Chapter 25: Comprehensive Retrenchment of the Navy
"Wahahahaha! Newgate has grown even stronger!" Rocks said as he watched Edward Newgate with a mix of amusement and caution.
If one observed closely, a flicker of wariness could be seen in Rocks' eyes. Edward Newgate's recent display of power had left an impression even on him.
"Hahaha! Captain, you're joking. My strength is nowhere near yours," Newgate replied modestly, despite the overwhelming power of his recent attack.
Charlotte, watching the scene, felt deeply shaken.
"No wonder he's called the strongest man in the world. With this kind of strength, he truly dominates the seas," Charlotte thought.
The pirates erupted in cheers after witnessing Whitebeard's attack scatter the Navy's fleet.
"Whitebeard! Whitebeard! Whitebeard!"
The nickname "Whitebeard" echoed through the air, bestowed upon Newgate by the crew due to his signature white facial hair, which curled upward when he unleashed his powers.
"Guhahahaha!" Newgate laughed heartily, standing tall at the bow of the ship, enjoying the admiration of his crewmates.
Even the other cadres couldn't hide their smirks. However, Rocks and his older subordinates appeared less enthusiastic, their expressions tinged with unease.
"Wahahahaha! Boys, get ready! Today, I'll kill an admiral!" Rocks shouted from the bow, his voice carrying a fierce resolve as he pointed toward the retreating Navy warships.
"Kill the admiral! Kill the admiral!"
The pirates echoed his words, their excitement mounting as they pursued the fleeing naval fleet.
Meanwhile, aboard the navy ships, Kong was seething. Watching his fleet scattered and struggling to regroup pained him.
"Damn it! Those were the elites of the Navy Headquarters!" Kong thought bitterly.
"Admiral Kong! We must retreat now. The timing isn't right for a head-on confrontation with the pirates!" Sengoku shouted over the noise of the crashing waves.
Kong, realizing the disparity in their forces, clenched his fists.
"Retreat! Pull back from this sea area!" Kong roared reluctantly.
At his command, the signal for retreat was given, and the Navy ships began to withdraw hastily.
"Retreat? This is an insult to justice!" Garp muttered, his frustration evident.
Back on the Rocks' ships, the pirates cheered louder than ever as they watched the navy retreat.
"Long live Rocks! Long live the Rocks Pirates!"
The celebratory mood spread throughout the fleet.
---
"Extra! Extra!"
"The Navy's Grand Fleet suffers a complete defeat in the second half of the Grand Line! Admiral Kong retreats to the New World!"
"Extra! Extra!"
"The Rocks Pirates declare war on the World Government! Multiple member states destroyed in their relentless campaign!"
"Extra! Extra!"
The news spread quickly across the seas, carried by flocks of news seagulls.
Bang!
Kong slammed his fist on his desk, shattering it into splinters.
"Damn you, Rocks! Damn you, Rocks Pirates!" Kong roared in frustration as he stared at the latest newspaper headlines.
Since the navy's retreat, Rocks and his pirates had gone on a rampage, attacking and destroying three member states of the World Government.
"Brother Kong! Let me lead the charge into the New World and take care of those pirates!" Garp volunteered eagerly.
However, the aftermath of the Navy's defeat had created chaos worldwide. Pirates were now emerging in every corner of the seas, emboldened by the news.
"No! The Navy Headquarters is stretched too thin. You'll suppress the East Blue, Sengoku will handle the South Blue, and Zefa is already in the West Blue. Tsuru will take charge of the North Blue. I'll focus on securing the first half of the Grand Line and eradicating the pirates there!" Kong ordered.
These orders were in line with directives from the World Government, which was desperate to control the escalating pirate threat.
---
Across the seas, pirates were on the rise:
In the South Blue, a pirate with a horned hat rallied his crew, "To the Grand Line! To the New World!"
"To the Grand Line! To the New World!" his crew echoed, their voices brimming with ambition.
In the West Blue, a three-meter-tall man with a cone-shaped head addressed his organized, military-like crew.
"Hahaha! Set sail! The New World awaits!"
"Yes, Captain!" his disciplined crew responded.
"Oh no, Captain! Zephyr is chasing us!" a subordinate reported in alarm.
"What?! Damn the navy! Let them face my cone head!" the captain roared.
Similar scenes unfolded in the East Blue and North Blue, where ambitious individuals set sail with dreams of glory and riches.
---
Back on Hachinosu, the Rocks Pirates basked in their infamy.
"Captain, we're famous now! Countless pirates are eager to join us. What should we do?" Shiki asked, holding a newspaper with Rocks' wanted poster splashed across the front page.
Rocks glanced at the paper, his expression fierce.
"Rocks D. Xebec, bounty: 2.6 billion berries. Wanted dead or alive for heinous crimes."
He crumpled the newspaper in his hand and roared, "Recruit them all! Arm every squad to the teeth. I will dominate the world and become its king!"
Rocks' declaration reverberated through the room, his overwhelming presence pressing down on the eight cadres.
"Hahaha! I've been waiting for this, Captain!" Shiki exclaimed, his enthusiasm matching Rocks' fervor.
Charlotte, seated at the end of the cadre table, silently examined his own bounty poster.
"Blood Sword Master Rockefeller Charlotte, captain of the 8th Division of the Rocks Pirates. Bounty: 590 million berries. Wanted dead or alive for heinous crimes."
The image on the poster depicted him standing amidst fallen enemies, his face splattered with blood, a manic grin twisting his features.
Charlotte sighed. His infamy was growing faster than he'd anticipated.
Rocks stood abruptly. "Let's go meet our new recruits. Let's see if there are any worth keeping!"
The cadres followed Rocks out of the hall. Outside, the island was packed with pirates, all clamoring to join the Rocks Pirates.
When the crowd caught sight of Rocks and his cadre, a deafening cheer erupted.
"Captain Rocks!"
The air buzzed with ambition and desperation as countless pirates sought to align themselves with the strongest crew in the New World.
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