The Grand Line. Tatar Island.
It was one of the World Government's member nations, home to the Torpot Kingdom.
Due to its strange climate, trees grew at an abnormal speed, and it became a major exporter of timber.
On the surface the kingdom looked wealthy, yet almost half its people were slaves…
Outside the city, in the lumber fields.
Numerous slaves wearing metal collars gathered in one place. The guards outside were changing shifts. They had only five minutes, and they had practiced this countless times.
Collars on their necks were being unlocked as fast as possible. Without taking them off, none of them dared to resist.
The one who brought all of this together was the man directing his men to hand out weapons and unlock the collars.
Norrisk, commander of the Revolutionary Army's District 77.
"Move, move, move. We only have five minutes. Don't hesitate later and run as soon as you can. We'll block the guards. Whoever can escape, escapes."
His face carried worry. News had reached him that Sakazuki was almost here.
Since Dragon launched the world revolution, the Four Blues had advanced smoothly and even toppled a few member nations, which touched the World Government's bottom line.
The price came quickly. In the first half of the Grand Line, more than ten regions were hit. Every suspected base was wiped out.
Anywhere that might be the Revolutionary Army's headquarters was met with one order: send a marine admiral and erase it.
No one knew how the information leaked, but once it did, the Revolutionary Army began withdrawing from the Grand Line in an orderly way, and the attacks across the four seas came to a sudden stop.
Even islands like Momoiro Island and Baltigo, both under government suspicion, had been destroyed.
The purge swept outward from Marines HQ toward Reverse Mountain like a giant net.
Torpot Kingdom was the last site.
The base here had operated for years. Without this sudden disaster, they would have secured it, but no one expected the government to respond so violently or so ruthlessly.
They had received warnings early on, yet the Revolutionary Army's network was simply too big. Evacuation meant taking people from one base after another.
Compared to them, the Marines moved much faster.
Nearby G-Branches sent ships to encircle each route. For suspected headquarters, a single admiral and one warship were enough.
Under Borsalino, a few might slip away. Under Kuzan, if the ice melted fast enough, some could still be saved. But under Sakazuki… nothing survived.
Kamabakka Kingdom had been erased by his magma. The island still flowed with molten rock and thick black smoke. No living thing could go near it.
And Torpot Kingdom was the last suspected base.
But because this place was filled with slaves, had no property or ships, and required an army to keep half the population oppressed, it had to be evacuated last.
They had planned to move everyone from other regions first, then come back with ships here. Nobody expected Sakazuki to move this fast.
Every base along his path had been destroyed. He never slowed down.
A soldier who was removing collars looked at his pocket watch and gritted his teeth. He shoved the key into someone's hands and sprinted toward Norrisk. Behind him, slaves fought over the keys in a frenzy.
He stopped in front of Norrisk.
"We can't stay. We need to leave, sir. There's no time. The government's dogs are almost here. That man never leaves survivors. Even one second wasted could cost everything."
Norrisk clenched his fists as more slaves rushed in. He wanted to save them all. But as the soldier said, if they stayed any longer, no one knew what would follow.
He took a deep breath. He made up his mind and opened his mouth to speak.
A strange voice cut him off.
"Don't bother struggling."
Norrisk froze and snapped his head to the side.
"Wh…"
His pupils shrank. His mind went blank. A cold feeling spread through him.
Sakazuki stood there, speaking in a calm tone.
"Magma Burst."
Red light burst from his body and lit up the night, drawing every eye toward him.
BOOM!
It looked like a sun rose out of the island.
The surge of magma swallowed everyone who had gathered. Even the ships at the shore were caught. The rising heat covered them and burned them into ash.
* * *
The magma near the shore shifted.
Sakazuki's form took shape from it.
Carlo appeared beside him, feet hardened with Haki as he stood on a slowly melting boulder.
"Admiral Sakazuki, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sent word. You're to return for a war council. It's about the new Emperor who rose in the New World, Red-Haired Shanks."
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes. "He picked a good time."
Most Revolutionary bases across the Grand Line had been cleaned out. Their advance in the Four Blues had also stopped, avoiding all member nations.
Sengoku used the rise of the new Emperor to call back all forces chasing the Revolutionary Army. The government couldn't say anything against it.
Outwardly, he had done nothing wrong. The purge was almost complete and a new threat had appeared. Full alert was needed.
But Sakazuki had realized something the moment the Revolutionary Army started withdrawing. That old man Sengoku had been in contact with Dragon. And not just recently. The signs went back years. The Revolutionary Army's shrinkage before the Reverie was most likely arranged by Sengoku and Garp.
The government was still busy hunting for the traitor who leaked the purge operation, never realizing the biggest traitor… was the head of the Marines.
Afterward Sakazuki reflected on it. He found he had trusted his impression of Sengoku too much and ignored many uncertain factors.
In his youth, Sengoku had been completely loyal to the government. He never questioned any order. Even when he knew the truth behind Ohara, he launched the Buster Call without hesitation and scolded Saul for refusing to follow the command.
In the original timeline, he only wavered after becoming Fleet Admiral. After helping the government cover too many dark secrets, he lost his faith. And after the Marineford War, when the government wanted to hide the mass escape from Impel Down, he finally gave up and resigned.
Sakazuki had expected a buffer period, which was why he let Sengoku take the pressure at the front.
But now, because of his interference, the Revolutionary Army of this world had grown too strong. The government ordered Sengoku to hunt down and kill people who weren't pirates, pushing the newly appointed Fleet Admiral into disillusionment.
Yet decades of loyalty still weighed on him heavily. He was trapped between obeying orders and secretly helping the Revolutionary Army.
Unless one side completely shattered his last bit of faith, he wouldn't choose.
But he had already become a liability.
He hadn't caused problems yet, but Sakazuki had already begun planning.
A man who indirectly helped the enemy was far too unpredictable.
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