Smoker pressed his cigar into the ashtray and asked, "A 'shared mission'?"
From the other side of the Den Den Mushi came Sengoku's steady voice.
"Smoker, as you know, after the 'Paramount War,' not only has Marine Headquarters suffered heavy losses, but several of the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' were taken out as well. The World Government is pressuring me to fill those vacancies."
Among the former "Old Seven Warlords," Sir Crocodile and Jinbe the Sea Knight had both joined Davy Jones.
Gecko Moria had been killed by Davy Jones, and Blackbeard Teach had his title stripped due to the crimes he committed at Impel Down.
As things stood, the remaining Warlords were only Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk, Bartholomew Kuma the Tyrant, Boa Hancock the Pirate Empress, and Donquixote Doflamingo the Heavenly Yaksha.
Although the "Seven Warlords" title only numbered seven, in reality a total of eight individuals had held that status at different times.
Though Sengoku already suspected Doflamingo of scheming behind the scenes, there was no direct evidence.
Even if there were, tearing the mask off with Doflamingo at this moment would not be wise.
As for Mihawk and Hancock, they were perpetually in a state of "following orders but not obeying commands." Marine Headquarters could do nothing to rein them in.
In contrast, Kuma—who had voluntarily thrown himself into the Pacifista development program to serve as a test subject—was frankly the perfect template for a Warlord.
If possible, Sengoku sincerely wished all the Warlords could be like Kuma: prototypes for Pacifistas that mechanically obeyed orders.
That would benefit Marine Headquarters far more than anything else.
According to Dr. Vegapunk, he had indeed made progress in this direction. It might even be possible in the future to see new Pacifistas modeled after the Warlords themselves.
But distant water cannot extinguish a present fire.
Sengoku knew exactly why the World Government wanted him to gather more pirate firepower.
They wanted to use pirates to combat other pirates, masking Marine Headquarters' current weakness.
After discussion with Tsuru, he had already tentatively decided on the potential candidates for the "New Seven Warlords."
Edward Weevil, the self-proclaimed "Whitebeard Jr.," possessing the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and monstrous physical power.
"Thunder God" Enel, a Sky Island native who had recently descended into the New World, slaughtering indiscriminately.
"Pirate Nobleman" Cavendish, a "Super Rookie" from years past.
Don Chinjao, head of the Happo Navy, a great pirate who once fought Garp.
"Gravekeeper of Hachinosu" Wang Zhi, a "remnant" of the Rocks Pirates.
These five pirates were either already infamous or had recently soared to notoriety. Each had more than enough qualifications to become a Warlord.
However, only three seats were vacant. Sengoku needed to choose among them while also considering the World Government's preferences.
For example, Wang Zhi—having participated in the God Valley Incident—was someone the World Government would almost certainly reject. But trying didn't hurt.
After all, even Fisher Tiger, who once stormed Mariejois itself, and Jinbe, who inherited his dangerous ideology, had been accepted as Warlords.
Not to mention the Celestial Dragons' discriminatory contempt toward fish-men.
Of course, the personal willingness of the candidates was also important.
"I'll have Garp handle Chinjao. As for the others, I'll assign them to the four 'Admiral Candidates.' They'll take care of it."
Sengoku did not specify who would be responsible for whom.
"Smoker, just wait a little longer. When this long night finally passes and dawn arrives, it will be our moment for the Marines to strike back. Be patient, Smoker."
Totto Land — Whole Cake Island
At that moment, the entire island had been swallowed in flames. Smoke billowed upward, blotting out the sky. Screams blended with the crashing of waves, indistinguishable from one another.
Brûlée's hands were tied behind her back, her once-white dress stained by syrup from the ground.
The third eye on her forehead was fully open, staring along with her other two eyes at the horrific scene before her.
Her eldest sister, Smoothie, lay sprawled on her back, her massive body collapsed. Her chest had caved inward; her eyes were wide open—lifeless.
Her sixth and seventh sisters—Custard and Angel, Cracker's younger sisters—were skewered by Custard's own long sword, dead as well.
Flampe, the "Minister of Honey," lay beside them in a pool of blood, her beloved blowgun crushed underfoot.
More children of the Charlotte family who had remained on Whole Cake Island lay slain—every last one of them, except Brûlée. Even the very young had not been spared.
These invaders were following a policy of total extermination—leaving not a single root behind.
As a Memory-Memory Fruit user, Brûlée's three eyes were like a living transponder snail, recording the entire massacre perfectly.
She forced back the urge to vomit, struggled to her feet, and screamed at the attackers:
"Kaido, you bastard—!! You and Mama were allies! How dare you stab us in the back?! When Mama returns, she'll tear you to pieces!"
She knew it was hopeless, but even so, she pulled out the hidden pistol. The bullet she had originally reserved for herself—she now fired it at Kaido instead.
Bang!
The bullet flew through the air, only to be casually deflected by one of the Headliners' swords.
Disheveled and desperate, Brûlée looked ahead at the sea of figures before her.
In front stood the ordinary Headliners; behind them the Gifters; behind them the Flying Six; then the All-Stars; and only at the very back stood Kaido himself.
Though she was only two hundred meters from Kaido, the distance felt utterly despairing.
Kaido's massive, mountain-like silhouette loomed in the darkness as he let out booming laughter.
The Beasts Pirates laughed with him.
Brûlée stared at them, stunned.
"What's so funny?! Kaido! What could possibly be funny?!"
Kaido laughed a few more times, then stopped.
His men fell silent as well.
"I remember your name—Brûlée, right?" Kaido planted his kanabō onto the ground with a thunderous thud. "Linlin showed me your picture once."
Brûlée glared at him with pure hatred.
Finding it dull, Kaido said, "That so-called 'alliance'—it's true enough. But I only allied with Charlotte Linlin. I never allied with the rest of you."
"You're twisting words!" Brûlée shouted angrily.
"Call it whatever you like…" Kaido chuckled again. "That's just how the pirate world works. And besides—you probably don't know, do you? Linlin lost to Davy Jones. She's dead."
D… dead?!
Mama… is dead?!
Brûlée's mind spun. For a moment she thought she had misheard.
Impossible.
Impossible!
From as far back as she could remember, Mama had never lost—not to anyone.
All of the Charlotte family's major fighters who had accompanied her—Perospero, the Sweet Commanders, all the others—had vowed that they would surely win.
Yet Kaido was saying that Mama had been defeated? Killed by Davy Jones?
How could that be true?
Brûlée trembled in shock, completely at a loss.
"Since Linlin is dead, our pact naturally ends," Kaido said, looking Brûlée up and down, an idea taking shape. "However, relying solely on force to take over Linlin's territory is… troublesome."
"Brûlée, your next birthday will make you fifteen, yes? And the year after that, you'll be of marriageable age."
Brûlée froze—then shuddered violently and stared at Kaido in horror.
She immediately turned the pistol on herself and pulled the trigger—but only empty clicks sounded.
Of course… She had already used her last bullet.
A group of Headliners rushed in and pinned her to the ground.
"Be gentle," Kaido laughed, baring his teeth. "She's going to be my son Yamato's wife. Show her some respect."
The pirates were stunned for a moment, realizing they had misunderstood.
But then confusion swept through them again.
Young Master Yamato… marrying Brûlée?
How would that even work?
Brûlée, not knowing any of this, only understood that she was being forced into a marriage—married to the son of her family's mortal enemy. She struggled violently in despair.
"Tie her up. Bring her back."
Kaido gave the order and rose to his feet.
He lifted his kanabō, turned around, and walked to a massive crimson stone. Reaching out, he gently caressed its surface.
"The Road Poneglyph… Heh. Linlin, to think you actually died… Very well. From now on, I'll avenge you."
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