In the sky, the colossal island slowly departed, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation on the sea below.
The Great Fortress of Justice capsized on the waves, and the immense Gates of Justice were also knocked down, stirring up another surge of monstrous waves on the ocean.
Meanwhile, in the palace at the center of the giant island, which was quietly ascending to higher altitudes.
"Cheers!"
The recently victorious monsters raised their wine glasses in unison, their faces beaming with the most unrestrained joy. The atmosphere instantly became exceptionally fervent.
Even Roa laughed heartily and drank a few cups.
"Did we really succeed just like that?"
Below, the subordinates of these monsters were also gathered. Perospero still felt a sense of unreality.
To seize the New World so easily, was this really not a dream?
"Is that not enough?"
Beside him, Katakuri devoured food with no table manners whatsoever, his mouth agape like an eel, directly tipping platters of food into his throat.
"Shouldn't there be at least a few major battles?"
Perospero cautiously glanced at the monsters celebrating at the head table, then lowered his voice. "The fruits of victory are always sweeter after overcoming hardships, aren't they?"
"If destroying Marine Headquarters and publicly executing the Fleet Admiral in front of the whole world isn't enough, then perhaps only a true all-out war with the World Government would suffice."
Katakuri said casually. "It's not that the World Government is too weak; it's that Roa is too cunning, and the forces he gathered are too strong."
"Speaking of Roa,"
Perospero suddenly nodded again, smacking his lips. "It seems quite reasonable now. No matter how absurd that guy's actions are, they always seem to make sense."
Katakuri, who was devouring his food, paused, then nodded. "Indeed, it is Roa after all."
"Hahaha!"
Perospero chuckled softly.
If this is the case, then Whole Cake Island? No, the Charlotte Empire is about to be established!
Mama will become the empress ruling the world, and I, of course, will be the crown prince!
Hehe, it's still a little exciting to think about!
At the main table.
"Hahahaha! Much easier than I imagined!"
Silver Axe's laughter was hearty. He was genuinely overjoyed, his eyes already deeply tinged with the unmistakable signs of drunkenness. "Roa! You truly are a genius! You've got the World Government completely by the balls!"
"After all, the New World isn't truly important to the World Government,"
Roa shrugged. "Their intense reaction only has one reason: their authority was challenged."
"We just need to make them understand that if they continue to put on airs with us, they will suffer irreversible losses, and they'll naturally know what to do."
"We could totally press on with our victory!"
Silver Axe continued, "Hahahaha! Smash all the Marine bases to smithereens, and then utterly destroy all the affiliated nations that still dare to pledge allegiance to the World Government!"
"Anyway, they can't do anything to us!"
No sooner had he spoken than he realized the entire table had fallen silent.
Everyone was looking at him as if he were an idiot.
"What's wrong?"
Silver Axe was somewhat puzzled.
"It's a miracle you've survived this long, given your mediocre strength."
Shiki sneered mockingly. "It's best to think before you speak."
"What?! Shiki! What do you mean, you bastard!"
Silver Axe raged.
"Our biggest advantage is that we have nothing to lose,"
Roa said with a smile. "If we push the world too hard, then the Five Elders will be leading the God's Knights and even the top echelons of the Marines to hunt us down everywhere."
"Uh!"
Silver Axe was instantly speechless.
The mere thought of such a scenario made his scalp tingle.
"Alright, we've achieved enough this time!"
Charlotte Linlin, while eating cake, happily chimed in, "Now, the New World is entirely ours! This sea alone is enough for us to digest for many years!"
"What are we waiting for? Let's divide our respective territories!"
Wang Zhi chuckled and directly pulled out a map of the New World.
"First, let me say, I want this sea area near Hachinosu."
"Then, of course, I'll take the area around Whole Cake Island!"
Charlotte Linlin also immediately spoke, as if afraid that if she spoke too late, her desired territory would be snatched away.
"In that case, Big Brother Kaido, you'd naturally take the seas around Wano Country, right?"
Roa looked at his big brother, who was indulging in food and drink.
"Nonsense!"
Kaido slightly raised his head, stating it as a matter of course.
"In that case, three areas are confirmed,"
Roa lightly raised his hand, and three small black dots were burned onto the map in Wang Zhi's hand, marking the locations of Whole Cake Island, Wano Country, and Hachinosu respectively.
"And coincidentally, they are located in the early, middle, and late sections of the New World."
Of course, strictly speaking, Whole Cake Island was towards the latter part of the early section, and Hachinosu was towards the former part of the later section.
"That works out perfectly."
Roa's finger moved lightly, and several vertical lines appeared on the map, neatly dividing the horizontally laid New World sea into seven portions.
Arranged from front to back, it was roughly: blank, Whole Cake Island, blank, Wano Country, blank, Hachinosu, blank.
Exactly seven positions.
"Quite fair, wouldn't you say?"
Roa said with a smile. "Everyone's territory is roughly the same size."
"Heh, indeed, truly fair!"
Shiki chuckled meaningfully.
Aside from Roa, what right did anyone else have to talk about fairness with him?
"I'll choose the New World entrance area."
Immediately after, Captain John spoke without hesitation.
"What?"
Silver Axe was stunned. "John, are you sure? Marine Base G-1 is still there! That sea area is the frontline facing the World Government!"
"Didn't we agree?"
Captain John said calmly. "When we are attacked by the World Government, we will help each other out. So what do I have to fear?"
"On the contrary, the entrance area. All travel to and from the New World passes through here, making it much easier to expand our influence."
And most importantly, this sea area was likely the farthest from Shiki and Roa.
Being far from them meant safety.
"That seems to be true!"
Silver Axe nodded in deep agreement. "John, you're the clever one!"
"Gahahahaha! As for me, I'll choose the last sea area."
Shiki laughed heartily. "I've always operated around here."
If that so-called Grand Treasure truly exists, then it must be in that sea area, right?
"Then I'll take the area between Wano Country and Hachinosu—" Silver Axe instinctively wanted to choose a place closer to his good brother Wang Zhi's territory.
But before he could finish, Wang Zhi already pressed his hand down. "Idiot! Can you handle that sea area? Elbaf is right there!"
"Elbaf?!"
Silver Axe was suddenly startled.
The world's strongest country, the warrior nation inhabited by the fighting giants!
Although Harald's policies had changed the country's approach in recent years, making it generally much more peaceful, that didn't mean Elbaf's power had weakened!
The world's strongest country was still the world's strongest country!
Harald was still that super monster recognized even by Rocks!
How could he possibly handle that?
Silver Axe hastily changed his mind. "Yes, yes! I want to switch! Switch to the area between Linlin and Kaido!"
"Idiot!"
Wang Zhi said, somewhat annoyed. "You should at least apologize to Roa! Then discuss it properly with him!"
Only Silver Axe and Roa were left without choices. Now that Silver Axe chose and then regretted it, wasn't he just dumping the mess on Roa?
"Oh, right, right! Roa! I'm sorry!"
Silver Axe's attitude was surprisingly sincere. He bowed repeatedly to Roa. "I definitely can't handle Elbaf! But you're different! You're Rocks' successor, and Harald is Rocks' good friend! You can definitely do it!"
"Alright."
Roa didn't hesitate in the slightest, nodding cheerfully. "I'm actually quite interested in that sea area too."
"Gahahahaha! Interested, are you?"
Shiki chuckled with amusement. "Roa, it's not just Elbaf, you know. Sphinx is also in that sea area."
Sphinx had gained notoriety worldwide in recent months.
Because the Whitebeard Pirates were stationed there.
"That's why I said,"
Roa raised the corner of his mouth. "I'm very interested, you see."
Actually, it wasn't just Elbaf and Sphinx; another very interesting island, Egghead, was also there.
According to the information obtained from Marine Headquarters, this island was a secret large research base under the World Government, known as the Marine Science Unit's Eighth Research Institute.
During the previous operation to destroy Marine bases in the New World, due to the special nature of this island, Roa didn't reveal any information about it, and it was preserved.
Of course, the researchers there had probably all been transferred by now.
It didn't matter; the people were gone, but the research base should have remained.
That was enough.
A large research base was very valuable to Roa now.
As for Joy Boy's good friend, the ancient giant robot Emet, it probably hadn't been transferred to that island yet. It should be Vegapunk who brought it there in the future, because the World Government had studied it for two hundred years without any breakthrough, so Vegapunk took over.
Saturn, who had strongly advocated for keeping and researching Emet after it attacked Marijoa, probably never imagined that this ancient robot would indirectly cause his death in the future.
Elbaf, Sphinx, Egghead—Roa was interested in all three islands.
"Hahaha! Then it's settled!"
Silver Axe said with a grin. "Roa, thanks!"
"It's nothing."
Roa said with a smile. "After this, everyone will expand their territories. Subduing all the nations within your respective domains won't be an easy task, you know."
"Gahahahaha! I'm really looking forward to seeing who dares to stand against me!"
Shiki laughed heartily.
"Mamamama! Before your respective forces expand to their limits, don't be too eager to fight each other!"
Charlotte Linlin smiled brilliantly.
"You should tell that to yourself, Linlin."
Kaido snorted.
"In any case, let's cooperate more in the future."
Captain John raised his bottle, still drunkenly gulping.
And so, the vast New World was divided by a few monsters.
Redfield, who was also at this table, remained silent throughout, merely observing, personally witnessing this feast of dividing the New World.
As the monsters raised their glasses to celebrate getting what they wanted, Redfield couldn't help but curl his lips.
How exciting it would be to see what this sea area would become later on?
"Then next, let's head back to the New World!"
Silver Axe raised his fist high, his face filled with an eager smile. "I want to quickly go and take over my territory!"
At this point, Roa suddenly spoke. "No, I won't be returning yet."
"Roa?"
Everyone looked at him with some surprise. Kaido, even more confused, asked, "What are you planning now, brat?"
Silver Axe also said, "Roa, aren't you worried about something going wrong if you don't return to take over your territory immediately?"
"Will anyone try to snatch it from me?"
Roa looked somewhat amusedly at Wang Zhi. "Old Man Wang Zhi, will you snatch my territory?"
"Of course not!"
Wang Zhi repeatedly waved his hand, a smiling expression on his face. "You called me 'Old Man,' how could I snatch something from a child!"
I'd rather offend Shiki than provoke you, brat!
"So, Roa,"
Shiki looked at Roa with interest. "Are you planning to make another big news?"
"Where would I find so much big news?"
Roa said somewhat awkwardly. "It's just that finances have been a bit tight lately, so I want to get some money."
"You, kid, would lack money?"
Charlotte Linlin was very surprised by this. "Calamity Company's weapons have already sold all over the world! Even my pirate crew has purchased your weapons!"
"The income is indeed a lot, but the expenses are also very high."
Roa said with a sigh.
The World Government had struggled for many years to produce only a few Seraphim.
And on his side, while trying to mass-produce the Calamity Knights and elevate Judge's creations to the next level, the size of the funding gap was self-evident.
"Hmph."
Kaido snorted. He probably knew where Roa's money was being spent.
Those artificial humans, which Roa called Calamity Knights, truly made him incredibly greedy.
"So, Old Man Shiki, please let me off near here."
Roa said.
"As you wish."
Shiki didn't mind this.
As Roa said, even if he didn't return to the New World immediately, would any of them go and cause trouble in that sea area?
Soon after, the colossal island landed on the sea, and the Snail Grand Fleet set sail again.
Speaking of which, this was Roa's first time sailing on the seas of Paradise.
He was born in the New World, had been to the North Blue and West Blue, but this side of the Red Line was indeed his first visit.
And this time, his target was Skypiea!
It was the golden city of Shandora, which was carried into the sky by a giant ocean current four hundred years ago!