"That old guy..."
"Borsalino... Kuzan..."
"Sounds familiar."
"The Marines are really going backwards."
"Barororororo!!!"
At this moment, a black pterosaur flew in from outside the hall.
Whoosh—
It landed slowly, transforming into human form. Jhin spoke,
"Big Brother Kaido."
"A remnant of the Roger Pirates, Red-Haired Shanks, has just entered our territory."
Kaido's eyes narrowed slightly:
"Hm?"
-------
Grand Line, Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Baldo Go.
After days of investigation, it was confirmed that Ivankov and Inazuma had been imprisoned in Impel Down.
Attacking "Impel" was obviously unrealistic and impractical.
They could only try to get to the jailers...
Dragon was contemplating when the intelligence officer suddenly stood up:
"Commander!"
"The Marines have suddenly announced the selection of a new Fleet Admiral."
"It's the former Marine Admiral, Sengoku!"
"And the new Admiral candidates, Borsalino and Kuzan."
The surrounding Revolutionary Army members who were organizing documents and holding meetings were also shocked:
"What!"
"How could it be so sudden!"
"Our plans need to be adjusted, Commander!"
"Borsalino... is he the one who chased Fisher Tiger?"
"Yes, yes, yes! That's why he sounded so familiar."
"So it's that guy. Damn it."
"A dog of the World Government."
Dragon narrowed his eyes. Mr. Sengoku, huh...
"The plan remains unchanged."
-------
North Blue, on a slave ship.
The noisy shouts of battle gradually faded. This group of slave traders specializing in collecting beautiful female slaves and their subordinates.
Had been killed by Tesoro, who had escaped from Mary Geoise years ago.
He had now shed his past life. Relying on ruthlessness and wisdom, he had gathered a group of fierce subordinates.
The slaves in the cages looked at him with anticipation.
Thinking he was their salvation... little did they know... they were merely exchanging one hell for another...
A fierce subordinate licked the blood from his face and walked over:
"Boss, it's all done."
"What do we do next?"
Tesoro revealed a cruel smile:
"Gather all the information on the ship."
"These lovely slaves will be our seed money."
The subordinate grinned ferociously:
"Understood!!!"
Tesoro walked to the railing, narrowed his eyes, and spread his arms.
As if he already envisioned himself becoming the world's greatest slave trader... After a long while...
"Stella..."
"I miss you..."
Unlike the original story.
The Gold-Gold Fruit, along with the downfall of the Donquixote Family, had fallen into Sakazuki's hands.
Without that auction of the Gold-Gold Fruit held to attract customers,
Tesoro embarked on a different path...
---------
New World, Steam Pirates' base.
Gael Knock meditated with his eyes closed, soaking in the warmth.
Knock knock knock—
"Enter."
Creak—
The sound of the wooden door being pulled open.
A subordinate entered and stood respectfully at a distance, head bowed:
"Boss."
Gael Knock gave a soft 'hmm':
"How is the organization progressing?"
The subordinate's tone carried a hint of joy:
"Our business is developing exceptionally smoothly."
"We have reclaimed industries like shipping and our controlled territories and businesses have returned to their level sixteen years ago."
"Only in terms of weaponry, due to the weapon factories of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors."
"There have been almost no changes."
"And in the first half of the Grand Line, due to the interference of the Shichibukai Crocodile."
"The flow of goods into the New World has decreased."
"However, our subordinates have developed another route. If things go smoothly from now on."
"We will no longer be restricted by the blockade of the Grand Line Navy and the Shichibukai."
After he finished speaking, he received no response for a long time.
The subordinate only felt the pressure in the air growing heavier... cold sweat trickled down his face.
Suddenly.
Gael Knock chuckled, his tone becoming crazed and sinister:
"Sixteen years..."
"SIXTEEN YEARS!!!!"
"Damn Sakazuki!!!!"
Boom!
The violent Conqueror's Haki, carrying killing intent, raged and attacked everything indiscriminately.
The subordinate collapsed onto the ground...
Gael Knock's bloodshot eyes finally calmed down after a long while.
If not for being tricked by Sakazuki sixteen years ago,
and being forced to fight Charlotte Linlin and Shiki, ceding more than half of his business and assets to quell the conflict,
then with the manpower, material resources, and assets he controlled today... he would have been the sole king of the New World... perhaps he could have achieved even more!!!
Unlike Charlotte Linlin and Kaido,
Gael Knock had no dream of an 'All Blue,' 'freedom,' or 'peace.'
To him, nothing was as tangible as what he held in his hands, and the more the better.
Dreams? What a laughable concept.
He wanted to become the world's underground king!
This goal might even have been realized.
But Sakazuki's scheme had forced him to recover for sixteen years.
Life is finite... sixteen years wasted...
How could he not hate him...
-------
Marine Headquarters, Sakazuki's residence.
In the upstairs study, Sakazuki stretched his neck:
"Report anything else that needs to be reported."
Carol frowned, hesitated for a moment, then spoke:
"Regarding corruption."
"Although the soldiers originally assigned to the four sea branches."
"Were all carefully selected orphans."
"But even with strong willpower, some will forget their original intentions."
"Currently, of the four seas we control, in 80% of the branches."
"After an undercover investigation, 27 branch commanders have been found to be corrupt."
"The proportion is approaching three-tenths."
Sakazuki let out a light snort:
"This is unavoidable."
"Those who are free from desire are saints."
"Three-tenths... not bad."
"Have any of them committed evil deeds?"
Carol shook her head:
"No, they are just greedy, and some are extremely greedy."
"Your deterrent effect is still deeply imprinted in their hearts."
"They wouldn't dare commit evil deeds."
Sakazuki sneered:
"Go talk to them."
"I don't care about their greed, but if there's even the slightest laxity in killing pirates,"
"They die."
"Don't think about exposing anything."
"More painful than death is a life worse than death."
Carol said:
"Yes."
"But if you tacitly allow this, some people might become even more brazen."
Sakazuki shook his head:
"None of that matters, as long as they are capable."
"After all, they were all carefully selected. The most important thing now is to stabilize the foundation of the four seas."
"Ensure we can quickly invade and control most of the kingdoms later."
"The four seas are, after all, where the most kingdoms and populations are located."
"As for settling accounts... that can be done anytime. Killing people is the easiest thing to do."
Carol nodded:
"I understand."
Sakazuki suddenly remembered something:
"Have the people who secretly helped Gael Knock develop the route been recalled?"
Carol replied:
"They have all been recalled. His subordinates in the Grand Line, their competitors, all met with sudden deaths."
"Soon, there will be a route that bypasses the World Government and the Shichibukai, leading directly to Fish-Man Island."
Sakazuki let out a light laugh:
"Nurture him well, fatten him up before slaughtering him..."
"That's the way to do it..."