(Please add it to your Library! Please send Power Stones! Thank you!)
----
At the top of the Red Line stands a magnificent building—the seat of the world's highest authority, the center of power. A holy place: Mariejois!
In Pangaea Castle, within a luxurious and spacious room, five elderly men had gathered.
One of them wore a white Taoist robe, with his sharp eyes visible. He held a samurai sword in his arms.
He is the Godhead of Finance, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.
Another wore a dark red suit. He had short blond hair, a beard, and a scar across his chest.
He is the Godhead of Agriculture, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter.
Opposite him sat an old man in a dark green suit, with a forked beard and a birthmark on his forehead resembling a pattern.
He is the Godhead of Justice, Saint Topman Warcury.
Next to him stood a man in a dark blue suit, with long, straight white hair and a flowing beard.
He is the Godhead of the Environment, Marcus Mars.
The last man wore a black suit, had white curly hair, a thick white beard, a flat hat, and a scar on the left side of his face.
He is the Godhead of Science & Defense, Jaygarcia Saturn.
These five men are the Five Elders Stars, the world's highest authority.
"Who would have thought Crocodile would be defeated by a mere rookie," Saint Warcury muttered, holding a bounty poster in his hand, his eyes narrowing.
"Portgas D. Ace," he read aloud. "D! It's that name again. Those fools issued this bounty without even consulting us!"
Saint Warcury, with the birthmark on his forehead, sounded angry. "Just like with the original Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, his bounty name was changed to Gold Roger. The letter 'D' should never appear in the public's eye."
"Hmph, that Crocodile dared to cause trouble in Alabasta," Saint Nusjuro said angrily, gripping his sword.
"With Crocodile gone, the Shichibukai loses a member. A small crack could turn into a gaping hole. The balance of power at sea is at risk, and that is unacceptable. We must find a replacement for Crocodile," Saint Ju Peter, the man with the blond hair, said deeply.
The Shichibukai system was created as a counterbalance between the Marine headquarters and the Four Emperors, to maintain equilibrium on the seas. With Crocodile gone, not only is there one fewer Shichibukai, but the world's trust in the strength and prestige of the Shichibukai could waver. Too much doubt would lead to chaos, and chaos would destroy the balance.
This is something the Five Elders would never allow.
"Dealing with Alabasta is simple enough. While the Nefertari royal family chose not to relocate to the Holy Land and become Celestial Dragons like the other twenty kings, they remain one of the original creators of the world government. Cobra is wise enough to understand the importance of power, and there are ways to appease his dissatisfaction."
"And the credit for killing Crocodile should be attributed to the two Marines who reported it. The world government must remain composed regarding this matter," Saint Mars, the long-bearded elder, said calmly.
"Oh? Really? Don't forget the true name of the Nefertari family," Saint Saturn tapped the ground with his cane and said in a deep voice.
"Nefertari D…" Saint Warcury's expression darkened. "We must ensure that 'D' never resurfaces in the public eye. Let the Marines handle it," he commanded sternly.
"Agreed," said the others.
The Five Elders' priority was not Crocodile's death, but maintaining the balance of power at sea and ensuring the letter "D" did not emerge again. Ace's actions alone were not significant enough to demand more of their attention.
Orders and instructions were swiftly sent to the Marine Headquarters.
At the Marine Headquarters, in the Fleet Admiral's office, tension filled the air.
"What did you just say?!" A man with a seagull hat and a braided beard slammed his desk, yelling.
He is the one in charge of the entire Marine organization, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, a user of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan type, Great Buddha model. Known as "Sengoku the Buddha," he is considered a strategic genius.
At this moment, Sengoku was furious, steam almost coming out of his nose, as he stared at the man sitting on the sofa, eating rice crackers and picking his nose.
This man is Garp the Iron Fist, a Marine hero.
"Portgas D. Ace is your grandson, Garp?!"
Sengoku slapped Ace's bounty poster on the table and glared at Garp.
"Bwahaha, that's right! I never expected that brat to become a pirate. Hahaha!" Garp laughed while eating his rice crackers.
"Are you joking?! Do you know the trouble that kid has caused?! He entered the Grand Line and defeated Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai! He broadcasted the incident all over Alabasta with video den den mushis. Do you have any idea how hard it is to suppress this?! Garp!"
Sengoku shouted at Garp, who remained carefree, eating his snacks and drinking tea.
Sengoku grabbed Garp's collar, roaring, "Do you have any idea how much chaos this could cause?"
"Hahaha, that's my grandson for you! Hahaha!" Garp chuckled, dodging Sengoku's spit.
"You—!"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over.
Suddenly, Sengoku snatched Garp's rice crackers and shoved them all into his mouth.
"My rice crackers! Sengoku, you bastard!" Garp yelled in anger.
"Enough! If you weren't a Marine hero, I'd throw you into Impel Down!" Sengoku roared back.
After the heated exchange, Garp left the Fleet Admiral's office. Once outside, his carefree expression vanished, replaced by a look of deep concern.
"Ace... you didn't listen to your old grandpa, did you? At least… live well, Ace." Garp muttered as he walked away with heavy steps.
Meanwhile, in the New World, the second half of the Grand Line...
A massive pirate ship resembling a white whale was docked in the sea, with a flag bearing a white crescent mustache flapping in the wind. This was the flag of the Four Emperors—the Whitebeard Pirates!
"Dad, Crocodile was defeated by two Marines," Marco, the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, reported. His hair was spiky like a pineapple, and he had the powers of the Phoenix, a Mythical Zoan-type.
"Gurarara!" laughed the towering figure of Whitebeard, standing at six meters, with his body and an overwhelming aura.
Whitebeard, the world's strongest man, a user of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Edward Newgate!
"Crocodile, is that brat dead?" Whitebeard asked, taking a swig from a bottle of sake.
"Yes, the Marines claimed two Marine officers from Headquarters took him down," Marco replied.
"That's just Marine nonsense. Marines of that level couldn't defeat Crocodile. That brat once challenged me," Whitebeard said with a grin.
"Dad, look at this too. The new generation is full of surprises." Marco handed over another bounty poster.
"Huh? Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace? Gurarara! What a bold title!" Whitebeard laughed as he looked at the bounty.
"This newbie's bounty is quite peculiar. After entering the Grand Line, it jumped from 35 million Beli to 85 million, and his title changed from 'Fire Fist' to 'Flame Emperor.' Now, it's 150 million Beli, but the Marines haven't explained what he did to earn this increase," Marco added, his lips curling into a slight smile.
"Oh?"
Whitebeard looked at Marco.
The Marines wouldn't put a bounty in the hundreds of millions on someone who did nothing. Even in the New World, this bounty would be notable.
"What's even more interesting is that this bounty skyrocketed right after Crocodile's death. And Crocodile died in Alabasta, which is in the first half of the Grand Line."
A flash of insight appeared in Marco's eyes. He knew Crocodile's strength well; it seemed unlikely that two Marine colonels could kill him. Moreover, even if Crocodile had caused trouble in Alabasta, how could the Marines uncover his crime? Crocodile was a Shichibukai, and that represented the face of the World Government.
"Gurarara! So, you think this newcomer killed Crocodile?" Whitebeard laughed heartily.
"It's a strong possibility. Given Crocodile's power, there's hardly anyone in the first half of the Grand Line who could kill him. If this newcomer indeed has the strength to take down a Shichibukai just after setting out to sea, and they were behind the Alabasta incident, then the sea could indeed plunge into chaos. Should we investigate, Dad?"
Marco asked.
"What's there to be worried about?" Whitebeard downed a massive flagon of wine in one gulp.
"I am Whitebeard!"
——
New World, on an unnamed island
A group of pirates was feasting. Nearby, a pirate flag flew depicting a skull with two crossed swords behind it and a royal scar over the left eye.
Four Emperors! The Red Hair Pirates.
"Shanks, there's been a major event at sea. Crocodile was killed."
The man with a serious expression and a cigarette in his mouth spoke to another man who looked hungover.
This was Ben Beckman, the vice-captain of the Red Hair Pirates, often referred to as the "wisest man."
"Oh? Crocodile is dead?"
The red-haired man, with an empty sleeve where his left arm had once been and three scars across his left eye, rubbed his aching head. This was none other than Shanks, captain of the Red Hair Pirates and one of the Four Emperors.
"For someone to die in the first half of the Grand Line is as laughable as losing your arm in the East Blue... No, it's even funnier."
Beckman exhaled smoke deeply.
Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai, was a prince of the sea. Even the Four Emperors couldn't ignore someone like him. But he died in the first half of the Grand Line — a joke bigger than when Shanks lost his arm in the East Blue. After all, Shanks wasn't one of the Four Emperors back then.
"He died in the first half?" Shanks looked up, surprised.
In the first half of the Grand Line, there are few with Haki, and Crocodile, a Logia Sand-Sand Fruit user and a Shichibukai, dying there is shocking.
"The Marines claimed that two Naval Headquarters colonels killed him, but they're likely trying to cover something up," Beckman said, taking another drag of his cigarette, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
"You mean?" Shanks asked, gazing thoughtfully at Beckman.
"I've noticed an interesting new face from the East Blue, Shanks." Beckman replied, pulling out Ace's bounty poster and handing it to Shanks.
"Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace?" Shanks looked at the bounty poster, his eyes lighting up.
"The East Blue... D... How nostalgic."
Shanks' mouth curled into a slight smile as his remaining right hand pressed against the sleeve of his empty left arm, recalling Luffy's face from those days. He felt the energy of the new era.
"One hundred and fifty million Beli? Quite the bounty. And that's a bold title he got there! Hahaha!" Shanks laughed.
But his eyes turned serious. A bounty of 150 million was significant, even in the New World, yet it was on a newcomer who just entered the Grand Line. This was more than enough to hint at something deeper.
"Crocodile died in the first half of the Grand Line, and this newcomer's bounty increased right after. After confirming with Hawkeye, it was indeed Portgas D. Ace who killed Crocodile."
Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke calmly.
"Oh? If that's the case, the Sea will indeed become interesting." Shanks stood up, looking out to sea, laughing boldly.
"A new era is coming!"
——
Meanwhile, the other two of the Four Emperors — Kaido of the Beasts was drunk and unconscious, and Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, was busy hosting a tea party. Still, the death of a Shichibukai had already sent ripples through the balance maintained by the Four Emperors, the Shichibukai, and Naval Headquarters.
And the Entei Pirates, who caused all this, were preparing to set sail.
At the port of Alabasta's capital:
"Karoo, you've been promoted to captain." Vivi gently stroked the duck she grew up with, feeling a bit reluctant.
After careful thought, Vivi decided to let Karoo stay in Alabasta. She had chosen to go on a sea adventure with Ace and the others. As the captain of Alabasta's fastest unit, Karoo also had a future to pursue.
Karoo looked anxiously at Vivi and quacked in protest.
"You don't have to force yourself, Karoo. Look," Vivi pointed to Alabasta's Fastest Legion in the distance. "Ace said never to force yourself on others. Your life is yours to decide. They need you."
Vivi's beautiful eyes narrowed as she smiled.
Karoo looked at Alabasta's Fastest Legion, then finally raised its wing and quacked affirmatively.
"We'll meet again soon, Karoo!" Vivi called out.
"Vivi, we're ready to set sail!" Nami shouted from the Going Merry.
"Right!" Vivi stretched her arms wide and shouted back.
The Merry slowly began to leave the port.
"Vivi!" As Vivi looked back with some nostalgia at Alabasta disappearing into the distance, Cobra appeared at the port.
"Father!" Vivi gasped, sensing what was coming.
"You've become a pirate! From today on, you are no longer my daughter!" Cobra shouted, but a smile tugged at his lips.
"Father!" Tears streamed from Vivi's eyes.
Despite his words, she could see the real message in his eyes: "Go and live your life!"
Ace walked over, put an arm around Vivi's shoulder, and looked back at Cobra from afar.
"Entei Pirates! Set sail!" Ace shouted.
"Yes!" All the crew cheered in response.
As the Merry disappeared into the horizon, Cobra sat down at the port, staring at the sea in a daze.
"Your Majesty," Chaka looked at Cobra with concern.
"Broadcast this to all of Alabasta. We don't want Vivi to be burdened with this," Cobra instructed, handing the Cam-den den mushi to Pell. His eyes were filled with a father's love.
"Ace, Vivi, the future is yours."