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A Week After the Battle of Banaro Island
New World, Flying Kingdom
"Master Alex~~"
The glamorous and alluring Queen of the Pleasure District, with her short blonde curls framing her face, sauntered into the grand hall, her hips swaying with practiced grace.
Stussy, elegant and poised in high heels, approached the figure seated in the main chair. She curtsied lightly, her actions cautious but refined.
"Our relationship makes such formalities unnecessary," Alex said, gesturing for her to rise. "So, tell me—does the World Government have something urgent to report?"
Stussy gave a sly smile, stepping closer until she was nearly leaning against the armrest of his seat. Her golden curls shimmered under the light, and her playful demeanor softened her sharp beauty.
"Can't I visit you simply because I want to?" she teased, her tone dripping with charm.
Alex's lips curved into a faint smile as he brushed his fingers across her cheek. "Of course, but I can tell when it's business versus when it's pleasure."
Far from being offended, Stussy welcomed the contact. Her sharp eyes glimmered with satisfaction as she leaned into his touch, taking a deep breath and licking the corner of her lips. "As it happens, there is something major to report."
"Then let's hear it," Alex replied, his expression calm and measured.
With a mischievous grin, Stussy revealed the news. "The plan you set in motion has borne fruit. The higher-ups have decided to execute Fire Fist Ace publicly at Marineford. They're counting on this event to quell the recent unrest."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression showed no surprise.
"It makes sense," he murmured. "The Straw Hats' recent activities have stirred the world, and the World Government needs a decisive move to regain control."
His gaze grew distant, as if peering into the horizon. "And Whitebeard... walking into Marineford's trap will give them the edge they've been preparing for. Conscription has tipped the odds in the Marines' favor."
A shadow passed over his face, his voice low but certain. "The Summit War is coming—a battle that will shatter the seas and plunge the world into chaos."
Five Days Later
On an island near the headquarters of the World Economic News, the skies darkened as tens of thousands of newsbirds soared overhead like a storm of black clouds. Each carried bundles of newspapers, delivering shocking news to the farthest corners of the world.
Residents, accustomed to such arrivals, paused in their routines as the newspapers began to rain down.
"Free newspapers?!" one man exclaimed, snatching a copy from the ground.
Morgans, the underground king of news, wasn't one to hand out his work for free. Even at a modest 100 Berries per paper, the cost of distributing billions of copies was astronomical.
If newspapers were being freely distributed, it could only mean one thing—the World Government had purchased the entire print run to announce something monumental.
It was a tactic used sparingly, for events that would shape the course of history.
"Just like when they executed the Pirate King, Gold Roger," someone murmured.
Curiosity overrode caution, and soon the streets were filled with people flipping through the pages.
Their expressions shifted rapidly from intrigue to sheer horror. Eyes widened, cold sweat dripped from foreheads, and hands trembled as they clutched the damning headlines.
"Wha—what is this...?"
"This has to be a joke!"
Across the seas, in every land touched by the newsbirds' flight, the same scene unfolded. Gasps of shock and cries of disbelief filled the air as the weight of the revelation spread like wildfire.
The world was bracing for the storm.
The newspaper highlighted the big event in bold, unmistakable headlines:
[Blackbeard Teach Defeats Fire Fist Ace! Becomes One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!]
[Marine to Publicly Execute Fire Fist Ace at Marineford in a Week's Time!]
[Marine Headquarters Launches the Largest Operation Since the Conscription Drive!]
[Elite Marines from Across the World Assemble for Wartime Readiness!]
Accompanying the article was an ominous photo of Ace, his back turned to the camera. His hands were shackled in seastone cuffs, and he was being escorted by Marines to the infamous Impel Down. The image left no room for doubt—the news was real, and the execution was imminent.
The world erupted into a frenzy of speculation.
"Public execution? Fire Fist Ace?!"
"That's Whitebeard's second division commander! Is Marine really planning to go to war with Whitebeard?"
Among those familiar with Whitebeard and his crew, there was no doubt: the Yonko would never forgive anyone who harmed one of his men.
"Finally, the World Government is taking decisive action against the pirates of the New World!"
"Marine can definitely win this time! They've been gathering strength since the last skirmish in the New World."
"Hold on. That was against Red-Haired Shanks. This is Whitebeard we're talking about—the man who once rivaled the Pirate King himself!"
"Didn't Marine throw everything they had into that fight with Shanks? What makes them think they'll win against Whitebeard?"
"The seas have been stable for years, but if this escalates, we might be facing a rampage like never before!"
Across the seas, debates raged in every port, village, and city touched by the news. The tides of history were turning, and everyone could feel it.
New World, Dressrosa
Dressrosa, a tropical paradise, basked in its reputation as a warm and vibrant island nation. Its idyllic climate and the peace brought by Donquixote Doflamingo's rule had transformed it into one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.
The Donquixote Family's control, backed by Doflamingo's status as a Warlord of the Sea, ensured both prosperity and safety. The shipping agency under his command thrived, earning the loyalty of the residents. King Riku, once overthrown, was little more than a distant memory—dismissed and forgotten in favor of the flamboyant "Heavenly Yaksha."
In the lavish halls of King's Plateau, Doflamingo lounged on a sofa, a glass of red wine in one hand while his other casually pushed aside a beautiful woman. His wicked laughter echoed throughout the room.
"Fuffuffuffuffu... Those fools in the World Government have finally done something amusing," he sneered.
Though the newsbird had yet to reach Dressrosa, as a Shichibukai, Doflamingo had already been briefed on the situation and received the order for mandatory recruitment. The events unfolding were as clear to him as if he'd written the headlines himself.
"So, that bastard Blackbeard used Fire Fist Ace as his stepping stone, huh?" Doflamingo mused, his sharp grin widening.
He swirled his wine, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Whitebeard—the strongest man in the world. The cornerstone of the Four Emperors. And now the Marines, boasting their four monster Admirals, are throwing themselves into the storm..."
"Fuffuffuffu! The seas are about to erupt in a wave unlike any before. The era of true heroes is about to begin!"
Rising abruptly, Doflamingo strode to the window, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. His eyes burned with a twisted mix of anticipation and glee.
But before he could fully enjoy the chaos to come, there was another matter to address—the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Doflamingo's grin faltered briefly. "Before this all goes to hell, I need to check in with him. That man won't stay idle in the face of such an upheaval."
Nearby, Viola stood silently, her expression heavy. Using her ability, she had glimpsed the shadow behind Doflamingo's power. The truth she had uncovered was a crushing weight, leaving her desperate and suffocating under the knowledge of the puppet master lurking in the dark.