Crocodile snorted coldly and walked back to his seat to recline:
“Why the rush.....”
“The Dancing Powder can be set aside for now, and the plan is to pause. Do your best to maintain operations below.”
Robin was somewhat surprised. A plan that had been meticulously crafted for over twenty years was now being halted...
“Are you planning to give up?”
Crocodile said:
“This world is about to fall apart. Who will care about the lives of these people then?”
“The influence and personnel we possess now are the foundations for the future...”
“As long as we obtain that item before the collapse...”
“There are plenty of ways to make them talk...”
Robin frowned:
“Collapse? Surely not.”
“Although the top-tier combatants of the Navy and the Four Emperors are all gathered in the New World, what kind of battle could possibly affect the entire world?”
Crocodile chuckled and slowly said:
“Who said it was the Navy and the pirates? It should be the Government and the Revolutionary Army...”
“The Revolutionary Army and the World Government have divided the sea we are in into two halves.”
“It is inevitable that one side will control the world.”
“And the battles between the Navy and the Four Emperors will end in mutual destruction.”
“Sakazuki is too busy to deal with us right now. This is our opportunity.”
“Given his personality, he probably never intended to let the so-called Seven Warlords go in the first place.”
“Once the decisive battle between the Navy and the Four Emperors begins, that’s when we make our move...”
“At that time, no one will care about rules. Even if the entire Alabasta is slaughtered, no one will pay attention to this place...”
Robin murmured:
“But...”
“What if Sakazuki summons you to the New World before the decisive battle?”
Crocodile’s expression froze. He seemed not to have considered this. He looked at Robin, whose lips curved upwards:
“Get out...”
----------
New World.
One of the only two remaining endpoint islands, Sekken Island.
A ship bearing the Big Mom Pirates’ flag slowly sailed into the island.
Katakuri sat at the bow of the ship, his expressionless face betraying his inner turmoil through the subtle movement of his eyes.
Before the ship had even docked, a young girl in a white dress with long purple hair rushed forward:
“Brother Katakuri!”
Katakuri reached out and caught the girl as she leaped into his arms, his eyes softening slightly. The sharp mouth beneath his scarf revealed a hint of a smile:
“Brulee, are you getting used to life on the island?”
The purple-haired girl was Charlotte Brulee, the Mirror-Mirror Fruit user, whose life force had been stolen by Charlotte Linlin for several decades.
She had been traded to Red-Haired Shanks by Big Mom for certain benefits, and along with her, Shanks had also recovered those lost decades of her life.
The girl nodded vigorously:
“Yes!”
“Everyone is good, I just really miss you, Brother Katakuri...”
Before Katakuri could reply, Shanks walked over from a distance:
“Yo, a rare visitor.”
“The second son of the Charlotte family.”
Katakuri snorted at Shanks, who was interrupting his reunion with his sister:
“Hmph, Red-Haired Shanks...”
He gestured for Brulee to go ahead, then stood up to direct everyone to move the supplies onto the island. Brulee, unable to contain herself, joined in.
At the port.
Katakuri looked at the vibrant Brulee, a sense of realization washing over him. He finally turned to Shanks and said in a deep voice:
“Thank you.”
This was a heartfelt thanks to Shanks. His sister Brulee’s stolen decades of life had always been a pain in his heart, but he had been unable to defy his mother...
Shanks smiled:
“No need to thank me. It was merely a mutually beneficial exchange.”
“And I just did it as a favor.”
Katakuri shook his head:
“Still, I must thank you.”
He beckoned his subordinates to bring over a treasure chest and place it on the ground, pushing it towards Shanks’s side:
“There are three Devil Fruits inside, along with more than half a chest of treasure.”
“The gifts may not be extraordinary, but they represent my gratitude.”
Shanks smiled helplessly and signaled for his men to take it away. Given Katakuri’s personality, refusing would only prolong the matter...
Seeing Shanks accept the gifts, Katakuri breathed a sigh of relief and looked towards the volcano towering at the center of the island:
“How is the progress?”
Shanks also looked in that direction:
“Not bad. Your sister is training quite diligently.”
“In a while, the mirror will be able to absorb that bomb.”
Katakuri’s expression turned grave:
“That’s good...”
“The Navy’s recent offensives are becoming more intense.”
“The first line of defense in Totto Land (Whole Cake Island) has been breached, and the second line is teetering on the verge of collapse.”
“We are now in a stalemate with the Navy before the third line of defense.”
“That old fellow Garp isn't playing by the rules, he's been supervising from the front lines.”
“It’s making things difficult...”
Shanks looked amused. When had Garp ever been this diligent...?
“Soon, just wait a little longer.”
“The pressure is immense, especially with Sakazuki tightening his grip on us.”
“Once we resolve the issues on these two islands...”
“It will be time for us to counterattack...”
----------
New World, New Marineford.
The relatively quiet headquarters had become a bit more bustling, with constant movement of personnel.
Sakazuki, uncharacteristically, emerged to head to the port. After all, the two Admirals who had been summoned deserved some deference.
On the warship sailing towards New Marineford.
The newly appointed Admirals, Fujitora and Ryokugyu, clad in their Admiral uniforms, stood side-by-side at the bow of the ship, their Justice coats fluttering in the wind.
Fujitora’s eyes were slightly open, revealing his milky white irises, and he sighed with emotion:
“Even from this distance, I can feel the world-destroying volcanic aura.”
“And the unquestionable authority...”
“Of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, who has dominated the seas for decades.”
“His reputation is well-deserved.”
Ryokugyu’s face also showed a hint of fanaticism:
“Of course!”
“He is my idol!”
“Fleet Admiral Sakazuki!!!”
The warship was still far from Marine Headquarters, only a small dot could be seen.
But the scorching aura, mingled with a hint of sulfur, rushed towards them...
Ryokugyu, a user of the Mori Mori no Mi, could feel the discomfort in his body from his Devil Fruit’s reaction. It was a clash of fruit levels, an aura of magma that destroyed everything...
As the warship drew closer to the island, the heat intensified.
However, when the warship sailed within a thousand meters of New Marineford, the atmosphere instantly became cool.
The island at the center and its surrounding area were devoid of any heat or sulfurous smell.
It was as if the central area was a void, and all the heat and smell had been pushed out to sea...
The two men’s impression of Sakazuki’s power deepened. Such a vast range and precise control...
--------
New Marineford, port.
The warship slowly sailed into the port, and the two disembarked.
Fujitora’s expression was calm, while Ryokugyu’s was filled with reverence. Upon stepping onto the port, they both looked towards Sakazuki:
“Fleet Admiral Sakazuki.”
“Mr. Sakazuki!”
Sakazuki chuckled and extended his hand:
“Welcome to the Marines.”