head:
"There's no one else."
"Doberman, Kizaru, Dalmatian are under Admiral Sakazuki, constantly out on missions and haven't been back in a long time."
"Momonga was just appointed as a G-1 branch chief, so we won't have many opportunities to meet from now on."
"Currently, only Gion is at headquarters. Should I invite her?"
"The others are all on their respective missions and not at headquarters."
Momonga was somewhat troubled:
"Ah, Gion..."
"Then let's forget it. It'll just be the two of us."
"I'll go report back first."
"Six o'clock, the usual place."
Storoberry nodded:
"Alright."
------------
New World, Steam Pirate Crew's base.
Heil Nock took the documents handed to him by his subordinate and began to read them.
Beside him, the Steam Pirate Crew's Chief Steward, the user of the Shiny-Shiny Fruit, Bin Blake, said:
"Red-Haired Shanks has escaped Charlotte Linlin's pursuit."
"He's heading this way, do we need to make any preparations?"
"After all, this guy has been highly praised by those rats recently."
"He's almost being hailed as a new Emperor."
Heil Nock flipped through Shanks' recent actions and casually threw the documents away:
"Don't mind him."
"Those two guys are more troublesome."
"Order the subordinates not to engage. If you see them, provide some symbolic hospitality."
"So what if he's hailed as a new Emperor by those rats?"
"He has no conflict of interest with us."
"After all, the scattered territories of those rats are all controlled by those two."
"We need an ally too."
The relationship between Charlotte Linlin and Kaido was traceable, dating back to the Rocks era, when they were on the same ship.
Even though they had fallen out due to Kaido becoming an Emperor and seizing territory.
Heil Nock had never made a move. Without absolute confidence, without absolute intelligence, he would never act.
This was Heil Nock's current approach.
Even as one of the Four Emperors, capable of acting with impunity, he showed no disrespect or carelessness towards anyone.
It was this steady, methodical approach that allowed him to gradually encroach upon and monopolize the entire New World's underground trade, leaving Charlotte Linlin and Kaido unable to interfere.
Strength was sometimes useful, but when it came to governance, they all fell short of Heil Nock.
After all, Heil Nock had no desire to build a kingdom where everyone was equal, nor did he have aspirations for universal freedom and equality.
Heil Nock, who had risen entirely from the underworld.
He controlled shipping, arms dealing, loan sharking, slave trade, and more.
Along with countless well-trained subordinates, he controlled nearly half of the arms trade in the New World...
He had already become the number one criminal organization in the world...
----------
Grand Line, Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Baldigo.
The young Sabo stood on the roof of the headquarters, his steel pipe with a connector slung across his back, arms crossed.
With a confident smile on his face, he looked down at the dense, training children below.
These were the individuals Dragon had recently selected and dispatched.
Sabo nodded occasionally, a satisfied expression on his face:
"These are our future."
*Bang—*
Koala, who had appeared behind him at some point, punched him on the head.
Making him stagger.
Sabo rubbed his head and turned back to say:
"What was that for! Koala!"
Koala looked away in disbelief:
"What dream are you having again?"
"Our future? Do you think you're the Commander-in-Chief!"
Sabo pouted:
"Of course, I wouldn't dare claim to be the Commander-in-Chief, but..."
"Before you stands the future Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army!!!"
He declared, laughing heartily.
Koala rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
At that moment,
A whirlwind appeared on the rooftop, coalescing into form...