The Ark Maxim fly smoothly over the New World.
Roy sat in the captain's cabin, reviewing the intelligence on Hachinosu once again.
My fingers tapped lightly on the table, my mind racing through all the possible scenarios.
Ochoku... this name was somewhat vague in his memory.
The original work doesn't contain much description of the Rocks Pirates.
Ochoku only appeared a few times in the background story.
But since he was able to occupy Hachinosu for many years after Rocks' death, he must have had some ability.
"Captain, are you worried about Ochoku's strength?"
Stella entered the captain's cabin and brought a cup of hot tea.
Roy took the teacup, shook his head,
"It's not that I'm worried, it's that I'm thinking about how to take over Hachinosu at the lowest possible cost."
Roy pointed to a section of the intelligence report,
"Look here, Ochoku holds gladiatorial performances every month, letting his men fight each other for his own amusement."
What does this tell us?
This shows that he has no regard for human life and little affection for his subordinates.
A cold glint flashed in Roy's eyes.
Such people usually fall into two categories: either they are extremely confident and believe that no one can threaten them;
"Either extreme fear necessitates the use of violence to maintain rule."
Stella seemed lost in thought.
Which category do you think Ochoku to?
"Both."
Roy took a sip of tea.
"During the time of Rocks, he must have seen too many powerful figures and was well aware of the cruelty of the world."
So they chose to retreat to Hachinosu and numb themselves with pleasure.
But deep down, he probably also knew that he had betrayed the Rocks Pirates.
Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and the like will not let him go.
This contradictory psychology distorted his method of rule.
"Therefore, our surprise attack will likely catch him completely off guard."
Stella understood Roy's meaning.
"A person who lives in fear and pleasure for a long time will not have a strong fighting spirit."
"That's right."
Roy stood up and walked to the window.
But that doesn't mean the battle will be easy.
Ochoku was, after all, a former officer of the Rocks Pirates. Even if his strength had declined, his fighting instincts remained.
What we need to do is act swiftly and decisively, giving him no time to react.
He turned to look at Stella:
"Notify everyone to assemble in the conference room in three hours. I need to make final pre-battle preparations."
"Yes, Captain."
Three hours later, in the conference room.
The entire Roy Pirates was present, even the CP Five were sitting in the corner.
Although still somewhat reserved, the initial hostility in their eyes had vanished.
The training and time they spent together gave them a new understanding of the Roy Pirates.
Although these people were also pirates, they were disciplined and had clear goals, making them completely different from those villains who burned, killed, and looted.
More importantly, Roy promised to help them become stronger.
Protect them from being hunted down by the World Government.
This is the best option for them, who have already betrayed CP9.
"Everyone."
Roy stood before the conference table, his gaze sweeping over every face.
"Less than a day's flight from Hachinosu."
Before the battle begins, I have a few words to say.
He walked to the nautical chart and pointed to the location of Hachinosu:
"Our goal is to take over Hachinosu and build it into the base of the Roy Pirates in the New World."
But the occupation was not merely a military victory; more importantly, it was about gaining the recognition and support of the island's inhabitants.
Roy looked at everyone:
Therefore, remember three things during battle--
"First, minimize civilian casualties."
Our enemy is Ochoku and his core cadres, not the ordinary residents of the island.
Second, try not to damage infrastructure.
Ports, warehouses, residential areas... these are all future assets of Hachinosu.
Third, surrendered enemies can be given a chance.
Those who are willing to reform themselves can be recruited into the peripheral team;
Those who refuse can simply be deported; there's no need to exterminate them.
Bullet frowned.
" Roy, isn't that too merciful? Battles between pirates are always a matter of life and death."
" Bullet, you're wrong."
Roy said calmly,
"If our goal is simply to seize the treasure, then we certainly don't need to care about these things."
But what we want is long-term rule, to establish a stable base.
Killing and destruction only breed hatred, making rule difficult.
He paused, then continued:
" Hachinosu has 50,000 residents, most of whom are not combatants."
If we can project the image of a powerful and civilized ruler,
They will be more likely to accept us.
Conversely, if we commit mass killings on the island,
Even if Hachinosu were captured, endless resistance and rebellion would be faced.
Hawk Eyes nodded.
" Roy is right. Domination is not simply about military conquest; it also requires wisdom and magnanimity."
Tesoro added,
"Moreover, from a business perspective, a stable environment is essential for creating the greatest value."
If the merchants and artisans on the island are scared away, Hachinosu will be nothing but an empty shell.
Crocodile, cigar in mouth, remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded:
"That makes sense. I enjoy killing, but I don't like cleaning up the mess."
Roy looked at his companions with satisfaction:
"Very good, it seems everyone understands."
"Next, I will assign specific combat tasks."
He pulled up a detailed map of Hachinosu.
According to intelligence, Ochoku will hold a grand banquet in the main palace tonight.
The banquet begins at 7 p. m. and usually lasts until the early hours of the morning.
This is the perfect time for a surprise attack.
Roy pointed to several key points on the map.
" The Ark Maxim will land on the cliff behind the main island, where the defenses are weakest."
The landing time was set for 8 PM, when the banquet would be at its peak and the guards would be least vigilant.
"After landing, the troops split into four groups--"
"The first route: me, Bullet, Hawk Eyes, Tesoro, Crocodile, straight to the Ochoku Palace."
The goal is to quickly eliminate Ochoku and his core subordinates.
"The second team, Kyros, Kuma, Savi, Enel, is responsible for clearing out the island's defenses."
"In particular, ports and watchtowers must be controlled immediately."
"The third team, Pea, Charon, and Yamato, is responsible for protecting the civilian area and preventing looting during the chaos."
"The fourth team, Moria and the CP Five, will infiltrate the underground vault to ensure the safety of the treasure."
Roy looked at everyone:
"Does everyone understand their task?"
"Understood!" everyone answered in unison.
"Good."
Roy looked serious.
"This is the Roy Pirates' first battle in the New World, and we must win spectacularly."
We must not only win, but also demonstrate our magnanimity and strength.
Let the New World see, a new power is rising.
After the meeting, everyone returned to their posts to make final preparations.
Roy stood on the deck, gazing at the darkening sky ahead.
The night sky in the New World is different from that of the Four Blues; the stars here are brighter.
It's as if each one contains infinite possibilities.