By that time, the battle between Shano and Akainu should have already decided a winner.
In other words—
This will be a war that ends even faster than the Whole Cake War; before night falls, Endgame will have secured complete victory over the Navy!
"I know all that as well, Mr. Issho."
Kuina shook her head slightly. "But I still want to end this fight as soon as possible, I don't want it dragging on too long. After all, this isn't the New World—we have to factor in some unexpected variables, like Navy reinforcements."
"Reinforcements, huh?"
Fujitora swung his blade, sending out a Gravity Wave that forced two incoming Photon Clones back, and said in a deep voice:
"I've already discussed this in detail with Lord Xiano before. Every elite Heavenly Celestial Dragon in the Divine Knight Order is treated like a treasure. They lost too many last time and got scared out of their wits. If they don't descend onto the field right at the start this time, then most likely they won't intervene at all until the very end."
"As for reinforcements from Headquarters, they're too far away—out of reach. There's no way they can arrive within a single day."
The small branch bases in the North Sea were even less worth mentioning. No matter how much manpower they gathered, they'd just be coming to die. Not worth a thought, and Fujitora had no intention of bringing them up.
"So the only stance we need to worry about now is Germa 66's."
Landing back on the deck, Fujitora spoke to Kuina: "As a member state of the World Government, that army very well might show up as reinforcements, but… hmm?"
He suddenly seemed to sense something, turned his head, and looked off in a certain direction.
Seeing this, Kuina instantly realized something too; a sharp chill flashed through her eyes:
"They actually dared to come?"
In terms of Observation coverage, within Endgame, Mr. Issho was number one beyond dispute—not even Lord Xiano could compare.
"In those North Sea countries that fear these war-mongers, there's a saying: once Germa is mentioned, Germa arrives."
Fujitora let out a soundless chuckle:
"And now it's come true. They did arrive… but they've also stopped. Those people don't seem inclined to come any closer."
...
To the northeast, quite a distance away.
Amid the faint sea mist, Germa 66's signature giant snail warships were quietly hovering on the surface of the sea.
Vinsmoke Judge stood at the very front of the main ship's deck, peering through a strangely designed monocular at the smoke-filled battlefield in the distance.
Behind him.
His three sons, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji, stood in a line with their arms crossed, expressionless and waiting for orders.
Only Reiju leaned against the wall, lighting a cigarette. She tilted her head back slightly to gaze at the sky, revealing a beautifully contoured jawline, her thoughts unknown.
"Father, over half of the Navy Fleet has already collapsed, and Endgame's encirclement is tightening."
Ichiji reported coldly, "The elite rescue squad led by Akainu has also been intercepted by Shano's officers. As for Kizaru, his clone tactics probably won't last much longer."
"So the situation is even worse than we expected. Hmph, if it weren't, the World Government wouldn't have lowered itself to urgently begging us for aid."
"We're not going in, Father?"
The blue-haired Niji casually flexed his wrist. Pale blue arcs of electricity crackled to life across his body with a sizzling sound. "I just happen to want to test the performance of this newly improved Combat Suit."
"Go in? And hit who?"
Judge lowered the telescope and glanced over.
"Is that even a question, Father? Of course we hammer Endgame!"
Yonji grinned. "The World Government paid a massive deposit. If we can turn the tide of the war, I don't even dare imagine how much more the grateful Navy will pay on top of that…"
Judge snorted and cut Yonji off mid-sentence.
He was very satisfied with his sons' progress in strength; all the research he'd poured into Lineage Factors back then had not been in vain.
But they were still too young.
They lacked the long-term judgment befitting a commander-in-chief.
Money?
No matter how many Bellies they accumulated, it wasn't going to change Germa's current predicament!
Back in the day, at its peak, the Vinsmoke Family had wiped out four nations in a single month and unified the entire North Sea.
But that only lasted 66 days before the whole thing was dismantled and collapsed under the World Government's behind-the-scenes manipulation.
Judge had brooded over that ever since. His lifelong dream was to restore the glory of the family, to the point he even changed the name to Germa 66 because of it.
But he also knew in his heart that the World Government would never tolerate another overly powerful force rising up in the North Sea.
If he wanted to realize that dream, he would have to seek out some other, greater Power beyond the World Government!
"So it seems Father intends… to keep watching, not help either side, just sit on the fence?"
Reiju exhaled a smoke ring toward the sky, watching it scatter in the sea breeze, and then spoke in a low voice.
"Exactly."
Judge nodded slightly. "You should have caught on earlier. Where we've stopped now, only this high-tech telescope in my hand can observe the battlefield. In other words, neither the Navy nor Endgame know we've arrived."
"They're in the light; we're in the dark."
"All we have to do is keep waiting patiently until this war has a clear victor, then show up pretending to have just arrived. Whoever wins, we help them."
Help whoever wins?
Ichiji frowned slightly:
"Even if Endgame wins? Father, if we offend the World Government, life won't be easy. At the very least, we'll lose our status as a member state."
"Hmph, foolish!"
Judge sneered, his gaze sinister as he stared at the distant battlefield:
"And is our life so easy now? Endgame's rise has simply been too fast. If they really do win this war, the future of these seas might very well belong to them!"
Thinking back to the string of explosive news that had been coming out of the New World since the start of the year…
In the eight hundred years of the World Government's rule, its order had never faced such an unprecedented challenge!
Not even the Rocks of old could compare!
"As long as they can win, what's wrong with Germa 66 changing sides and defecting to them? Endgame's current strength is still far from enough for a final showdown with the World Government. Under those circumstances, they'll be desperate for any help we can offer!"
"Besides, don't forget—Sanji, that brat, is already one of Endgame's core members! Perfect chance to make some use of that waste!"
"Who?"
"Sanji?"
"Such a weird name—feels unfamiliar, yet somehow oddly familiar…"
The three brothers pinched their chins, frowning in thought.
"Ah, I remember." Niji suddenly slapped his forehead. "He's that good-for-nothing little brother who only knows how to cook!"
"That rejected cripple actually didn't die out at sea, and even managed to become an officer in Endgame?" Yonji curled his lip. "Tch, talk about luck."
"Hey, you two, that's enough." Reiju said coldly.
The three brothers snorted with laughter, about to retort disdainfully, but Judge raised a hand to stop them:
"Reiju's reminder comes at just the right time. When we see Sanji again, all of you had better straighten your attitudes."
Huh?
Under their stunned gazes, Judge emphasized his words, voice going cold:
"Don't misread the situation. That brat is now the key bond maintaining the relationship between us and Endgame!"
Family ties and blood connections can't be cut. We absolutely can't let this opportunity slip by!
"Of course—"
He raised the telescope again. "Everything I've just said is premised on Endgame actually winning this war."
If they lose…
Hmph, then there will be no Endgame—just a bunch of pirates who got too big for their boots!
And when it comes to kicking someone when they're down, Germa 66 has always been very professional as well!
......
Around the same time—
After sailing day and night, the New Redfox finally reached the destination indicated by the Life Card.
As their field of vision opened up to reveal the massive fortress rising out of the sea, every officer of the Red Hair Pirates showed a look of surprise.
"Impel Down?!"
"How could it be here?!"
Lucky Roux's eyes went wide, and he even forgot to bite into the drumstick in his hand. "Oi, oi, don't tell me the Life Card's busted? What the hell is Endgame doing in this damn place?"
Behind him, Red Hair also stared blankly at Impel Down, bewildered.