Dressrosa, headquarters of the Uchiha Alliance.
"Red-Haired has mobilized!" A string of urgent footsteps rang out from inside the Meeting Room. Before the person even arrived, his voice had already reached them.
Kuzan looked up from his desk at the grave-faced Kyros. "Is the source reliable?"
Kyros strode in, his expression incomparably serious. Ever since Luo had fitted him with a new leg, he had felt lighter and stronger than ever. "Absolutely reliable. Intelligence from our informants within the Alliance says Red-Haired mobilized five hours ago. After replenishing supplies on a small island at the edge of his territory, he officially set out. The entire Red-Haired Pirates are aboard in full wartime formation. There's no doubt about it—Shanks the Red-Haired is serious."
King Riku, who had been handling government affairs beside Kuzan, looked up at him with deep concern. Another step of the Alliance Leader's earlier strategy had come true, but the pressure of this coming war was too overwhelming for King Riku to feel any joy.
"What is Shanks the Red-Haired's direction?" Kuzan asked solemnly. The question immediately made Kyros and King Riku's expressions shift.
Indeed, if Red-Haired realized he had been schemed against by Uchiha Hiko, then with the might of a Four Emperors, there was no guarantee that, in his fury, he would not turn his spearhead toward Dressrosa and join Blackbeard in a pincer attack.
Still shaken, Kyros said, "According to the latest intelligence, he's heading toward Blackbeard's territory. It matches the Alliance Leader's previous strategy."
Kuzan nodded. "What's Blackbeard doing?"
"After news of the Alliance Leader leaked, he stopped advancing," Kyros said. "He was originally expected to reach Dressrosa in two days, but now it seems highly likely that Blackbeard will return to reinforce his heartland."
"His nose really is sharp." Kuzan wore an unwilling