ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

The news of the Middle Kingdom establishing its own navy spread like wildfire across the world.

Due to the live broadcast, there was no shortage of video footage, ensuring that every faction could witness this shocking event in real-time.

The various powers of the world were genuinely taken aback.

After all, in this world, the only navy that had ever existed was the one under the jurisdiction of the World Government. No nation had ever created a separate naval force outside of the Marines.

For the World Government's member nations, establishing a navy was unnecessary. The Marines would set up one or more military bases within their territories, providing protection while also expanding the World Government's reach.

As for non-member nations—those labeled as illegal countries—they lacked both the strength and the courage to form a navy. Without the World Government's protection, they could only maintain small coastal defense forces to ward off pirates. Their influence was minimal, and they had no "big brother" to back them, forcing them to keep a low profile.

That's why Caesar became the first person in this era to openly establish a navy independent of the World Government.

Whether it had been done before, he wasn't certain. Perhaps, somewhere in history, someone had attempted it.

But regardless of the past, he was the only one doing it now.

As time passed, the news continued to dominate global discussions, becoming the most talked-about event in the world.

Reactions from the Legends

Whitebeard and the Golden Lion both caught wind of the news.

Whitebeard merely laughed it off, while the Golden Lion was visibly puzzled.

"Why would a pirate establish a navy? What the hell is that guy thinking?"

Sitting in his chair, holding the newspaper, Shiki scowled, his cigar nearly snapping between his teeth.

"Isn't that guy's ambition the same as mine?"

He couldn't wrap his head around it.

Caesar was clearly an ambitious pirate. Instead of stirring up chaos for the Marines or challenging the World Government head-on, he was playing a different game.

"Has Caesar changed?"

"No. Impossible! A man like him doesn't change!"

He immediately dismissed the thought.

Yet, this news gnawed at him. The first time he met Caesar, he knew the man was destined for greatness.

And reality had proven him right.

But after Caesar became king, Shiki found himself struggling to understand him.

And now this.

"Could it be… that his way is actually better than mine?"

The thought unsettled him. His brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a mosquito.

But his pride as a ruler wouldn't allow him to consider it further.

"Hmph! Impossible! How could his way be better than mine?"

"I'm the Golden Lion! I make no mistakes! My way is the right way!"

"He can play king all he wants. The true ruler of the world is me! Gihahahaha!"

Slamming the newspaper onto the table, he forced himself to brush aside the unsettling thoughts.

But he wasn't the only one who saw the news.

Charlotte Linlin's Perspective

Deep within Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin skimmed the headlines.

Ordinarily, she wouldn't bother paying Caesar much attention. He was always making headlines. But this time, she didn't look away.

The reaction of the old guard made sense—they were products of their time, stuck in a rigid way of thinking.

Take Charlotte Linlin herself—one of the Four Emperors, a model of a pirate ruler. Since establishing Totto Land, she rarely left her territory, ruling over it like a true monarch.

But despite all her power, in her heart, she still considered herself a pirate, not a queen.

That was the limitation of their mindset.

Even Whitebeard and Kaido, who controlled vast territories, operated differently.

Kaido was a battle-hungry warmonger, always looking for his next fight rather than governing seriously.

Whitebeard, meanwhile, protected his territories, but he didn't rule them. His empire was more of a sphere of influence than a kingdom.

Caesar, on the other hand, wasn't bound by their way of thinking.

Roger's Take

Elsewhere in the New World, aboard a ship docked on a quiet island, Gol D. Roger burst into laughter upon seeing the news.

"Hahahahaha! This Caesar guy is something else!"

"It wasn't enough for him to become king—he had to build his own navy, too!"

Around a campfire, his crew sat drinking, enjoying one of their frequent small banquets.

Perhaps it was moments like these that later inspired Shanks to adopt the same love for festivities.

Nearby, Crocus adjusted his glasses, staring at the newspaper.

"This is bizarre," he muttered. "A pirate forming a navy? It makes no sense."

"A legendary pirate raising a navy of tens of thousands… is he actively trying to provoke the World Government?"

"That guy just thinks differently!"

Buggy, the red-nosed troublemaker, scoffed.

He had stopped trying to understand Caesar long ago. The moment he saw him fight Roger, he realized the man was just as enigmatic as the captain.

And after spending time in the Middle Kingdom, his conviction grew—Caesar was extraordinary.

Of all the places he had visited, the Middle Kingdom had left the strongest impression.

"Captain, what do you think about all this?"

Shanks, more thoughtful than Buggy, had been staring at the newspaper. He finally looked up.

"I feel like Caesar has a deeper purpose behind this."

Roger grinned. "Hahahaha! That guy definitely has a plan! Let's just wait and see!"

He took a swig of his drink.

Roger knew Caesar wasn't a man to act without reason.

From helping the common people, to rising as a ruler, and now openly challenging the World Government by forming the Central Navy—Caesar's path was calculated.

Though Roger couldn't predict the endgame, he knew it would be something grand.

And one thing was certain—the World Government and the Marines would not let this stand.

This was an unforgivable humiliation.

The Marine's Response

As expected, the moment the Five Elders heard the news, they contacted Fleet Admiral Kong.

A meeting was held at Marine Headquarters.

High-ranking officials and Vice Admirals filled the grand conference room.

Kong, seething with anger, wasted no time.

"You've all seen the news!"

"Now, I'll announce our deployment!"

The gathered officers nodded solemnly.

"Zeffa, remain at headquarters."

"Warring States, Garp, Tsuru—you're coming with me to the Middle Kingdom!"

"Caesar has gone too far this time. We need to teach him a lesson!"

For once, even the usually carefree Garp looked serious.

Kong's expression darkened further.

"One more thing—listen carefully!"

"Any Marine who encounters the so-called 'Central Navy' is to engage them immediately!"

"Crush them! Annihilate them!"

"The idea of a pirate-run navy is an insult to the government and to our justice!"

"They don't even deserve to be called a navy!"

"They are nothing more than puppets!"

The sheer fury in Kong's voice was unmistakable.

And just like that, the order was given.

As Kong and his strike force set sail, Caesar received word of the incoming attack.

Setting down the Den Den Mushi, he smirked.

"An undercover agent? Hah, as if I don't have my own."

Far from being worried, he was excited.

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