"Besides, we've already gotten enough from this battle."
Roy continued, counting on his fingers:
"If Ryokugyu gets caught, Sengoku won't escape either."
The loss of two Admiral- level combatants is already a major blow to the Navy.
Bullet and his team also destroyed G-1 and G-2 bases, leaving the New World without a place for the Navy.
"More importantly, Nika has appeared in the world."
The World Government's greatest fear right now isn't us, but the reappearance of Joy Boy.
They'll be focused entirely on Straw Hat Luffy, and won't have time to worry about Hachinosu.
Kaido listened, a grin spread across his face again.
Roy looked at him:
"If you lose Garp and Fujitora, then the World Government will have no way out."
Having lost four Admiral, they have no way out but to fight us with all their might.
Even if we won back then, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.
"This is for the best."
Let Luffy leave, leaving the World Government scrambling to deal with Nika's situation. Let's hurry and finish our final preparations."
Kaido was silent for a moment, then laughed loudly.
"Hehehehe-- Roy, you're still as cunning as ever."
That's called foresight.
Roy patted his arm and looked at the eastern horizon, which was gradually turning white.
A faint glimmer of dawn was appearing on the horizon, but scattered flames still burned on Onigashima.
The smoke and fog mixed together, making the whole island look like a giant beast that had just gone through a fierce battle.
"The game is in the middle stages," Roy said softly. "Next comes the endgame."
········
Three days.
Sengoku survived alone on Onigashima for three whole days.
King, along with the All-Stars and the Flying Six, relentlessly attacked day and night, giving him no chance to breathe.
The former Fleet Admiral dragged his nearly broken body back and forth across the ruins of Onigashima, fighting his way through the golden Buddhist light, which went from blinding to dim, and then from dim to barely visible.
By the evening of the third day, the Sengoku had finally ended.
Exhaustion had left Sengoku's body completely unresponsive.
The golden light dissipated with a "poof," like a candle blown out by the wind.
Sengoku lay supine on the ruins, his chest heaving violently, the blood he coughed up staining a large patch of his clothes red.
Even so, his face, covered in dust and blood, showed no sign of submission.
Jin sheathed his flaming sword and walked up to him.
"Mr. Sengoku, it's over."
Jack pressed down on his shoulder from the right, and Queen grabbed his arm from the left.
Sengoku had no strength left to resist. His arms were twisted behind his back, and the heavy Seastone shackles snapped shut.
The chains were wrapped around him, one loop after another, from head to toe, from shoulders to ankles, tightly binding him.
The unique tactile sensation of the Seastone drained the last bit of strength from Sengoku's body.
He didn't speak.
The Seastone chains were so heavy that even breathing became difficult after he was pressed to the ground.
But he still struggled to lift his head and glance at the setting sun over the distant sea.
The setting sun bathed his face in an orange-red hue.
Then he was lifted up and thrown into the Onigashima dungeon.
The dungeon was cold and damp, with torches on the walls being the only source of light.
Ryokugyu huddled in the corner, his body also bound in Seastone chains, his cheeks sunken, his hair frighteningly white, making him look thirty years older.
He lifted his eyelids and saw Sengoku being thrown in, and paused for a moment.
Then he laughed, a laugh that looked more like a grimace.
" Fleet Admiral... I apologize for the embarrassing situation."
Sengoku leaned against the wall and struggled to sit up straight.
He glanced at Ryokugyu's appearance, then at the dark cell, and suddenly let out a "ha!"
"You little brat, you're still alive?"
Half-Life.
Ryokugyu said,
"That guy stole my soul and my lifespan... My current body is probably even worse than yours."
"That's true."
The fact that he could still laugh Sengoku is astounding.
This means we both failed in the same way.
"Fortunately, Garp and Fujitora are still safe and sound, otherwise the Navy would have truly collapsed!"
Ryokugyu chuckled, but then he started coughing.
The two high-ranking naval officers leaned against the dungeon wall, watching the sky outside gradually darken through the ventilation window.
Onigashima, the unfinished game continues.
In the square, captured warriors and Mink Tribe fighters were escorted away in batches.
Some were taken to Udon to mine, while others were executed directly in a corner of the square.
Jhin personally led the team to wipe them out.
With the return of the Nine Red Scabbards,
Oden's supporters, hidden throughout Wano Country, were exposed one by one, like pulling up a radish along with the mud, uprooting them completely.
Of the samurai and Mink Tribe warriors brought by the Nine Red Scabbards, less than one-tenth survived, and most of them became prisoners.
What awaits them is to become miners again, with no hope of ever rising again.
Kaido even personally inspected the battlefield.
Looking at the prisoners kneeling on the ground and the piles of spoils, he nodded in satisfaction and immediately ordered his men to bring over several jars of fine sake, which he then downed three jars in one go.
That night, the main hall of Onigashima was brightly lit.
The Beasts Pirates held a grand victory celebration banquet, with mountains of wine and meat piled up. The officers sat in a circle, and the noise was so loud that the roof of the hall was buzzing.
Kaido sat in the main seat, his long hair cascading down, his face flushed red from the smell of alcohol.
He poured several jugs of water, then suddenly grabbed Roy's hand beside him.
Roy!
" The Wano Country has now been pacified!"
The navy got a real beating!
When should we launch a full-scale attack on the World Government?
My big stick is about to smash Mary Geoise to pieces!
Roy sipped his wine slowly, his fingers gently tracing the rim of the glass.
"Now is not the time."
Kaido frowned.
Roy smiled when he saw his expression.
"Don't worry. The World Government isn't going anywhere."
Our own strength can be improved significantly.
Roy put down his wine cup, his tone becoming serious.
"The replication of Devil Fruit on Hachinosu has already yielded some initial results."
Before long, I will have someone send the Replica Fruit to Wano Country.
Your core team members will soon be able to achieve the three-fruit configuration.
"Three fruits?"
Kaido's eyes suddenly lit up, and he was mostly sober.
Roy nodded.
"Right.
With the Replica Fruit, each of your All-Stars and Flying Six can eat one or two more top-tier Devil Fruits.
Doubling your strength is just the beginning.
Kaido slapped his thigh and laughed wildly, looking up at the sky.
"Ha ha ha ha--!
Three fruits!
Lao Tzu's Beasts Pirates will eventually become the strongest army on this sea!
He was laughing for a while when he suddenly stopped and stared at Roy.
" Roy, I'll listen to you for now. But don't keep me waiting too long."
Roy raised his wine cup and clinked it against Kaido's.
"Don't worry, it'll be quick."