Unlike the chaos and turmoil outside, the Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise was eerily quiet.
On the towering tower, Shamrock stood with his hands behind his back in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the densely packed Army formations in the square below.
The black armor stretched as far as the eye could see, the ranks were perfectly aligned, and even their breathing seemed to be at the same frequency, creating a deathly silence and a chilling atmosphere.
"Grown ups."
A CP0 member appeared silently behind him, kneeling on one knee.
The news that Straw Hat Luffy has become the Pirate King has spread Four Blues.
Pirates are causing trouble everywhere, and the Navy is about to be overwhelmed. Should we...?
Ignore them.
Shamrock spoke, his voice soft but carrying an undeniable chill.
"Let the Navy deal with mere pirates. Our top priority right now is to guard against any actions from Hachinosu!"
"How is the Army's assembly progressing?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, seventy percent of the troops have been assembled, and more are still arriving in droves."
"Continue to reinforce troops."
Shamrock gave the order calmly.
Proceed according to the original plan.
"Wait for them to come to us."
"Yes."
The CP0 members bowed and withdrew.
Shamrock was the only one left in the tower.
He looked up at the distant horizon, where the outline of the Red Line stretched and undulated beneath the clouds.
Eight hundred years.
The World Government has been established for so long,
What Pirate King, what Revolutionary Army, what Hachinosu —in the end, they're all just pawns in this game of chess.
······················
Early the next morning, Roy climbed the highest watchtower on Hachinosu.
The tower soars into the clouds, and from the observation deck at the top, one can overlook most of the New World Ocean.
The sea breeze whipped at him, causing the hem of his black trench coat to flutter.
He rested his hands on the stone railing, his gaze sweeping over the patrolling fleet on the distant sea and over the layers of buildings on the island, quickly sorting out the overall situation in his mind.
In the New World, with the main fleet of Hachinosu guarding all the key entrances and passages, plus the Pluton Battleship and Seastone cannon array, the World Government's forces simply cannot break in.
The various affiliated forces also kept to themselves, and no one dared to cause trouble at this critical juncture.
It's fair to say that the New World's backyard is very secure.
The chaos is in the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Blues.
The Revolutionary Army launched attacks on all sides, and with the emergence of a massive number of new pirates, the main force of the navy was firmly tied down and unable to move.
This situation suited him perfectly.
The more chaotic the navy is, the fewer troops the World Government can commit to the New World, and the less pressure there will be when the final offensive begins.
"Boss, you were looking for me?"
Tesoro's voice came from behind him. He stepped onto the observation deck, holding a small golden abacus in his hand, clicking away rapidly.
"Um."
Roy turned around,
"I have something for you to do."
You will personally escort a batch of Devil Fruit replicas to the Revolutionary Army's territory and deliver them to Dragon.
Tesoro paused for a moment on his abacus. "For the Revolutionary Army?"
"Right."
Roy nodded.
"Let them use these fruits to cultivate more combat power, and let them cause even more trouble."
In short, we must keep the main force of the navy firmly pinned down in the Four Blues and the first half of the naval base, and never give them the opportunity to reinforce Mary Geoise.
Tesoro understood immediately.
This was intended to have the Revolutionary Army act as the vanguard, to restrain the navy for them.
"Understood, I'll personally make the trip and guarantee it will be handled perfectly."
Be careful on the road.
Roy added,
Don't create unnecessary complications.
Don't worry, boss.
Tesoro grinned, pocketed his abacus, and turned to leave the watchtower.
After giving instructions on providing support, Roy descended from the watchtower and headed straight for the Fish-Man settlement on the east side of the island.
This settlement was where the people who migrated from Fish-Man Island settled, Roy specifically designated a large area by the sea for them.
Upon reaching the entrance of the settlement, one can immediately sense an atmosphere different from other places.
The buildings on both sides of the street are decorated with coral and seashells, and are brightly colored and clean.
The streets were bustling with people, including Fish-Man with fins and ordinary human residents. Vendors hawked seafood and special snacks, and children chased after them, laughing and joking, without any sense of distance between them.
As Roy approached, people on the street stopped and bowed respectfully.
There was no fear in his eyes, only heartfelt respect.
Fish-Man Island was in dire straits, facing discrimination and capture. It was Roy who stepped in and brought them to Hachinosu.
They were given a stable place to live and the right to live an equal life.
This kindness is remembered by everyone on Fish-Man Island.
At the intersection, King Neptune and Queen Otohime were already waiting.
Neptune was dressed in simple royal attire, Queen Otohime was draped in a light-colored gauze robe. When they saw Roy approaching, they both stepped forward.
"Lord Roy."
No need for formalities.
Roy slightly raised his hand.
I came to see if everyone is settling in well.
"Everything is fine, everything is fine!"
Neptune quickly smiled and said,
"Everyone lives here so comfortably, no longer worrying about being kidnapped by human traffickers."
They no longer need to hide in the deep sea and dare not show themselves.
The children can now run on the shore, something that was unthinkable before.
Queen Otohime smiled gently and nodded.
"Thanks to you, everyone is able to live a peaceful life."
Roy nodded slightly and followed the two deeper into the settlement.
As we walked and observed, everything was indeed well-organized. The Fish-Man and humans got along very well, and there was not a trace of conflict between them.
They soon arrived at the palace in the center of the settlement.
Although it's called a palace, it's really just a large coral building; it's not luxurious, but it's very cozy.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard a burst of clear laughter.
Shirahoshi ran out from inside, dressed in a neat blue and white short-sleeved shirt and trousers, her long hair tied in a high ponytail, the ends of her hair swaying in the wind.
When she saw Roy, her eyes lit up, and she immediately stopped and gave a proper bow.
"Lord Roy."
Her voice was clear and bright, and she was poised and confident.
Roy looked at her with a bit of surprise.
When I first met Shirahoshi on Fish-Man Island, she was a timid and crybaby princess who hid in the Seashell Tower and was afraid to come out. She would cry at the drop of a hat.
In such a short time, his entire demeanor has changed. His eyes are bright, and his spirits are high.
She exudes a cheerful and confident aura, completely different from before.
Yes, there's no need to live in fear anymore.
No longer needing to worry about losing control of their emotions and attracting Sea Kings to destroy their home, their true nature is naturally unleashed.
" Princess Shirahoshi has grown quite a bit," Roy remarked casually.
Shirahoshi blushed slightly and lowered her head a little embarrassed.
Neptune smiled and sighed:
"Yes, ever since she arrived here, she goes out every day to play with the children."
I'm no longer cooped up indoors like before.
After exchanging a few jokes, Roy changed the subject and got down to business.
"I'm here today because there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
He looked at Neptune and Otohime, his tone calm.
"The final battle is about to begin, and we must settle things with the World Government."
Princess Shirahoshi's Poseidon power is a crucial element of her combat strength.
I plan to take her to the Calm Belt to test her combat skills and see how effective she is.