189 With the Justice System

At the entrance of the New World.

"Boom——!"

In the sky, the terrifying clash still continued.

At that moment, a figure suddenly broke away from the Beasts Pirates' fleet and shot into the air at incredible speed.

"Kaido-sama, we need to retreat!"

King folded his black wings and hovered beside Kaido, his tone carrying a trace of barely concealed urgency.

"The war at Marineford is over!"

"Admiral Kizaru has left Headquarters and is heading toward the New World!"

"Hm...?"

Kaido's attack froze midair.

He looked across at Garp.

"..."

Garp, who had been full of fighting spirit, felt that fire vanish the instant he heard those words—like a punctured balloon.

The light in his eyes dimmed...

The war at Headquarters was over.

That meant...

Ace... was already...

He instinctively turned to look at the Mammoth.

In one corner of the ship, a small, curled-up figure was barely conscious.

Luffy.

His own grandson.

Covered in wounds, blood trailing from his lips, yet still struggling to stand.

He had fought with everything he had—even forcing his body to emit steam—but he still wasn't a match for "Drought" Jack.

In a battle between life and death, perhaps Luffy could awaken a new power...

But...

After already losing one grandson, Garp couldn't bear to lose a second.

Everything else could follow procedure.

"..."

Without another glance at Kaido, Garp's figure vanished from the sky.

The next instant, he was already standing on the Mammoth.

"Jack!"

Garp's voice was cold and furious.

Jack, who had been ready to continue his assault, froze at the sound. "???"

But then, a massive iron fist filled his vision.

"BOOM——!!!"

Jack was sent flying by a single punch, crashing heavily into the turbulent sea like a cannonball.

"Tap——"

Garp bent down and gently lifted Luffy into his arms.

Luffy's body felt light—too light—and hot to the touch. His consciousness was blurry.

"G-Grandpa...?"

"Yeah."

Holding him close, Garp leapt once more, landing back on the deck of the dog-headed warship.

"Retreat!"

He roared, his voice hoarse and strained.

"Wmmm——"

The massive Marine fleet began to slowly turn, preparing to return to port.

"Haah..."

Vice Admiral Tsuru stood at the bow, watching Garp's lonely back as she sighed softly.

She said nothing—just silently approved his choice.

This war had been a massive victory for the Marines.

Two Yonko crews destroyed in succession—an achievement powerful enough to shake the entire world.

But precisely because of that... the World Government would not stay still.

They would fear.

They would doubt.

They would do everything in their power to put the tiger that had broken its chains back into its cage.

The Marines needed time.

Time... to prepare for the coming struggle against the World Government!

"..."

Kaido watched as Garp departed without hesitation, then glanced toward the sea where Jack had sunk.

"Jack out."

"Wmmm——"

Two enormous fleets slowly parted in the chaos, sailing off in different directions.

...

On the flagship of the Beasts Pirates.

"Glug glug——"

Kaido raised his massive gourd and gulped down the burning liquor in great swallows.

"BANG——!"

He slammed it down hard onto the deck, his face dark and filled with frustration.

A loss.

A complete loss.

The entire Beasts Pirates had mobilized, thinking to take advantage of the Marines' war with Whitebeard and create chaos.

But the result?!

They hadn't claimed any new territory in the New World, nor had they achieved any of their grand ambitions.

What a joke!

"What a boring, pathetic world this is!"

Kaido roared up at the sky, voice filled with uncontrollable irritation.

At that moment—

"Buru buru buru buru"

A sharp Den Den Mushi ringing broke the silence.

Kaido frowned and grabbed it in one hand.

"Click."

On the Den Den Mushi's face appeared a large, grinning visage.

"Mamamama..."

A piercing laugh rang out from the receiver.

"Big Mom"—Charlotte Linlin!

"Kaido, let's form an alliance!"

...

Not long ago, in Totto Land.

"..."

Charlotte Katakuri stood silently below the throne.

He had watched the entire war broadcast through the Visual Den Den Mushi—without missing a single second.

Once the broadcast ended, he immediately suspended all expansion plans and rushed back to Totto Land to see Big Mom.

"Mom."

Katakuri's voice was calm and deep. "The era has changed."

"Hm?"

Big Mom, lounging on her throne, stuffed a huge chunk of cake into her mouth, answering with her mouth full.

"The Marines' strength... has surpassed everyone's imagination."

With his Observation Haki, Katakuri could glimpse brief flashes of the future—and what he saw filled him with unprecedented dread.

"With their current power, the Marines only need that new generation leader called Hawke, combined with any one of the Admirals, to completely annihilate any so-called 'Emperor of the Sea.'"

"Mamamama..."

Big Mom's motion froze.

Her beady eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.

"So? Katakuri, what are you trying to say?"

"An alliance!"

Katakuri said without hesitation. "Mom, you and Kaido-sama were once crewmates."

"Now, only by joining forces with the Beasts Pirates can we secure a chance to breathe in this ocean."

"We need the Beasts Pirates' strength!"

His gaze seemed to pierce the void, landing upon the man countless now saw as the future of the Marines.

"Blood Hawk"—Rayne Hawke. That man... was an absolute danger to every pirate alive.

"..."

Big Mom fell silent, studying her most capable son.

After a long pause...

She grinned.

"Mamamama..."

"Then let's make a call to that Kaido!"

...

"Kaido!"

Big Mom's voice rang from the Den Den Mushi.

"Let's form an alliance!"

"Wororororo——!"

Kaido froze for a second, then burst into laughter.

"Linlin, are you drunk?!"

He was just about to refuse when—

"Kaido-sama."

King's figure appeared quietly beside him, lowering his voice.

"You didn't watch the live broadcast at Marineford."

"The strength of the new Marine generation is far beyond imagination."

"The Whitebeard Pirates, the Red-Haired Pirates… two Yonko crews destroyed, one after another."

"If the Marines' next target is us..."

King didn't finish the sentence—he didn't have to.

The meaning was clear.

"..."

Kaido's laughter abruptly stopped.

"If the Marines truly have that resolve..."

King's tone deepened.

"Then the Great Pirate Era will be over—completely."

"..."

Kaido was silent.

If anyone else had said this, he might not have listened.

But King was his right hand—the one he trusted most.

"Fine, Linlin!"

"I'll agree to your alliance!"

"Mamamama… excellent!"

On the other end, Linlin laughed in satisfaction.

"Oh, Kaido…"

"You haven't forgotten that little move of ours, have you?"

"Hm?"

"Conquest of the Sea!"

"Wororororo——!"

Kaido bellowed with laughter again.

"How could I ever forget?!"

"Good!"

Linlin's voice turned sharp and sinister.

"Then find a chance..."

"To use that technique to kill the new Marine leader—"

"Rayne Hawke!"

"Hmph——!"

Kaido licked his lips, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

"No problem!"