“To the Honorable Five Elders,

  “We have received reports that Rocks D. Xebec led his crew into Totto Land’s waters, seemingly intending to form an alliah the Fallen Angel Pirates. “

  “However, for reaso unknown, the two fas engaged in a fierce flict. Fallen Angel El summoned a massive storm, nearly sinking the Rocks Pirates’ ship, the Xebeto the sea. Currently, the Rocks Pirates have retreated from Totto Land's territory in disgrace.”

  Red Line Summit, Sacred Land Mary Geoise.

  In the Chamber of Authority within Pangaea Castle, a CP0 officer reyed the report to the Five Elders.

  “Oh?” Saint Mars raised an eyebrow. “Rocks D. Xebec... another D, is it?”

  “Indeed,” Saint Valkyrie replied coldly. “A restless, ambitious troublemaker like the others.”

  “At least they didn’t mao form an alliahat’s some relief,” Saint Ju Peter remarked.

  A lone pirate with a bounty exceeding 1.5 billion berries wouldn’t typically warrant much .

  But if Rocks had truly joined forces with Fallen Angel El, the resulting chaos in the New World would have been a serious threat.

  “We ’t afford to give that Fallen Aoo much time,” Saint Nasujuro said grimly, his tone brimming with menace. “We must act within a month. By then, Kong’s injuries should be fully healed.”

  “I heard Charlotte Linlin stole 20 years of Kong’s lifespan during their st enter,” Saint Ju Peter inquired.

  “It was a substantial blow,” Saint Mars admitted, “but it hasn’t signifitly diminished his bat effectiveness.”

  “Should we deploy a fleet for the operation?” Saint Saturn asked.

  “A rge-scale fleet movement would likely tip them off, giving them time to prepare,” Saint Ju Peter cautioned. “Especially given El’s flight capabilities and his army of angel Homies. If they unch a nighttime assault, the fleet could bee nothing more than sitting ducks.”

  “A’s not fet,” Saint Ju Peter tinued, “that he summon storms. Given enough time, he might evee a catastrophic weather event. If we rush in with a fleet, we might lose most of it before even breag Totto Land’s waters—a pointless loss.”

  “In that case, we’ll have to cut off the head,” Saint Nasujuro said, narrowing his eyes as he uhed his bde, the cursed sword Kitetsu, slightly. Its gleaming edge radiated an ominous chill.

  “I will personally lead the Holy Knights. If necessary, I’ll summon the rest of you.”

  “This time, we must utterly annihite the Fallen Angel Pirates,” Saint Mars decred, his tone id murderous. “As for that Lunarian survivor, we ot let him escape again.”

  “With his subordinates and allies present,” he tinued, “I doubt Fallen Angel El will have the heart to abandon them and flee. Meanwhile, the Navy’s fleets prepare to unch a Buster Call the moment we succeed, wiping Totto Land off the map and sending a warning to any other would-be rebels.”

  “It’s settled, then.”

  “Agreed.”

  “No objes.”

  However—what the Five Elders didn’t realize was…

  In the first half of the New World, on an unnamed isnd, the Roger Pirates stood in astonishment as a massive sea beast emerged from the o.

  “A sea beast?” Rayleigh drew his sword with a grin. “Heh, dinner has delivered itself?”

  “Wait! We’re not food!”

  Suddenly, a voice came from the sea beast’s body, startling the Roger Pirates.

  The lion-headed, fish-bodied creature opes enormous maw, and a Homie Bubble emerged from its stomach. Inside was Sea Tiger Jien, a tiger shark fishman and a ember of the Fallen Angel Pirates.

  “Huh? A bubble?”

  “And it’s smiling?”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Wait… aren’t you Sea Tiger Jien?”

  “A member of the Fallen Angel Pirates?”

  The Roger Pirates exged bewildered looks, but Jien, ever polite, stepped out of the Homie Bubble and addressed them.

  “Apologies for the intrusion,” he said with a slight bow. “I’ve been ordered to deliver this letter to you.”

  He handed a sealed letter to one of the Roger Pirates.

  “A letter?” Roger excimed, intrigued, as he took it and ope.

  His eyes narrowed, and his expression hardened. “Rayleigh...”

  He passed the letter to his vice-captain, Silvers Rayleigh, whose expression shifted to one of shock as he read it.

  “Tell your captain,” Roger said with a sharp grin, as the rest of the crew looked on in fusion, “we’re very ied in his proposal.”

  “Uood. We’ll be waiting for your reply,” Jien replied.

  Re-entering the Homie Bubble, he returo the sea beast, which then dove bato the o, disappearing into the depths.

  “I see now…” Roger muttered, staring at the rippling waves with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. “To reach the legendary final isnd, we o find the Road Poneglyphs.”

  “That expins why we’ve hit a wall,” Rayleigh said thoughtfully. “There’s been nress because we’ve had no clues.”

  “Roger, do you think Fallen Angel El’s information is trustworthy?” asked Scaban, skeptical after reading the letter.

  “I don’t think someone like him would joke about something this signifit,” Roger said fidently.

  “But the situation in Totto Land isn’t looking good, is it?” Gaban pressed. “You know the Wover won’t let them off so easily.”

  “Someone like Fallen Angel El won’t be taken down so easily by the Wover,” Roger replied solemnly. Turning to Rayleigh and Gaban, he added, “I have a hunch—if we miss this ce, it’ll only get harder.

  “If Totto Land survives ary to get what we er, we’ll likely face a steep cost. We might even have to prepare for the possibility of being wiped out entirely.”

  “Roger’s instincts are rarely wrong,” Rayleigh said, g Gaban on the shoulder. “It’s a gamble, sure, but the potential payoff is worth it. We’ll take the risk.”

  He, the opportunity and the dangers of waiting too long.

  Should Totto Land ehe pressure from Wover, it would bee signifitly more difficult for the Roger Pirates to take what they needed from the Fallen Angel Pirates, as they had no leverage or bargaining chips that could ehe other crew.

  “Fine. Let’s bet on this,” Gabaed.

  “Gahahaha! Everyoo celebrate this special occasio’s throw a feast!” Roger decred.

  “Oooooh!” the crew cheered in unison.

  Bleam