"Damn it, damn it!"
In a dark room within Mary Geoise, one of the Five Elders slammed his hand down in rage, entirely abandoning his usual calm demeanor. The rest of the Elders were equally grim, their faces clouded with fury.
"Where did these lunatics even come from? Why haven't we ever heard of them before?" muttered the Elder with the sword, his voice eerily calm yet brimming with a cold fury that could chill bone.
"We've searched thoroughly, but we couldn't trace anything," a man clad head-to-toe in black knelt before them, reporting with a quivering voice. "They seem to have appeared out of nowhere. We have no idea where they originated from."
"Then what the hell are we feeding you dogs for?" barked another Elder who leaned against the wall. "You vanish when we need results and return with nothing but excuses. What, did you burn our funding for warmth?"
Cold sweat poured down the black-clad agent's neck. The oppressive atmosphere in the room felt suffocating.
"Alright, enough yelling. What's the point in blaming him now?" said the Elder seated comfortably on a sofa, though his voice lacked any real calm. "We've got rebellions erupting in over a dozen countries. And each one of these so-called 'invaders' is monstrously powerful. We've confirmed the appearance of Milim again, along with some bizarre others—one's a massive dragon, another's an old man with godlike sword skills, then there's some pig-headed beast… They're all freaks. Who the hell are these people to challenge the World Government like this?"
The room fell into a cold, heavy silence. None of the Elders answered—because they all knew the truth: this was a problem far beyond anything they'd faced.
One powerful individual, the World Government could handle. Even a hundred scattered across the seas was manageable. But a hundred united? That could shake the very foundations of the world. From the way things looked, their enemy wasn't just a ragtag rebellion—it was a force as massive and dangerous as the World Government itself.
Suddenly—
"Buru buru buru buru…"
A piercing Den Den Mushi call shattered the stillness. One Elder walked over and picked it up.
"…I see."
As the voice on the other end delivered its message, the Elder's expression grew darker and darker. When the call ended, he crushed the Den Den Mushi in his palm, letting his haki flare out violently.
"What happened?" another Elder asked warily.
"Roger," he growled through clenched teeth. "Roger has appeared. And he's teamed up with Whitebeard. They've rallied a vast number of pirates—including Golden Lion, Red Count, and a whole slew of other monsters. They're not just making noise this time—they're planning to overturn the entire world!"
The silence returned, this time heavier than ever. One Elder let out a bitter chuckle.
"So that's it then," he muttered. "They're really trying to flip the heavens—the heavens of the Celestial Dragons."
"…We must report to Im-sama," another Elder finally said.
And with that, the Five Elders fell silent once again and left the room.
Meanwhile, somewhere deep within the New World…
On a remote, seemingly unimportant island, a large gathering was taking place. Powerful pirates from across the seas had assembled. But none commanded more attention than the four figures standing on the high platform:
Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King. Edward Newgate, the world's strongest man—Whitebeard. Shiki the Golden Lion, a legend in his own right. Red Count, the immortal vampire-like monster.
Roger stood tall, his gaze sweeping across the unruly crowd below.
"Everyone, I've gathered you here for one reason," he began, voice steady but forceful. "I need your help."
The pirates muttered, curious but cautious.
"We're going to overthrow the World Government."
His words struck like lightning. Even the most fearless pirates blinked in stunned silence.
"…Roger, don't get me wrong, but the World Government's power is something we're all familiar with," a pirate from the crowd finally spoke. "No offense, but even we can't topple a behemoth that's ruled the world for over 800 years."
Most of the pirates nodded. They had no interest in getting crushed under the boots of the Marines and the Celestial Dragons.
"Silence."
Whitebeard's voice boomed like thunder, immediately quieting the crowd. His aura alone was enough to choke the air out of the atmosphere.
Roger nodded in thanks, then continued, "You're right. Alone, we're not enough. But we are not alone. I've found allies—strong, reliable, and just as fed up with this corrupted world as we are. With their strength and ours combined, we can bring the World Government to its knees. As long as we unite—we will win."
A murmur of doubt rippled again. Then someone shouted—
"Why the hell should we help you? Even if you're telling the truth, what's in it for us? At the end of the day, I'll still be a pirate, hunted by Marines!"
Roger's eyes narrowed.
"Is that really all you want to be?" he asked quietly. "Just a pirate? Nothing more?"
"I don't know why each of you took to the seas. Maybe it was for gold. Maybe for freedom. But let me ask you this—do you really want your children, your grandchildren, to grow up hating you? To spit when they hear your name? Is that the legacy you want to leave?"
Silence.
The truth hung heavy in the air. Most of them didn't become pirates out of ambition—they were forced into it. Outcasts. Survivors. Victims of a world shaped by tyranny.
Then—
"…Roger," a pirate finally spoke, "I admit your words stirred something in me. But it's not enough. If you really want me to join you… tell us the truth. Tell us what the Pirate King's treasure is."
The entire island seemed to hold its breath. All eyes turned to Roger—even Whitebeard, Shiki, and Red Count looked intrigued.
Roger inhaled deeply.
"You all want to know?" he said. "Very well. If that's the price to earn your faith…"
He looked them dead in the eye.
"…Then I'll tell you."