Shiki's laughter instantly brought everyone back to their senses.
"Shiki's right, that's absolutely insane!" Charlotte Linlin also burst into laughter. "Mama mama! Roa, only a little lunatic like you could come up with such a plan!" While everyone else was still thinking about recruiting and expanding their forces, Roa was already thinking about taking over the entire New World! Even though the monsters gathered here were among the top pirates on the seas, they had to admit that Roa was indeed the craziest right now! Perhaps, this was what it meant to be young? Fearless, uninhibited, and reckless.
"You've certainly piqued my interest!" Silver Axe slammed the table. "Dividing up the New World? Hahahaha, even Rocks wasn't this crazy!"
"So Roa, quickly tell us, what exactly are you planning to do?" Wang Zhi was equally intrigued. "How will you realize your crazy fantasy?"
"It's simple, isn't it?" Roa shrugged. "At the end of the day, the World Government has already half-abandoned the New World. All their forces in the New World combined amount to just a few Marine bases, plus a few affiliated nations that are completely useless. They are so weak. As long as we clear out those Marine bases, the New World will naturally be ours to do with as we please."
"But Roa, what about the World Government's and Marine's retaliation?" The drunken Captain John asked about the biggest flaw in Roa's so-called "plan"—a plan that barely even deserved the name. "Whether it's destroying Marine bases or occupying the New World, the World Government will absolutely not stand by idly."
"That's right," Silver Axe's smile faded slightly as he said with some worry, "If things develop like this, it might still escalate into an all-out war with the World Government!"
"Gyahahaha! So Roa, what's your plan, kid?" Shiki asked with interest. "Again, if you can't satisfy me, I'll cause a ruckus!"
"All-out war?" Roa's lips curved upward. "Eight years ago, under the Captain's leadership, our power was strong enough to shake the world, and didn't the World Government just stand by and watch us develop?"
"Ultimately, a very simple truth has been overlooked." Roa said with a smile, "The World Government rules over more than half the world, and the Marines' enemies are all the pirates worldwide! Could they possibly keep their main forces in the New World to confront us indefinitely?"
At this, smiles brightened on everyone's faces. Yes, that was indeed a simple truth!
"Just avoid conflict." Roa shrugged. "Don't engage them head-on. Then, destroy all traces they've left behind. Destruction is much simpler than creation, isn't it?"
"Gyahahaha! That's right!" Shiki burst into laughter. "The Marines don't have that much time, nor do they have that many soldiers to fight a war of attrition with us!"
"Roa is absolutely right: the World Government has already half-abandoned the New World. How much more can they sacrifice for this sea?"
"But Roa," Wang Zhi raised a new question, "what about my Hachinosu Island? You're homeless at sea, so the government can't find you and naturally can't retaliate, but I'm different!"
"That's even simpler," Roa said casually. "An island for an entire sea, what if you give it up? Isn't it worth it?"
"You make it sound easy, kid!" Charlotte Linlin snorted. "Whole Cake Island is the fruit of my labor over these years! How can I abandon it so easily!"
"If that's the case, then let's try another method," Roa still didn't seem too concerned. "How about issuing a statement in the newspapers? If the government and Marines dare to lay hands on your territories, then we'll randomly eliminate a few affiliated nations." Although the World Government's bottom line was also low, if this matter was put out in the open, they could win by being the ones with nothing to lose.
"Uroooooooo! Isn't this great?" Kaido laughed loudly. "I'm very satisfied." Roa gave Kaido a subtle nod. Sure enough, only Brother Kaido is my true brother; that support was just right! As for the others, they can indeed fight alongside me when there's a common interest, but once their interests clash, these uncles and aunts will probably be the first to stab me in the back.
"Sounds good." Silver Axe also nodded excitedly. "I'm in favor!"
"Me too!" Captain John wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth, his flushed face filled with fanaticism. "It's been a while, let's cause some real trouble!"
"Then what more can I say?" Wang Zhi slammed the table forcefully, his face grim. "Let's turn the world upside down!"
"Mama mama!" Charlotte Linlin also let out a wild laugh. "Since things have come to this, if I back down, I'm not worthy of being a pirate anymore! You scoundrels, after all these years, let's fight side by side again!"
"Gyahahaha!" Shiki raised his wine glass. "What are we waiting for?! Before bringing fear to the world again, let's have a good drink first! Roa, you stinking brat, you raise your glass too! Don't be a spoilsport!"
"There's no helping Uncle Shiki." Complaining like this, Roa still raised his glass. The atmosphere was at its peak, and just as everyone was about to clink glasses, a spoilsport appeared—other than Roa himself.
"It is indeed an earth-shattering plan, but," the composed Red-Haired Redfield calmly said, "what does it have to do with me?"
Everyone was stunned. Indeed. Red-Haired Redfield, nicknamed "Red-Haired," was a true lone wolf. Let alone a territory, he didn't even have a single crewmate. What if he was assigned a sea area? It held no meaning for him whatsoever.
"Since you're here, Red, just do me a favor!" Roa said carelessly with a grin. "We're going for a mold-breaking strike!"
But unfortunately, Red-Haired Redfield wasn't a positive character from a shonen manga; the "mold-breaking strike" just made him twitch his lips. "Don't forget our agreement, Roa. I don't think you'll encounter any danger in this operation."
Wow, that response. He didn't even know what to say. Should he say that while he didn't give face, he truly believed in him? It was quite touching.
In that case! Roa's eyes instantly sharpened. I'm going for the ultimate move!
Roa opened his right hand. "Five billion Berries. There probably won't be any intense battles, you just need to act with us. I'll give you five billion Berries!" After all, what pirate wasn't greedy for money? Luffy and Roger both loved treasure. Red-Haired Redfield was also a person; he also needed money. And this guy clearly looked like a refined person, so he needed money even more!
Five billion Berries—this was undoubtedly a huge sum. Even Captain Rocks' bounty wasn't five billion! Throughout history, apart from the unknown Joyboy whose existence was erased, only Roger and Whitebeard had bounties exceeding five billion! Such generosity stunned everyone.
"You brat, you've really earned a lot these past few years!" Shiki couldn't help but gasp. Wang Zhi nodded in agreement; in the war with Shiki a little over a year ago, he had spent a fortune with Roa.
"What are you saying? This money will, of course, be pooled by everyone." Roa said seriously, "No matter how meticulous a plan is, there's always a possibility of oversight. If it truly escalates into a direct confrontation with the World Government, Red's strength will be indispensable."
"You brat, you really can't stand to lose anything!" Silver Axe snorted.
"I don't care," Charlotte Linlin said grandly. Not only was she the queen of a large country, but she also had Homies, chosen horses—Auntie Linlin wasn't short on cash!
"Then it's settled!" Kaido said impatiently. "If five billion can hire a guy like Red, it's certainly not a loss! The question is," he looked at Red-Haired Redfield, "Red, what's your decision?"
Red-Haired Redfield paused, then gave a charming smile. "Fifty billion for free, I certainly have no objection."
"Then I'll take that as a good omen, Red!" Roa nodded, satisfied. In that case, with all these heroes gathered, their will would be as strong as a fortress!
Then.
"Anyway, let's first allocate our respective territories!" Silver Axe was impatient.
"Idiot, let's take the New World first," Shiki sneered, his eyes filled with leaping flames. "We'll start acting after the banquet. I can't wait!"
"I agree!" Kaido shared his impatience.
"Don't rush!" Roa, however, waved his hand, stopping the overexcited crowd. "Although the alliance has been formed, it's not enough. We still need..."
"An alliance pact!"
"Alliance pact?" Wang Zhi raised an eyebrow.
"Regarding how we should preserve our territories," he paused, "after taking the New World."
"Even if there isn't a large-scale invasion of the New World, the World Government's actions will probably not be few! By then, they will have withdrawn from the New World, and we will rule this sea, but then we will be threatened by them! Especially those whose territories are close to the New World's entrance."
Everyone immediately fell into contemplation. Especially Charlotte Linlin. As she said, Whole Cake Island was her life's work. If she were to choose a territory, she would definitely choose the sea area near Whole Cake Island, and that area was very close to the New World's entrance.
"So I suggest," Roa said, "we don't care about internal conflicts, but if the enemy is the World Government, we must always fight side by side!"
"Makes sense!" Charlotte Linlin was the first to agree. "I have no objections!"
"Me too." Kaido naturally supported Roa as well.
"Agreed!"
"Concur!"
Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, and John also had no objections. The World Government was indeed their biggest enemy.
Roa... Only Shiki stared deeply at Roa. This brat, using this reason to tie everyone together! Although the reason was to oppose the World Government, let's not forget that the Rocks Pirates back then gathered only to pull off a big job!
Roa! You brat! Is this your true goal?
"Of course I have no objections either." Shiki smiled brightly. Although he believed he saw through Roa's little scheme, he didn't care. After all, Roa made a lot of sense; none of them alone had the strength to confront the World Government. To protect the New World, they had to work together. Well, although "pirates protecting something" sounded a bit strange, that was the logic.
And, gyahahaha! Roa, let's wait and see who will lead this alliance!
"That's excellent!" Roa raised his wine glass high. "Since that's the case, let us make an alliance pact here: no matter what conflicts arise in the future, as long as the World Government attacks, we must stand together and resist!"
"If anyone violates this, all shall strike them!"
"Naturally!" Everyone simultaneously raised their glasses, laughing as they drank it all.
Red-Haired Redfield, also holding a wine glass, felt completely out of place among them. But it was this very feeling of being out of place that inexplicably filled him with excitement. Was he now witnessing the birth of a second Rocks Pirates? Red-Haired Redfield stared intently at Roa, who held his wine glass with a hearty smile.
More than a decade ago, Rocks gathered a group of monsters, creating the most feared pirate crew in history! And now, the young man who inherited his will had also formed an astonishing pirate alliance! And he was even leading these monsters out to conquer this vast sea!
Suddenly, a thought struck Red-Haired Redfield. Just how far can this guy Roa go? Can he surpass that guy Rocks and achieve an unprecedented feat?
Then, let me bear witness to it. Red-Haired Redfield thought.
The alliance pact had been signed. The next step was to finalize the specific action plan, which was quite simple. Everyone would scatter and head to their assigned areas. Before the World Government and Marines even realized what was happening, they would swiftly eliminate all Marine bases in the New World. Then, they could just wait for the World Government to go crazy, and then resign themselves to fate.
Everyone casually discussed and assigned their respective areas of responsibility, and the strategic deployment was thus casually concluded. After that came the joyous banquet. The banquet lasted until past midnight. Roa was quite drunk. But now was not the time to sleep. Roa went to the coast outside the palace to feel the sea breeze. Someone was already waiting for him there.
"Roa! I heard everything! You're truly audacious!" Katakuri sat on a rock, his long legs dangling, his face excited. "Taking over the New World... even Rocks wasn't that crazy back then, was he?"
"Is this... audacious?" Roa smiled.
"Tsk, I'm so unwilling!" Katakuri frustratingly slapped the reef, causing cracks to appear in the solid rock. "Such a big event, yet I can only follow behind Mama!"
"In that case," Roa, noticing his friend's unwillingness, suggested, "how about I let you deal with G-1 Base?"
Katakuri immediately rolled his eyes. "You want me to die, don't you?!" G-1 Base was the only Marine base not included in their plans. Firstly, a Marine Admiral-level figure, either Sengoku or Garp, was stationed there year-round. Secondly, it was too close to Mary Geoise , so the Holy Knights could arrive quickly to reinforce. Attacking there would easily escalate into the all-out confrontation with the World Government that everyone wanted to avoid.
"Don't worry, my friend." Roa squinted slightly. The alcohol had slightly numbed his nerves, and this tipsy state made him feel very comfortable.
"This is just the beginning." Facing the cool sea breeze, Roa said, "The true battle is still far from opening."
"This is just the beginning?" Katakuri paused, then couldn't help but laugh. "So, rebuilding the Rocks Pirates is also for that true battle?"
"Rebuilding the Rocks Pirates?" Roa smiled. "There won't be a second Rocks Pirates, Katakuri."
"And I won't be the second captain either." He had already said it; this time was just to teach the World Government a lesson. Don't overthink it. As for why he rallied everyone, wasn't it to divert the World Government's attention? As for his good brothers, well, Roa doesn't need disobedient subordinates.
"Katakuri, if you think you're weak, would you like me to teach you Advanced Haki?" His good friend should indeed become stronger; otherwise, how long would it take to surpass Auntie Linlin?
"Oh?"
The next day.
The operation officially began. Everyone dispersed, heading towards their previously assigned areas. The gathered monsters were finally unleashed. This time, they were sure to make the entire world tremble!