Now that the Celestial Dragons had been eliminated by Shadow Garden, that matter had long lost its original impact and naturally no longer counted as a major event.
Therefore, the important matter Sengoku spoke of must be another event significant enough to shake the world—Blackbeard Teach!
Ivan already had the answer in his heart.
According to the original storyline, Blackbeard should have already defeated and captured Ace on Banaro Island.
And Blackbeard's ambitions would never stop at merely defeating Ace.
He would take the initiative to deliver Ace to Marine Headquarters, using him as a bargaining chip to exchange for a seat among the World Government's Seven Warlords of the Sea.
On the World Government's side, in order to counterbalance one of the Four Emperors, Whitebeard Edward Newgate, they would gladly accept Blackbeard's offering, formally appointing him as a Warlord to replace the deposed Crocodile.
Once the news of Ace's public execution spread, it would inevitably ignite a full-scale war between the Whitebeard Pirates and Marine Headquarters.
The Summit War was about to begin!
"It seems these peaceful days won't last much longer after all. The climax of the One Piece world is finally arriving!"
Ivan murmured to himself, a flicker of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
The Summit War was one of the most brutal conflicts on the seas, a peak showdown that brought together the Marines, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the Four Emperors' pirate crews.
For him at this moment, it was undoubtedly the perfect stage to further expand his influence.
Whether it was White Dove's identity as an Admiral or further showcasing the strength of Shadow Garden, Ivan needed this stage!
Without the slightest hesitation, Ivan quickly packed his belongings, informed his subordinates, and boarded the Orange Ship.
Soon, the Orange Ship left the port, speeding toward Marineford, the Marine Headquarters.
The continuous days of skill training had left Ivan feeling somewhat fatigued.
After the warship stabilized on its course, evening arrived.
That night, Ivan decided not to continue training. Politely declining invitations from Nami and Robin, he returned to his bedroom, intending to rest briefly and conserve his energy for the upcoming major events.
He lay on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Not long after he fell asleep, a slender figure approached his room from outside—it was Tashigi.
Tashigi's cheeks were slightly flushed, her hands tightly clenched together, palms damp with sweat.
She stood outside Ivan's bedroom door, her heart pounding so fiercely it felt as though it might leap out of her chest.
"Tashigi, gather your courage, you can do this!" Tashigi fiercely encouraged herself, her cheeks growing redder and redder. "Lord Ivan is so outstanding. If you don't take the initiative now, you'll never have another chance. Charge forward for love, don't be afraid!"
She took a deep breath, calming the nervousness and shyness in her heart, and gently turned the doorknob.
The door creaked softly as it slowly opened.
The bedroom was quiet, filled only with Ivan's steady breathing and the sound of waves crashing outside the window.
Tashigi tiptoed cautiously into the bedroom, her gaze settling on Ivan lying on the bed.
His sleeping face, usually stern and imposing, now held a touch of softness. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and his well-defined cheekbones stirred an irresistible flutter in the heart.
Tashigi walked to the bedside, stopping to gaze at Ivan's face.
After a moment, she slowly bent down, extended her hands, and gently embraced Ivan's body, pressing her cheek against his chest.
Feeling the warmth of the figure in her arms, the shyness in Tashigi's heart was instantly replaced by affection.
She lifted her head, looked at Ivan's sleeping face, mustered all the courage of her life, leaned in slightly, and her soft lips gently pressed against Ivan's lips.
The moment the kiss landed, Ivan, who had been sound asleep, instantly sensed the softness in his arms and the touch on his lips.
His eyes snapped open, a flicker of surprise flashing in their depths. Instinctively, he wanted to push away the person in his arms, but when he saw it was Tashigi, all movement halted, and the surprise in his eyes gradually gave way to astonishment.
He never expected that Tashigi, always so shy, would take such an initiative.
Looking at Tashigi in his arms, her face flushed but still holding him tightly, a strange ripple stirred in Ivan's heart.
So, he leaned in and kissed her back, and the atmosphere in the bedroom gradually grew ambiguous.
Meanwhile, outside the window, the waves continued to roll, emitting a rhythmic slapping sound.
After an unknown length of time, the sky outside the window gradually lightened to the pale hue of dawn.
The waves still beat against the ship's hull as the Orange Ship approached the Gates of Justice.
On the disheveled bed in the room, Ivan gently stroked Tashigi's long hair and said softly, "We're almost at the Gates of Justice. Time to get up."
Hearing Ivan's words, Tashigi's face flushed crimson, and she could no longer pretend to be asleep. In a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, she said, "I... I'm sorry, Vice Admiral Ivan, I..."
"It's alright," Ivan interrupted her, standing up and gently ruffling her hair. "I understand your feelings."
Tashigi looked up, a flicker of shyness in her eyes, and her gaze at Ivan grew even more tender.
Soon, the two tidied their clothes and stepped out of the bedroom.
By then, the Orange Ship had reached the waters before the Gates of Justice.
In the distance, the massive Gates of Justice stood towering over the sea, exuding an immense sense of pressure.
To Ivan's surprise, several pirate ships of varying designs were anchored around the Gates of Justice at that moment.
Each ship flew a different flag.
They were the pirate flags belonging to the various Seven Warlords of the Sea!
Standing on the deck of the Orange Ship, Ivan scanned the pirate ships and understood.
Clearly, these Seven Warlords had also been summoned by Marine Headquarters to gather and proceed together to Marineford to discuss the impending major event.
As the Orange Ship slowly approached the other pirate ships, the people aboard them also took notice.
Their gazes fell on Ivan standing on the deck, varying in expression—some disdainful, some dismissive, others grave.
Regardless, at that moment, the massive warship, the Orange Ship, had captured the attention of all the Seven Warlords present!
Just then, an eerie voice rang out from a pirate ship shaped like a flamingo:
"Behehehe, so this is the rumored White Dove Ivan. Just a mere brat, after all."
"I never would have thought that the Marine Headquarters would regress like this. For such a vast navy to let a mere child take the position of Admiral Candidate—it's absolutely ridiculous!"
Ivan turned to look and saw a middle-aged man wearing a strange cloak, sunglasses, and a scruffy beard laughing heartily.
Clearly, those words had just come from him.
As the man finished speaking, the many executives of the Donquixote Family and others from the ships of the other Seven Warlords of the Sea burst into laughter as well.
In perfect unison, the pirates mocked the only Marine present!
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