New World, Atvoll Sea, Jin transformed into a fiery bird and flew mid-air, gazing down at Charlotte Linlin and her crew.
"Ma ma ma, you managed to escape from the mirror! Truly one of Locke's Pirate Crew's three great illusionists," Charlotte Linlin remarked, looking up at Jin with a teasing tone.
The flames on the Singing Ship slowly died down "Hmph! Charlotte Linlin, are you prepared to go to war with Locke's Pirate Crew?" Ignoring Charlotte Linlin's mockery, Jin asked in a cold tone.
"Ma ma ma! Didn't I say it from the beginning? I came here to welcome the captain of your family, Locke!" Charlotte Linlin replied.
"If you want to talk about fighting, you made the first move!"
"Exactly, that's right!"
"Firebird scoundrel, you were the one who attacked first!" Zeus and Prometheus, floating beside Charlotte Linlin, added their voices to the discussion.
"Shinpei, let's retreat." Realizing the enemy's disposition, Jin decided not to continue the confrontation. He knew that with his and Shinpei's strength, they couldn't defeat Charlotte Linlin.
If they couldn't defeat her, it was better to retreat decisively, gather information, and wait for Locke's support.
"Got it!" Shinpei responded and promptly jumped into the sea, diving deep below. With a cold glance at Charlotte Linlin and her crew, Jin flew into the sky, disappearing.
This skirmish ended with Jin and Shinpei's ship being destroyed and Charlotte Linlin's Singing Ship, heavily damaged and sinking into the sea.
After Jin and Shinpei had disappeared entirely, the pirates on the Singing Ship busied themselves with various tasks.
"Quick, extinguish the fire completely! And send some people into the sea to rescue Owen!" Perospero directed the pirates on the ship, ensuring that they worked efficiently.
Charlotte Linlin and Katakurisu gathered together. "Katakurisu, my most favored son. Who do you think has a better chance in a fight between you and Jin?" Charlotte Linlin, lying down and enjoying her dessert, asked casually.
Katakurisu remained silent for a moment before giving his answer. "It's hard to say."
"Is that so." With Katakurisu's response, Charlotte Linlin fell silent.
Among the pirates in the Grand Line, the Charlotte family was currently the most influential force since the defeat of the Golden Lion Shiki. They had numerous offspring and had formed alliances with various factions.
However, their embarrassing situation was that, despite their vast power, they needed more high-end combatants.
Apart from their eldest son, Perospero and the second son, Katakurisu, they had few combatants worth mentioning. Although their family had many pirates under their command, only a few strong fighters could compete on the grand stage.
"It seems I need to chat with Kaido," Charlotte Linlin thought silently. Meanwhile, in a remote, unnamed island in the New World: Captain Roger and Captain Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, unexpectedly encountered each other.
"Hehehe! I sense the presence of a beast! Over there!" Oden Kozuki, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, shouted with excitement as he stepped off the ship and rushed towards the direction of the Roger Pirates.
"Hey! Oden, be careful! Our opponent isn't some ordinary character! Don't be reckless!" Marco the Phoenix, the first division commander warned, but Oden paid him no mind and charged forward.
"Arlong, what a formidable aura! We can't let him rampage!" Rayleigh and Jozu left and right-hand men of Roger and Whitebeard, respectively, picked up their weapons, preparing to intercept Oden.
"Hehehe! I'll handle this guy! Hey Rayleigh, Jozu, leave him to me! I don't want to see you guys getting hurt!" Feeling the immense aura of Oden, Roger laughed heartily and moved ahead, overtaking Rayleigh and Jozu to face Oden.
"Heh, it's been a while since I last saw you, Whitebeard!" Roger grinned broadly and waved his sword, facing against Whitebeard's massive polearm.
"Ha! Roger, it's been too long indeed!" Whitebeard roared back, holding his massive glaive as he clashed with Roger.
"Boom!" A powerful shockwave erupted as their weapons clashed, splitting the sky. The entire area became divided as the shockwave reached the sea, creating a turbulent and chaotic battlefield.
"Hehehe! Such a fierce aura, just like wild beasts!" Oden, facing Roger, excitedly drew his two swords, Ame no Habakiri and Enma.
"Oden Two-Sword Style - Peach Blossom Ten Fist!"
"Hehehe! Divine Avoidance!"
"Buzz!" The formidable sword energy instantly shattered Oden's attack, passed through Oden's two swords, and was sent flying away by Roger's sword, leaving Oden in disbelief. He was then directly sent flying by Roger's powerful strike.
"Ugh!" With a groan, Oden was sent flying, crashing through numerous gigantic trees and nearly half the island before he finally stopped and stabilized himself.
"Cough!" Coughing up blood, Oden couldn't believe he had been sent flying with a single blow.
"Hey! Roger! What have you done to my family?" Whitebeard's massive figure burst out from where he had clashed with Roger, wielding his gigantic polearm.
"Hehehe! Whitebeard, it's been a while since we last met!" Roger grinned broadly as he swung his sword, meeting Whitebeard's polearm in a fierce clash.
"Boom!" The violent conqueror's haki surged, and their weapons collided, with black lightning flashing madly. The sky seemed to split in two as the two titans fought, causing the sea to churn wildly.
"Heh heh heh, everyone, attack Whitebeard's crew!"
"Charge!" A massive battle erupted on the island as the pirates from both crews engaged in fierce combat. Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
One news report, published in the World Economic Times, instantly spread across the sea, causing a sensation.
Locke sat on the top-floor balcony of the Blossom Castle, basking in the sun as he read the newspaper.
"So, Kozuki Oden has joined Roger's crew!"
"It looks like the day Roger becomes Pirate King is getting closer." Locke tossed the newspaper onto the nearby table and sat up.
I need to prepare sooner rather than later. The era of the Great Pirates is approaching!"
"Locke! Your afternoon tea is ready; I prepared it!" With a cheerful smile, Ruth carried a tray of pastries and black tea and walked over to Locke, placing the tea and pastries on the table before hugging him.
"Ruth, I've told you before, don't cling to me like this."
"What's the big deal? I don't mind at all."
"..."
After playful banter with Ruth, Locke picked up the Den Den Mushi on the table. "It's time to speed things up. We must establish control over the Atvoll Sea before Roger becomes Pirate King!"