Shackles · Uninvited Guest

New World Routes: Totto Land Fleet

Three giant tart ships, resembling mobile Whole Cake Chateau, cut through the waves, their candy and cake decorations shimmering eerily in the sunlight.

Each wave crashing against the ship seemed to fill the air with a sweet, cloying fragrance, yet it couldn't suppress the surging murderous intent beneath.

On the Throne of the Flagship, Charlotte Linlin sat as still as a mountain, her enormous body trembling with deafening laughter.

She held a Live Broadcast Den Den Mushi in her hand, her eyes fixed on the scene on the screen where Kaido was blasted into the ground.

"Mamamamama--!!!"

"That idiot Kaido... he actually got sent flying by Kuzan's single punch?!"

"You're supposed to be the 'World's Strongest Creature'! You've completely disgraced the Four Emperors!!"

At the bow, Cracker, his entire body covered in Biscuit armor, gripped his twin swords tightly, his voice filled with disbelief:

"Mom! Are Marine Admirals really that strong?!"

That punch looked like it was going to knock Kaido's soul out of his body!

Smoothie stood with one hand on her hip, the other lightly gripping her juice sword, her icy gaze never leaving the live stream screen.

"Kuzan's strength has never been underestimated... but what's even more terrifying is--"

"That punch just now clearly had Garp's influence on it!"

At this moment, Katakuri's Observation Haki had already spread out over several seas, surveying his surroundings.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply, and a look of seriousness appeared between his brows. "Mom, something's wrong!"

He spoke in a deep voice, "From the time we left the Totto Land until now, we haven't encountered any obstacles along the way! Not even Warship has appeared to follow or monitor us!"

Cracker was slightly taken aback by his words: "What do you mean?"

Katakuri's voice was low and menacing. "This is definitely a trap... Someone is waiting for us!"

Charlotte Linlin's laughter stopped abruptly, her eyes instantly turning cold and serpentine, and a ferocious smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

"Those old bastards..."

"Do they want us and the Navy to fight each other on Hachinosu, weakening each other's strength?!"

She suddenly stood up, her massive body casting a huge shadow. Her Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire ship like a tsunami, almost suffocating the low-ranking Pirates on the deck.

"Mamamamama--!!!"

"Since they're not stopping us..."

"Then we'll give the Navy a 'surprise'!!"

Full speed ahead!!

"Target: Hachinosu!!"

Katakuri's Observation Haki was still flashing warnings, and he whispered to Smoothie and Cracker, "Be careful..."

"I have a feeling... Roy is definitely plotting something in the shadows!"

Smoothie nodded, her eyes sharp. "Roy is far more cunning than Kuzan."

Cracker scoffed, "Whatever, my Biscuit Soldiers are endless!"

The sea breeze carried a sweet yet murderous tang, and the Totto Land Fleet, like three mobile fortresses of death, roared as it sailed toward the sea where the war raged.

Meanwhile, the Holy Land Mary Geoise

A wave of intense heat filled the spacious office, distorting the air with its intensity.

Sakazuki clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked, and lava seeped out from between his fingers, dripping onto the carpet with a piercing hissing sound, leaving behind charred pits.

His gaze, sharp as a blade, was fixed on the CP0 agent opposite him— Guernica, who wore a pure white mask.

"Does the Five Elders mean... they want an Admiral to guard the Holy Land?"

Sakazuki's voice was deep and rumbling, like a volcano about to erupt.

"Aren't you aware of the situation on Hachinosu?!"

"Kaido and the Navy are locked in a deadly battle!"

"At a time like this... you're telling me the Holy Land needs protection?!"

Wearing a pure white mask, Guernica's voice was calm to the point of being indifferent. "Admiral Sakazuki, I am merely relaying the orders of the Five Elders."

As for the reason... that's beyond my scope of explanation.

"Bang!!"

The next second, Sakazuki smashed the heavy mahogany desk with a punch, and molten lava erupted like a volcanic vent, the flying rocks instantly scorching the walls black.

"Are you CP0 people eating shit?!"

"The Holy Land Holy Knights, and also you bunch of agents!"

"Sending me here at a time like this... are you trying to send the navy to their deaths on the front lines?!"

Guernica remained expressionless, not even taking a step back. "Please watch your words, Admiral."

"The Five Elders' decisions... are beyond question."

Sakazuki's body was churning with molten lava, as if he would transform into a magma giant and engulf those before him at any moment, but he ultimately did not make a move.

"Turning against us now... will only put the navy in an even more passive position."

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the murderous intent churning in his chest, the low growl escaping his throat sounding like rolling lava.

"Those damn politicians..."

After a moment of silence, he turned and walked to the window, his gaze passing over the towering walls of the Holy Land and landing on the boundless sea.

Borsalino...

Sakazuki murmured softly, his voice heavy with resentment.

"Hachinosu is now in your hands..."

Dozens of nautical miles from Hachinosu, on a deserted island, the sea wind howls and the waves crash against the Reef.

The Red Hair Pirates were gathered around a Live Broadcast Den Den Mushi, watching the battle unfold on Hachinosu.

"Haha! Kaido actually got punched and sent flying?!"

Raki Lu, grinning from ear to ear as he devoured half a roast suckling pig, nearly tumbled off the stone bench.

"The Marine Admiral... he's certainly not someone to be trifled with." Snake whistled, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Yasopp, carrying his custom-made lance, squinted one eye and smiled, "Captain, it seems so..."

"Those guys from the Beasts can't break through the navy's defenses at all. Do we even need to go?"

Benn Beckman, a cigarette dangling from his lips, peered through the swirling smoke and analyzed in a low voice, "No rush... intelligence indicates that Big Mom's fleet has also been deployed."

"Furthermore, the fact that the Navy and the World Government didn't intercept them halfway suggests there's probably a trap involved."

Shanks didn't answer, but just stared at the clash between Kaido and Kuzan on the live stream, his brow furrowed slightly.

Just then--

"Whoosh!"

A deep red light suddenly flashed in Yasopp's eyes, Observation Haki surged violently like the surface of a sea being whipped up by a storm!

He suddenly looked up, his gaze shooting straight at the distant horizon like a sharp arrow.

"...!!"

The Red Hair Pirates went into battle alert almost simultaneously, gripping their sword hilts and cocking their guns; the air instantly became tense.

"Yasopp! What's going on?!"

Benn Beckman let out a low growl and jerked his cigarette butt to the ground.

Yasopp had just opened his mouth--

"Smack!!"

A blurry black shadow, accompanied by a suffocating pressure, flashed in front of Yasopp in an instant and slapped him down!

"Bang!!"

Yasopp was sent flying dozens of meters, crashing heavily into the rock wall, sending rubble and dust flying everywhere!

The Red Hair Pirates contracted sharply, and they were about to attack almost simultaneously.

Just then, the dark figure slowly emerged from the distorted crack in the void, as if stepping into reality from another world.

In the sunlight, a smile played on the man's lips, his eyes filled with disdain and amusement, his deep, clear voice echoing across the Deserted Island.

"Hey~ Aren't these the so-called 'Balance Guardians'?"

The air seemed to freeze, and even the sound of the waves seemed to stop for a moment.