The meeting room was silent.
Only the faint sound of burning tobacco leaves...
After a long while...
*Crash*
The document was crumpled into a ball. Shanks stood up, and everyone sat up straighter:
Shanks scanned the room and slowly spoke:
"Let's not worry about that for now."
"What is everyone's decision on the counter-offensive?"
Jesus Burgess flashed a confident smile, while Lucky Roo tore into his meat, looking at Shanks and smiling.
No one spoke, but they all smiled in unison...
Shanks also smiled, pressed down on his hat, and tilted his head up slightly:
"In that case..."
"Everyone..."
"Begin the counter-offensive!!!"
A steady voice echoed in the silent conference room.
In response, he was met with the cheers of the crowd:
"Ooh!!!!"
--------
New World, the Steam Pirates' base.
Hearl Nock was holding a banquet to celebrate the young man who had just joined their pirate crew and was immediately promoted to Fifth Commander...
At this moment, a subordinate pirate ran to report:
"Lord Nock!"
"The Red-Haired Pirates have sent an inquiry about the counter-offensive, asking if we will act together."
Hearl Nock showed a hint of interest:
"Oh?"
"Has that guy finally made up his mind?"
Compared to Shanks' deliberation, Hearl Nock was more aggressive. Although he didn't know Sakazuki's objective, he'd attack first.
Even though Kuzan's soldiers, under Sakazuki's orders, were to retreat if they couldn't hold, casualties were still significant.
After all, these were islands that their comrades had paid for with their lives; how could they give them up so easily...
Hearl Nock, though unaware of Sakazuki's intentions, was pleased.
He had suffered too much at Sakazuki's hands over the years, and he hated him...
Troops were continuously converging on the front lines, occasionally attacking Navy islands, and they had already captured several.
Next to Hearl Nock, sitting with a rosy-cheeked young pirate, seemed somewhat excited.
Dark mist began to spew from various parts of his body, like flickering flames:
"Boss! Is there anything I can do to help!"
As his emotions fluctuated, the dark mist on his body also began to writhe violently, consuming scattered objects around him.
Hearl Nock looked at the devouring dark mist with satisfaction, and said with a light tone:
"Not yet. Your ability must be used at a critical moment."
"If used well, you might be able to assassinate that Sakazuki directly."
"Then you'll become famous across the seas."
"The whole world will be ours."
As if imagining that scene, the dark mist on the young pirate spread, and his sneer widened.
He only reacted when the dark mist encroached upon Hearl Nock.
The rosy-cheeked young pirate quickly retracted his ability:
"Sorry, boss."
"I just ate it not long ago, and I still can't control my devil fruit ability well."
"I...."
Hearl Nock raised his hand and waved, interrupting him:
"It's nothing."
"Young people, it's normal."
"I was even worse when I first got my fruit."
He turned to the subordinate who had come to report:
"Ask the Red-Haired Pirates for the specific time. We are ready anytime."
The subordinate received the order and withdrew. Hearl Nock raised his wine glass and looked at the young pirate.
The young pirate quickly picked up his wine glass and moved it towards Hearl Nock's.
*Clink!*
A crisp collision sound rang out. The two raised their glasses and drank them dry, but in their hearts...
"Old fool!"
Why don't you go kill Sakazuki!
"Bastard!"
You want to devour me? You think you're worthy? When you're no longer useful...
What Hearl Nock referred to as devouring was the dark mist that had unintentionally spread to him when the young pirate's emotions fluctuated.
That dark mist was the effect of the Yami Yami no Mi...
This devil fruit ability, known as the most ferocious in the history of devil fruits, had appeared unknowingly as time passed...
And the original trajectory of this fruit had been disrupted, appearing in the hands of another person...
--------
New World, Neo Marineford.
In the Marshal's office.
A large map of the world hung on the wall.
Among the four seas, vast areas were stained red. The Revolutionary Army's advance was far more intense than imagined.
The initial prediction of conquering the four seas taking half a year, but now, looking at the map and the speed...
It wouldn't even take three months...
This was why plans could never keep up with changes; too many things exceeded expectations and assumptions.
Sakazuki looked at the large map and asked:
"What's the World Government's reaction? No counterattack?"
Sengoku said helplessly:
"It's not that there's no counterattack, it's just impossible to counterattack."
"Each country might have CP's hidden agents, but those few people don't make a difference."
"The World Government can only deploy the Navy in each country."
"But now..."
Sakazuki chuckled:
"The Celestial Dragons must be furious."
Sengoku's forehead twitched:
"You should think about how to deal with Marshal Kong."
"The phone calls have been non-stop during this period..."
Ever since Sakazuki and the Five Elders of Mary Geoise had a tacit falling out, Marshal Kong, caught in the middle, had been in a difficult position...
Although Kong was the Commander-in-Chief of the three armies, the Five Elders couldn't simply remove him.
But that wasn't the main problem; it was the Navy, which he had dedicated most of his life to, breaking ties with the World Government he currently served.
He was a top-tier figure in both factions, and leaning towards either side was difficult...
Sakazuki shook his head:
"Don't mind him."
"We'll deal with him when he comes."
"As for the Revolutionary Army..."
Sakazuki paused slightly and said to Sengoku:
"Tell Dr. Vegapunk to hand over the technology for traversing the Calm Belt warships to them now."
Sengoku was stunned:
"You mean..."
Sakazuki nodded slightly:
"Their progress is a bit too fast..."
If they conquered the four seas in three months, the Egghead Island's Mushi Mushi no Mi carrier would still need two more months to mature...
It wasn't suitable to start a decisive battle. They had to slow down the Revolutionary Army's pace at least.
When preparations were complete, then all enemies would be eliminated.
Including the so-called "gods"...