Marineford, Admiral's office.
"Five Elders! The entire Marine Force unanimously rejects Blackbeard's inclusion as one of the warlords! Please immediately rescind your orders, and we will dispatch an admiral to capture him."
After the meeting, Admiral Sengoku returned to his office and directly used Den Den Mushi to contact the Five Elders.
"Warlord Sengoku, this is our decision, and it is not open for change! The Marines must simplify orders," one elderly man with a scar on his forehead replied via Den Den Mushi, holding a long sword.
"Don't forget, Sengoku, the Marines are a subordinate department of the World Government. Don't overstep your boundaries," another elderly man with golden hair said indifferently, reminding Sengoku.
"Blackbeard is a powerful force, and his inclusion as a Warlord is perfectly acceptable," a slightly shorter elderly man with a mustache said, sitting on a couch with a calm expression.
"Kuma must fully cooperate with Vega Punk's experiments, and he has agreed to this proposal. So, you need not worry. Follow orders, Sengoku," a man with long, white hair and a long white beard spoke to Sengoku through the Den Den Mushi.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea help maintain world stability, and the stronger they are, the better.
There is no need to fear them. In our eyes, their influence and ambitions are of no concern," the elderly man with white, long hair and a black hat, sitting on the couch, said through the Den Den Mushi.
"Sengoku, reply to Blackbeard immediately. We have accepted his request, and we will announce it to the world. He should come to Mariejois to sign the Warlord Agreement in ten days, along with the others."
"Damn it! I don't care what happens in the future!" Sengoku angrily hung up the Den Den Mushi, his chest heaving rapidly.
"Damn those Five Elders! Those Warlords!" Sengoku's roar could be heard from his office, and the Marine guards outside were trembling.
"Ruru."
"Kada."
"Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, your invitation was received. We've agreed to your request, and you will be one of the warlords.
In ten days, come to the Holy Land, Mariejois, to sign the agreement, and make sure not to be late, you scum!" Sengoku's face darkened, and he said it with suppressed anger.
"Hmm? Admiral Sengoku, hehe, I didn't expect you to agree so easily. I thought you might ask me to eliminate a current warlord before letting me fill the vacancy. So, who's been removed?" Smiling, Teach asked seriously through the Den Den Mushi.
"Don't ask so many questions. Remember to come to the meeting in ten days. If you don't show up, the agreement will be void, and I'll send an admiral to capture you. That's it!" Sengoku concluded, then hung up Den Den Mushi.
"Ten days from now, come to Mariejois for the meeting. That's an order," he commanded to the Marine Guard, who saluted and hurried off to relay the message.
After hearing the words of the marine guard, Sengoku sighed and called another number using the Den Den Mushi. After a moment, a strange laughter echoed from the other end.
"Fufufufu, this is quite rare. Vice Admiral Kizaru is calling me. I wonder what's so important!"
"Ugh, I don't want to talk to a scumbag like you, but ten days from now, come for the meeting.
That's it," Kizaru replied without any emotion, completely ignoring the strange laughter on the other end.
"Ah, it's about the new warlord. Fufufufu, I've heard about it. Blackbeard: I've seen plenty of reports about him recently. Amazingly, such a powerful guy wants to become a warlord. You guys trust him, huh?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Doflamingo, you're not a simple guy, either. I've heard about some of the things you've done. Please don't give me any reason to catch you and send you to Impel Down. That's it," Kizaru said before hanging up Den Den Mushi.
"Those bastards! I don't know what consequences will follow, but I won't tolerate their arrogance!" Sengoku yelled in his office, and the Marine guards outside shivered.
Meanwhile, on the Sabaody Archipelago, Blackbeard and his crew were standing amidst the ruins.
"Fufufufu, brothers, our plan has succeeded! From now on, I'll be one of the warlords!" Teach announced it enthusiastically to his crew.
"The first step of the plan is complete. Now we just do not proceed systematically and step by step," Thatch said, wearing heavy black armor, his voice steady and powerful as always.
"This is fantastic! We can legally plunder treasures now. Tch, Teach, mountains of gold and silver are calling our names!" Lafitte opened his arms and shouted with excitement.
"Captain Teach, do we still need to attack the Sand Crocodile?" Jesus Burgess asked, holding a male corpse in his hand and casually tossing it aside while wiping the blood from his hands.
"Well, now that I've become one of the Warlords, I can't simply attack a fellow Warlord. But we must get Nico Robin; she's a must-have. Get ready to set sail, brothers. We're heading to the first half of the Grand Line, Sabaody Archipelago. Hehe, we still have ten days, and there's so much to do!" Teach turned and walked towards the port.
"Oh? Are we going to Alabasta to take down the sand crocodile within ten days? That sounds a bit difficult," Jesus Burgess said, putting the treasures piled on the ground into a bag and slinging it over his shoulder as he followed Teach.
"It is indeed quite challenging, almost impossible," Thatch said as he carried his anchor weapon and walked away with the treasures. Burgess remained silent, just taking the treasures and leaving.
For him, the only thing that mattered was to follow orders and get stronger, and he did not care about the rest. "But those cursed pirates, our village, the people, everyone! Sob, sob, sob!"
A little boy hiding in a hidden spot watched Blackbeard and his crew leave, shedding tears quietly. What was a bustling village yesterday had been destroyed in just one day, and the villagers who were busy and happy yesterday were now lying on the ground.
"I'm going to join the Marines and kill all the pirates! Pirates like those scumbags shouldn't exist!" The little boy wiped away his tears, his face filled with fierce determination. His eyes gleamed with hatred.
In the New World, at Dressrosa's royal palace, Doflamingo lounged on a beach chair, basking in the sun while reading the latest newspaper.
"Hehehe, a genuinely terrifying individual. He's taken down both the butcher and the ghost bull. Previously unknown while in Whitebeard's crew, he's now made a name for himself in an instant after leaving. He's an ambitious monster. If we were to join forces.."