The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

The officer who favored Akainu's radical style silently stood behind Sakazuki's chair.

Those who endorse Aokiji's ideology or have close ties with him gather near Kuzan.

Those who respected veteran powerhouses like Garp and Zephyr chose to stand behind their areas.

Those who belonged to the staff system or were more inclined to the neutral balance policy of the Warring States marshal mostly stood behind Chief of Staff Crane.

The clear distinctions, yet also the silent manifestation of the different factions and power dynamics that have already formed within the navy.

The conference room gradually filled up with people, but it was unusually quiet, with only the faint sounds of breathing and the rustling of clothes.

Almost everyone's attention, whether overt or covert, was focused on the empty seat and the closed door of the conference room.

They are waiting.

........

A moment later, Sengoku, dressed in a marshal's uniform, strode into the conference room with steady steps. The invisible pressure instantly silenced the previously quiet conversation.

His sharp gaze habitually swept across the entire room, and when he saw that the position second only to his own was still vacant...

His brow furrowed unconsciously, a hint of displeasure at being disrupted, and he said in a deep voice, "Where is that bastard Gern?"

"Even I'm here, and he still dares to..."

A crisp "crunch!" sound of biting into an apple suddenly came from the direction of the conference room door, abruptly interrupting Sengoku's words.

In an instant, everyone's eyes in the conference room were drawn, as if by a magnet, to the heavy door that was slowly opening.

The crowd gathered at the entrance seemed to be separated by an invisible force, spontaneously moving to both sides to make way.

"Oh dear~" A slightly frivolous voice with a unique accent rang out.

"Is this grand spectacle all to welcome the arrival of this god?"

Enel, unusually well-behaved and dressed in his Navy Justice Cloak, chewed on an apple and struck what he thought was a dignified pose as he tried to step in first.

However, before he could even put his foot down, a large hand slammed down on the back of his head from behind and shoved him aside!

"Get out of here, stop embarrassing yourself."

With this calm reprimand, Gern, dressed in a general's formal attire, finally appeared in everyone's sight.

With a perfectly measured smile on his face, his gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling on Sengoku, whose expression was not good. He clasped his hands together and said, "I'm sorry, Marshal."

I was a little late because I had to take care of something small.

However, at this moment, no one cared about Gern's apology.

Because everyone's attention was firmly drawn to the line of people who filed in behind him, their hearts began to pound uncontrollably!

Vice Admiral 'White Rabbit' Ribo Hope of the Navy Headquarters

Vice Admiral Gild Tesoro, 'Gold' of the Navy Headquarters

Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral "God" Enel

[Former Kuja Pirates officer, now Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters] 'Boa Princess' Toritoma

[Former Pirate Now Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters] "Devil" Douglas Barrett

[Former pirate and Revolutionary Army member, now Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters] 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma

[Former 'World's Greatest Swordsman' Now Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters] 'Hawkeye' Dracule Mihawk

These seven people stood solemnly behind Gern, like stars surrounding the moon, especially the two most imposing figures, Xiong and Barrett, who stood almost on either side of him.

Finally, all eyes, slowly shifting with an indescribable sense of shock and complexity, moved to the man who was now calmly seated in the empty chair, a serene smile still on his face.

Admiral 'Hakurin' of the Navy Headquarters

'Skyquake' Gern Reginald Sigma!

The seven people standing solemnly behind him were none other than the "Calamity" who shook the New World!

At this moment, no words are needed.

This unified, undisguised, and immense force clearly demonstrates one fact.

Besides Marineford, another naval power with top-tier combat capabilities, capable of influencing the world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or landscape), has already fully taken shape.

And at this moment, he officially entered the decision-making circle of the highest naval authority!

The meeting room was completely silent.

Only the heavy breathing revealed the turmoil in everyone's hearts.

"Alright, everyone," Gern said softly, looking at everyone. "From now on, I'm in charge. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

Sengoku: "..."

"Sorry!" Gern chuckled awkwardly, "The atmosphere was just too good, I couldn't resist. Please continue."

"Hmph!" Sengoku withdrew his gaze, straightened his clothes, and spoke solemnly, enunciating each word clearly.

"From this moment forward, the Navy will...enter a new era!!"

Chapter 361 The Beginning of a New Era

The supreme military conference held by the navy in Marineford in 1510 of the Sea Calendar became a landmark that divided the era.

Under the leadership of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the conference formally passed the "New World Strategic Jurisdiction and G-10 Base Administrative Autonomy Act."

Admiral 'Whitescale' Gern Reginald Sigmar was appointed as the new world naval strategic commander.

The G-10 naval base and its sphere of influence are granted a high degree of autonomy in administration, finance, and military deployment, and only need to coordinate with headquarters on diplomatic and major principled issues.

A new dual-core strategic system was established, with Marineford governing the first half of the Grand Line (Paradise) and the four seas, and G-10 governing the New World.

From this point on, the Navy officially entered a new era of "one body, two governance" structure.

Like the two wings of the Navy, the Headquarters and G-10 each assume clearly defined strategic responsibilities, marking a profound transformation in the Navy's power projection and internal governance structure.

The following year, 1511, the New World was hit by a series of events that shook the seas.

The music kingdom of Eligia Island was destroyed by the rapidly rising Red-Haired Pirates.

Captain Shanks, with his formidable strength, is renowned throughout the world and is considered a candidate for the new Emperor of the Sea.

However, not long after, the Red-Haired Pirates were relentlessly pursued by Dracule Mihawk, the core combat force of the G-10 base.

Therefore, the Red-Haired Pirates strategically and proactively withdrew from the New World.

After entering the first half of the Grand Line, they attacked a World Government transport ship and stole the Gum-Gum Fruit from the ship.

Shanks then stopped at Windmill Village in the East Sea and bet his left arm on the "future".

At the end of the same year, the Sun Pirates, led by Fisher Tiger, suffered heavy losses when they were ambushed after being reported to the authorities while escorting the slave girl Koala back to her hometown.

Captain Tiger was seriously injured, but he resolutely refused to receive human blood transfusions due to his own beliefs, and ultimately died with resentment.

The Sun Pirates subsequently split up.

In the year 1512 of the Sea Calendar, Jinbe, a former member of the Sun Pirates known as "Knight of the Sea," accepted an invitation from the World Government to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea in exchange for the freedom of his comrade Arlong.

In the same year, Toritoma, the previous emperor of Amazon Lily (Snake Island), died suddenly from illness. His sister, Toritoma, returned to the country to assist the 18-year-old Boa Hancock in succeeding as the new "Empress".

Through Toritoma's machinations and the potential influence of G-10, Hancock successfully gained the World Government's approval and joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Three years have passed, the tides of the times have surged, and the navy has undergone internal divisions.

The struggle for the title of Emperor of the Sea, the evolution of the Seven Warlords system, and the Rubber-Rubber Fruit that flowed into the East Blue...

All clues point to an even more turbulent and unknown era that is about to begin.

.......

Fishman Island, Sea Forest.

This deep-sea cemetery, surrounded by massive coral reefs and shipwreck ruins, now exudes an even more poignant atmosphere.

Before a newly erected, simple stone monument inscribed with the name "Fisher Tiger," former members of the Sun Pirates, led by Jinbe, gathered to mourn...

After the ceremony, most of the fishmen left, leaving only Jinbe and Arlong standing in front of the monument.

“Ah Long, Tiger’s will is to seek coexistence and liberation, not endless hatred.”

Jinbe, holding his long pipe, sat cross-legged in front of the grave, looking at Arlong beside him with a gloomy expression, and earnestly advised him...

"Now that you are free, you need to be more restrained in your actions."

“Restraint? Ha…” Arlong suddenly turned his head, his jagged nose twitching, his eyes filled with resentment, “Jinpei! You actually went to be a dog for those lowly, ugly humans!”

That damned Seven Warlords of the Sea! Have you forgotten how Tiger died?!

Have you forgotten the humiliation we suffered?! You have utterly disgraced the merfolk!

"Arlong! Things aren't that simple! This is because..." Jinbe tried to explain his predicament. In order to gain Arlong's freedom, he had no choice but to accept the World Government's conditions.

"For what? To show off that you've become a 'big shot' in the World Government?!" Aaron interrupted rudely, his emotions running high and his words becoming increasingly harsh.

For a moment, the sound of their heated argument echoed in the still waters of the Sea Forest.

Just then, a steady sound of footsteps came from afar.

Upon hearing someone arrive, Jinbe and Arlong, who were arguing, were both startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

Not far away, a tall figure draped in a pure white cloak of justice was slowly approaching, his hair swaying gently in the water, his expression calm.

It was Guern who was returning from Amazon Lily on the Grand Line, passing by Fishman Island.

Beside him stood a woman with a graceful figure and a powerful aura, a knife at her waist.

Former Kuja Pirates officer, now Vice Admiral "Snake Princess" Toritoma of the Marine Headquarters.

Gurn's arrival clearly surprised the two of them.

However, Jinbe's expression quickly turned serious, and he subconsciously straightened his body, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

When Aaron saw Gern's dazzling white cloak and sensed the unfathomable aura emanating from him, his pupils suddenly contracted.

All the anger and curses were stuck in his throat, leaving only an instinctive fear and a deeper hatred of the absolute strong.

Gern's gaze swept over Jinbe for a moment before finally settling on Arlong, whose face was contorted in pain. He spoke in a calm tone.

"It seems I've interrupted your... 'reminiscing'?"

Gern's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an invisible pressure, making the atmosphere in the entire Sea Forest subtle.

Faced with Gern's indifferent question, Arlong's anger and hatred for humanity (especially the Navy) burned within him.

In an instant, he overcame his initial apprehension, his jagged nose twitching as he demanded sharply, "What are you doing here?!"

Gern's gaze swept over the simple stone tablet, his tone remaining calm: "Offering sacrifices."

"Offering sacrifices?!" These two words ignited a powder keg, and Ah Long's emotions completely exploded.

Then, pointing at Gern, he coldly retorted, "You're a human! A marine!"

What right do you have to come here and pay your respects to Brother Tiger?!

Drop your hypocritical act! Tiger was killed by you damned humans…”

At this point, Aaron lost control and rushed toward Gern, seemingly wanting to push him away from Tiger's grave.

However, they had only just taken one step.

A faint yet chilling metallic scraping sound rang out.

Standing beside Gern, Toritoma didn't even move a step, only using her thumb, painted with bright red cardamom.

He casually and lightly pressed the hilt of his sword against the guard, lifting it up an inch.

In an instant, an invisible yet incredibly sharp slashing wave shot out along the ground!

"Shh!"

On the solid seabed rock in front of Ah Long's feet, a deep, bottomless, and mirror-smooth straight crack suddenly appeared!

The crack lay right in front of his next landing point, just millimeters away from his toes!

The extremely sharp sword energy caused a stinging pain on Ah Long's skin, and the fear of death was poured over him like ice water!

His forward momentum abruptly halted, his foot tripped on the edge of the crack, and he fell to the ground with a thud, looking extremely disheveled.

Toritoma didn't even look at him directly, simply maintaining the posture of his thumb pressing against the hilt of his sword.