"Rosinante may have the ability to silence gravity, but to raise an entire island so high into the sky that it disappears from sight and keep it floating there for two whole years? Two years ago, I don't think he was capable of that," Tsuru said seriously. "Even if he did manage it, even if he could make it self-sufficient up there in the sky, do you really think his crew would willingly stay holed up on some godforsaken floating island for that long? Unless... they had things to do up there."
As senior officers of the Navy, they were well aware of the existence of Sky Islands. The cultures of Sky Islands and the Blue Sea were vastly different, and due to the altitude—over ten thousand meters above sea level—the World Government found it incredibly difficult to send troops there. The air pressure alone made it unbearable for Blue Sea dwellers, and even if elite fighters were sent, they'd be severely limited.
In short, Sky Islands were like rogue outposts to the World Government—too inconvenient to control but too valuable to ignore. Eventually, they just gave up trying. Ironically, many of the people living on Sky Islands were descendants of soldiers originally sent to conquer them.
"It's very possible," Sengoku muttered as he stood up.
"Rosinante does have flight capabilities. He could have easily transported his men to a Sky Island. And if that's the case, then we've got a real problem on our hands," he said, his expression darkening. "After two years of development up there, who knows what he's built? When I first heard the name of his pirate crew—'The Grey Kingdom'—I scoffed. What kind of pirate crew calls itself a kingdom, a nation? But now… the more I think about it, the more terrifying it becomes. He might've really established a nation up there… something massive."
"Hahaha! These young people today, always doing the unexpected," Garp chuckled. "He wants to be a king now, huh? Got a taste for it?"
Garp couldn't help thinking of his own son—who had abandoned his position in the Navy to form the Revolutionary Army and try to overthrow the World Government. These damn kids really didn't know how to give their elders a break!
"I'll report this to the Fleet Admiral immediately," Sengoku said. "We have to pinpoint Rosinante's exact location!"
"And even if you do find it, how do you plan to launch an assault?" Tsuru asked.
Sky Islands were over ten thousand meters above the sea. Sure, there were ways to reach them, but transporting a whole army up there? Nearly impossible. Logistics, resupply, movement—everything would be a nightmare.
"If we find where he is, I'll go up myself and show him what the Navy is made of!" Garp declared confidently.
"That might not be a bad idea," Sengoku nodded. "We could form a small elite unit. Strike teams. Take out key officers—decapitate the leadership. Once their core is gone, the Grey Dominion will collapse."
"It's a decent plan, but it's also extremely risky," Tsuru warned. "That place might already be Rosinante's turf. To launch a solo mission into enemy territory like that... you're practically walking into a trap."
"Even if it's dangerous, we can't just sit here and get played! First, let's gather intel on the island. Once we know what we're dealing with, we can strategize properly," Sengoku said firmly.
Tsuru finally nodded in agreement. She couldn't deny his point.
Later, after receiving Sengoku's report, Kong immediately contacted the Five Elders. Their response? A single sentence: "Understood." Then they hung up.
Kong was left fuming.
Meanwhile, all this bizarre Navy activity had drawn the attention of pirates in the New World.
The Navy's actions over the past few days were just… too strange. First, the Marine Headquarters went into full alert mode—causing many New World pirates to assume the Navy was preparing for some massive operation.
"Old man, I figured it out," Marco said. "Remember how the Navy's Buster Call was destroyed by that guy Rosinante, the one they're calling the Usurper? Well, he sent a letter to the Fleet Admiral, accusing the Navy and World Government of slandering his name and ruining his reputation. He promised to deliver a 'grand gift' in return. That letter alone sent the entire Navy into emergency meetings and full-scale alert!"
"All that over one letter?" the Third Division Commander asked, incredulous.
"Kuhaha, that wasn't just a letter," Whitebeard said with a hearty laugh. "That was a declaration of war! This Rosinante… interesting guy. And the fact that he could cause this much commotion in Marineford? That tells me he has something the Navy truly fears."
"You're right, Pops," Marco nodded. "Rosinante's right-hand man is someone named Bins, a 'Void Knight'—he's got the power of the Warp-Warp Fruit, which lets him open spatial portals. He placed the war letter right on the Fleet Admiral's desk, and not a single person saw how he did it. Apparently, he can teleport troops or snipe targets from a distance too. That's why the Navy freaked out."
"So… have they started fighting yet? There's been no news," asked Vista, the Fifth Division Commander.
"That's the strange part," Marco replied. "After delivering the letter, Rosinante made no moves for three days. The Navy stayed on high alert the entire time. Then, just as they were beginning to relax, Bins dropped a few bombs on Marineford—blew up a few dorms and caused complete chaos. No one was seriously hurt, but the panic was real."
"Kuhaha! Kuhahaha! Brilliant! So that old goat Kong got punked by Rosinante, huh?" Whitebeard roared with laughter.
"Pretty much!" Marco grinned. "Pops, if you're this entertained, why not take him in as one of your sons once he reaches the New World? His pirate crew is called the Grey Kingdom, and get this—their vice-captain is none other than Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates. No idea how he managed that!"
"Charlotte Katakuri?! Big Mom's second son?! Kuhahaha! That crazy old woman's going to go ballistic!"
And indeed, Big Mom had already lost it.
A terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki surged out from the Cake Castle, shaking the island to its core. Countless Homies fainted from fear, and civilians on Whole Cake Island dropped like flies from the overwhelming pressure.
"How dare he?! HOW DARE HE?! Katakuri, how could you?!" Big Mom screamed, absolutely livid.
"Please calm down, Mama! I'm sure Katakuri must have had his reasons!" Charlotte Brûlée pleaded.
"That's right, Mama! Big Brother Katakuri would never betray you!" Charlotte Oven added quickly.
"Yes, Mama, please don't be angry!" said Charlotte Daifuku, also trying to calm her down.
"Even if he had a reason, does that justify betrayal?!" Big Mom snapped. "Go find this so-called 'Grey Kingdom'—burn them to the ground! Bring Katakuri back to me! I want to hear from his own mouth why he turned his back on me!"
"Yes, Mama!" the Big Mom Pirates chorused.
No one dared disobey her will. And frankly, this was a matter that demanded resolution. Katakuri had to come back and explain himself, no matter the cost. As for this "Grey Kingdom"? They were nothing to the Big Mom Pirates.
They didn't even know where the Grey Kingdom was located or what kind of force they were facing. But that didn't stop Big Mom's fleet from mobilizing—for war.