Chapter 105: Preparation for War
"I'll give you a present!"
These large words appeared on the paper held by the CP0 captain. A sense of dread washed over him as he felt his hair stand on end.
"Not good! Retreat immediately!"
Before anyone could react, a wave of energy erupted from beneath their feet.
Bang!
A massive explosion engulfed the island, sending flames roaring into the sky and forming a mushroom cloud in the center. The ground shook violently as the once-stable terrain crumbled.
From a safe vantage point high above, Morgans observed the chaos below with a mocking sneer.
"You think you can catch me? Try again in a few hundred years!"
With a final laugh, he flapped his wings and flew off into the distance, heading towards the New World in search of a new base.
As Morgans disappeared into the horizon, the smoke and flames from the explosion began to subside. The CP0 team that had landed on the island was annihilated, leaving no survivors.
---
"Bang!"
The news of the explosion on the unnamed island soon reached the Five Elders, igniting their fury.
The elder with the hat slammed his hand on the table, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "We lost our entire intelligence team, and Morgans remains at large! This is unacceptable!"
The other Five Elders wore grim expressions, though one finally spoke up.
"Let it go for now. We can't afford to waste resources chasing Morgans when the God Valley is about to open. Our focus must remain there."
His words seemed to douse the room's fiery tension, as the others slowly nodded in agreement.
"You're right," said the blond elder. "The God Valley opens only once every forty years. We cannot risk failure. Our plans must not disappoint the adults."
The Five Elders began shifting their focus to the grander scheme, leaving Morgans for another time.
---
Elsewhere, Rocks sat in his grand hall on Beehive Island, laughing uproariously as he read the news of Charlotte's clash with Admiral Kong.
"Wahahaha! That kid has really impressed me. To escape from Kong's clutches is no small feat!"
The Golden Lion, Shiki, sitting nearby, grinned as he puffed on his cigar. "Hahahaha! I didn't think much of him before, but he's proven to be quite capable."
Whitebeard Edward Newgate took a swig from his sake bottle and added, "Kulalalalala! That young one has the makings of greatness. He just needs time."
Charlotte Linlin leaned back with a smirk, her voice dripping with mischief. "Mmmm! I wouldn't mind having a baby with him!"
Her words caused an awkward silence to fall over the room.
Whitebeard twitched visibly, the Golden Lion turned away in disgust, and Rocks buried his face in his hands, groaning. Memories of Linlin's volatile temper were still fresh in everyone's mind.
The room's atmosphere grew tense until the Golden Lion broke the silence.
"Enough! We're not here to find a suitor for Linlin. Captain Rocks, why have you summoned us all today? Surely it's not just to discuss Charlotte's exploits. And where are the captains of the Seventh Division?"
The question sparked murmurs among the assembled captains and leaders. Rocks rarely called such a large meeting, and his summoning of everyone had raised eyebrows. Even Rodney Carter, a subordinate of Charlotte, was present to represent the Eighth Division.
The absence of Kurozumi Murasaki and her brother was particularly noticeable.
Rocks finally stood, his powerful presence commanding silence.
"Wahahaha! I called you all here today to announce my grand plan!" His tiger-like eyes scanned the room. "We are going to start a war—a war that will change the entire world!"
The hall erupted into cheers.
Rocks raised his hand to quiet the crowd, his tone becoming serious. "Prepare yourselves. For the next few months, you will remain on Beehive Island, ready for my command. When the time comes, we will strike with such force that no one will dare challenge us again."
A gleam of ambition flickered in Rocks's eyes as he continued.
"The position of Seventh Division Captain is now open. Whoever performs the best in the upcoming war will claim it."
The announcement sparked excitement among the pirates, their competitive spirits ignited.
"Long live Captain Rocks! Long live Captain Rocks!"
The hall echoed with chants as Rocks basked in the adulation of his crew. But among the senior captains, the mood was more subdued.
Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and other key figures exchanged wary glances. While Rocks's ambition was undeniable, they couldn't help but wonder what he was truly planning—and at what cost.
For now, however, no one dared challenge him. As Rocks's overwhelming aura filled the room, even the most ambitious pirates knew that any dissent would be swiftly crushed.
---
Read up to 20 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*