Sakaski's indifferent voice echoed in the Fleet Admiral's office.
Though his words were spoken as if narrating, they caused minds to go blank and blood to surge...
Issho took a deep breath, rose, and bowed deeply to Sakaski:
"Reflecting on my life thus far."
"It has been nothing but evasion..."
"Possessing great strength, yet wandering aimlessly, without purpose."
"Unable to bear witnessing the world's sins, yet seeking no solution, and blinding myself, how foolish is that..."
"Today, hearing Fleet Admiral Sakaski's words, I have suddenly awakened."
"But it is too late, my eyes have long since gone blind."
"If only I could personally witness Fleet Admiral Sakaski's demeanor..."
"The justice that bears the world's hope..."
"How dazzling it must be..."
--------
The New World, within the palaces of the Four Emperors.
Four projected screens gathered the four Emperors, who were in different locations.
On the projected screens.
Charlotte Linlin sat on her throne:
"Many have mediocre strength, but they are numerous..."
Looking at Kaido's sweeping gaze, Shanks said somewhat helplessly,
"It will be fine within half a year."
Brulee, after all, was a young girl. Although she had talent, her progress in strength was rather slow...
As for Sakaski...
Several rounds of meetings had been held within the Red-Haired Pirates' ship, yet they could not figure out what Sakaski was trying to do.
The weaker parties, Helock and Shanks, did not engage in battle, but instead poured all their main forces into the two central, most difficult targets.
On Helock and Shanks' side, apart from some troops Sakaski amassed in their direction during the early stages of the war, all the Marines transferred to the New World in the following half-year went to fight those two.
It was a complete grind, there was no reason for it...
Was it simply because they were more restrained towards them than Charlotte Linlin and Kaido?
Shanks continued,
"If we can deal with one of them, we can fight freely."
"The most important thing now is to accumulate strength and reduce consumption."
Kaido snorted,
"Easier said than done..."
The Marines' relentless deployment of troops meant that even the strongest force could not withstand such attrition...
"Three months left, otherwise I won't be able to hold back anymore..."
Continuing to exhaust them would lead to greater losses. Removing that obstacle was the key to breaking the deadlock, otherwise, with a fellow like Kizaru, he wouldn't be able to stop him.
He alone could slaughter those Marines.
The main issue was that if this continued, he would end up isolated, so what was the point of the New World? Let it all be destroyed together.
Shanks' expression turned serious, and he nodded.
He knew this fellow was truly cornered.
At the same time, one could imagine the vast number of troops the Marines had deployed...
Charlotte Linlin, seeing Shanks nod, also let out a sigh of relief, a slight smile appearing on her face as she looked at the other three:
"I just received news recently."
"The Marines are thoroughly investigating our pasts. Do any of you have any loose ends left lying around..."
"Don't let Sakaski get hold of your weaknesses..."
Her gaze swept across them, trying to detect any hint of a flaw.
But they were all seasoned individuals, showing no fluctuations, their expressions unchanged.
A sharp glint flashed in Charlotte Linlin's eyes:
"Then let's end it here."
*Snap—*
The screens darkened, and then the screens of the others gradually dimmed.
----
The New World, Red-Haired Pirates' base.
After Shanks turned off the video conference screen, he felt a sense of unease, his brow furrowed.
He got up and walked to the window, staring in one direction for a long time...
"Uta..."
Uta's identity was absolutely secret, otherwise, she would not have gone undiscovered for over a decade.
But if the Marines were to investigate the past, then perhaps...
"Benn Beckman!!!"
----
The New World, Whole Cake Island.
After Charlotte Linlin turned off the den den mushi, she kept replaying the reactions of the others in her mind.
Since she had brought it up suddenly, their reactions were the most genuine...
Kaido and Helock seemed unaffected, but that little brat Shanks' breathing hitched for a moment...
"The past, huh..."
She took out a den den mushi and dialed,
"Stussy, investigate for me..."
----
The New World, New Marineford.
Sakaski, now promoted, stood alone in his office, looking at the strategic deployment map.
Issho and Aramaki, after only half a day,
Were dispatched by Sakaski to Kaido's and Charlotte Linlin's territories respectively, as those were the main attack directions in the plan.
*Swish—*
Carol suddenly appeared in the office:
"We've found something."
"In the past records of the Red-Haired Pirates, Red-Haired Shanks once had a daughter."
"But she disappeared after the destruction of the Elegycia kingdom."
"Coincidentally... recently, a den den mushi that was accidentally lost by the research team was found, and the girl who uploaded images and songs."
"After verifying her appearance, it is Red-Haired Shanks' daughter."
"Her name is Uta."