“Three days ago, the Sun and Moon Pirates invaded Mary Geoise?”

“That can’t be true. Three days ago, I remember the Sun and Moon Pirates were seen at Lodestar Island!”

“Which of these reports is fake?”

“The Lodestar Island incident was in the papers, complete with pictures. Not to mention, plenty of people saw the World Government and Navy ships heading there—it has to be true!”

“But the invasion of Mary Geoise was announced by the World Government itself. Plus, the waterways around the Holy Land have been completely sealed off, with no ships allowed entry.”

Both reports were true.

“How many Kuke’s are there in this world? How many Sun and Moon Pirates? How could they be at Lodestar Island one moment and then attacking the Holy Land the next?”

Readers of the news were left questioning their reality.

It didn’t seem logical.

“I don’t care how they managed it. I just want to know the outcome of the Mary Geoise invasion!”

“The result? The World Government would never reveal the truth if it was a humiliating defeat. They’ll definitely cover it up.”

Many had grown accustomed to the World Government’s tactics.

They read on, not expecting much—until their eyes widened in shock.

At that moment, hearts raced, and breaths quickened.

“Mary Geoise is almost entirely destroyed. Countless casualties. Two of the Five Elders are dead.”

The truth was there, in black and white.

Even Imu, fearing Kuke might break their agreement, had approved this disclosure. Humiliating as it was, the truth was not hidden.

For many, their hearts seemed to stop at this revelation.

“They… they destroyed Mary Geoise and killed two of the Five Elders?”

The sea fell into a stunned silence.

Whitebeard, holding the paper in trembling hands, was overwhelmed.

The man who could withstand the weight of a mountain now found himself shaking before something as light as a newspaper.

“I see now. It all makes sense…”

All his questions were answered.

No wonder, three days ago, when they crossed paths, the Navy forces ignored them and sped away.

It was because of the disaster unfolding at Mary Geoise.

“Master Kuke truly lives up to his name. In this era, only he has the courage—and the capability—to pull off something like this.”

“I even thought the Sun and Moon Pirates were retreating. Turns out they had a far greater purpose,” Marco and the other commanders said, their voices trembling with newfound respect.

“Yes. Who would’ve imagined a pirate could destroy Mary Geoise and kill the Five Elders?” Whitebeard marveled.

His past bitterness over his defeat by Kuke melted away.

Being defeated by someone of Kuke’s caliber no longer felt like a blemish on his pride.

With reverence, Whitebeard carefully set the newspaper down.

He resolved to frame it and hang it in his room, a symbol of the highest honor for any pirate.

“Who is the true king of the seas? It can only be Kuke.”

Whitebeard’s declaration echoed the sentiments of many pirates in the New World.

Meanwhile, at the Beasts Pirates

Kaido stared at the paper with envy.

“Invading Mary Geoise and killing the Five Elders?”

Every word on the page made his blood boil with excitement.

“I wish I’d been a part of this,” Kaido lamented, slapping his thigh in frustration.

“I even told Kuke after my defeat that I owed him a favor. I said I’d follow him anywhere—even to invade the Navy headquarters or the Holy Land. Why didn’t he bring me along?”

His frustration ran deep.

The more Kaido thought about it, the angrier he became—mostly at himself.

He realized Kuke hadn’t needed him, hadn’t even considered him.

This stung.

“Damn that old hag. She’s so lucky,” he muttered bitterly.

At Totto Land

“Our mother and Smoothie were part of this?”

The names of Charlotte Linlin and Smoothie were listed among the Sun and Moon Pirates who had participated in the invasion.

Cheers erupted throughout Totto Land.

Pride swelled as they realized their family members had been part of this unprecedented achievement in pirate history.

“To think that joining the Sun and Moon Pirates would lead to such an unparalleled accomplishment,” Katakuri sighed, a trace of envy in his voice.

For a pirate, such a feat was worth dying for.

“Too bad the Sun and Moon Pirates wouldn’t accept us, not even as an allied crew,” another member said regretfully.

Now, there was no resistance to the idea of aligning with the Sun and Moon Pirates—only a deep sense of loss for the missed opportunity.

“Still, with Mother and Smoothie as members, we’re somewhat connected. If we imply that we’re an allied crew of the Sun and Moon Pirates, it wouldn’t be entirely false, would it?”

“No, it wouldn’t be false at all,” others agreed, their eyes gleaming with newfound ambition.

On the Red-Haired Pirates’ Ship

“Alright, I admit it—I was too naïve,” Shanks muttered, reluctantly acknowledging his misjudgment.

He cursed under his breath.

“I can’t believe I worried that Kuke might be ambushed by the World Government. I even warned him. I must’ve looked like an idiot. He was probably laughing at my ignorance.”

The more Shanks thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt.

He had been like an ant trying to understand the mind of an eagle.

“It’s not that bad,” Benn Beckman said, patting Shanks on the shoulder.

For a moment, Shanks felt a glimmer of comfort—until Benn added, “Kuke probably didn’t even care enough to laugh at you.”

Shanks’ momentary relief vanished.

“Benn, could you maybe say less?” Shanks grumbled, his voice tinged with resentment.

Benn Beckman ignored him, staring at the paper with a heavy expression.

“This era has truly gone wild. The World Government has suffered an unprecedented loss. They won’t let this slide easily,” he said gravely.

Shanks nodded, his thoughts aligning with Benn’s.

“Without a doubt. By publicly admitting their defeat, the World Government is essentially declaring war. They’ll stop at nothing to wage battle against the Sun and Moon Pirates.”

The entire sea was shaken.

But amidst the shock came a growing fear for what lay ahead.

Everyone could sense it: a full-scale war between the World Government and the Sun and Moon Pirates was inevitable.

The battles to come would engulf the Grand Line, spreading chaos far and wide.

At Mary Geoise

The three returning Five Elders stood before the ruins of the Holy Land, their faces dark with despair.

“This time, the World Government was truly trampled underfoot by Kuke. Even Lord Imu was forced to concede, making temporary peace with him.”

“For the next ten years, at least, we won’t have to worry about the Sun and Moon Pirates. Let’s focus on damage control for now.”

“Let’s hope so,” one elder muttered, his tone heavy with doubt.

Ignoring Akainu’s fury, they ordered the Navy’s top brass to cease all operations against the Sun and Moon Pirates.

Instead, they mobilized their vast network to minimize the fallout.

The seas calmed.

Contrary to popular expectation, no immediate war erupted between the World Government and the Sun and Moon Pirates.

Both sides fell eerily silent.

It was as if the Sun and Moon Pirates had vanished, while the World Government acted as if they had forgotten their greatest enemy.

Time marched on, and the years slipped by…

Seven years later.

——

DONT FORGET POWER STONE

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep