Challenging Whitebeard

Dressrosa, Royal Palace conference room.

Satoru Gojo sat at the head of the table and said to Kalifa:

"Kalifa, how is Dressrosa's development coming along?"

Kalifa immediately rose from her seat, opened the documents in her hands, and reported:

"Your Majesty! Over the past few months, our country's economy has developed rapidly. Our major factories are being completed one after another, and some have already begun production."

"Our goods continue to be exported. They dominate the markets in the New World, North Blue, and West Blue. However, the Red Line makes trade with East Blue, South Blue, and the first half of the Grand Line difficult, so our goods have yet to capture those markets."

There were only three ways to transport Dressrosa's goods to East Blue, South Blue, and the first half of the Grand Line.

The first was to submit a request to the World Government, then pass directly through the Holy Land Mary Geoise at the summit of the Red Line. However, the goods could not be transported by ship, making the cost too high. Besides, the World Government would never readily approve passage for anyone who defied them.

The second was to coat the cargo ships with Yarukiman Mangrove resin, dive ten thousand meters, and pass through a massive cavern beneath the Red Line, reaching the first half of the Grand Line by way of the "undersea route" through Fish-Man Island. However, it was dangerous, and the cost was far from low.

The third was to first cross the Calm Belt into North Blue or West Blue, then cross Reverse Mountain to enter the first half of the Grand Line.

All the cargo ships Dressrosa currently used were modified ships purchased from the system. They used oil-powered propulsion systems and had Seastone embedded in their hulls, allowing them to cross the Calm Belt just like the World Government's Marine warships.

The System-modified cargo ships deserved much of the credit for Dressrosa's goods becoming popular throughout North Blue and West Blue in just a few short months.

However, no matter which method the cargo ships used to reach the first half of the Grand Line, the costs would be high and the risks considerable.

Many merchants working with Dressrosa were unwilling to take such great risks, so they had yet to penetrate the markets in the first half of the Grand Line, East Blue, and South Blue. Only a small portion of their goods circulated there.

"All right, understood. I'll resolve the trade route problem for the first half of the Grand Line, East Blue, and South Blue."

"Resolve it?"

Kalifa had her doubts, but she did not voice them.

Establishing a stable trade route to the first half of the Grand Line, East Blue, and South Blue was almost impossible because the Red Line stood in the way. Unless someone tunneled through the Red Line-but how could anyone possibly do that?

"How is our navy's training coming along? Esdeath, Sasuke, Enel!"

Esdeath did not rise from her seat. Instead, she spoke directly:

"As planned, our navy has recruited a total of eighty thousand people from among the local residents and naturalized immigrants."

"Following the training methods you provided, they've already developed an initial level of combat capability."

Once Esdeath finished, Sasuke asked:

"What's the point of the training in those virtual training rooms? Do we even have warships like those?"

The virtual training rooms were places for training in warship operation and naval tactics. Satoru Gojo had purchased these training facilities from the system at a high price, allowing soldiers to undergo immersive naval combat and warship operation training.

The warships in the virtual training would become the mainstay of Dressrosa's navy. Neither their size nor their combat power could be matched by the World Government's Marine warships, so it was only natural for them to have these doubts.

"Of course we will. Once these eighty thousand sailors have finished training, they'll all be equipped with the warships from the virtual training."

"And you're naval officers. You haven't been neglecting your studies of officers' tactics and combat methods, have you?"

"Don't worry! Commanding naval battles is quite interesting. I haven't lost a single virtual battle!"

Esdeath spoke with considerable confidence.

"Hmph!"

Sasuke snorted.

"That's because I, a god, was going easy on you!"

Enel refused to concede either.

Esdeath had undergone virtual battle training against Sasuke, Enel, and the others, but she had always been the winner.

After all, she had been a great general who won every battle in the world of Akame ga Kill! Although she had switched from commanding an army to commanding a navy, the two shared common ground. How could beginners like Sasuke and Enel possibly be her match?

"Very good! Keep working hard, and strive to have our navy make its debut as soon as possible! Let the World Government's Marines see who truly has the world's greatest navy!"

"Yes!"

Esdeath, Sasuke, and Enel answered in unison.

"Dressrosa's development is already on track. I'll be going away for a while. During my absence, Kalifa will make all decisions. If anything major comes up that's difficult to decide, contact me directly by phone!"

"Where are you going, Your Majesty?"

Kalifa asked.

"To claim the title of the World's Strongest Man, of course!"

Satoru Gojo grinned.

Boom!!!

Satoru Gojo's casually spoken words were like an explosive thunderclap, leaving the ears of everyone present except Esdeath, Sasuke, and Enel ringing. They could not help wondering whether they had misheard him.

The room fell utterly silent, so quiet that even breathing could be heard.

At that moment, Kalifa, Koratt, Kyros, King Riku, Rebecca, and the others all widened their eyes, disbelief written across their faces.

Who was the World's Strongest Man right now?

Whitebeard!

Whitebeard was the captain of the world's most powerful pirate crew. His influence was immense, talented individuals abounded among his subordinates, and he reigned over the New World!

Even the Marines did not dare go to war with him lightly, yet Satoru Gojo had said he would take the title of the World's Strongest Man from Whitebeard!

Although Satoru Gojo had led the Jujutsu Pirates to defeat the Three Admirals, and his formidable strength was beyond question.

This time, however, Satoru Gojo intended to enter the Whitebeard Pirates' territory alone and challenge Whitebeard!

If the entire Jujutsu Pirates crew went, victory might not be difficult. But Satoru Gojo intended to challenge the entire Whitebeard Pirates crew alone. Could he win?

"Are you serious about challenging Whitebeard alone?"

Rebecca looked at Satoru Gojo, took a deep breath, and asked with a grave expression.

"Of course I'm serious. And you're coming too."

"Me too? I won't be much help! Aren't the Jujutsu Pirates' officers going?"

"I'm enough to deal with them on my own. It's not as though I'm asking you to fight. I'm just taking you along to broaden your horizons. You are my Royal Guard Commander, after all!"

"And Koratt, bring your subordinates along too. We leave tomorrow."

This time, Satoru Gojo would challenge Whitebeard as a pirate, not as a king, so he did not intend to take Dressrosa's army with him. Instead, he would have Koratt and his subordinates accompany him.