Begin the Operation!

"So from today onwards, Mihawk is also our partner."

As usual Ian gathered all his subordinates and introduced his good friend to them.

Among the cadres, Teach clicked his tongue.

As expected of Lord Ian, right?

Now even the world's greatest swordsman has been lured away.

With the addition of another powerful and terrifying fighter, just how strong is the Beasts Pirates now?

Sure enough, staying obediently in this pirate crew is better than anything else.

Just follow behind Lord Ian and reach the pinnacle of life, that's all. Don't think about those other random and inexplicable things.

"This is not unexpected."

Luo said calmly.

Ian had wanted to recruit Hawk Eyes for a long time, but had not been able to.

However, he never doubted the possibility of this.

After all, there are very few things in this world that Ian wants to do but can't.

From the moment Hawk Eyes stayed on Hachinosu Island for six years, Law knew that this guy probably couldn't escape Ian's grasp.

Over the years, everything around him has subtly changed Hawk Eyes's perception of the Beasts Pirates.

And just as Luo had predicted, things unfolded.

"This guy seems pretty strong now!"

Bullet looked at Hawk Eyes with intense admiration, "He's so much better than he was six years ago!"

Hawk Eyes returned his gaze with the same burning intensity. "The Devil's Heir, Douglas Bullet, I've wanted to fight you for a long time too!"

"Hahaha! Really? That's quite a coincidence!"

Bullet burst into laughter.

When the two hit it off, Teacher Kai looked at Ian with a smile and said, "You're something else, kid."

The Beasts Pirates that this kid commands are many times stronger than when he was in power.

Ian just smiled.

With Mihawk joining the crew, even excluding himself, the Beasts Pirates now possess three members with Four Emperors- level combat power.

Yamato is only one step away from this level, and can be considered to be at the level of Four Emperors.

Hancock is a bit behind, but she's very close.

There's also Kuzan has the real strength of Admiral.

Law and Enel are already very close to the level of Admiral.

In terms of high-end combat power, they should have completely overwhelmed the World Government, right?

Unless there's some truly extraordinary individual hidden among the Celestial Dragons.

However, more combat power is always better, and Ian has no intention of abandoning his original strategy.

Before we're certain of all the power the World Government possesses, expanding our own power to its limit shouldn't be a bad thing, right?

That's what Ian thought.

so.

"It's about time we started taking action."

Ian said.

"Oh?"

Teacher Kai's eyes lit up immediately. "So, kid, how are you going to start?"

"The final battle with the World Government shouldn't be too far off, so before that, we need to clear out those miscellaneous guys on the high seas."

Ian said, "Either we get them to stand with us, or we prevent them from having the opportunity to help the World Government."

"Understood."

Luo translated Ian's words. "So, it's either submit to us or die?"

Ian Bear shrugged. "We can't give them a chance to cause trouble, can we?"

"Anyone who dares to oppose Ian will inevitably face certain death!"

Although she was quite melancholic when she gave Ian the ring a few days ago, Hancock was naturally the first to stand up for Ian's authority now.

"Why make it so complicated?"

Bullet scoffed, "Why not just wipe out all those random bastards?"

"Don't talk nonsense,"

Ian laughed and said, "Wouldn't that be too wasteful? Given the uncertainty of the World Government's true strength, to ensure final victory, of course we should gather as much power as we can."

"Indeed,"

Jack was deeply impressed by his elder brother's foresight. "The World Government is not so easy to deal with. We should unite all forces that can be united."

"So, Ian,"

Teacher Kai raised an eyebrow. "You mean, we're going to form alliances with the other guys next?"

That's roughly the idea.

Ian said, "Let's not even talk about the Revolutionary Army; they're already our allies."

"The rest are the Charlotte Family, the Whitebeard Pirates, the Cross Guild, and the Red-Haired Pirates."

Ian from the NEO Marines wasn't included.

After all, NEO and the Revolutionary Army were already allies, a fact Ian already knew. The three parties shared a consensus on dealing with the World Government, so there was no need to form an alliance with them again.

"The Red-Haired Pirates?"

Ace asked in surprise, "Has Shanks become that strong?"

Is the pirate crew I saw in Foosha Village now comparable to established pirate groups like the Charlotte Family and the Whitebeard Pirates?

"If nothing unexpected happens,"

Ian looked at a girl among the executives, "The Red-Haired Pirates are already one of the World's Strongest besides us."

In the original work, the Red-Haired Pirates became one of the Four Emperors four years before the Luffy set sail, which is one year before the present time.

In other words, at least a year ago, Red-Haired already possessed the strength to reach the pinnacle of the ocean.

Even without referring to the original work, Red-Haired ' strength is almost tied to Hawk Eyes's. Mihawk has reached this level, so Red-Haired will only get stronger, not weaker.

"Ian!"

The songstress with red and white hair spoke indignantly, "They're even trying to win over the Red-Haired Pirates? Those guys are a complete bunch of scum!"

Hawk Eyes's lips twitched slightly.

He couldn't understand why Red-Haired ' daughter would join the Beasts Pirates, and now she seemed to hate Red-Haired to the core.

Ian, however, said righteously, "I've always felt there was something fishy about what happened back then. In my memory, Shanks isn't the kind of person who would do that kind of thing."

"Didn't I already ask him once? That guy even tried to kill me back then!"

Uta shouted angrily, "I don't think there's any more problem!"

Ian gave the girl a deep look. "So, Uta, do you mean we should just wipe out the Red-Haired Pirates?"

The girl's previously furious expression froze instantly.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Should we kill Shanks and the others?

The girl fell silent.

Ian was exactly as expected.

Although Shanks acted as if he was going to kill Uta when they last met, the girl could not completely give up her feelings for Shanks and the Red-Haired Pirates.

Now that things have come to this, Ian doesn't think it will have any impact if Uta makes contact with the Red-Haired Pirates.

Uta's friends are in the Beasts Pirates, Uta's career is in the Beasts Pirates.

At this point, the Beasts Pirates might not hold the same weight in her heart as the Red-Haired Pirates back then.

Not to mention that Shanks's guys would never voluntarily reveal the truth about Elegia from back then.

"So, I'll go talk to Shanks when I have time and try to get him to make the right choice."

That's what Ian said.

Uta didn't refute this, but silently sat back down.

Hawk Eyes breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Although he has now joined the Beasts Pirates, his long-standing friendship with Red-Haired is not fake.

It seems that Ian is indeed quite loyal and devoted.

As expected of His Majesty the Emperor, who enjoys a high reputation in the New World.

"Besides the Red-Haired Pirates, it doesn't seem like it will be easy for the other guys to win them over."

Luo said, "At least Shanks has some connection with Ian, but the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Charlotte Family, or the Cross Guild, all they have are grudges, right?"

Now that you mention it, it does seem to make sense.

Ian scratched his head.

The Whitebeard Pirates are another story; they have a deep-seated hatred for each other.

The reason Whitebeard hasn't come looking for trouble is purely due to the difference in their strength.

Don't even mention the Cross Guild.

The feud between the Beasts Pirates and Morley is no less intense than that between the Whitebeard Pirates; that guy probably dreams of taking revenge on me and Teacher Kai.

Crocodile left Alabasta entirely because he had obtained information about Pluton, and Hades probably wanted to take it back from him.

Finally, there's Redfield.

Sigh, that Vampire Fruit that I've never had a chance to use is the power that old geezer has always dreamed of. He even got a beating from me for trying to snatch it from him.

Come to think of it, it seems like the Charlotte Family has fewer grudges.

However, it seems that I have also brought a lot of humiliation to Aunt Linlin.

Not only did they steal the rubbing of the Road Poneglyph in front of her back then, but the Battle of Hachinosu Island even earlier gave Aunt Linlin a severe slap in the face. It is said that she even started to train hard after that.

However, there are connections between them and the Charlotte Family.

Teacher Kai and Aunt Linlin have known each other for decades and are truly like siblings.

Moreover, besides Teacher Kai, there is another intermediary between the Beasts Pirates and the Charlotte Family.

The child who was taken out of Aunt Linlin's womb back then is now six years old.

Although originally, there was no plan to return the child after Aunt Linlin fulfilled her promise to help create a bunch of Homie.

But as the child grew older, Xiong found himself feeling guilty.

He was actually worried that Aunt Linlin might be in great pain because she wouldn't be able to see her child.

At first, Mingming was worried that Aunt Linlin would corrupt the child, so she wanted to take the child back.

That's why they say this man is a saint.

So, someone was sent to find Aunt Linlin, and the two sides reached an agreement.

Each parent will take turns caring for the child for six months each year.

Aunt Linlin readily accepted this, since she would never have had the chance to see the child if she hadn't signed the agreement.

She certainly didn't want to give up a son from the Bakalya Tribe.

The reason the child didn't come with Bear and Ginny this time was because he was still playing with the Charlotte Family in North Blue.

Based on this, the Charlotte Family seems to be the easiest to win over.

"Give it a try."

Ian laughed and said, "What if they want to be friends with us?"

"Hahaha! Lord Ian, I don't think that's possible!"

Teach chuckled after hearing Ian's words, "Pops will never yield to us. Although he's old and no longer has the strength and spirit of his youth, even as an old man, he's an incredibly stubborn one."

"We'll decide on the specifics after we contact Whitebeard."

Ian laughed and said, "At least we need to get the last signpost."

In truth, he didn't think the Whitebeard Pirates would compromise.

But it doesn't matter; it's just a matter of asking one question.

"Whitebeard?"

Ace's eyes lit up instantly. "Ian, if we're going to fight the Whitebeard Pirates, I want to go too!"

Ian knew that this kid wanted to see the strength of his Pops's old enemy.

"What ever."

Ian didn't refuse.

After all, Ace's strength was already formidable at this point, and reaching the level of a Yonko's first mate was not a problem.

"Yay!"

Ace excitedly waved his fist.

"In any case, let's start with the Charlotte Family."

Ian smiled and said, "Aunt Linlin should be the easiest to win over."

"Teacher Kai, Xiong, how about we go together later?"

"I have no problem."

The bear nodded gently.

It would be wonderful if the problem could be resolved peacefully.

If war really breaks out with the Charlotte Family, then that child's position will be in a precarious situation.

"Linlin?"

Teacher Kai snorted, "That old hag should shut up now. Leave her to me."

"If she dares to refuse, I'll use my iron rod to make her understand that she has no right to refuse!"

Ian's lips twitched slightly.

Teacher Kai, this is clearly a very serious matter, why are you making it sound so strange?

However, you can still tell from Teacher Kai's protectiveness towards Aunt Linlin; he clearly doesn't want that woman to be erased.

That's the gist of it.

With Xiong and Teacher Kai appealing to her emotions, and with my own persuasive arguments, Aunt Linlin should know how to choose.

"After the Charlotte Family, we'll go to the West Blue to find the Red-Haired Pirates and the Cross Guild."

Ian asked, "Uta, Mihawk, do you want to come along?"

"No problem."

Hawk Eyes shrugged.

If a conflict does occur, he can mediate.

Red-Haired, you should really thank me.

"... I see."

Uta nodded in a muffled voice.

He seemed hesitant.

"Lord Ian,"

Teach suddenly spoke up, "What about the Whitebeard Pirates? Are we going to save them for last?"

The Whitebeard Pirates are also in the North Blue. Wouldn't it be too convoluted to go to the North Blue to find the Charlotte Family first, then to the West Blue, and finally back to the North Blue to find the Whitebeard Pirates?

"Because the Whitebeard Pirates are the most likely to start a war with us."

This is how Ian answered.

Teach understood instantly.

Taking down the Whitebeard Pirates first would alert them.

In short, after six years of silence, the Beasts Pirates have begun to move again.

First destination: North Blue!