At the same time, on the other side of the ocean, the world of pirates was also undergoing drastic changes.
"We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom."
On an island hidden in a stormy sea, dozens of pirates of all shapes and sizes gathered in a brightly lit hall.
Their faces were filled with anger and unease, and even more so with a deep-seated unwillingness to accept their fate.
This place was once a secret stronghold of a great pirate, but now, it had become a haven and planning ground for all the pirates who felt threatened by the joint fleet.
"The New Navy and the Navy are working together, they've gone completely mad!"
A burly man with scars all over his face roared, slamming his fist on the table, causing the corner to crack.
"They're trying to wipe us out completely!
From the East Blue to the Grand Line, no sea is safe anymore!"
"Calm down."
In the hall, a figure slowly stood up.
He was tall, draped in a tattered cloak, and wore an iron mask, making him look extremely mysterious.
His voice was low and calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
"We knew all along that the Navy would make a move sooner or later.
This sea has always been our stage, but now, they want to tear down the stage and replace it with their rules."
"Then what do we do?"
Another pirate leader asked with a frown, his face covered in sweat and his eyes faintly showing fear.
"For so many years, the Navy has never shown such strong action, and the New Navy is not to be underestimated.
Jin An, Kuzan, and that damn remnant of Whitebeard, they are united, we can't win!"
This sentence plunged the entire hall into silence, and even the scarred pirate who had slammed the table earlier was momentarily speechless.
However, just as the atmosphere was at its most tense, a hoarse laugh broke the silence.
In a corner of the hall, a hunched old man slowly stood up.
His white hair was like weeds, his face was full of the marks of time, but his eyes were as bright as two torches, revealing a chilling light.
"You think this is the end?"
The old man laughed, his voice tinged with coldness.
"The sea is not yet ready to listen to that bullshit 'new order'.
This sea belongs to us, to the pirates!
Whether it's the Navy or the New Navy, they think they can control everything, but that's just their wishful thinking."
"Captain Broca!"
Some pirates exclaimed in surprise. This old man was none other than "Cannon" Broca, who was famous on the sea decades ago—a terrifying existence who once swept across the four seas alone with his ship.
Although he had retired for many years, his name still resonated like thunder.
Broca straightened his body, his eyes swept across all the pirates in the hall, and said coldly:
"Have you forgotten that true pirates are never afraid of challenges!
If they want to wipe us out, let them come.
We are not fish to be slaughtered, whoever dares to approach will pay a bloody price."
The pirates in the hall couldn't help but shudder, but Broca's words also ignited a long-lost fighting spirit in their hearts.
Yes, they were pirates, the most lawless existence on this sea.
Even if the joint fleet was strong, they couldn't easily give in.
"And us!"
Just then, the door of the hall was pushed open violently, and a group of people filed in.
Leading the way was a tall man in a red cloak, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's, and an ancient sword hanging from his waist.
"Sparrow!"
Someone recognized the newcomer and couldn't help but gasp.
This name was once the nightmare of the pirate world.
He was "Blood Blade" Sparrow, a bloodthirsty demon, who suddenly retired ten years ago and disappeared.
"It seems everyone has heard the news."
Sparrow walked to the center of the hall, looked around, and his voice was full of sinister confidence.
"I heard that the joint fleet of the New Navy and the Navy has already made a move.
This is their declaration of war, and also our opportunity to fight back."
"Fight back?"
A pirate asked suspiciously.
"How do you plan to fight back?"
Sparrow sneered:
"It's very simple, unite all the pirates who can still move.
No matter how strong one person is, they cannot shake the entire ocean.
But if we add up, we can make them regret it."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the hall instantly boiled over.
Those pirates who were originally fearful began to discuss fiercely, and seemed to have regained their confidence under the instigation of Sparrow and Broca.
"If even we retreat, this sea is really over."
Broca said coldly.
"Today, we must stand up and tell those self-proclaimed righteous guys that the era of pirates is not over."
Sparrow nodded, his tone tinged with fanaticism:
"All ships and pirates capable of fighting, gather together.
This time, we will make the whole world understand that pirates are never an existence that can be easily eradicated."
The news of this meeting spread quickly, burning like wildfire in every corner of the sea.
The once-retired great pirates came out of the mountains one after another, bringing their respective forces and gathering towards the designated location.
The Grand Line, the East Blue, the West Blue, the South Blue... every sea resounded with the battle songs of pirates.
Those once-terrifying names reappeared in the intelligence, forcing the Navy and the New Navy to re-evaluate the risks of this war.
"This will be an unprecedented confrontation."
Standing on the Navy flagship, Sengoku said coldly, his eyes fixed on the latest intelligence.
His expression was solemn, but he had no intention of retreating.
On the other side, Jin An stood on his flagship, gazing at the horizon in the distance.
The knife in his hand tapped lightly on the deck, making a crisp sound.
There was no trace of fear in his eyes, only endless calmness.
"Since they refuse to accept the order of the new world, then let this sea bury them."
Jin An said softly. Then, the corner of his mouth curled into a faint smile.
"Broca, Sparrow... interesting, let me see how much you can struggle."
The destruction of the World Government was like a mountain suddenly collapsing for the entire world. Although the shock of that moment was earth-shattering, ordinary people did not seem to immediately feel much substantial change.
Their lives continued as usual, those who tilled the land still worked in the fields, and those who ran merchants still traveled on ships.
However, some subtle changes were gradually noticed by people.
"Dad, our cargo ship has been going too smoothly this year, right?"
In a small fishing village by the sea, a young man excitedly carried a basket of freshly caught fish to his father beside the pier.
His face was filled with joy, even a little unbelievable.
His father, an old sailor who had been running merchants on the sea for many years, paused slightly when he heard this, then nodded:
"Indeed, this year has been much smoother.
In previous years, we would be harassed by several pirate groups at least when running the route from the East Blue to the South Blue, but this time... we haven't even seen a shadow."
As he spoke, his face was not completely relaxed, but rather revealed a bit of vigilance.
"However, this situation always makes me feel uneasy, pirates will not disappear so easily."
"Who cares!"
The young man smiled easily.
"It's best if they don't come out.
I heard that the New Navy and the Navy are joining forces to deal with those guys recently, I think these pirates should be completely wiped out.
Without them, could our lives be any worse?"
The other villagers around nodded and joined the discussion when they heard this.
"Isn't that right!
I have two children in my family, and one was kidnapped by those pirates a few years ago, and I still don't know if he is dead or alive!
All these pirates should be thrown into the sea to feed the sharks!"
"Yes, a few years ago, those pirates burned, killed, and looted outside the village, making us afraid to go out to sea to fish.
These two months have been much quieter."
The anger and resentment revealed in these words, mixed with a little bit of luck, shrouded the entire pier in a complex emotion.
