Big Mom could not quite figure out what Kaido was planning.
"Cooperate?"
Kaido's savage laugh came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Wororororo! That's right. Cooperate. Even if the Road Poneglyph was taken, you should still have a rubbing. Hand that copy over to me. Then we'll seize the other two stones and get the One Piece first. After that, everything will be easy."
She let out a cold snort and instantly saw through his scheme. "You want me to help you become Pirate King. What a joke…"
His laughter rang out again. "Wororororo! It's cooperation, Linlin!"
Her face darkened as anger flashed across it.
"I refuse, Kaido!"
Click.
She hung up.
Big Mom's expression kept shifting. To be honest, it was not a bad plan. Even if they split the prize, neither side would suffer a loss. But there was one problem they could not avoid.
They needed someone who could read the Poneglyphs.
There was only one known person, Pudding. Yet her Three-Eye Tribe power had not awakened, so she could not read them. Worse, she had been taken by the Marines during that battle.
The news that spread across the world made no mention of Pudding. Clearly, the Marines had deliberately hidden it. Aside from the core members of the Charlotte Family, no one on the seas knew she had been captured, and she had been taken right from Whole Cake Island.
They had already lost enough dignity. Was she supposed to admit that not only had the Poneglyph been stolen, but that their only hope of reading it had been taken as well?
That was something Big Mom would never say.
* * *
New World. Wano Country.
Inside the grand hall of Onigashima, Kaido stared at the Den Den Mushi after the call ended. His face sank.
"What's wrong with that old hag? She even refused a win-win deal…"
He had not expected her to reject him. After all these years, he believed he understood her well..
He thought it over again and again but could not find any explanation. With an irritated snort, he pushed himself to his feet. "Damn old hag…"
He stretched his body, and pain from his wounds flared, clearing some of the alcohol from his head.
Grabbing his kanabo, Kaido walked toward the exit and said to King beside him, "Gather everyone…"
* * *
New World. Territory of the Red Hair Pirates.
Many pirate ships were docked at the harbor. Strangely, although the crew was on the island, their main ship was nowhere to be seen.
Inside the island's largest hospital, Shanks stood with a deep frown as he stared at the operating room. Inside, Yasopp was being treated.
The impact from the lion head formed by several merged islands had been overwhelming. Their ship of many years, the Red Force, could not withstand it. It shattered completely and vanished into the sea.
The crew had been scattered by the raging currents. Many were still missing.
But there was no time to waste. Yasopp's injuries were too serious. After losing an arm, he had kept fighting and pushed his Observation Haki to the limit. Then the shockwave threw him into the sea, where he lost consciousness.
There was no choice. They brought back the few they had found and rushed him here for emergency treatment. As for the others, nearby allied pirate crews had already been sent out to search the sea.
In the distance, Beckman walked over with a newspaper in hand. Looking tired, he sat down beside Shanks.
"Latest news."
He handed the paper over. "Big Mom's Road Poneglyph was taken. It's being displayed at Marine Headquarters."
Shanks' voice shifted slightly. "Oh?"
He took the paper and began to read.
Hearing Beckman's words, the others gathered around to look as well, and the heavy mood eased a little.
A moment later.
Rustle.
Shanks folded the newspaper and gave it back. "Sakazuki is trying to destroy the very foundation of the Great Pirate Era that Captain Roger started. What a terrifying man…"
The joy of sailing lay in the unknown, and in the great treasure that drew countless people to the sea. Those things pushed dreamers forward again and again.
The Poneglyphs being the key to the path was something people only learned after reaching a certain level. Before setting sail, most people did not know that. They could leave with nothing but a sense of adventure.
But what if, before they even departed, they were told that the Road Poneglyphs were in the hands of the Four Emperors? That they had to defeat those monsters to obtain the path to the great treasure. How many would choose to walk straight into death?
And now the Marines had taken one as well.
They openly revealed that to become Pirate King, one had to gather all four Road Poneglyphs and reach the final island. The difficulty had risen again.
It was no longer just about taking the stones from the Emperors. One would also have to invade Marine Headquarters and seize the displayed Poneglyph.
Honestly, arrogant fools did exist. But even madness had limits.
Right now, more than ninety-five percent of the world's top fighters were gathered in the New World. Even facing four Emperors, Marine Headquarters still held the advantage.
If someone truly had the power to destroy the Four Emperors and then crush the Marines, would they even need the empty title of Pirate King? They would already be the King of the World.
Sakazuki's move had dealt a heavy blow to the dreams of those who wanted to sail.
Beckman frowned. "This can't go on."
Shanks shook his head. "First, we drag this war out. The longer the better."
His right hand unconsciously pressed against his missing left arm, and his voice was low.
"A variable will appear. It's only a matter of time."
The fruit had already made its choice, and he had staked everything on it. It could not be wrong.
The others exchanged confused looks. None of them knew what "variable" he meant, nor where his confidence came from.
* * *
At that very moment.
East Blue. An unnamed sea.
The one Shanks had bet everything on was currently drifting aimlessly across the ocean inside a small barrel.
It had been several days since he set sail. He had eaten all his food on the first day. Lacking navigation skills, he ran into a violent storm, and his small boat overturned. With no other choice, he hid inside a barrel.
This was already the third day of his barrel drifting adventure.
Inside the cramped space, Luffy looked thin and worn out. Dark circles hung under his eyes.
"So… so hungry…"
**
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