The click-clack of high heels sounded from behind.
A fragrant breeze swept over, and without turning around, Raleigh knew it was Gion.
Gion leaned against Raleigh's side and said softly, "Raleigh, after this battle is over, can we hold our wedding when we return?"
Raleigh was taken aback.
He hadn't thought about such things in a long time. Back when he and Gion first got together, he promised her a grand wedding.
But as time passed, the changing world situation caused him to overlook Gion's feelings.
Fortunately, Gion wasn't the kind of unreasonable woman.
While Raleigh was busy, she pushed herself to improve, which was how she was promoted to Vice Admiral.
Raleigh took Gion's hand and pulled her into his embrace.
After a long while, he said, "I'll give you a grand wedding. I promise you."
Raleigh felt his chest grow damp—no doubt the woman in his arms was crying.
Raleigh patted Gion's head and said, "I've neglected you a lot because of the Pirate matters, but I promise there won't be a next time. From now on, wherever I go, I'll take you with me."
In the corner, Sakazuki stood in the shadows.
He'd arrived a while ago, as his Battleship was ready and he intended to set off under the cover of night.
He originally planned to bid Raleigh farewell before departing, but he hadn't expected to witness such a scene.
So he simply stayed there, watching like an amused bystander.
After a while, Gion pulled her head out of Raleigh's embrace, her face flushed, and said, "Admiral Sakazuki has been waiting for you for a long time. I'll head back to the Battleship first."
Gion's Observation Haki sensed Sakazuki's presence long ago, but she hadn't wanted to ruin the moment with Raleigh, so she paid it no mind.
After a while, she began to feel a bit embarrassed.
Only after Gion left did Sakazuki step forward and say, "Raleigh, Gion is a good woman."
Raleigh nodded. "Yes, you're right. Gion is the best woman in the world."
Sakazuki hadn't expected Raleigh to admit it so directly and burst into laughter.
Then, with a serious expression, he said, "If you two get married, you can invite me to be the officiant. I mean it."
A hint of shyness appeared on Raleigh's face as he asked, "Is everything ready on your end, Sakazuki-senpai?"
Sakazuki wiped the smile from his face, his expression turning serious as he replied.
"Yes, I'm all set. Some of the Naval Warships have already set off. I came to say a few words to you before leading the Battleship fleet out."
Raleigh nodded and gave a thumbs-up.
"As expected of the troops trained by you—their speed is unmatched! Then I wish you great success in your campaign, Sakazuki-senpai."
Sakazuki nodded, then reached out and patted Raleigh on the shoulder.
"I'm off. If anything comes up, contact me by dendenmushi. Don't let yourself end up fighting alone."
Sakazuki left.
He was a born soldier.
Once a battle plan was set, nothing could stop him from carrying it out.
Raleigh's preparations were nearly complete as well.
Under the cover of night, a large number of Marine warships set sail toward the territory of the Three Emperors of the Pirates.
The once bustling base was left with only a few hundred personnel as the remaining garrison.
...
New World, within the territory of the Red Hair Grand Fleet.
This was the territory of the Red Hair Pirates closest to the Marine base, with no powerful figures stationed there.
The Red Hair Pirates were still operating within the New World, needing to persuade more forces to join the battle.
Although Shanks warned them to be vigilant of the Marine's movements before leaving, pirates were hardly obedient or disciplined people.
After the core members of the Red Hair Pirates departed, within just over ten days, they reverted to their typical pirate ways—holding nightly bonfire parties, drinking, and reveling.
They never expected the Marines to bypass Kaido's territory and attack from left to right instead of targeting Kaido's islands first.
Naturally, their defensive preparations were insufficient.
When the Marine's warships became visible, it signaled the outcome of the battle.
Although a pirate issued a warning when the naval warships drew close, it was already too late.
The Marine's warships unleashed their firepower in unison, tearing apart the last remnants of darkness.
Dozens of warships lined up in a row, firing their cannons in unison at the pirates' constructed strongpoints and high ground positions on the island.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Like divine punishment, both the port and the island were instantly engulfed in a sea of flames.
The pirates' agonized cries could be heard from a great distance.
Leading the charge for Raleigh's side were Bullet and Enel.
Raleigh and Gion commanded from the center, while Momonga, Cleveland, and others were responsible for flank security.
Watching the various structures melt under the cannon fire, Bullet, standing at the ship's bow, couldn't contain his excitement.
Because such firepower was no less than that of a Buster Call.
Bullet long wanted to take on a Buster Call single-handedly, but the Buster Call was one of the Marine's ultimate weapons, rarely deployed without special cause.
This left Bullet feeling bored.
Now, witnessing firepower comparable to a Buster Call, he was thrilled.
However, the pirates on this island were too weak, and Bullet had no desire to go ashore and engage in slaughter.
"Lord Bullet, Admiral Raleigh orders that after three rounds of cannon volleys, soldiers are to land and eliminate any remaining pirates." A messenger approached Barrett and reported.
"Understood." Bullet waved his hand, then carried out Raleigh's command.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
After three rounds of volleys, Bullet could no longer sense any resistance from the port.
He sighed, "This island fell too quickly. There's no fun in it."
He ordered the warships to dock, after which column after column of well-equipped Marine soldiers advanced onto the battlefield.
Anyone identified as a pirate on the island was dragged out and executed by the naval soldiers.
This time, the Marines required no prisoners—this was a blitzkrieg. There was neither the time nor manpower to handle captives.
The best approach was to eliminate them all, as they were enemies anyway.
Although Bullet had once been a pirate himself, he felt nothing at the sight of Marines soldiers slaughtering pirates.
After all, Marine killed pirates, and pirates killed each other too.
There was no unity among pirates.
"How did it end so quickly?"
Half an hour later, nearly every hiding spot on the island had been searched by the Marines soldiers.
Bullet also used his Observation Haki to locate hidden pirates.
After eliminating a few stubbornly resisting pirate captains, Bullet's warship set sail once more, heading toward the next island.
The offensive on Sakazuki's side was just like Raleigh's—the Marines, taking advantage of their surprise attack, maximized their strengths.
The Pirates were eliminated before they even had a chance to drag the Marine into street fighting.
Enel's Ark Maxim was hidden within the dark clouds in the sky, ready to support Bullet below at any moment.
"Admiral Raleigh, we've successfully eliminated all Pirates without any casualties."
Raleigh nodded.
With careful planning against an unprepared enemy, coupled with superior firepower and stronger forces, achieving such a casualty ratio was only natural.
Still, no matter how you looked at it, this was a promising start.
"Continue to the next island. We must expand our advantage before they can react!"
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