207 With the Justice System

"Hawke..."

From the other end of the Den Den Mushi came Sengoku's slightly anxious voice.

"War is about to break out again!"

"Hmm...?"

Hawke held a cigar between his fingers, listening calmly.

"Sengoku, what do you mean by that?"

"According to my intel, the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates... they've formed an alliance!"

"Oh..."

Hawke nodded slightly. "I see..."

He hadn't even gone looking for trouble with Kaido and Big Mom yet—and now those two Yonko were teaming up to stir up chaos first?

Still, that wasn't entirely unexpected.

In the original timeline, those two had also formed an alliance—though it was more of a child's game than a real partnership.

But this time, things were different.

After the Marineford War, the power the Marines displayed was absolutely overwhelming.

Kaido and Big Mom both knew very well that neither the Beasts Pirates nor the BIG MOM Pirates could hope to face the current Marines alone.

Huddling together for warmth was their best—and only—choice.

Still, the speed of their alliance was somewhat surprising.

The war had just ended not long ago...

Those two brutes shouldn't be reacting this fast.

"Then..."

Hawke muttered under his breath, two names surfacing in his mind.

"Katakuri and King, huh..."

Katakuri and King—two proper right-hand men of emperors.

If the two of them were pulling strings behind the scenes, such an alliance could definitely come together fast.

"Hawke, their target is most likely the G-5 branch you just took over!"

Sengoku's voice came again, tinged with concern.

"You're the symbol of the new era for the Marines—the idol of countless young officers!"

"If they kill you, they can crush the soaring morale of the entire Navy!"

"Heh—"

"Don't worry."

Hawke pressed his cigar into the ashtray and snuffed it out.

"Let them come."

"I'll be waiting for them at G-5."

"Good!"

From the other end of the line, Sengoku let out a deep, approving growl.

That was the spirit a leader of the new generation should have!

"We old-timers are already in the New World. We'll head over right away to back you up!"

"Mm."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Hawke's lips.

Having the battlefield set in his own G-5 branch—perfect!

He was the highest-ranking officer there.

Any evil defeated within G-5's jurisdiction meant more Justice Points for him!

Click—

The call ended.

Hawke slowly turned around and looked at Dane, who had been standing quietly in the office.

"Dane, make preparations."

"Someone's coming to deliver themselves to death."

"Yes, sir!"

Dane saluted sharply and left at once.

...

Soon after, the G-5 branch—this steel fortress of the New World—began to move like a war beast awakened.

In the base kitchen, Sanji's domain had turned into a flurry of flames and motion.

Wearing a spotless chef's uniform, his hands moved like phantoms as he handled mountains of ingredients.

"Listen up! Section A, increase the heat for the Sea King soup!"

"I want every soldier to drink the hottest, richest broth before battle!"

"Section B, keep the roast meat precise! Lock in every drop of juice—don't let a single bit escape!"

"Section C, ensure the vegetable salads stay fresh! Vitamins are essential for endurance!"

He barked orders at his kitchen staff like a general on the front lines.

War wasn't just about combat—it was also about logistics.

Especially food—it determined morale!

A hungry soldier could never fight at full strength.

Sanji knew that better than anyone.

He would make sure every G-5 soldier went into battle at their absolute best—ready to take on those two sea emperors!

Meanwhile, at the training grounds...

Clang—

Zoro slowly slid Wado Ichimonji back into its sheath.

Steam rose from his body, sweat pouring down like a stream.

He stopped his training to recover his focus and stamina.

During the Marineford War, he had witnessed firsthand the clash between Hawke and Yonko Shanks—their cataclysmic power had sharpened both his mind and his swordsmanship.

After that, he even received personal sword training from Admiral Kizaru.

Now, he was far stronger than he had been back then.

His last opponent, "Flower Sword" Vista, had been decent—just decent.

This time...

He wanted to see whether he was worthy of standing against a Yonko's right-hand man!

...

In the New World, on a nameless island—

Buru buru~

Without pausing, Sengoku dialed another number.

The Den Den Mushi morphed, its features shifting until they resembled Sakazuki's stern, hard-edged face.

"Sengoku?"

"Yes, Sakazuki..."

Sengoku relayed every bit of the intel he had just shared with Hawke.

...

In the Fleet Admiral's office, Sakazuki's fingers froze midair, cigar still between them.

"What..."

Kaido and Big Mom were joining forces to attack the G-5 branch?

For the old Marines, that would have been a catastrophe.

But now...

This was divine opportunity!

If Sengoku's intel was correct, the Marines could end it all in one decisive strike!

That kid Hawke had already reached the peak of Admiral-level strength. With the four Rear Admirals under his command...

That elite combat unit could easily take down one Yonko crew on its own!

On top of that, Sengoku and the other veterans of the old era were already in the New World.

And Headquarters still had plenty of reinforcements to spare!

Borsalino could be deployed at any moment...

And the two newly joined monsters whose power rivaled Admirals—Aramaki and Fujitora—could make their debut under the world's spotlight!

This battle... was too perfect to be true!

"Huff—"

Sakazuki took a long drag of his cigar, the hot smoke burning his lungs as his eyes blazed brighter.

If the Marines could crush both Yonko crews at G-5...

Then the tides of the sea would change forever!

Kuzan was already cleansing the Four Seas, freezing every ember of crime to extinction.

Paradise was nearly pacified—no more waves left to rise.

Now, in the New World, three major powers remained.

Kaido and Big Mom had just allied and were walking right into the trap.

As for the third—the Supernova Alliance—their second-in-command had already been persuaded by Sengoku to stand on the side of justice!

Which meant...

The New World, chaotic for decades, was about to see peace!

And when that day came, the Marines would finally have free hands... to deal with the rotting cancer that had sat atop the world for 800 years—the World Government itself!

"Sengoku," Sakazuki said in a low, gravelly voice, his tone barely containing a burning zeal.

"Believe me—this battle... will mark the end of the Pirate Era!"

...