One Piece: With Sign-in System
Chapter 229: Arrival at Whole Cake Island

Chapter 229 - 229: Arrival at Whole Cake Island

The core principles of Ron's vision were clear:

1. Preserve the essential functions of the World Government.

2. Establish a new Marine force—one that upholds true justice, protects the weak, and no longer serves the interests of the nobles or the Celestial Dragons.

3. Shatter the aristocratic order built by the Celestial Dragons.

Just these three points alone were enough to convince Zephyr.

He made his decision.

The Neo Marines would stand with Ron in this war.

Kyros, too, offered his support, proposing to send thousands of Dressrosa's soldiers into battle.

But Ron refused.

"The soldiers of Dressrosa should only defend their homeland. There's no need for them to get involved in this."

With that, their preparations in Dressrosa came to an end.

Ron and his crew set sail once more.

Standing beside Ain, Rebecca watched the ship slowly disappear over the horizon, her heart heavy with reluctance.

"...Ain, do you think he'll win?"

Ain smiled gently.

"Of course."

...

The Neo Marines Mobilize

From that day forward, Zephyr took command, leading the Neo Marines into full-scale preparations for war.

...

Meanwhile—

Sabaody Archipelago, Nearby Island

Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were deep in training under Rayleigh.

Rayleigh's staff whipped through the air—

SMACK!

Luffy was sent flying.

"Calm your mind and feel it," Rayleigh instructed. "If you don't, you'll never master Haki."

Luffy gritted his teeth, flipping back onto his feet.

"Damn it... Again!"

...

Wano Country.

In Onigashima, Kaido had summoned his top officers.

"The Supreme Commander... is really going to ally with that guy?"

Queen's face was filled with doubt.

"That guy killed one of our Lead Performers—"

Before he could finish, Kaido's fierce glare locked onto him.

A sudden chill ran down Queen's spine.

"...Are you questioning my decision, Queen?"

Queen instantly broke into a cold sweat.

"N-No, sir! Of course not!"

Just then, a clear, determined voice cut through the tense air.

"Father! I want to fight in this war, too!"

The speaker was Yamato—Kaido's "son," though in truth, she was his daughter.

She stood firm, eyes burning with resolve.

Kaido studied her for a few moments before finally nodding.

"If you're that determined... fine."

Yamato's face lit up with excitement.

...

East Blue – The Liberated Tequila Wolf

In the Revolutionary Army's Eastern Base, an urgent message had just arrived.

Belo Betty, the Eastern Army Commander, had returned with news that sent ripples of excitement through the room.

"Commander! Chief of Staff! We've located the Glint-Glint Fruit!"

Silence fell for a moment.

Then—

"What?! Where?"

"It was spotted in the West Blue. Morley has already gone ahead with a team."

"This fruit must be secured at all costs," Dragon declared, his expression grave.

He turned to the silent figure beside him—Bartholomew Kuma.

"Kuma, go with them."

Kuma nodded.

Then, without another word, he raised his massive palm—

And vanished.

...

Fish-Man Island

The remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates—Ace, Marco, and others—had all gathered here.

For some, it was a place to recover from their wounds.

For others, it was a rallying point—a place to reunite their scattered forces.

After Marco officially declared that the Whitebeard Pirates would take part in the war, he gave his crew a choice.

They could stay and fight—or walk away.

Some chose loyalty and stayed.

Others chose to leave, unwilling to step into another conflict.

...

Across the New World, the Grand Line, and even the Four Seas, monumental changes were shaking the world.

Powerful forces were gathering strength.

Tension was building.

Every day, the newspapers struggled to keep up with the explosive developments.

...

Holy Land—Mary Geoise

Clad in his justice coat, Fujitora strode through the lavish halls of Mary Geoise.

He had just received orders from Kong—

His mission: travel to the Four Seas and conscript as many new soldiers as possible.

Fujitora's brows furrowed.

"...They're really planning to send untrained recruits into this war?"

A deep sense of unease settled within him.

As he exited the palace—

A Celestial Dragon, perched arrogantly atop a human slave, blocked his path.

A crowd of guards and attendants followed closely behind.

"Hey! You're a Marine Admiral, aren't you? Have you caught that damn traveler, Ron, yet?!"

Fujitora's voice remained calm.

"...No."

The Celestial Dragon's face twisted in anger.

"What?! Why not?! You're a Marine Admiral, aren't you? What the hell are the Marines even doing?! Do you idiots even know how to do your jobs?!"

He sneered and circled Fujitora, still sitting atop his slave like a king on a throne.

"And another thing—why the hell haven't you bowed to me yet?!"

Fujitora kept walking, his voice eerily neutral.

"Because I am blind."

He passed the Celestial Dragon without another word.

As he stepped out of Mary Geoise, he slowly turned back—his milky-white eyes gazing at the extravagant city behind him.

"...Looks like you were right, Ron."

"...The Celestial Dragons have no place in this world."

...

Marineford—The Ruins of War.

In the broken remains of Marineford, Smoker walked through the rubble.

Atop the ruined Marine Headquarters, basking in the sun, lay Aokiji.

Smoker frowned.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Aokiji didn't even open his eyes.

"Isn't it obvious?" He yawned. "I'm enjoying my last moments of laziness."

Smoker took a deep drag from his cigar, then sat beside him, gazing out over the war-torn plaza.

The once mighty Marineford was in ruins.

Above, the sky was an endless blue—peaceful and unbroken.

After a moment of silence, Smoker spoke.

"...I saw Ron in Loguetown."

Aokiji gave a lazy hum of acknowledgment.

"He told me he was going to overthrow the world."

Smoker exhaled a long plume of smoke.

"...Didn't think he actually meant it."

Aokiji let out a chuckle.

"If that guy says he'll do something, he'll do it."

"That's just how he is. Even back when we were at Marineford, he was like that."

Smoker's gaze hardened.

"If he had joined the Marines back then..."

"...Would things have turned out differently?"

Aokiji finally opened his eyes.

"...That guy was never meant for the Marines."

Smoker sighed.

"...Yeah."

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then, Smoker turned to Aokiji.

"I heard Zephyr-sensei founded a Neo Marine Force in the New World."

Aokiji gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment.

"...What do you think about it?"

Aokiji leaned back, hands behind his head, staring at the sky.

"...Who knows?"

His voice was filled with quiet uncertainty.

...

Fifteen Days Until the Promised War

High above Totto Land, at an altitude of 10,000 meters, a lone ship hovered in the sky.

Then—

A single figure dropped from the heavens like a shooting star, descending straight toward Whole Cake Island.