One Piece: New Order

The next day, as Sakazuki returned to Marine Headquarters, news spread in all directions through the News Coo.

After the Red Hair Pirates captured several Marine bases, the Fleet Admiral personally took action, defeating them, while their core members, Yasopp and Gab, were killed in battle.

This fight left the whole world in silence...

* * *

Holy Land of Mariejois.

Inside the vast white palace, the Five Elders gathered together as a newspaper lay on the table.

It detailed the entire sequence of events between the Marines and the Red Hair Pirates, including Sakazuki’s intervention and the pirates’ defeat.

Their expressions held both relief and concern.

The relief came from the fact that after several bases were taken, Sakazuki had been forced to act, meaning he was not completely unshakable.

The concern, however, came from one thing. He was far too strong.

Previously, when Kaido was defeated, it could have been seen as a clever advantage. But now, facing the entire Red Hair crew alone, and according to Shanks’ own account, he had not even used his full strength, yet he still overwhelmed them.

They believed Shanks would not lie. After all, the deaths of Yasopp and Gab were real.

Warcury looked at another report based on Shanks’ account and frowned. "How can he be this strong..."

He believed he could face the Red Hair Pirates alone as well, but he could not dominate them. At best, he could ensure he wouldn’t lose.

Yet now, Sakazuki had crushed two Emperor crews in succession, and both times he acted alone.

Nusjuro pressed his temple. "Even if there was some advantage in method... To reach this level reminds me of someone..."

The so-called advantage referred to Sakazuki’s Devil Fruit ability.

At sea, the Red Hair Pirates could not stay together under his attacks, as the magma explosions split them apart. Once separated, none of them could stand against him one-on-one, not even Shanks. In a direct fight, it was complete domination.

That was how Yasopp had died so easily.

Warcury’s brows twitched. "Rocks..."

The battle of God Valley from years ago felt as clear as yesterday. Facing the combined forces of the world’s top fighters, Rocks still shattered the island itself. In the end, it took a natural disaster to bury him. Otherwise, in a one-on-one fight, no one could have defeated him. The result would only be death.

How similar it was to the current situation. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Sakazuki alone had crushed two Emperor crews. That level of power could almost suppress the entire world.

Nusjuro frowned deeply. "The balance of power is broken. With the current strength of the Marines, the pirates of the New World are being completely overwhelmed..."

Before Sakazuki made his move, most people believed the odds were roughly sixty-forty.

On the surface, both sides seemed evenly matched. The Marines only had two Fleet Admiral-level figures, Sakazuki at headquarters and Sengoku in the rear.

But with Sakazuki personally stepping in and crushing two Emperor crews on his own, there was no way the pirates could turn this around.

A Marine victory was certain.

The problem was...

"What exactly is he trying to do? If he can crush them so easily, why drag this out?"

If he could single-handedly sweep through two Emperor crews, then what was even the point of this war? The pirates might as well surrender.

Saturn narrowed his eyes as he looked at the map of the New World, then he suddenly picked up a pen.

Under the surprised gazes of the others, he drew several circles around the pirate forces that had already been divided by the Marines. In that instant, the entire battlefield became clear.

All the pirates of the New World had been driven apart and divided into three major forces by Sakazuki.

Nusjuro’s eyes narrowed. "This is..."

Saturn set down his pen, held his cane, and looked at the battlefield map.

"Based on the latest information, after suddenly splitting his forces, Sakazuki had Ryokugyu and Kizaru drive the pirates under Knox and Red Hair toward the territories of Big Mom and Kaido.

"Knox and Red Hair have now each been pushed to the edges and separated by the Marines. In that case, his goal is..."

Peter spoke. "To divide all pirates and wipe them out completely."

As his words fell, silence filled the room.

To be honest, this conclusion was far simpler than the many schemes they had imagined, yet at the same time, it matched Sakazuki’s style perfectly. From the map alone, it was obvious.

That man’s ambition was not small. He had even broken away from the World Government. Still, this method made them admire him.

"Contact Red Hair and see what he needs. Provide as much support as possible."

Even though they admired it, the Marine forces under Sakazuki’s command were too strong, so strong that what the pirates faced was not just the Marines, but despair.

And the more it was like this, the worse it was for the World Government.

* * *

A few days later.

East Blue.

On the Straw Hat Pirates’ ship, a shocked cry suddenly rang out.

"No... no... how is this possible!!!"

Usopp’s face turned pale as his hands trembled while holding the newspaper. Cold sweat ran down his face, and tears gathered in his eyes as he stood frozen.

He had set out to sea to follow in his father’s footsteps and join a pirate crew, but he never expected to see such devastating news so soon after leaving.

On the front page were photos of Yasopp and Gab, along with the report of the Red Hair Pirates’ defeat and their deaths.

Carina and Nami rushed out at once.

"What happened!"

Seeing him standing there in shock, they walked over. Carina glanced at the headline and photos, and her pupils shrank.

"Isn’t Yasopp..."

She quickly covered her mouth and exchanged a look with Nami. Both were equally stunned.

Wasn’t Yasopp his father? He had just set out to follow him, and now...

The others who had been eating in the cabin rushed out as well.

"What happened?" Luffy looked at the newspaper, his eyes widening.

"Yasopp..."

He grabbed it and stared in disbelief. "How could this be!!!"

That cheerful man who loved to drink, how could he...

And the news that Shanks had been defeated. How was that possible?

Beside him, Sanji silently took out a cigarette and walked to the railing, lighting it.

The Vinsmoke family had also been executed by order of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, and the news had spread across the world just like this. Even though he had no feelings for them, the scene still stirred something in him.

Nearby, Zoro stood with his two companions, frowning slightly.

He glanced at Usopp and Luffy, both frozen by the shocking news, then at Sanji smoking by the side.

’What kind of crew is this...’

He had never cared much about pirates or Marines. He had gone to sea for one goal, to become the world’s greatest swordsman.

But now, it felt like he had been dragged into a massive storm he could not ignore.

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