210 With the Justice System

Whole Cake Island.

Beneath the enormous castle made of biscuits and candy, a grand feast was underway.

Elite members of the Beasts Pirates and members of BIG·MOM's crew were mixed together now, clinking cups and passing bottles.

"Wroooorororor—!"

"Linlin, I'll drink this one!"

Kaido raised a sake bowl and poured the fiery liquor down his throat.

Beside him, Big Mom — Charlotte Linlin — was using a gigantic fork to cram an entire slice of cake covered in bright red strawberries into her mouth, the sound of satisfied chewing filling the air.

"Mamamama—! Kaido, the booze you brought tastes pretty good!"

"Hic—!"

Kaido let out a thunderous belch; a blast of scorching breath burst forth.

"Of course it does!"

"..."

The whole banquet thrummed with a wild, chaotic energy.

Beasts Pirates laughed uproariously, banging huge roasted meats against each other; wine and meat juices splattered everywhere.

Big Mom's children were comparatively more "refined."

Perospero licked his candy staff, his small eyes glittering with calculation.

"..."

Katakuri stood with his arms folded, leaning against a doughnut pillar; the mouth hidden beneath his scarf was tightly compressed.

Next to him, the Beasts Pirates' great billboard, King, stood silently as well, a black mask hiding all expression.

Neither of them joined the revelry — they simply watched.

A common shadow clouded both of their hearts.

At the end of the Summit War, at the moment that man single-handedly killed Red-Haired, Katakuri had seen a blurred future.

A future where the iron heel of the Navy would trample the New World and all pirates be purged.

And at the center of that future stood the man codenamed "Blood Hawk."

It was that terrifying premonition that drove Katakuri to advise his mother, to press her to form an alliance with Kaido.

"..."

King did not possess the ability to foresee the future, but he had analysis and judgment.

As a survivor of the Lunarian line, he understood better than anyone what the changing of an era meant.

The Navy's actions toward Whitebeard and Red-Haired were a purge!

That merciless style reminded him of what the World Government once did to their people long ago.

History was repeating itself in a bloodier, more violent form.

And this time, the blade was wielded by the righteous Navy.

So when Katakuri came to him, proposing to help facilitate the alliance, he agreed without hesitation.

Not for domination of the seas, but for one thing... survival.

"Gulp gulp gulp—"

Kaido slammed down another huge drink, then suddenly rose to his feet.

"Wroooorororor—!"

"Linlin, are you full?!"

"Mamamama—!"

Big Mom rose as well, wiping cream from the corner of her mouth; Prometheus and Zeus circled happily at her side.

"Of course!"

"Boom—!!!"

Two utterly different, but equally terrifying, waves of Conqueror's Haki collided!

The clouds above were instantly torn open, creating a massive hole; sunlight poured through the rift but could not dispel that suffocating pressure.

Every pirate at the banquet stopped mid-action, faces alight with zealous worship.

This — was their king!

These — were the two Emperors who reigned over this sea!

"Minions!"

Kaido's voice echoed across the entire island.

"Drinking time is over!"

"Prepare to set sail!"

"Target — G-5 Base!"

"Erase that brat called 'Blood Hawk' and his base from this world!"

"Oooooooh—!!!"

A roar like an earthquake rolled from every corner of Whole Cake Island.

"No more hiding or disguises!"

"Sail out, sail out!"

"Kill the Navy!"

The Queen Mama Chanter slowly set sail; the Beasts Pirates' fleet, like a moving fortress, rose from the sea.

Two enormous Yonko fleets joined on the waters, blotting out the sky.

Like storms of destruction, they surged toward the G-5 base, crushing everything in their path!

...

G-5 Base.

The entire fortress was suffused with an icy, murderous air.

Tens of thousands of Navy elite silently worked at their stations.

Blades and gun barrels reflected a grim cold light beneath the overcast sky.

"How are preparations going, Dane?"

Hawke stood on the base's highest lookout, looking down on everything below. A bitter sea wind snapped the Justice cloak over his shoulders.

"Report!"

Dane stood behind him, posture as straight as a sword. "All soldiers are high-spirited and morale is excellent!"

"Also, per your orders, the live Den Den Mushi covering the whole base have been deployed!"

There was uncontrollable zeal and anticipation in Dane's eyes.

He hadn't participated in the Summit War; he'd been stuck on the rear guard. That regret still clung to him.

But this time, he would follow Hawke's steps and annihilate the two invading Yonko fleets in this New World.

With their destruction, this sea of sin would be cleansed!

"Good."

Hawke nodded slightly.

This time, they would broadcast globally again.

After all, the Navy no longer had much to fear.

The World Government?

A shell gradually being hollowed out.

CP0 had proven ineffective and several batches had been cleaned out by Fleet Admiral Zephyr and company.

The Knights of God, though troublesome, had been thinned by one squad; the only real threat remaining was the former King of God's Valley, the Commander — Garling.

As for the Five Elders, although they had Admiral-level strength, much of their power relied on that tenacious immortality; the true spearhead was Saint Nusjuro wielding the first-era demon sword.

Above them all sat the lofty... Imu.

But how could one being alone stand against the full might of today's Navy?

Moreover, immortality was not invincible.

Sufficiently powerful Conqueror's Haki — especially imbued with Armament Haki — was the nemesis of that ability.

And within the current Navy, besides himself...

There just so happened to be two old hands who both mastered top-tier Armament Haki and were bored out of their minds.

At that moment a Navy officer hurried over, snapped to attention, and saluted.

"Report! Zephyr's ship has arrived at the port!"

"Good."

A smile creased Hawke's mouth.

Speak of the devil.

He turned and began walking toward the port.

Before long, an unassuming-looking warship slowly pulled into harbor.

Three figures stepped down the gangplank with steady strides.

Leading the way, Senbei in his mouth and a leisurely expression on his face, was Garp.

Beside him, composed and holding a whole bag of senbei, was Sengoku; he pushed away Garp's hand whenever the old man tried to steal a cracker.

The last was the hulking, muscular Zephyr, his arms like coiled ropes, his face resolute.

"Welcome to G-5 Base."

Hawke met them. 

"You three still have good spirit!"

His Observation Haki allowed him to clearly sense that the life energies of these three veterans were vast and abyssal.

Especially Zephyr...

The life force within him had returned his whole condition to its absolute peak!

It seemed that the effect of that Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit was excellent!

These three Navy legends hadn't come to retire.

They'd come to make the world feel, once again, the fear of being ruled by the Navy!

"Pu-hahahaha!"

Garp let out a rollicking laugh. "Hawke! Save Kaido for old me!"

"Since Zephyr brewed that life essence stuff, this old man's iron fist has been starving for action!"

"Hmph!"

Sengoku shot him a glance, then looked at Hawke with a pleased smile.

"Hawke, don't mind him!"

"The three of us old men will follow your unified command."

"Yes!"

"Blood Hawk!"

Zephyr strode forward. He lifted the hand once famed as the "Black Arm" and slapped Hawke's shoulder with heavy force.

"Now..."

Zephyr's lips curled into a bloodthirsty grin.

"let us, the remnants of the old era, accompany you — the banner of this new era..."

"and stir this sea into a cataclysm!"