Unlike the stability of the fishing village, some towns closer to the Grand Line were also quietly changing.
Inside a bustling tavern, merchants and adventurers gathered, the atmosphere even more lively than usual. They raised their glasses, celebrating the rare peace of the past few months.
"Have you heard?
The New Navy and the Navy took down 'Steel Hook' Reich, the pirate leader of the East Blue. It's said that guy didn't even last an hour!"
An excited merchant with a full beard said.
"Ha, I heard it wasn't just Reich, even 'Blood Blade' Sparrow's men were severely damaged by them."
Another person picked up the conversation, a hint of smugness on his face.
"What does this mean?
It means the pirates' good days are over!"
The tavern's atmosphere was immediately pushed to a climax, the sound of clinking glasses rising and falling.
A long-lost ease appeared on everyone's face—a sense of security they hadn't felt in a long time.
However, in the corner, an old man in a cloak slightly raised his head, coldly sweeping his gaze over them.
He murmured in a low voice:
"New Navy?
Navy?
Hmph, the order of this sea isn't so easily changed."
In some castles that were still well-preserved, the nobles of the old era were filled with anxiety about the situation.
The fall of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons being driven from their pedestals by the Revolutionary Army—these news had turned their worldviews upside down.
"With the fall of the World Government, are we really witnessing a new era?"
An elderly noble sat in his study, his tone filled with deep fear.
"But at least for now, the pirates seem to be suppressed."
A young noble beside him spoke slowly, trying to find some positive aspects in the current situation.
"The security around our manor is much better. We don't have to worry about waking up one day to find our granaries looted."
"You're too naive."
The elderly noble snorted coldly, his eyes icy.
"Those pirates haven't been completely eliminated, they've just temporarily gone into hiding.
The alliance of the New Navy and the Navy may bring short-term stability, but no one can predict where this storm will ultimately take the world."
Despite the doubts of the upper class, ordinary people were personally experiencing improvements in their lives.
Villages were no longer harassed by pirates, merchant ship routes became safer, many long-disrupted trade routes were reopened, the price of goods began to fall, and the poor were finally able to eat their fill and dress warmly.
A little girl stood on the beach at the entrance of the village, looking at her father's fishing boat returning fully loaded, a naive smile on her face:
"Daddy says the bad guys won't come anymore, and we'll have lots and lots of fish to eat every day!"
However, behind this surface calm, a new storm was brewing.
Behind those pirate forces that had been wiped out, more lurking threats were hidden.
The pirate leaders hiding in the shadows were biding their time, unwilling to be swallowed by the new order. They vowed to prove with blood and fire that the age of pirates was not completely over.
Although the power of the pirates seemed to have subsided under the joint strike of the New Navy and the Navy, and many pirate groups that had once run rampant disappeared from this once chaotic sea area.
However, under this sea surface, undercurrents surged, and some more dangerous waves had begun to sweep in.
On a deserted island, several pirate leaders who had once been famous were quietly gathering.
The shore of the island was surrounded by dense jungle, and although the surrounding trees were lush and green, the wind occasionally blew through, bringing some low echoes.
The atmosphere on the island was oppressive and heavy, as if even the sunlight dared not illuminate this gloomy place.
In a simple camp,
"Bloody Hand" Abyss stretched out his blood-stained hands, his eyes cold, revealing a wildness and unyielding spirit.
He said in a low voice:
"The New Navy and the Navy can't suppress us forever by joining hands.
We're not as simple as they think."
The pirate leaders beside him nodded in agreement.
"Flame Wolf" Rossi slammed the wine bottle in his hand hard on the table, frowning, his eyes flashing with anger:
"We've been pushed too hard!
I heard that many pirate groups have begun to split, and some have even chosen to surrender, but those who have lost their fighting power are not worth my time!
But these guys want to completely eliminate us, they're dreaming!"
Another burly pirate,
"Iron Hammer" Crowe muttered in a low voice:
"This world won't become more peaceful because of those so-called 'orders'.
We pirates will never be their tools."
Their voices grew more and more excited, their eyes filled with determination and anger.
These pirates were not just thugs who existed for survival, they had a fire of unwillingness to submit burning in their bones.
Today's alliance between the New Navy and the Navy, although temporarily suppressed the turmoil of the pirates, did not completely eliminate the threat of the pirates, but instead aroused their stronger resistance.
Behind this restless sea, many people began to suspect that the pirates' restlessness was not entirely spontaneous.
Rumor has it that the remnants of the World Government are secretly supporting these pirates, and even plotting a larger conspiracy.
In a dim basement, a mysterious figure in a black robe was closely watching the movements of pirates in various places through an ancient crystal ball.
There was not a trace of expression on his face, and his eyes were cold, as if waiting for a certain moment to arrive.
As he murmured to himself:
"Although these pirates don't know the truth, their movements have already caused the fluctuations we wanted."
He slowly waved the long staff in his hand, the light of the crystal ball became more and more dazzling, and then disappeared into the air.
This mysterious mastermind was none other than one of the last high-level officials of the World Government—those known as the "Remnants of Heaven".
They held absolute power and resources in their hands, and had long realized that the rise of the New Navy would directly threaten their rule.
Therefore, they decided to use the power of the pirates to stir up new chaos, and use this opportunity to regain their lost control.
This group of people did not care whether the pirates succeeded or not, they only cared whether the chaotic situation could bring them a chance to be reborn.
As long as the pirates could completely tear apart the current order, they could emerge from the shadows again and seize their former power.
Under the pressure of the New Navy and the Navy, those pirate leaders who had once been high above gradually regained their courage. After a long period of silence, they were once again plotting how to overthrow the current order.
"Sea Monster" Mohr, once one of the terrifying pirates of the East Blue, had hidden himself very thoroughly, and even changed part of his identity.
However, he had ambitions different from other pirates.
"The days of pirates are far from over!"
A sinister light flashed in Mohr's eyes. He stood in front of the huge pirate flag, his eyes firm.
"This sea must return to our hands!
Those former overlords cannot be easily eliminated. Only through strength can we prove ourselves!
From now on, the overlord of the sea will no longer be the so-called 'New Navy', nor that group of hypocritical navies!"
"So, we must unite more people to form a real pirate alliance."
His words carried a hint of sneer.
"Then, in this storm, we can usher in a new world."
Although on the surface, the world seemed to have entered a brief period of calm, and the pirates' disturbances had been somewhat suppressed.
However, the pirates' ambitions had not been extinguished, but were quietly growing in the shadows.
The forces under the sea were regrouping, and the dark forces of the World Government were also seeking opportunities for their revival.
All kinds of undercurrents were surging, indicating that a more magnificent battle was about to be staged.
Although Jin An's cooperation with the Navy had temporarily brought some victories, this did not mean that the threat of the pirates had completely disappeared.
As he knew, the real war was far from over.
...
