As Orion ushered Brelco into the Hell Pirates' territory, Rocks' intelligence network was already buzzing with the news.
"Jiehaha! Whether they want a fight or not, the Overlord Alliance is about to crumble into chaos. The chance to unify the New World is finally here!"
Rocks didn't buy for a second that the Hell Pirates, with their handful of Conqueror's Haki wielders, would let this slide. Even if Vesper, that old schemer, dangled some shiny treasure to appease Brook, their alliance was as good as dead.
A plan sparked in Rocks' mind. Why not let Shirokiri, that lovesick fool, meet his end at the Hell Pirates' hands? Angelie—was she his Achilles' heel?
He glanced at Kurozumi Higurashi, the cunning old crone. Deceivers and ambushers like her were perfect for handling a hopeless romantic like Shirokiri.
But first, Rocks had his sights set on Wilank and Saracha. Those two were already at odds with Vesper, and he doubted they'd answer the old man's call to arms.
"Kurozumi Higurashi, same as last time—disguise yourself as me. Take Skal, Sandy, Rocket Jonas.... and march straight to Brook's turf. Make it bold, make it loud—draw Vesper into the trap!"
After barking his orders, Rocks led his new core crew—Ochoku, Silver Axe, John, and the Karnz Brothers—straight for Saracha and Wilank's territories.
...
On Winter Snow Island, Wilank, and on Demon Horn Island, Saracha, both received Vesper's summons and warning. He wanted them to join forces, put pressure on Brook, and guard against a potential sneak attack from Rocks.
If Brook went after Shirokiri, Vesper would be too busy cleaning up his son's mess to support them. A Rocks ambush could catch them off guard, and Vesper wouldn't be able to cover both fronts.
The solution? Rally together, head to Brook's turf, play peacemaker, and keep the alliance intact.
Wilank wasn't having it.
"What a load of crap! This is all because of your idiot son, Vesper! Now you want us to clean up his mess? It's embarrassing!
Three overlords ganging up over 'Shirokiri crashing Brook's turf to chase a woman'? Are we that pathetic?"
Vesper's voice was cold.
"Think carefully. This is for your safety, to avoid getting blindsided by Rocks. I've warned you—don't say I didn't."
With that, he hung up the Den Den Mushi. Wilank scoffed at the threat, unfazed. Saracha, however, sank into deep thought.
Joining Vesper was out of the question—nobody wanted to be his errand boy. But staying put felt risky, too.
Ever the schemer, Saracha recalled Dawei's downfall. He ordered a subordinate to don his clothes and stay on Demon Horn Island, while he slipped away with his trusted lieutenants and key assets for a few days of "adventure."
He'd wait out Vesper's mess with Shirokiri and Brook, then resurface. If Rocks raided his turf, the loss would be minimal.
Saracha even tipped off Wilank, urging the small-time schemer to follow his lead and avoid getting crushed by Rocks.
Wilank brushed him off, mumbling about extra patrols and keeping an eye out.
Saracha sighed. You can't save someone determined to dig their own grave. He just hoped Rocks had enough class not to reuse the same trick twice.
Winter Snow Island was separated from Brook's territory by Vesper's and Saracha's domains. If Vesper was off saving Shirokiri and Rocks hit Wilank, no one could bail him out—not even the gods.
This whole mess was Shirokiri's fault, pushing the already shaky Overlord Alliance off a cliff. Saracha was now plotting his next move to survive in the New World.
As the weakest of the four overlords, he lacked the clout to call the shots.
"Damn that Vesper," he muttered. "Won't even teach me Conqueror's Haki infusion as an ally. Rocks is the enemy, and that old Ice Demon's holed up in his frozen kingdom, impossible to find—and even if I did, he wouldn't share!"
Gritting his teeth, Saracha set course for a ruined island—the former stronghold of the last overlord, toppled by Rocks.
Maybe, just maybe, he'd find a surviving record of Conqueror's Haki infusion training. It was a long shot, but better than sitting around waiting for disaster. Fleeing his turf, Saracha embarked on a quest to grow stronger.
...
Rocks' bold advance didn't go unnoticed. Both Vesper's and the Hell Pirates' scouts caught wind of his movements. Vesper hesitated, wary of a trap, while Brook figured his crew's speed would keep them clear of Rocks' path.
Vesper suspected Rocks was pulling another diversion, like last time. But choosing between Shirokiri's safety and protecting Wilank and Saracha? No contest.
If Wilank and Saracha refused to rally, Vesper's hands were tied. The thought gnawed at him—if one of them fell and he clashed with the Hell Pirates, how could they stand against Rocks?
"Damn you, Shirokiri," Vesper growled. His deadbeat son was tearing apart the Vesper Pirates, a crew he'd built from the ground up.
But if he could pacify Brook, their two overlord crews might still have a shot at challenging Rocks.
Vesper rallied his officers and set sail for Squid Island, determined to settle the matter. He hoped Brook could see the bigger picture and not let Angelie spark a war that'd doom them all.
The New World was a whirlwind of sudden shifts, and Shirokiri couldn't believe his flirtatious escapade had caused such a storm.
Now, locked in a hours-long duel with a supernova named Roger, he was floored. The guy fought like he was burning his life force, tapping into some insane secret technique to match Shirokiri blow for blow.
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+280 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg