Chapter 275

A brilliant flash of light appeared in the sky.

Sabo, wearing a hat, a trench coat, and black gloves, suddenly appeared above him and Perona.

Both of them were instantly startled.

Moria recognized Sabo, who had been extremely active in the War at Marineford, and couldn't help but feel a jolt inside.

Why would the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army appear here?!

"You're Moonlight Moria?"

Sabo smiled at Moria: "I heard my brother Luffy received quite a bit of your hospitality last time he was here."

Moria's eyes widened slightly.

The next instant.

A brilliant flash erupted.

Moria didn't even react before he was kicked away, his body piercing through countless buildings like a meteor before crashing into a hill.

The hill shattered and collapsed with a boom—.

…………

Mary Geoise, the Holy Land, within the World Government.

Inside a luxurious and noble conference hall.

A roundtable meeting was underway.

Those participating in this meeting were:

Fleet Admiral Kong, Navy Commander-in-Chief Sengoku, and Navy Chief of Staff Tsuru.

Navy Admirals Akainu, Aokiji, and Fujitora.

Navy Admiral Candidates Borsalino, Kizaru, and Kizaru.

And the highest officer of CP0 along with two subordinate members.

Kong interlaced his fingers on the table and looked at the three from CP0: "Have they moved?"

The CP0 leader glanced at one of the men behind him:

"Report the current situation."

"Yes."

A CP0 member wearing a white mask and strange attire opened his mouth to the assembled, holding a notebook:

"Latest news from the New World: Kaido has led the Beasts Pirates toward Punk Hazard, with fifty-three large ships carrying cannons and artillery, totaling thirty thousand men."

"Marco, Ace, and other remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates have departed from Fish-Man Island for the New World, totaling nineteen thousand men."

"Two days ago, the Sabaody Archipelago completely slipped from government control; the Worst Generation's Kid Pirates, Hawkins Pirates, Fire Tank Pirates, along with former Shichibukai Trafalgar Law and the Straw Hat Pirates, have allied, seized control of the Sabaody Archipelago, and severed several communication lines—we can no longer ascertain the situation there."

"Former Shichibukai, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, is now leading elite forces from Amazon Lily toward the Sabaody Archipelago."

"Dragoon's Revolutionary Army, with one hundred four large ships and twenty-one small ships, totaling over two hundred thousand men, has crossed the Devil's Triangle and is now advancing toward the Sabaody Archipelago."

After hearing the report.

Everyone present wore grim expressions.

"Two hundred thousand troops… The Revolutionary Army has quietly amassed such immense power?"

Kong said in a deep voice.

"The World Government has always focused its attention on this sea, giving the Revolutionary Army ample room to grow," the CP0 leader said coldly. "After liberating the Bridge Kingdom, their numbers surged dramatically."

"Numbers aren't the key."

Sengoku spoke: "If we only counted troop numbers, our own nearly million-strong forces hold absolute superiority. But this war won't be won by sheer numbers alone."

"Correct."

Tsuru's tone grew somber: "High-level combatants are the decisive factor in determining the outcome of this war."

Sengoku looked at Akainu: "Akainu, how is the situation with the Gura Gura no Mi?"

"Proceeding smoothly. That Weevil fellow fits the Gura Gura no Mi's power well, but he still can't reach Whitebeard's level—his destructive power only approaches half of what Whitebeard wielded during the War at Marineford."

Akainu said coldly.

"One Gura Gura no Mi alone won't easily recreate Whitebeard."

Kong nodded: "Half of Whitebeard's power is enough."

Kong turned to Aokiji: "What about the crew under Blackbeard? Will they agree to assist us as the new Shichibukai?"

Aokiji nodded: "Shiryu, Bajra, and Van Augur have agreed."

"At Impel Down, Magellan has completed his handover and is ready to be deployed as combat force at any time."

"Well done."

Kong nodded: "These are all our combat forces."

He looked at Sengoku beside him: "You handle the troop deployment from here, Sengoku."

Sengoku's expression was utterly resolute: "Understood."

……

The highest echelon of the World Government.

The Five Elders had observed the entire meeting.

"Go speak with the Celestial Dragons and retrieve that item."

"Are we really going to take it out?"

"Prepare in advance, just in case."

"True. We bear the fate of the entire world—we cannot place everything on these people."

……

239, the strong gather, fleets floating in the sky

After hearing Kizaru's deployment plan, Steel Bone Kong crossed his arms and pondered for a moment, then looked at Kizaru and said: "Kizaru, so you plan to concentrate all our forces in the New World and Mary Geoise, not engaging head-on, but instead pouring all defenses into Mary Geoise and the Crimson Sea near the Red Continent?"

Kizaru nodded: "Mary Geoise sits atop the Red Continent, easy to defend and hard to attack. Holding the high ground for full defense is far easier than preserving our strength and troops by fighting head-on out at sea."

"Infantry will defend the Red Continent, surrounding Mary Geoise, while the Navy and warships will enforce triple-layered blockades below in the Crimson Sea, combined with our artillery and all scientific weapons—including the Peacekeepers—surely inflicting heavy blows on the enemy."

"Just defending…?"

Akainu, his navy cap shadowing the upper half of his face, said coldly: "Why not strike first, while they haven't yet gathered together?"

Aokiji also nodded in agreement: "Indeed, why not launch troops now and crush the Revolutionary Army and the Straw Hats in the first half of the Grand Line?"

"To eradicate the Revolutionary Army and the Straw Hats, we'd need at least three Navy Admirals and a massive fleet."

Kizaru said gravely: "What if, during this time, that man attacks Mary Geoise?"

"Don't forget—he's a user of the Paramecia: Paramecia: Gura Gura no Mi. With that power, him descending from above Mary Geoise at any moment is no surprise."

"Under these circumstances, any tactic that scatters our forces strikes me as reckless."

Steel Bone Kong nodded: "Indeed, better to be cautious."

Hearing this, Akainu fell silent.

After further discussions on deployment.

Everyone dispersed.

Aokiji, Momonga, and Kizaru walked together.

"Where's Mr. Karp?"

Aokiji asked.

"Uh… I think he had a huge argument with Admiral Kong a few days ago and was ordered to guard the Mary Geoise prison."

Kizaru thought for a moment and said.

Momonga whispered: "Does Mr. Karp not want to join this war?"

Kizaru laughed and waved his hand:

"Mr. Karp is the Navy Hero—how could he?"

Aokiji and Momonga said nothing.

Both their expressions were heavy.

Great battle loomed.

The air over Mary Geoise was thick with weight and oppression.

Only the Celestials remained oblivious, continuing as always to select, buy, and train slaves from all corners of the world, discarding them once bored.

Fujitora, clad in the cloak of Justice, sat in a high-end restaurant in Mary Geoise, eating noodles.