Chapter 142: Chapter 141: The Horns of War
On the deck of a warship bearing the large insignia of a crane, Vice Admiral Crane was in communication with headquarters.
"Admiral Kū,"
"The evidence is conclusive; Kaido is actively manufacturing and distributing drugs on a large scale."
"Such reckless behavior exceeds the authority granted to the Seven Warlords and warrants his arrest."
...
"That's the situation,"
With his snowy white hair reaching to the heavens and a "mountain" beard on his chin, Admiral Kū's voice resonated in the cabin as he continued the conversation.
"I received a protest from the Holy Wo Village, accusing you of abusing your power,"
"Of course, those guys are just talking nonsense; what's important is that Kaido has conveyed his stance through the Holy Wo Village's emissaries: if you approach Jaya Island, he will immediately lead his forces into the New World and once again become a pirate!"
"So, what about the vacancy after that?"
"Our Navy is already struggling with manpower against the legendary pirates. New faces appear in the Grand Line every year, and it's challenging to keep up with them."
"While Kaido may not be a good person, he has been helping us share the pressure along one of the routes."
"The issue we'll face once we force him into becoming a pirate or capture him is: who will take his place?"
In this era, the strongest man was at the peak of his power, the Red Count was untouchable, Roger's Pirate Crew roamed the seas, and Big Mom boldly founded her own nation...
Most of the Navy's main combat forces were deeply embroiled in the New World.
As for the new pirates pouring into the Great Line, they were entrusted to the Seven Warlords—corresponding to the seven routes in the first half of the Grand Line.
Of course, whether these pacified pirates were willing to exert themselves was another matter.
If they only sought benefits without contributing, then Garp could handle it.
"The vacancy..."
Vice Admiral Crane turned to look at the young man beside him.
"If the Donquixote Family defeats Kaido, we can entrust them with the management of that route. How about that?"
"?! "
"If the Donquixote Family, one of the Seven Warlords, defeats Kaido, we can entrust them with the management of that route. How about that?"
It was a casual statement from the Vice Admiral, but it left no room for disagreement.
"Yes, Doflamingo, one of the leaders of the Donquixote Family, is currently on board my ship."
With that said, Crane handed the Den Den Mushi directly to the young man.
"Admiral Kū, greetings."
"I am Donquixote Rosinante."
Facing Rosinante's greeting, the Admiral on the other side fell into a brief silence before speaking slowly.
"So, Rosinante, how should I address you—"
Is it the pirate Rosinante, the merchant Rosinante, or Rosinante the saint?
"I'm just an ordinary law-abiding citizen."
Rosinante's humility made Crane, and even those in the vicinity, couldn't help but raise their heads and look up at the sky. In a world where people would massacre islands and nations for fame and power, or even attack the World Government and assassinate Celestial Dragons, this Rosinante sounded as if he were an obscure nobody.
"For Kaido's heinous crimes, our Donquixote Family cannot stand idly by!"
"We are duty-bound to maintain world peace!"
...
These words might have been expected from the Marines, but hearing them from the mouth of a leader of the Donquixote Family left Vice Admiral Crane momentarily unsure of how to respond.
Could it be that Monkey D. Dragon's influence is so great that even the World Nobles, who once built their reputation on slaughtering and conquering, can be turned into righteous individuals?
As a Navy Fleet Admiral, Crane was well aware of the cooperation between the Donquixote Family and Monkey D. Dragon in the North Blue.
It's just that he didn't expect these words to come from a member of the Donquixote Family.
"Give the phone to Crane,"
After a few seconds of contemplation, Fleet Admiral Kū made a decision.
"Report!"
As Zephyr, the Vice Admiral, entered the room without looking around, Vice Admiral Crane had already given him a salute.
"Zephyr, the upcoming mission—"
Vice Admiral Crane looked towards the young girl who had just entered the room. Although there was a significant age difference between them, their relationship was akin to sisters.
"You've been granted 'leave' temporarily to work as a 'Inspector' for the Navy, alongside the Donquixote Family."
"If they commit any illegal acts or come into conflict with other factions, report to me immediately."
The words were so clear that Zephyr, not being a fool, could discern the unspoken implications of Vice Admiral Crane's message.
In the conflict between the Donquixote Family and Kaido, the Navy was leaning toward the Donquixote Family.
However, due to certain reasons, Vice Admiral Crane couldn't personally intervene, so she was accompanying the Donquixote Family. She served as both a crucial combat force and a means of communication with the Navy.
The relationship between Zephyr and Rosinante added an extra layer of security to this operation.
"Yes, sir!"
Zephyr saluted once again.
"I promise to complete the mission!"
As she and Rosinante left the cabin, they received a parting remark, not in the form of an order: "Stay safe."
"Welcome, welcome,"
"Please, have a seat, take the best chair—"
"What would you like to drink? We have the finest tea~~~"
Onboard the Donquixote Family's ship, Zephyr sat nervously in the cabin, surrounded by Donquixote Family members, whose smiles seemed to conceal a hint of menace.
"You guys..."
Seeing this, Rosinante, with a headache, rubbed his temples and sat down across from Zephyr.
"Don't mind them; just consider this place your own—"
Although the forced smiles of Trebol and Diamante looked ominous, as if the cushions were rigged with bombs and the tea was poisoned, they genuinely had no "malice."
If it were any other Marines, the Donquixote Family wouldn't even spare them a second glance. But Zephyr was different:
If it weren't for her on the "Ping Tower," Rosinante and Doflamingo might not have emerged victorious in the internal crew battle, securing their positions as the ultimate victors.
Furthermore, Rosinante had learned his combat skills from Zephyr herself and then taught them to the family, helping the Donquixote Family survive the difficult early days of development.
In addition, their relationship with Rosinante was an added assurance of the mission's feasibility.
"Alright, everyone, please be quiet."
Doflamingo, wearing a pink feathered coat, entered the cabin, and Trebol and the others immediately stopped their antics, either sitting or standing, quietly waiting for the leaders' words.
"This time, our target is Kaido,"
Rosinante spoke first, pointing to the map of the Grand Line on the table.
"The Navy won't get involved for certain reasons, so Miss Zephyr here will accompany us under the guise of an 'Inspector.'"
"Miss Zephyr's strength is not inferior to mine."
Rosinante started by sharing their capabilities. Then he turned to Doflamingo.
"Fufufu, everything on my end is arranged as well."
With a single glance from Rosinante, Doflamingo took over the topic.
"When we arrive at Jaya Island, 'reinforcements' will join us to bolster our forces."
While sheer numbers didn't matter much to strong individuals, even swatting ants could be a waste of time. Fighting against an opponent of the same caliber, a sudden bite from an ant might lead to defeat.
With just ten members, even with the inclusion of the Mink Tribe's Little Minks and Rody, attacking Kaido's headquarters on Jaya Island would be a stretch.
So Doflamingo was responsible for the "cannon fodder" aspect.
With everything planned accordingly, Rosinante nodded.
"Then, let's set sail now. Our target is—"
Jaya Island!
At the same time,
Jaya Island,
"Has the Donquixote Family departed from Foodvalten?"
"Only one ship? What about the Navy—"
Facing Kaido's inquiry, the scholarly-looking staff member stepped forward.
"No movement,"
"Perhaps a small number of Navy personnel are undercover on the Donquixote ship, but Vice Admiral Crane has been under our watchful eye all along, so that much is certain."
"Is that so?"
The man, seated on his throne, appeared thoughtful.
And the last of the three staff members below, the "Dark Chef" Kayu, bowed slightly.
"Sir, there is no doubt that the other side is not reckless."
"A mere pirate ship challenging your authority, sir, surely they must have some confidence. If the Navy isn't taking action, there's a good chance nearby pirates will be drawn to this challenge."
"With the reputation of challenging the Seven Warlords, many ambitious individuals are likely to be interested."
"Hehehe, mere newcomers."
"To occupy two islands and think they can compare to my years of prestige?!"
Under normal circumstances, when facing a colossal force like the Seven Warlords, an equally substantial force would be required to engage them. The style of battle where you could kill countless foot soldiers, wipe out elite forces, and even take on officers, and still not go down no matter how much you were hit, pushing the boss to despair and eventually defeating them, was only used by specific individuals.
Considering the Donquixote Family's operating style, they weren't likely to be such mindless individuals.
"You go there in person,"
"Convey my orders: gather all the pirates in the seas of Spring Island, Byway Island, and Gaya Island—"
Standing up from his throne, the man draped in a rainbow-colored coat continued.
"All pirates in the specified regions, come see me!"
"Anyone who dares to be absent—kill them!"
With a wave of his hand, the masked "Bartolomeo" signaled to the three staff members, "Understood!" (x3).
Blond-haired and silver-eyed Ricarluo naturally didn't need to say much. As an Animal-type Devil Fruit user with the ability to command Dual Colors Haki, he was a master at it. In the first half of the Grand Line, he was almost "invincible."
The "Dark Chef" Kayu, despite being stabbed through the chest by Rosinante and nearly collapsing, had held his own. It was because Rosinante had taken over his primary offense, leaving him free to recover. In terms of strength, the adept user of basic Haki, wielding the great fast blade "Eternal Spirit," and proficient in various poisons was also a formidable foe, with a bounty of 140 million.
As for the scholarly-looking scholar between Ricarluo and Kayu, who seemed to be just an information manager, it appeared that he was a mere clerk. However, in this world, "staff" and "scientists" almost always had formidable strength.
With the three of them and their strengths, combined with the name of "Seven Warlords," it was believed that pirates in the nearby seas would soon be rallying to them. This way, they could prevent these people from joining the enemy while also using them as cannon fodder.
Just the thousands of pirates daring to enter the New World would be enough to consume a significant amount of the Donquixote Family's stamina!
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(End of this chapter)
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