The wind and waves on the sea gradually slowed. The Konoha Go swayed with the rising and falling tides, followed by a neatly ordered fleet arranged in formation.
The wounded from the battle against the BIGMOM Pirates had already returned to Dressrosa with Jinbe's prisoner-escort fleet. Hiko had reorganized the remaining forces into three fleets, preparing for the battles ahead.
Burgess and Shiryu of the Rain, commanders under the Blackbeard Pirates, had both been captured alive in Dressrosa. The fleets they led would never abandon their commanders and flee back in disgrace. They would definitely launch a large-scale assault on Dressrosa to rescue Burgess and Shiryu. After all, ever since the Blackbeard Pirates defeated Whitebeard's remnants and rose into the ranks of the Four Emperors, their prestige had been soaring. If word got out that two of their capable commanders had been captured alive by Uchiha Hiko, what a blow it would be to their reputation.
Luo, Drake, and Urouge stood behind Hiko, looking somewhat uneasy.
Hiko always carried himself with detached calmness. To them, he felt like an unreachable summit towering overhead. Even though they knew he was actually easy to talk to, his natural aura still made them instinctively feel distant from him.
"What is it?" Hiko did not turn around, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Yet he sensed his subordinates' condition with perfect clarity. "Nervous?"
Luo grinned. "Although we suffered some losses in the previous battle, it won't affect the combat strength we have left to deal with the Blackbeard Pirates. I'm just wondering whether, after two consecutive battles, other forces might take advantage of the situation and invade Dressrosa if our losses are too severe."
Hiko said calmly, "No. In truth, the forces we have left will still struggle somewhat against the Blackbeard Pirates. Our