Yet even after Blackbeard ordered the entire fleet to retreat at once, the unbroken formation across the sea could not simply turn around and leave. The vast pirate armada pivoted with extreme slowness.
Blackbeard's flagship had been at the very front of the marching formation. Now that the fleet was retreating, it had instead become the rearmost ship. Only after the rest of the pirate fleet began moving and the other ships cleared a passage could Blackbeard's flagship return to its place at the head of the formation.
But at that moment, Blackbeard received news he was extremely unwilling to hear.
"Chief! It's Aokiji! Aokiji has moved!" The spy secretly planted in Dressrosa reported the latest intelligence. "Not long ago, Dressrosa began assembling its troops. The externally deployed Jel� Legion has already set out, while Dressrosa's local forces are still gathering. Aokiji himself left Dressrosa alone long ago!"
"!!!" Blackbeard's eyelid twitched. The Jel� Legion's defection to Uchiha Hikaru had made every major power envious for a long time. In particular, they had split up and put down rebellions in several countries in succession, sending their reputation soaring. They were one of Uchiha Hikaru's two most capable main forces. Yet he had heard they were still fighting elsewhere not long ago—how had they suddenly returned to Dressrosa?
Blackbeard grabbed the Den Den Mushi and contacted every ship and division. "Tactical adjustment. Guard against a flanking assault by the legion. News has arrived that the Jel� Legion is already on the move. All units, prepare yourselves. Do not get drawn into battle. Withdraw quickly!"
The Jel� Legion?
The faces of ordinary pirates changed the moment they heard that name.
They were legendary war experts, nation-destroying machines, an invincible force of myth. They could easily cross the Red Line and travel between