Chapter 1356: The Enemy is in Mariejois!!!
Chapter 1356: The Enemy is in Mariejois!!!
"Yes! Mr. Kuro!!!"
Klah's response was even more enthusiastic than Kuro's. He shouted loudly at the surrounding Marines:
"Everyone, change course! Head to Mariejois!!!"
Mariejois?
The Marines were all stunned. What were they running to Mariejois for? Their war should have already ended, right?
Was there more combat? Hadn't it already concluded?
Smoker twisted into a smoke pillar and flew over. "Hey, Kuro, what's going on?"
Their numbers weren't overwhelming, but they were all elites. Rushing straight to Mariejois after the war would cause misunderstandings.
He had no fondness for those higher-ups and certainly didn't want to go there.
Kuro was about to repeat the news he received from the Five Elders, but suddenly his body swayed and he frowned.
Although Lida had transferred considerable physical strength earlier, the battle against Luffy had also been extremely intense. The physical strength used to contain Wu Sheng Kong Sha's ability Awakening was comparable to what was needed against Marshall D. Teach. Now that he'd stopped fighting, a wave of dizziness washed over him.
"I'll explain, Mr. Kuro!"
Just then, Kas had already dispelled the white mist, bringing three hundred Marines closer to Kuro. Like a shield, he stood protectively in front of Kuro.
Kuro waved his hand. "You handle it, Old Man. I'll take a breather."
The Yokai Blade was still in a fusion state. The Mythical Zoan's powerful Restoration ability meant a short rest would replenish much of his strength. For now, focusing on recovery was paramount.
He stood atop a high platform formed by post-shockwave rubble. Below, Kas and the others formed a protective formation, their postures as rigid and disciplined as any Marine. This instantly highlighted Kuro's commanding presence on the elevated stage.
Buggy adjusted his lens, making the scene appear even more star-like, with Kuro radiating immense authority.
"Men of the sea!!!"
Kas turned around, his voice booming and clear, reaching every fighter's ears on the battlefield and transmitting live across the world.
...
In Mariejois, within the Pangu Palace corridors.
The Five Elders, watching the screen, saw it flicker and the image suddenly disappear.
"What's happening?" the curly-haired elder frowned.
The Bearded Elder walked to the window, pulled aside the curtain, and glanced outside. His pupils constricted.
"The line—"
Outside, thread-like lines resembling Birdcage descended from the sky, enveloping all of Mariejois in a distant cage.
"Donquixote Doflamingo!"
The blade-wielding elder gritted his teeth. "It's him! Marshall D. Teach broke into Impel Down, and he's escaped!"
"Birdcage?" the map-wielding elder nodded. "So that's it. That explains why we've lost all signals. But one thing is certain—Kuro remains loyal."
When they received news of the Marines' sudden shift, they'd been shocked. For a moment, they thought the entire Navy had turned against the World Government to destroy Mariejois.
But upon reflection, it was implausible. Even Kuro couldn't command the entire Navy to follow him collectively. More importantly, he had no such intention.
He was a traditionalist Marine—proud, powerful, conservative, and rule-bound. Someone like him would never consider destroying the World Government. Without it, the Navy itself would cease to exist.
The Navy was merely a product of the World Government.
Moreover, besides the Navy uniforms, Red Port had also deployed a large force of the Kingdom Army. While they didn't yet know which nation's army it was, that was the report they'd received.
And now, the Birdcage.
The red-skinned elder said grimly, "So Kuro was right. A group of stubborn pirates unwilling to accept defeat, making one last desperate attempt."
The curly-haired elder snorted coldly. "I think Donquixote Doflamingo's gone mad. Does he really believe he alone can conquer Mariejois?"
"He's always had that ambition, ever since childhood."
The map-wielding elder said calmly, "After being denied his noble status, he's wanted to drag us down with him. This is his final chance. Fortunately, even if we lose contact temporarily due to ability interference, it won't last long. We've already contacted Kuro to resolve this. As for now—"
The blade-wielding elder nodded. "Tatsumaki will stop him."
They still had an Admiral. The time Mariejois remained blind wouldn't last long.
Just because Mariejois lost contact didn't mean the world would.
The live broadcast continued. After Kas's roar, he added one more sentence.
"Men of the sea! The enemy is in Mariejois!"
A crimson-tinged whirlwind erupted around him, spiraling upward as he pointed directly at Mariejois.
"This world has a group who produces nothing, enjoys privileges, bullies the weak with so-called strength, and collects protection fees through near-plunderous means!"
Kuro's expression turned slightly odd as he listened, but upon reflection, it wasn't wrong.
After all, pirates don't produce anything. Their privilege is their own piracy, bullying others with strength.
Kas always spoke passionately—understandable.
"They'll let an entire kingdom fall into chaos! They'll kill more for a single Goal! They completely disregard the Grand Line and the fate of this world!"
Kuro nodded again. That was accurate. Pirate attacks on kingdoms weren't rare, with failed examples right here.
"They're the cancer of the Grand Line! The abscess of the world! As long as they're happy, they'll play with and slaughter people like toys, destroying families, islands, and everything in this world!!!"
Hmm.
All typical pirate behavior.
"They'll always remain high and mighty! But they fail to understand—the world has changed. Everyone now carries the heart of resistance against oppression, against tyranny! Everyone! You! Me! All of you!!!"
Kas's finger swept from left to right across the crowd, finally pointing directly at Buggy's live broadcast Transponder Snail.
"The era has reached its end! Under the direct command of the great Fleet Admiral Golden Lion, we shall proceed to Mariejois! We'll eliminate this cancer and remove this abscess! We'll eradicate these maritime pests and all their dependent vermin!!!"
"We Marines will correct this flawed world!!!"
Kas shouted loudly, "Look! Open your eyes wide! This is our one and only chance! The final opportunity! Attack Mariejois! We can save this world and completely liberate it!!!"
"No reliance on legends, no belief in miracles—only through our own strength, as ordinary humans, under Fleet Admiral Golden Lion's leadership, we shall accomplish deeds ordinary people can achieve!"
Finally, his finger pointed at Mariejois once more, repeating his opening words.
"Men of the sea! The enemy is in Mariejois!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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