Rocks' voice echoed across the port, loud and commanding, as he declared:
"Rockefeller Charlotte will serve as the Captain of the Eighth Division of the Rocks Pirates!"
The declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd of pirates. Many stared at Charlotte in disbelief, stunned by Lockes' decision. Yet the senior officers—those high-ranking cadres—remained entirely unfazed, their expressions unchanging as if this was nothing out of the ordinary.
Charlotte himself blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected such a sudden promotion. But before he could say a word, Rocks stepped forward and patted him firmly on the shoulder.
"Brothers! Let's have a feast! Let's welcome our new comrade!" Rocks shouted.
"Jie hahaha! A banquet? Now you're speaking my language!" Golden Lion Shiji bellowed with laughter, already imagining a table full of meat and sake.
Even Edward Newgate—the future Whitebeard—cracked a grin, and Charlotte Linlin's eyes lit up at the thought of desserts. "Yay! More cake!" she cheered, delighted.
Seeing the mood shift to celebration, Charlotte finally exhaled. Ever since that strange anxiety had crept into his chest earlier that day, he hadn't felt quite at ease. But now, surrounded by laughter and song, the weight lifted slightly from his shoulders.
He didn't feel remorse for becoming a pirate—in fact, there was an undeniable thrill in it.
...
Far from the festivities, in a shadowy corner of the island, a figure raised a camera. The lens clicked silently as it captured images of Charlotte in the heart of the celebration. The photographs were quickly packaged and transmitted out.
...
In the vast expanse of the Blue Sea, the Naval Fortress stood like an iron sentinel. Dozens of warships rocked gently in the harbor. Inside the fortress, sailors moved briskly about their duties when a loud voice pierced the halls.
"Urgent dispatch! Urgent military situation!"
A navy colonel burst through the command doors, clutching a report.
"General Cyborg Kong! The G-8 branch in the second half of the Grand Line has been annihilated by the Rocks Pirates. Not a single naval officer survived!"
"What did you say?!" Cyborg Kong's voice roared, rising as he leapt to his feet.
He snatched the report from the colonel's hand. His brow furrowed as his eyes scanned the document. A deep growl escaped his throat.
"Damn those Rocks Pirates...! Send word immediately—summon Sengoku, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru!"
"Yes, sir!"
Minutes later, the summoned officers arrived. Sengoku, tall and composed, entered first, followed by Garp, his ever-playful demeanor already subdued. Tsuru, sharp-eyed and calculating, closed the trio.
"Sengoku, take a look at this." Kong handed him the report.
Sengoku's eyes darkened as he read. "The entire branch... wiped out?" he muttered, then passed the file to Tsuru.
She read in silence, then handed it to Garp, who went from his usual grin to a steely seriousness.
"There were over 2,000 naval personnel stationed at G-8," Tsuru remarked quietly. "And none survived."
"That's it. I'm going! I'll take down Rocks myself!" Garp barked, slamming his fists on the table.
No one responded.
"Tsuru, your thoughts?" Cyborg Kong asked calmly.
"We're stretched thin. The North Blue's chaos from Germa 66 has Zefa pinned down. The West Blue's under siege by the Eight-Treasure Navy. The South Seas are politically unstable. And with the Roger Pirates stirring up trouble again... we simply lack the manpower."
She looked directly at Kong. "Right now, there is no force strong enough to confront Rocks in the second half of the Grand Line."
"I must go after Roger!" Garp barked again.
Bang!
"Sit down!" Kong snapped, slamming his palm on the desk.
Garp shrunk back, grumbling but silent.
The room quieted once more.
Today's Navy Headquarters was not the future's well-oiled military machine. Kong was the only active general. There were no admirals. A dozen vice admirals scattered across the world, and a hollowed chain of command.
Kong was just about to speak again when the colonel reentered.
"Report—message from the World Government."
He handed over a sealed document. Kong's expression darkened as he read its contents. Wordlessly, he passed it to the others.
Sengoku and Tsuru frowned slightly. Only Garp remained indifferent.
"Rocks has recruited another strong combatant. What are your thoughts?" Kong asked.
They exchanged glances but said nothing.
Kong sighed. "We'll put out a bounty. What's a fair amount?"
"Two hundred million berries," Sengoku replied. "Based on his reported swordsmanship and performance."
Tsuru nodded in agreement.
Garp didn't comment.
"Very well. Two hundred million it is." Kong gave the order to distribute the bounty.
News of the bounty and the annihilation of G-8 spread rapidly.
...
"Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Rocks Pirates annihilate Navy's G-8 branch—no survivors! And a new face joins their ranks: Rockefeller Charlotte, swordsman, captain of the Eighth Division. Bounty: 200 million berries, alive or dead!"
All across the world, chaos erupted.
Those with ambition took to the seas in droves.
Ordinary citizens trembled in fear.
The news ignited frenzy.
...
"What the hell?! Who let Morgans publish this?! Bring me Morgans—arrest him now!"
Within the World Government, chaos boiled.
"Send the Navy into the second half of the Grand Line immediately. Wipe them out!" an elder thundered.
Back in Marineford, the atmosphere grew suffocating. Eyes turned toward Kong.
He summoned his top men once again.
"The World Government has issued a direct order: we're to purge the pirates from the second half of the Grand Line. I'll lead the expedition personally. Sengoku, Garp, you're coming with me. We'll bring several vice admirals and major generals. Tsuru, you'll stay behind to oversee headquarters."
The room tensed.
Outside, the massive naval fleet stirred.
Steel-jawed warships roared to life as Kong, Sengoku, Garp, and a dozen other high-ranking officers set sail.
And true to form, Morgans leaked the whole event.
Again, the World Government fumed.
"Send CP0. Morgans is to be captured at once!"