Chapter-19 No, you still have to quit the Marines!
Looking at the dark clouds in the sky, most of the Marines were confused.
They simply thought the weather had changed suddenly and expected heavy rain.
Only a few strong individuals like Sengoku and Zefa keenly noticed the changes in Sakazuki's body, and they couldn't help but feel shocked.
"What's going on? He seems to have the same level of Conqueror's Haki as someone like Red-Haired Shanks!"
They observed the Marines around them, who showed no signs of dizziness.
"Has he been holding back his Conqueror's Haki all this time? This man is becoming even more terrifying!"
"Marine will win! Justice will win!"
Sakazuki was anxious to understand the sudden changes in himself. So he shouted the last slogan with passion and ended his declaration!
Although the awarding ceremony was over, its influence was far from it. The event's effects had already begun to ferment and grow more intense!
New World – A calm sea with clear skies.
The weather here wasn't unpredictable or prone to sudden hailstorms, as reported elsewhere.
This was, of course, because the territory belonged to the Red-Haired Pirates. Shanks controlled one of the few areas in the New World with a stable and pleasant climate.
On the deck of the Red Foss, the Red-Haired Pirates were hosting a lively banquet.
"Boss! This is bad! The Marines have declared war on us!"
Suddenly, a young pirate hurriedly brought over a newspaper to the drunken red-haired man.
The newspaper, printed in the morning, had been delivered across the New World by evening. Morgans had truly outdone himself.
"Huh? What?"
The red-haired Shanks, too drunk to comprehend his crewmate, collapsed to the ground with a bottle of wine in hand.
"Show it to me," Beckman, the Imperial Vice Captain, said, taking the newspaper from the younger pirate and examining it carefully.
"Something big is going to happen, Red-Haired!"
The Conqueror's Haki in Beckman's voice startled Shanks, waking him instantly.
The red-haired captain stood up, now serious, leaning against Beckman while snatching the newspaper from him.
After a casual glance, he was drawn in by the headline.
As he skimmed the contents, his carefree smile disappeared, replaced by a stern expression.
"This Sakazuki is really smart! We shouldn't have let him go so easily after the Paramount War!"
Shanks's uncertain expression caught the attention of Beckman, who closed his eyes to ponder their next move.
The once-lively banquet quickly turned somber.
Totto Land – Cake Island
At the Big Mom Pirates' base, Charlotte Linlin sat on her throne, devouring a massive feast.
Her men read aloud the contents of the newspaper, and upon hearing it, Linlin flew into a rage!
"Magma kid! Don't mess with me!"
Wano Country
Kaido, known as the "Hundred Beasts," kicked over his sake gourd in anger. Swinging his mace, he sent the newspaper delivery man flying thousands of meters.
"Kill me if you dare!" Kaido roared drunkenly.
A remote island in the New World
After a day of intense training, Blackbeard emerged from the rubble-covered island.
He took the newspaper from his men and read it aloud, his signature laugh booming.
"Hahahahaha! Brothers, get ready to compete for the throne of the new Four Emperors!"
"I won't be defeated so easily this time!"
With intense training, Blackbeard had fully mastered the Dark-Dark Fruit's powers and claimed yet another strong Devil Fruit by hunting down its user.
Combined with his exceptional physical strength, his emperor-level combat power was undeniable!
The same scenes played out across pirate crews worldwide. A new era of chaos was dawning!
Marine Headquarters – Fleet Admiral's Office
The plaque that previously read "Justice Reigns Supreme" above the Fleet Admiral's seat had been replaced by "Absolute Justice."
Sakazuki now fully occupied the office once belonging to Sengoku.
Sengoku had retired to serve as Marine Grand Inspector, responsible for cleaning up corruption within the Marines, such as officers like Nezumi.
This allowed Sengoku to contribute to anti-corruption efforts before stepping away entirely.
Sakazuki refused to give Sengoku any significant authority after the latter showed leniency toward Red-Haired Shanks during the war.
Furthermore, Sakazuki chose not to relocate Marine Headquarters to the New World. It was too risky for their compromised forces.
By guarding the first half of the Grand Line, they could better block pirates from advancing toward the New World.
The investiture ceremony ended that night.
Sakazuki completed his tasks and discarded the corrected documents. He sat back on the sofa, tired, lighting a cigar with his magma abilities.
Exhaling a cloud of smoke, he muttered, "So much paperwork… How can I go to sea and hone my Conqueror's Haki?"
It was during his speech earlier that day that he discovered his newfound abilities.
Through his strong belief in justice—and the faith of countless Marines and civilians—Sakazuki awakened his Conqueror's Haki.
Unlike typical Conqueror's Haki users, his seemed deeply connected to his ideology of justice.
"Am I destined to embody the will of the people and confront the World Government?" he wondered.
While he planned to master Conqueror's Haki soon, administrative duties tied him to the office.
As he contemplated a solution, a powerful aura appeared at the door.
It was Aokiji, who had been absent all day.
Without knocking, Aokiji entered the office.
"I promise to help you achieve absolute justice!" he declared firmly.
"Originally, I thought if I failed to become Fleet Admiral, I would leave the Marines to pursue my own justice. But this book convinced me!"
Aokiji placed a book on Sakazuki's desk, his tone filled with determination.
Sakazuki smirked slightly.
"No, you still have to quit the Marines!" Sakazuki replied unexpectedly.