The meeting room was silent.
Only the faint crackle of burning tobacco could be heard...
A long while later...
Rustle-
The documents were crumpled into a ball. Red-Hair rose, and everyone sat a little straighter.
Shanks swept his gaze over the group and slowly spoke.
"Let's put all that aside for now."
"What's everyone's decision on the counterattack?"
Yasopp flashed a confident smile. Lucky Roux tore into the meat in his hand and grinned at Shanks.
No one spoke, but they all smiled in unison...
Shanks smiled too. He pressed down on his hat, then raised his head slightly.
"In that case..."
"Everyone..."
"Begin the counterattack!!!"
His steady voice rang through the silent meeting room.
It was met with a thunderous cheer from everyone present.
"Yeah!!!!!"
New World, the Steam Sea Pirates' base.
Hale Nock was holding a banquet to celebrate a young man who had just joined their Pirates Crew and been promoted straight to fifth commander...
Just then, one of his pirates ran over to report.
"Lord Nock!"
"The Red Hair Pirates sent a message asking whether we'll join their counterattack."
Hale Nock's interest stirred.
"Oh?"
"That fellow finally made up his mind?"
Compared to Shanks and his endless deliberation, Hale Nock was more aggressive. He did not know what Sakazuki was after, but he would attack first and worry about that later.
Although the soldiers under Kuzan followed Sakazuki's orders to retreat when they could no longer hold their ground, their casualties were still considerable.
After all, their comrades had paid for those islands with their lives. How could they abandon them so easily...?
Hale Nock did not know Sakazuki's intentions, but this suited him perfectly.
He had suffered far too many losses at Sakazuki's hands over the years. How he hated him...
Troops streamed toward