"Based on the Fleet Admiral and the Commander-in-Chief's initial arrangements, the two of us are essentially the vanguard," Ulti continued after hastily wiping her face. "Next, the younger recruits will be gradually deployed here."
Yamato nodded...
This wasn't quite what she had imagined.
She had initially thought that during this stalemate, the Angel Alliance could divert some forces from the frontlines to directly begin expanding the Angel Pirates' influence among the pirate factions.But unexpectedly... only Ulti and Page One were sent this time.
And the follow-up reinforcements consist solely of members from the Junior Division.
Though the Junior Division members possess formidable talent and strength...
Their numbers are still far too few.
From the looks of it, the World Government has been making significant moves recently, forcing the Angel Alliance to brace itself.
What the Angel Pirates currently lack most are mid-to-lower-tier pirates and territory.
With Jack, Bonney, and herself among their ranks, they aren't lacking in high-level combat power.
And most importantly, not all members of the Junior Division can be deployed.
Because those led by Rouge have already become pirates...
True pirates.
Manpower... is a major issue.
Yamato frowned in thought.
Yet, a spark of inspiration flashed through her mind.
If the Old Geezers Pirates of the Golden Thief could inexplicably recruit members of the Junior Division into their ranks...
Then why shouldn't she do the same?
Cut the problem at its root!
Why not recruit those who, like her, were once dubbed the "Worst Generation" and "Supernovas"?
Aside from that Cavendish, who got sent straight to Impel Down by the Junior Division after taking a bullet for Blackbeard, the other Supernovas are still struggling to survive in the New World, cautiously building their strength.
After all, the New World is a battleground where the Angel Alliance and the World Government—two colossal forces—clash.
On their own... they're undoubtedly walking on thin ice.
So now, as a newly crowned "Emperor of the Sea," if she personally went to recruit them under her banner...
Success would be all but guaranteed.
Because...
They have no choice.
Neither the Angel Alliance nor the World Government would take them in...
At least, not openly.
That leaves them unable to seek refuge with the Whitebeard Kingdom or Whole Cake Island.
Thus, only three options remain:
The Blackbeard Pirates, the Red Hair Pirates, or the Angel Pirates.
And since the Red Hair Pirates have never shown any intention of expanding their influence, that option can be ruled out.
Between the Angel Pirates—who are actively reaching out—and the Blackbeard Pirates—dangerous but constantly on the run...
The choice should be obvious, shouldn't it?
"Let's go, Ulti. Tell everyone to raise the sails—we set sail at once!"
"Our first stop..."
"Will be the Pleasure District."
"Let's see if those two who dared to seize Doflamingo's business have any sense."
...
"Ah, strange things happen every year, but this year takes the cake."
Charlotte Linlin sat in the gardens of Cake Island, scrutinizing an enlarged newspaper.
After her Bloodline Regression to the Giant race, her height had stabilized at eleven meters.
Among Giants, that was merely adolescent height.
And her entire being radiated vitality.
If before her regression, she had begun to show signs of aging...
Now, it was as if she had regained her youth, her appearance no different from when she had rivaled Gloriosa and Ms. Bakkin aboard the Rocks Pirates' ship—perhaps even more radiant.
Every woman cares deeply about her appearance.
And Charlotte Linlin was no exception.
So, even as Michael traversed time and the Angel Alliance stood in direct opposition to the World Government...But this period wasn't particularly difficult for Charlotte Linlin.
Especially in Elbaf, after much persuasion and argument from Gear, they finally officially recognized Charlotte Linlin as a member of the Giant Tribe.
Once she gained the Giants' recognition, the situation changed drastically for Charlotte Linlin.
When she became one of their own…
The Giants finally saw clearly that this woman…
Was practically a gift from the heavens to Elbaf!
Destined to become the new ruler of Elbaf!
Young—only in her sixties.
Powerful—her already formidable strength became even more exaggerated after her ancestral awakening.
If she could leave behind her bloodline in Elbaf, their resurgence would only be a matter of time.
By any measure, she was far superior to Loki, who remained trapped at the roots of Adam Wood!
And the ones who most supported Charlotte Linlin's ascension as the new ruler of the Giants were naturally her childhood friends.
Gerd and Hajrudin.
Especially Hajrudin.
Though born as the son of King Harald's concubine, he fervently advocated for Charlotte Linlin to become the new ruler.
"Though I once harbored ambitions for the throne, I know my limits… Whether in strength or anything else, I can't compare to Loki or Charlotte Linlin. But if I had to choose between the two to support, of course I'd choose Linlin!"
These were Hajrudin's exact words, as relayed by Gerd.
And in the seven years since Michael disappeared, the Giants had been actively pushing for this matter.
So, apart from not officially ascending to the throne of Elbaf yet, Charlotte Linlin basically already had the final say in Elbaf.
However, compared to Elbaf, Charlotte Linlin still preferred staying on Cake Island.
Rather than being with the giants who once despised her and saw her as the "Evil God," she much preferred being with her own children.
"Mom, you said something strange? What is it?"
Smoothie, who was sitting nearby squeezing juice for Charlotte Linlin, paused and asked.
"Of course, it's about that recently notorious Old Geezers Pirates," Charlotte Linlin chuckled.
"This pirate crew... is quite interesting. They actually managed to kill those two stationed at Enies Lobby... No, more accurately, they dared to kill those two... It seems Michael has been gone for too long—his name no longer holds the same terror over the seas."
Though Smoothie had never been particularly knowledgeable about matters between men and women, even she could tell that in Charlotte Linlin's eyes, the Michael she had once met...
Was different.
He was absolutely incomparable to those husbands of various races who had been cast aside.
Although Mother said it with a smile...
Smoothie could clearly sense...
The faint yet unmistakable killing intent hidden within that laughter.
Adhering to the principle of never provoking Mother when she was angry, Smoothie quietly turned and slipped away.
As she reached the castle entrance, she bumped into a tall, burly man.
She then nodded at him.
"Good afternoon, Kaido."