On a choppy stretch of sea in the New World.
A small speedboat with flames spouting from its stern raced across the water at astonishing speed.
Ace leaned against the mast, a comfortable smile on his face.
Though he was now a core member of one of the world's top powers, capable of mobilizing large fleets at any time, his favorite thing was still this solo journey, feeling at one with the sea.
As he enjoyed this rare moment of solitary sailing, a two-masted ship with a lion's head prow appeared on the horizon ahead.
"Hmm?" Ace narrowed his eyes, his excellent vision instantly recognizing the vessel. "The Thousand Sunny? That kid Luffy!"
Flames erupted from his feet, and his speedboat surged forward again like a fiery arrow, racing towards the familiar ship.
On the deck of the Thousand Sunny, the usual chaos was unfolding.
Luffy was trying to tie Usopp to the mast to test the range of his new 'Human Cannonball'. Sanji was fawning over Nami. Chopper and Brook were researching the medical question of 'can skeletons catch a cold'. Zoro was napping. Franky was tuning a new weapon with a "Suuuuper—"...
Suddenly, a fiery figure leaped onto the deck: "Luffy, long time no see."
"Ace!" Spotting Ace, Luffy launched himself like a rubber band, nearly knocking Ace overboard.
"You're still as energetic as ever," Ace laughed.
"Ace, what are you doing here? Let's have a party! Let's have a party!" Luffy danced with excitement, practically drooling. "Sanji! Meat! Lots and lots of meat!"
The crewmates on deck also gathered around in surprise, greeting him warmly.
They all liked Ace.
Ace smiled back at everyone, noticing a few new faces on Luffy's ship but paid them no mind.
Facing Luffy's sparkling eyes, filled with 'meat' and 'party', Ace shook his head apologetically:
"Can't do it this time, Luffy." He gestured towards himself. "I'm on a mission right now. I need to hurry."
"Huh?" Luffy instantly deflated like a pricked balloon, his rubber face stretching long. "What mission could be more important than a party?"
Princess Vivi, hearing this, frowned slightly, a clear look of confusion appearing on her face.
She hesitated, then spoke: "Ace-san, forgive my impertinence. To my knowledge, your captain, Chiaki Setsuna-sama, the Great Sage, didn't he fall in the battle against 'God' two years ago? Why is someone still giving you orders?"
Ace laughed: "Only Captain can give me orders. Captain will return from the underworld in three months, in Wano Country, and once again reign over these seas."
He paused, his smile bright: "If you're interested, you can come to Wano Country for the ceremony. It should be quite lively."
With that, Ace didn't linger, ruffling Luffy's hair firmly: "Well, Luffy, I'm off. Once Captain is back, we'll have the biggest, most amazing party!"
He jumped off the deck, flames erupting from his feet. The speedboat shot forward like a blazing meteor, disappearing where sea met sky.
"Return from the underworld?" Vivi found it hard to believe. "Can anyone truly do such a thing?"
Brook laughed: "Yohohoho, is Vivi-san perhaps referring to me?"
Nami exclaimed excitedly: "Great! I knew Setsuna-sama couldn't be dead!"
Usopp suddenly realized: "Didn't Momonosuke ask us to liberate Wano Country? Isn't that Kaido of the Four Emperors' territory?"
Vivi sighed: "You've been in the New World this long and still don't understand the situation?"
"Wano Country changed hands two years ago. In the all-out war against the Gourmet Navigation Group, the Beast Pirates suffered a devastating defeat. Even Kaido himself was captured."
"It was only after the [Godfall Battle], when the Great Sage and God both vanished, that Kaido managed to escape their control amid the Gourmet Navigation Group's temporary confusion following their captain's supposed demise."
"Kaido has tried countless times to retake Wano over the years, but has failed repeatedly. The Gourmet Navigation Group left behind there are simply too strong."
She rattled off names that now inspired fear throughout the New World: "Ace the Flame Emperor, Enel the God of Lightning, Cavendish the Nightmare, Hancock the Pirate Empress, Uta the World Songstress, Kuma the Tyrant, Zephyr the Dark Admiral..."
"And that's not even mentioning the ultimate biological weapon left by the Great Sage… the [Serpent That Encircles the World]. Against a lineup like that, even the Beast Pirates are completely outmatched."
Momonosuke and Kin'emon listened in shock. The Beast Pirates had been incredibly powerful twenty years ago, easily overthrowing Wano.
Twenty years later, another even stronger force had defeated the Beast Pirates.
After hearing this, Usopp said excitedly: "Great! Since it's Luffy's brother's crew, we won't have to fight such terrifying guys, right? Maybe we'll even get a warm welcome."
He was already fantasizing about sightseeing safely in Wano, maybe even getting free food.
But Vivi shook her head: "That depends on how you define 'liberating' Wano Country. If Momonosuke wants to help the ordinary people of Wano..."
She continued slowly: "Based on the information I have, under the Gourmet Navigation Group's governance, the lives of common people in Wano have indeed improved significantly compared to Kaido's rule."
"They implemented new land policies, breaking noble monopolies. They established new public security and legal systems, curbing the rampage of pirates and ronin. They also introduced some outside medical and agricultural technology."
"But," Vivi's tone shifted, "if the goal concerns Wano's political system, then the situation is entirely different."
"Under the Gourmet Navigation Group's rule, all noble statuses were forcibly revoked. Land and wealth were nationalized. The samurai class lost all privileges, banned from carrying swords freely or killing at will."
"Many traditional cultural customs and rituals, deemed relics of the old era, were explicitly banned or strictly limited."
"The leader of the Gourmet Navigation Group seems intent on erasing Wano's history. Quite a few surviving elders and samurai who yearn for the old Wano still seek to restore its traditions."
Kin'emon was horrified: "The samurai are the very soul of Wano, the cornerstone of its nation! How can outsiders trample upon them so?"
Tears welled in Momonosuke's eyes: "Luffy-dono! I beseech you, lend us your aid! Help us liberate... no, reclaim Wano! Restore the Kozuki Name! Revive Bushido!"
Seeing this, Usopp was terrified. He grabbed Luffy's leg, crying out desperately:
"Luffy! You don't want to fight your brother, do you?"
But upon hearing Usopp's words, Luffy's eyes lit up instead.
"Hehe, I've wanted a good spar with Ace for a while now. I'm not the same guy I was two years ago!"
Usopp instantly turned to stone, 'This idiot captain completely missed the point!'
Vivi then said: "Luffy's brother seems to have intentionally spread the news about their captain's revival."
"When that time comes, many strong figures from across the seas will likely gather at Wano. Even if we go to the island, we won't be conspicuous. But the premise is we can't act rashly."