The War Began
Upon returning to Paraji Island, the intuitive members were surprised to find that their ship seemed to have undergone some changes—not in terms of strength, but something more fundamental.
I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Teach while he was away.
However, such a thought only flashed through my mind, because right now, there were more important things to do.
The entire Sagarros Sea has now been taken over by the Night Pirates, much faster than many people had anticipated, in less than a month.
This also made people clearly aware of the immense power of the Night Pirates. After truly occupying the Saguros Sea, the Night Pirates truly became an important force in the New World, and many other forces also marked the Night Pirates' mark on their spheres of influence in the New World.
The Night Pirates continued their rapid expansion. After demonstrating their powerful vitality, more and more pirates, those who saw the potential in the Night Pirates and were struggling to survive in the chaotic New World, flocked to the Saguros Sea, hoping to join the Night Pirates.
The Sagarros Sea is undoubtedly a vast territory. When conquering this sea, it is necessary to leave pirates to guard it. Strong people also need to be sent to some important islands so that they can react quickly and deal with any invasion by foreign pirate forces.
Therefore, some officials were not physically present, but they participated in the meeting via Transponder Snail.
They all knew what they were about to do, and a sense of excitement welled up inside them: to take over Saint Louis Island.
Not only were they prepared, but the high-ranking officials of the Christie Kingdom were also prepared. Prior to this, in addition to the high-ranking officials of the kingdom who had already accepted this reality, some news had spread, and a major purge had also been launched within the kingdom.
These were all die-hards who resolutely opposed the invasion of the Night Pirates, and some even had the idea of immediately launching a mass uprising. However, before they could take any action, they were executed, which was only right.
The cleanup was extensive, but the number of people involved was not large. After all, most people were pragmatic and knew the serious consequences of resistance.
Many others, however, chose to wait and see, eager to observe the changes in the Christie Kingdom after the Night Pirates moved in.
The move to Saint Louis Island is not just a simple statement; it demonstrates the power of the Night Pirates, simultaneously destroying three kingdoms, and establishing them as heroes and great contributors.
"Ready?" Teach sat on the throne, smiling as he looked at the other officers.
"Um."
They had been looking forward to this moment for a long time.
"Then let's go. The list of key figures from the three kingdoms is here. Go and take care of them. As for the main battlefield, leave that to me." Teach laughed, stood up, and used his abilities to quickly fly towards Saint Louis Island.
The other cadres also sprang into action.
Those that could fly flew directly to Saint Louis Island, while some slower ones arrived early at the three kingdoms of St. Louis to participate in the meeting via Transponder Snail.
On the other side, the main battlefield between the Christie Kingdom and the allied forces of the three kingdoms was the border.
War was imminent and filled with the smell of gunpowder. As for why the timing of the war was so coincidental, it was naturally orchestrated by the Christie Kingdom, who was the one who started it and turned the tables from passively responding to actively launching the war.
Since the Christie Kingdom has already entered the battle, the allied forces of the three kingdoms will naturally not just stand by and do nothing.
So the smoke of battle has already risen.
However, some astute individuals within the Christie Kingdom's army noticed several problems. The army's high command didn't seem particularly tense, as if they possessed some secret weapon that could determine victory or defeat.
However, such news only circulated among a few officers who could reach the higher ranks; the lowest-ranking soldiers were unaware of it. Filled with patriotic fervor, coupled with trepidation and a touch of fear, they prepared to face the enemy.
As the main battlefield, it did not have much complex terrain; it was mainly a vast plain.
Therefore, from a distance, one could see countless soldiers, as dense as ants, carrying guns and weapons.
This is a massive war involving over a million people. The atmosphere is solemn, tense, and many people remain silent. This is war, far more terrifying than pirates. It's unimaginable how many people will die in this battle.
But they had some doubts. Why? The kingdom would be broadcasting the war live; such a thing shouldn't be shown to ordinary people.
War is always kept secret from the public, and the news it brings is always about victory, defeat, and death.
Now, throughout the Christie Kingdom, every large screen broadcasting live footage is showing real-time intelligence from the battlefield.
Many people had doubts, and some raised questions, but the kingdom's officials did not answer them, only vaguely hinting at a major event and hoping that the people would pay attention.
So, putting their doubts aside for the time being, they gradually became attracted to the real war and the battlefield.
Some of the wreckage already testifies to the brutality of war, indicating that some minor skirmishes had occurred prior to the conflict.
The faces of the soldiers that unexpectedly flashed across the screen were all serious and earnest. It is these soldiers who protect their country and safeguard the peace and tranquility of their land and people.
Occasionally, you can spot a familiar face.
Many people know that the real start of the war is not far off, within an hour or two. We are currently only in the preparation stage for the actual war, but it still puts enormous pressure on people.
In the royal palace of Greatel, the capital of the Christie Kingdom, all the important ministers were gathered, watching this moment with King Mello.
Watching the video, people would occasionally come in to pass on information.
"The Night Pirates have already begun their operation. It won't be long before we receive news of the war's end and the destruction of the royal families of Moore, Sel, and Locke." A minister couldn't help but sigh, never expecting that their long-held goal would be achieved so easily.
The handling of important figures from the Three Kingdoms couldn't be left solely to the Night Pirates; the Christie Kingdom also played a significant role, or rather, they were responsible for eliminating most of the individuals who needed to be eliminated.
The small number of people dealt with by members of the Night Pirates were truly important figures in the Three Kingdoms, such as the king, the royal family, and the main ministers.
In this operation, the Christie Kingdom basically used all its hidden methods, because if these hidden methods weren't used now that they had conquered these three kingdoms in one fell swoop, there would be no chance to use them.
As for failure, they never even considered it, because failure was impossible. The final outcome was already decided the moment the Night Pirates made their move.
They are now completely aligned with the Night Pirates, and their only concern is the interests of the kingdom. Preparations are underway, and they are ready to act at any time.
"Well, let's wait for good news."
The three kingdoms were no longer a threat, so they all looked relaxed. Some ministers were even excited, as was King Mello, because it wouldn't be long before the divided Christie Kingdom and the Saint Louis Island would be reunited.
It is of great significance.
A large area was designated to the east of Greatel, next to the royal palace.
This is a forest, and also a park, with beautiful scenery, and a small river and several tributaries flowing through it.
This area was originally planned to be developed into a luxurious park exclusively for the royal family, but construction was later halted for some reason.
However, part of the park has been built, and occasionally residents of Greatel come to visit it.
This area belongs to the royal family, but now, during this period of war, construction has resumed. The kingdom has summoned the nation's top architects and workers to build a palace in this area that is no less luxurious than the royal palace.
This action, compared to war, is somewhat contradictory and foolish.
The inhabitants of the Christie Kingdom are not foolish, and King Mello and the Chris royal family are wise; they would certainly not do such a thing during wartime.
Since they did it, there must be a reason. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, many people, given the live broadcast of the war, already sensed that they would soon know the final answer.
This palace was naturally built for the Night Pirates and is also Night Pirates territory. Its proximity to the royal palace is enough to demonstrate the sincerity of the Christie Kingdom.
Once the design was finalized, construction began immediately, utilizing the resources of the entire nation. As a result, construction proceeded extremely quickly. Coupled with the existing foundation, it is believed that the Night Pirates will be able to truly move in soon.
After a period of waiting, the war began.
Everyone stared intently at the screen, their hearts pounding.
At the front lines, even the high-ranking officers and generals of the Christie Kingdom's military couldn't help but feel a little nervous at this moment.
War is no child's play; if anything goes wrong, they all bear serious and inescapable responsibility.
Therefore, before the war began, they even made a special phone call to the royal palace to confirm whether the Night Pirates had arrived.
Because of the presence of the Night Pirates, their preparations for war were not thorough. If the war broke out before the Night Pirates arrived, their losses would undoubtedly be enormous.
Fortunately, they received a definite answer from King Mello himself, and their tense hearts calmed down.
Teach had already arrived, ahead of schedule. His body floated in the air, his Observation Haki covering the entire battlefield, as if he were in control of everything like a god.
He was on the battlefield, and there was no one who could pose a threat to him. The only people with a strong presence were two Vice Admiral generals.
One was on the side of the Christie Kingdom, and the other was on the side of the Three Kingdoms Allied Forces; they were the Admiral of their respective sides.
Judging from his aura, the general from the Christie Kingdom, with its deeper foundation, is stronger.
If it weren't for the Night Pirates, this war might have been even more brutal.
Pirates, bounty hunters, and even more so, mercenaries, participating in wars between kingdoms is the norm in this world.
The kingdom only needs to pay some money to gain the help of these powerful people who are driven by profit.
If the war can be won, the benefits gained will far outweigh the money spent.
By occupying the Sagarros Sea Night Pirates effectively excluded these mercenaries, preventing them from participating in the war.
Even the war between the four countries was little known to the outside world; most attention was focused on the Night Pirates.
The isolation of information was essential for the Night Pirates' settlement on Saint Louis Island, to prevent the leakage of intelligence.
The vast plains and the massive army of over a million people gathered together created a truly spectacular sight.
Amidst the smoke of battle, the allied forces of the three kingdoms had already deployed an iron net on their own territory to halt the advance of the Christie Kingdom's army.
A dense array of fortresses and bunkers stood before and behind the iron fence.
There are no military fortresses here, only a long defensive line. Because the battlefield is on a plain, military fortresses can be bypassed and are not very useful.
Compared to the allied forces of the three countries, the actions of the Christie Kingdom seemed somewhat perfunctory. Through the live broadcast footage, it was possible to discern the level of seriousness both sides were taking this war.
The soldiers of the Christie Kingdom were full of confidence. Before the war began, they had received some information from their superiors that powerful reinforcements were coming.
This dispelled their doubts and boosted their morale; they still had great trust in the kingdom.
Not only were the viewers puzzled, but even the high command of their opponents, the Three Kingdoms Allied Forces, were somewhat confused. They had clashed with the Christie Kingdom's army before, but they couldn't figure out what they were up to.
They were not happy; instead, they became wary, wondering if the Christie Kingdom had some secret weapon in mind, given that they had taken the initiative to attack and start the war.
"What on earth is the Christie Kingdom up to?" a general asked, his brow furrowed.
The others were also somewhat puzzled. Those present were all high-ranking military officials from the three kingdoms. Although there were rifts and even some grudges between them, since they had united, they had put aside some of their grievances in the face of an enemy like the Christie Kingdom.
"Don't worry about it. Just make the war preparations and go all out. They can't defeat us just by relying on some secret weapon."
"Once we break through this crumbling defense line, we can tear a piece of flesh from the Christie Kingdom," a general said excitedly, which also aroused the greed in the hearts of the others. For a kingdom, the most important thing is its territory.
The larger the territory, the stronger the kingdom; after all, with territory, resources and population are plentiful.
"Then let's go! Let's have a great battle!"
The two armies faced each other, gazing at each other from afar. The air seemed heavy, as if war could break out at any moment.
At that very moment, instinctively, the people on the battlefield couldn't help but raise their heads, as if they had sensed something.
This spontaneous sense of crisis suggests that something terrible is about to happen.
Soon, they saw a figure appear in the sky above the center of the battlefield, descending slowly from a high altitude.
As the people of the Christie Kingdom and the warriors on the battlefield watched the video, they gradually recognized the person's appearance. They froze, their eyes wide, mouths agape, trembling and unable to utter a word.
This person seemed to be the center of the world, attracting everyone's attention. Even those who hadn't seen him couldn't help but look at him.
"Uh... ah... Dark Emperor... Teach!!"