Chapter 171: Auction Appointment! Toki's Determination
As Lotte's voice fell.
Everyone present showed grave expressions—they knew this was the real main event ahead.
Kozuki Oden couldn't help but speak up.
"Captain! What exactly are we going to do next? Just say it, Captain!"
His tone was full of excitement.
Though he hadn't fully understood what just happened, as long as it involved adventure, he could accept anything.
As his words ended.
The corners of Lotte's mouth curved slightly upward.
"Our pirate crew has two main goals moving forward."
"The first is an auction starting in less than a week. At that auction, there's a Wood-Wood Fruit."
"That fruit is something our crew must obtain."
"For me, this fruit is quite important—consider it a small goal for our crew. But the World Government and Marine Headquarters probably won't just sit back and let us act."
"So we must prepare for battle."
Hearing this, Kozuki Oden and the others nodded in agreement.
Though they didn't know what use the Wood-Wood Fruit had, since it was important to the captain, they had to seize it no matter what!
Noticing their expressions.
Lotte immediately realized they might have misunderstood something.
His face showed some helplessness as he cleared his throat twice.
"Ahem, I didn't say we'd just rob it with brute force. In fact, I've already gathered enough funds for the auction."
"What we need next is mainly to stay on guard—just in case."
Based on his understanding of the World Government.
The Five Elders would never allow him to simply buy the Wood-Wood Fruit.
He had to make sufficient preparations.
At the same time.
Toki immediately asked.
"Then what's the second one?"
Lotte gave Toki an approving glance and continued.
"The second is a long-term goal: obtain the coordinates from the four red Poneglyphs. For this, we can cooperate with the Roger Pirates."
"On that island is hidden the World Government's lost 100 years of history."
As his words fell.
Grave expressions appeared on the others' faces.
Clearly, they understood what this truly meant.
If there was one absolute taboo for the World Government, it was the lost 100 years of history!
If their next goal was this.
They would inevitably face targeted action from the World Government. No wonder even the captain called it only a long-term mission—it would probably be extremely difficult to accomplish.
As Lotte's words ended.
The group prepared to head to Water Seven next.
After all, as Lotte said, their real pirate ship was probably docked there.
.....
At the same time.
In the Beasts Pirates' stronghold.
With the actions from Marine Headquarters, all the top pirate crews in the New World had noticed something—such large-scale movements couldn't escape their eyes and ears.
For these top pirate crews.
Though their intelligence gathering might not be as sharp as CP0's.
They definitely had their own intelligence networks.
Otherwise, they wouldn't even know when they were being targeted.
And among them, the absolute top in intelligence was undoubtedly the BIG MOM Pirates!
In the grand palace on the massive Cake Island.
Charlotte Linlin sat on her throne, slightly narrowing her eyes.
Beside her, Long Bread reported the latest intelligence in a grave tone.
"Based on the forces the World Government is mobilizing right now, not only has CP0's leadership deployed, but all their ruthless operatives are out. Clearly, this is for someone."
"This level of force is already enough to deal with a top pirate crew."
Hearing this.
Charlotte Linlin showed a playful, contemptuous smile.
"Is that so? Have those World Government bastards finally decided to make a move? Do they really think their forces can break the balance?"
After all, though the World Government's power was indeed terrifying.
On the surface.
Breaking the balance would only bring disaster upon the World Government themselves.
That's why Charlotte Linlin asked with such cold mockery. For top crews like hers, Whitebeard's, and Roger's.
Once the balance at sea was broken.
The consequences would be utterly unacceptable!
At the same time.
Long Bread, however, shook his head at this moment and continued.
"This time, the forces the World Government has sent don't seem aimed at us. Otherwise, they wouldn't make such a big show—and I don't think they're stupid enough to do that."
"There's a rumor that's been bothering me lately."
Charlotte Linlin immediately grew interested.
If such massive forces weren't targeting them.
Then what exactly were they mobilizing for? It was simply unimaginable, so her curiosity was piqued.
"Oh?"
"What rumor could make you this concerned?"
Charlotte Linlin asked with raised corners of her mouth.
"It's said that the Azure Emperor Lotte, who disappeared for ten full years, shows signs of reappearing."
"And this operation from the World Government seems prepared specifically for him. If we interpret it that way, everything makes sense."
Long Bread spoke with extreme gravity.
After all, whether Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, or the others who were once in the Rocks Pirates—they all knew just how terrifying Lotte's talent was!
Even back then, Charlotte Linlin had tried to recruit him but failed.
Otherwise.
She wouldn't have settled for Kaido in the end.
Though Kaido's talent hadn't disappointed Charlotte Linlin, the terrifying strength and growth speed of the former Azure Emperor Lotte.
Could truly be called monstrous!
If Charlotte Linlin was a born monster.
Then Azure Emperor Lotte's monstrous level was far more terrifying than hers.
"What did you say?!"
"That monster isn't dead yet?!"
This sentence immediately made Charlotte Linlin's expression turn extremely ugly—this was clearly very bad news for her.
After all, Lotte from ten years ago was already terrifying enough.
Now ten full years had passed—who knew how far Lotte had progressed?
Fortunately, Charlotte Linlin had weathered many storms.
She quickly calmed down.
If that Lotte had really progressed to heaven-shaking levels in these ten years.
Then why hadn't he shown himself proactively?