North Blue.
Amidst the wreckage of a soaring flame at sea, a tense scene unfolded.
"You… will definitely regret this! Old man, you don't even know what you have provoked! Daring to challenge the world will bring consequences you cannot possibly predict!"
"It seems those are your final words. After you're done speaking, you can pay for your sins on the road to the afterlife," Bai Ye declared coldly.
On the deck of the ship he commanded alone, Bai Ye held Ryūjīn Jakka aloft. He gazed at the wide-eyed man standing before him, a mix of defiance and terror painted on his face.
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" the man, a member of the World Government, stammered in desperation.
Swish!
The arc of the blade flashed.
In an instant, a head soared high into the air before plunging into the sea below. Warm blood splattered into the ocean, mingling with the waves. The severed head's face, now sinking into the depths, remained locked in an expression of terror and disbelief.
Even in death, his fear was evident. He had warned this old man of the unthinkable consequences of defying the World Government. He had tried to leverage his authority, offering threats and enticements.
Yet, none of it mattered.
This old man, Bai Ye, was utterly unphased. How dare he? How could he? This was madness—pure madness! These were the man's final thoughts as his consciousness descended into eternal darkness.
Indeed, there were madmen in this world who dared to provoke the World Government.
"This will not be the end…" Bai Ye muttered as he sheathed Ryūjīn Jakka, his voice as cold as the sea breeze.
He surveyed the scene around him. The orange-red flames consumed the wreckage of the ships, their reflection painting the water with a fiery glow. Turning his gaze toward the destroyed town in the distance, Bai Ye murmured once more:
"This is just the beginning."
Bai Ye's eyes flickered with icy determination. From the mouth of the one survivor he had spared, he had learned everything—the full story behind the events in North Blue.
The pretense of unpaid heavenly gold.
As Bai Ye now understood, it was nothing more than a facade. The real purpose of the destruction—the eradication of the town he had called home for over thirty years—was far more sinister.
Every year, the World Government collected heavenly gold from the nations of the world. But since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, North Blue had become a cauldron of chaos. Kingdoms waged constant wars, mafia families ruled the shadows, and pirates roamed unchecked. Its reputation as the most chaotic sea was well earned.
Moreover, some kingdoms in North Blue possessed formidable military power. Notable examples included the former Donquixote family and the Germa 66 mercenary force, both of which once dominated the region. The influence of the World Government in North Blue had diminished significantly, whether directly or indirectly.
Thus, in an effort to reassert their dominance and remind the kingdoms and factions of North Blue of their true "master," the World Government orchestrated a plan. Under the guise of collecting heavenly gold, they launched a campaign of terror, destroying towns with impunity.
To further emphasize their authority, they deliberately chose towns near Marine branch bases for destruction. The message was clear: even under the noses of the Marines, the World Government's will would remain unchallenged. Rules did not bind them, for they were the creators of all rules in this world.
When the destruction reached the town under Bai Ye's jurisdiction, he uncovered the truth.
This act of terror was merely the beginning. The plan aimed to destroy dozens of towns across North Blue, with the pretense of unpaid heavenly gold as the excuse. It was a calculated move to establish the World Government's dominance in the region during a critical period—the impending clash between the Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates.
The World Government could not afford any disruptions. They sought to consolidate their authority in North Blue by instilling fear through ruthless violence.
But they hadn't accounted for one variable: Bai Ye.
When three of the World Government's most advanced warships arrived in North Blue—recruited from the Grand Line for the express purpose of intimidating the region—Bai Ye intervened.
With a single strike of Ryūjĭn Jakka, he reduced the entire fleet to ashes.
In their arrogance, the architects of this "perfect" plan had overlooked the possibility of resistance. They never imagined that someone would dare to defy the World Government—let alone obliterate their fleet with one attack.
Now, as the Summit War approached, the attention of the world was fixed on the impending battle between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates. This distraction bought Bai Ye precious time.
Two days passed before the Marine Government and the World Government realized their fleet had been destroyed. By then, it was too late.
The entirety of North Blue was already beginning to stir.
And soon, this upheaval would shake the world, reverberating from North Blue to the Grand Line.