The revelry on Hachinosu lasted for two days.
The barrels of wine were empty, the roast meat was reduced to bones, and even the usually composed genetically engineered soldiers joined in the revelry all night.
Yamato and danced in the square while holding a spiked club, smashing several craters into the ground.
Bullet and Savi drank until dawn, and in the end, the two put their arms around each other's shoulders and became sworn brothers. When they woke up the next day, neither of them remembered anything about it.
On the morning of the third day, the sun rose as usual.
The excitement of the revelry finally began to subside.
The port returned to its former order, with ships coming and going and soldiers performing their duties.
Bullet's roar echoed across the training field again, and vendors set up their stalls on the commercial street; everything was back to normal.
However, everyone's energy and spirit were clearly different.
Those soldiers who heard about the battle at the " Eye of the Abyss " walked with a swagger.
He would tell everyone he met how the three emperors were completely outmaneuvered by the captain, and how the navy suffered heavy casualties, speaking with great enthusiasm, like a storyteller.
Roy stood by the palace window, watching the bustling scene on the island, a smile playing on his lips.
That's about it.
It's time to get down to business.
Nine o'clock in the morning, in the conference room.
The core members arrived one after another. Bullet was the last to enter, yawning and still smelling of alcohol. He plopped down and started rubbing his temples.
" Bullet, are you drunk?" Tesoro teased.
"Get lost." Bullet glared at him irritably. "I can hold my liquor pretty well."
"Then why do you look like you're about to die?"
"That Savi insisted on having a drinking contest with me..."
Sitting opposite him, Savi chuckled, looking energetic and as if nothing had happened.
Bullet was even more frustrated.
Roy tapped on the table, and the room fell silent.
"Alright, let's get down to business."
He stood up, walked to the wall, and pulled back the curtain—a huge map of the New World's oceans appeared before everyone.
The map is marked with densely packed territories of power: Whitebeard, Big Mom, Golden Lion, and Hachinosu, the four forces intertwined.
"This Pure Gold thing has already caused quite a stir."
Roy pointed to the map,
" Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Big Mom—all three have suffered heavy losses."
The situation was even worse for the navy, with nearly 10,000 dead and wounded, including several Vice Admiral.
Bullet grinned. "Serves you right."
Roy glanced at him and continued, "They're badly injured and won't be making any major moves anytime soon. So—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"This is the perfect time for us to expand."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
"Expansion?" Bullet perked up. "Who are we going to attack?"
Roy pointed to the islands on the map marked with the flags of Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Big Mom.
"These places are nominally the territory of the three major powers, but their actual control is very weak."
We usually rely on displaying flags to intimidate them, but now that they're preoccupied with their own problems, it's the perfect time for us to intervene.
Roy explained the plan in detail:
They divided their forces into three groups and, taking advantage of the weakened state of the three major powers, swiftly annexed the islands and kingdoms located at the border.
" Bullet led his team north, advancing towards Whitebeard's territory."
" Hawk Eyes is leading the team eastward, heading towards the Golden Lion's territory."
" Tesoro leads the team south to take the island near Big Mom."
"I'm stationed on Hachinosu, coordinating operations from the center."
Bullet jumped up. "I've been waiting for this for ages!"
Hawk Eyes nodded slightly without speaking, but his hand was already on the Black Blade.
Tesoro grinned. "Don't worry, boss, I guarantee the mission will be accomplished."
Crocodile, cigar in mouth, exhaled a smoke ring. "And me?"
"You're in charge of intelligence. Report any unusual activity over there immediately."
Crocodile nodded.
Red Count, leaning on his cane, asked with a smile, " Roy, aren't you afraid that the three emperors will personally intervene?"
Roy smiled and pointed to the newspaper on the table.
"Afraid? Afraid of what?"
"Do you think they'd actually come all the way here to fight me over a few border islands?"
Red Count thought for a moment, then shook his head.
On Whitebeard's side, Marco and Jozu were both seriously injured, and Whitebeard himself had also had his stamina depleted by Akainu and Aokiji.
Although Golden Lion was fast, his Flying Pirates suffered significant losses.
Big Mom suffered the most; Katakuri was seriously injured, and Smoothie and Cracker are still bedridden.
Should we start a full-scale war with the Roy Pirates at this point?
Those three old guys are shrewd; they wouldn't do something so stupid.
"Then it's settled."
Roy waved his hand,
We're leaving tomorrow.
The next morning, all three fleets set off simultaneously from the port.
Bullet, accompanied by Savi, Yamato, Pea, Charon, and others, sailed north in a grand procession of more than a dozen warships.
Hawk Eyes's fleet was the quietest; Black Blade Yoru hung from the bow, its cold gleam deterring anyone from approaching.
The most lively scene was on Tesoro's side. This guy stood at the bow of his ship, lightning crackling around him, waving towards the shore. "Wait for my triumphant return!"
The three fleets disappeared into the morning mist.
The next three months brought about a complete upheaval in the New World.
Bullet led his team northwards, and wherever they went, the islands that had previously flown the Whitebeard flag changed their flags.
When the island's inhabitants saw the fleet from Hachinosu, some welcomed it, some watched from the sidelines, and some considered rebelling.
Anyone who tried to resist was silenced by a single punch from Bullet.
It wasn't that he was cruel—most of the troops stationed on those islands were small pirate crews, using Whitebeard's name to intimidate others.
The battle with Pure Gold severely weakened the Whitebeard Pirates, leaving these smaller pirate crews without their backers and filled with unease.
When Bullet's fleet arrived, some people fled immediately, while others offered only token resistance before running away.
Occasionally, there would be a few tough opponents, Bullet would personally take them down, one punch at a time, swift and decisive.
In just one month, all seven islands and two kingdoms north of Whitebeard's territory came under the control of Hachinosu.
Whitebeard's side did react.
Marco led a group to intercept them once, but they were utterly defeated by Bullet and Savi, and escaped injured.
Upon receiving the news, Whitebeard remained silent for a long time before finally saying only, "Let him be."
It's not that we don't want to fight, it's that we can't afford to.
Hawk Eyes's situation went even better.
Golden Lion's Flying Pirates had a loosely organized territory. Those floating Sky Island drifted around, and their control was far less than Whitebeard's.
Hawk Eyes's fleet sailed eastward, and before they even drew their swords, the islands had already voluntarily hoisted the Hachinosu flag.
It's not that they wanted to change; it's that nobody on the Golden Lion side was taking care of them.
After the battle of Pure Gold, the Golden Lion returned to his lair with the fragments, ignoring the fate of his subordinates.
The troops stationed on those islands can't even get paid, and they're barely making ends meet.
As soon as the fleet from Hachinosu arrived, someone asked directly, "Is food and lodging included?"
Hawk Eyes nodded expressionlessly.
"Then we'll follow you!"
In just half a month, all five islands and three kingdoms to the east of the Golden Lion surrendered.
When the Golden Lion found out, he scoffed dismissively and didn't take it seriously.
He's busy studying Pure Gold.