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You can read ahead up to 90 chapters on my patreon and I’ve also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
As long as I reach 200 dollars on my Patreon, I will post 10 extra bonus chapters per month in batches of 5 for that month. If I reach 300 dollars then I will post 15 extra bonus chapters in batches of 5 for that month. If I reach 400 dollars then I will post 20 extra bonus chapters in batches of 5 for that month. So come and support me.
Even considering the fact that the Marines cannot initiate an attack, Jozu and Vista’s decision is extremely dangerous!
It’s like putting a goat and an old tiger in the same cage. Even if both the goat and the tiger know that the tiger will be in trouble if it eats the goat, can the goat really pin its hopes on its enemy?
The enemy they face is one of the three Admirals of the Marines, known across the seas and considered legends!
Even Whitebeard himself would be wary of such a force, let alone his division commanders.
For now, all Ace wants to do is find Thatch quickly and ensure his safety.
After that, even if he faces certain death, he must help everyone break through the encirclement and repay his comrades’ trust in him.
### New World, [The Moby Dick]
Marco chewed absentmindedly, raising his head several times as if to say something, but ultimately refraining.
“You think this plan is too risky, right?”
Whitebeard watched Marco’s expression carefully. As the commander of the First Division’s medical unit and the second-in-command who had been with him the longest, Whitebeard understood Marco very well.
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Marco put down his roast and looked seriously at Whitebeard. “According to our scouts, Akainu’s naval reinforcements have already arrived at the battlefield. With two admirals present, Ace and the others…”
“Marco, do you know why I’m doing this?”
Whitebeard interrupted him. He knew all these details and didn’t need Marco to remind him.
Marco was taken aback, then thought seriously. “I think it’s about morale, right?”
“To show the Marines who defeated the BIG MOM pirate crew that the age of the pirates is far from over!”
“The New World is no place for them to act arrogantly!”
Defeating BIG MOM is not the same as conquering the Yonkos. If Soryu could defeat the “strongest beast” Kaido of the Hundred Beasts, the pirate forces in the New World would naturally collapse.
But now, not only is Kaido still around, but the legendary sea figure Whitebeard from the last era is also present. The Marines, acting as if the place belonged to them, have sent their forces to the New World, which has annoyed Marco for a long time.
“But…”
“It’s useless!”
Marco rubbed his pineapple-like hair in frustration. “Even if we show our morality, so what? Father, Ace and the others will be destroyed!”
That was the crux of the matter!
Marco couldn’t believe that Whitebeard would abandon Ace and the others to demonstrate the spirit of Whitebeard’s pirate crew, while he stayed safely in the stern to enjoy the results.
Other pirate crews might do that, because their captain is first.
But on Whitebeard’s ship, when danger comes, Whitebeard, the captain, always rushes to the front!
So Marco couldn’t believe that Whitebeard would abandon his companions!
“No, Marco, you’re wrong.”
Whitebeard held his wine gourd, his narrow eyes squinting slightly and a faint smile on his lips. “If we show our spirit, someone will surely see it.”
Who would see it?
And then what?
Marco was about to speak when…
Thud, thud, thud!
A tall pirate suddenly ran over with heavy steps, causing the deck to creak under his exaggerated weight.
“Bad news, Oyaji ! Commander Jozu has sent word that Commander Thatch hasn’t joined them in time, and they can’t reach him by Den Den Mushi!”
“Hmm?!”
The deck fell silent as Whitebeard’s eyes snapped open and his overwhelming Haoshoku Haki surged outward.
“Marco, check Thatch’s Vivre card.”
Whitebeard spoke calmly, but combined with his haki, his seemingly casual words made many of the less powerful pirates feel as if they were suffocating.
The Whitebeard pirates were a large and sprawling organization, and relying solely on Den Den Mushi for communication often proved inadequate. As captain, Whitebeard naturally had the vivre cards of all his division commanders.
“Yes!”
Marco’s face grew more and more grim.
There were only two possibilities for not being able to reach someone by Den Den Mushi: either they were in the middle of a battle and couldn’t answer, or…
…
### New World Frontline
“Admiral Akainu, the enemy hasn’t made a move yet!”
After completing his repairs, Mozambia quickly returned to the battle. The advantages of being a cyborg were evident at this point; as long as the parts were sufficient and the brain was not damaged, no recovery time was needed.
Despite several attempts to provoke the enemy, they remained as unyielding as a stone in a latrine – stubborn and immovable.
“Did the Assassination Force send any information?”
Akainu asked, his voice barely able to contain his anger.
“Well…”
Mozambia hesitated before replying, “Vice Admiral Soryu reports that everything is under control and we should handle the front-line battlefield as we see fit.”
“Damn it! What is he up to this time?!”
Leave them to handle things themselves? This clearly indicated a refusal to help.
Akainu couldn’t understand where Rowen got the confidence to refuse to share information, but there was little he could do about it.
Under normal circumstances, a Vice Admiral must obey the orders of an Admiral.
However, the directives of the Assassination Force didn’t necessarily coincide with battlefield orders.
Due to the unique nature of their duties, they only had to report directly to Sengoku. Even if the officer’s rank within the Marines was as low as rear admiral or colonel, Akainu had no authority to command them.
In addition, Sengoku’s mission for the Assassination Force was to monitor Whitebeard and prevent the “world’s strongest” monster from suddenly entering the battlefield.
The fact that they had already identified the pirates’ support units exceeded their mission requirements. Now, any lack of further support was beyond reproach.
“Report!”
“Enter…”
The arrival of the messenger eased the tense atmosphere in the tent, and Mozambique breathed a sigh of relief. Believing that Rowen wouldn’t act without a reason was one thing, but standing under the pressure of an angry Admiral Akainu was another.
“Admiral Akainu, our scouts have reported that the enemy’s second division commander, ‘Fire Fist’ Ace, has left their position in a small boat.”
“Furthermore, there is no sign of the Fourth Division!”
“What?!”
The Assassination Force’s information clearly stated that the pirates supporting Vista included the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. What did that mean?
The Fourth Division hadn’t arrived, and the commander of the Second Division had left alone?
According to the information, the Second and Third Divisions had arrived as expected, but…
Could it be…
Akainu and Mozambia exchanged shocked glances as they realized the implications.
Something had gone wrong!
After the messenger had left, Mozambia scratched his metal scalp and said uncertainly, “Could it be…? Vice Admiral Soryu’s doing?”
Such an important war, and yet they hadn’t arrived in time – this was unthinkable for the Whitebeard Pirates!
It was a disgrace that would make Whitebeard a laughing stock.
So it was definitely not a case of Thatch losing his nerve and delaying on purpose.
The fact that the Second Division commander, “Fire Fist” Ace, had left indicated to both of them that something had indeed happened to the Fourth Division!
Considering the current state of the New World, only Vice Admiral Soryu had both the ability and the motive to capture the enemy’s Fourth Division.
“Isn’t he afraid of being blamed by the Fleet Admiral?”
Mozambia couldn’t understand.
If Rowen had acted on his own to intercept and kill the enemy’s Fourth Division, it would be tantamount to the Marines actively starting the war, a serious offense!
“Hmph, who cares! What’s the point of finding out if it was him?”
Akainu’s anger subsided slightly as he spoke. “So the only ones left now are the half-dead Fifth Division Commander ‘Flower Sword’ Vista and Third Division Commander ‘Diamond’ Jozu?”
Mozambia suddenly realized this, and a sinister smile appeared on his face.
“Yes, indeed.”
The enemy’s overall strength was already weaker than the Marines, and now their top combat power was being divided. Such a heaven-sent opportunity meant that they could indeed “handle it themselves”.
“Let Kizaru move. Tell him to take troops and encircle the enemy’s retreat.”
Akainu gave the order with a cold smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t make the first move.”
Since ancient times, besieging a city didn’t always involve a direct attack; there was also the tactic of siege and wait.
Without enough high-level combat power to intervene, Akainu was confident that he could trap the enemy in place!
…
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