Sea Circle Calendar Year 1465.
The coalition later known as the Eleven Nations Alliance was born. Eleven nations led by Steel Nation Goldenstein officially announced their withdrawal from the World Government and formed their own mutual aid group.
The world was shocked.
Though White Wolf Pirates' public opinion campaign had convinced many allied nations that Steel Nation's withdrawal was justified—after all, the World Government had been inhumane first—a critical question remained. Without Marine protection, how could they survive in the New World?
New World pirates weren't like the small-timers from the Four Seas or the Grand Line's first half. Great pirates with bounties over 100 million Berry were everywhere.
Then the World Government revealed the "truth." The Steel Eleven Nations had been deceived by White Wolf Pirates into leaving the World Government, and they deeply regretted this decision.
Simultaneously, the World Government officially placed White Wolf Pirates on the extermination list, confirming that former member nation Sphinx had been completely controlled by White Wolf Pirates, becoming a paradise for pirates and underground forces.
One month later, Marines would officially launch a Buster Call on Sphinx!
Though not directly targeting the withdrawn eleven nations, attacking those nations' current backer sent a clear warning. If White Wolf Pirates couldn't protect themselves, how could they protect the eleven nations, including Steel Nation?
"The storm approaches!"
Marine Fleet Admiral Elephant Yama took a drag on his cigarette. Two years ago he still had some black hair. Now even his beard had gone gray. Just two years felt like aging ten.
Years ago he'd been ambitious, wanting to climb higher. What's above Marine Fleet Admiral? World Government Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, the position directly below the Five Elders.
Unfortunately, Silas's return changed everything. The Sphinx battle, Elbaf battle, Mary Geoise battle, plus Rona's defection. Just a few years had exhausted all his energy.
If Marines weren't currently in transition, he'd want to resign from Fleet Admiral. Whoever wanted this shit position could have it!
"Haha, I'm grateful now." Marine Chief of Staff Portman Nissen laughed bitterly. "Thank goodness you took this position then. If it were me, I'd be planning my escape."
This was finding humor in a desperate situation. Though the World Government ordered Marines to launch Buster Call on Sphinx, Nissen didn't believe current Marine strength could successfully complete the mission.
Forget Silas. Giant King Harald, that brat Rona, and that recently emerged kid who defeated Glyndwr—just those three were enough trouble.
Nissen glanced at Elephant Yama. After Rona left, his old comrade probably couldn't even display half his peak strength. He was similar.
So Marines' true Admiral-level combat power was now only Ortega Sivan, Kong, and the recently recruited third Marine Admiral through worldwide conscription, a Logia Devil Fruit user.
In this situation, even deploying their entire military, the possibility of defeating White Wolf Pirates was infinitely close to zero.
Moreover...
"White Wolf Pirates not only has Pure Gold but also secret medicine restoring youth. This news has been circulating among Black Market information merchants for some time." Nissen's expression darkened. "We've now confirmed at least six great pirates with bounties over 100 million chose to serve White Wolf Pirates. Even one old fellow whose bounty exceeded 200 million."
Mentioning this, both Nissen and Yama's expressions grew grave. Forget those aging pirates. Even they felt tempted hearing this news. This was eternal youth!
Though everyone knew Silas definitely wouldn't directly hand over youth medicine and Pure Gold, for those top-tier fighters near death, rather than dying unknown, it was better to gamble.
The only fortune? Due to Marines' century of dominance, pirates had very few top-tier fighters, while Marine and World Government top-tier fighters, besides those still in positions, had mostly died. Otherwise, they dared not imagine if Silas tempted them with Pure Gold.
Nissen and Yama exchanged glances. They firmly believed their dedication to justice would never lose to time.
"Besides us, Holy Knights should also deploy, right?"
"Mm." Yama relayed orders heard from his superiors. "Not just Holy Knights. Seven Warlords will also deploy, but their targets differ from ours. Their target is the Steel Eleven Nations."
"So they're really moving against the eleven nations?"
"After all, their actions aren't just venting anger anymore. Joining White Wolf Pirates, seeking their protection—such behavior already equals opposing the World Government!" Yama took a deep breath. "The lords absolutely won't allow this!"
So since the Steel Eleven Nations withdrew from the World Government, losing Marine protection, let them suffer pirate attacks.
Their Marines' goal was detaining White Wolf Pirates. Then have Seven Warlords destroy those eleven allied nations!
As for further measures, Yama believed there were some. He just wasn't qualified to know more.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on Yama's desk suddenly rang.
"Fleet Admiral Yama, this is bad!" A Marine soldier's panicked voice came through. "Our intelligence agents at Sphinx received information. White Wolf Pirates are massively mobilizing forces at Sphinx. Target: Acropolis Port and G-1 Marine Base!"
Rather than waiting for death, take initiative!
Eleven allied nations' allegiance meant among the New World's twenty-one World Government member nations, over half were now under White Wolf control. In that case, why not go bigger?
Marine intelligence had already fallen behind. White Wolf Pirates now had fifteen great pirates with bounties over 100 million joining, all bringing their subordinate fleets. This was a transaction.
Each great pirate received one hundred doses of Stussy's special youth medicine from Silas, with more rewards based on loyalty duration and performance. Ultimately, they'd enter the lanternfish's belly for retirement.
As for Pure Gold? How could Silas give these pirates Pure Gold? Simply put, these pirates were cannon fodder Silas recruited. Not dying meant fighting again next time. Dying saved even pension costs!
Even so, for aging people near death, this was an irresistible temptation.
Why strike first? Because Acropolis Port was Marines' gateway to the New World!
Pirates using underwater passages might not pass Acropolis Port, but Marines moving troops through the Red Line, entering the New World, definitely had to pass Red Port below the Red Line, passing Acropolis Port.
In this era, Marines still lacked technology to cross the Calm Belt or directly reach the New World's second half from the Grand Line's first half.
So once White Wolf Pirates captured Acropolis Port, the New World gateway, they'd completely isolate Marines from the New World. Any large army invasion would definitely not escape White Wolf Pirates' eyes!
Once news broke, this meant White Wolf Pirates wanted a decisive battle with the World Government at Acropolis Port. But the World Government didn't want to grant Silas's wish.
If White Wolf Pirates attacked Marine Headquarters, they'd naturally welcome it. Marine Headquarters was Marine territory with natural geographical advantages; fighting there favored Marines. But Acropolis Port? Just an ordinary island near the Red Line with no natural defenses, meaning they must fight White Wolf Pirates to the death in fair conditions.
Wasn't this a huge loss? But even at a loss, they had to fight.
Neither Marines nor the World Government could watch White Wolf Pirates swallow Acropolis Port. Truly losing Acropolis Port meant White Wolf Pirates completely controlled all of the New World.
Currently, worldwide pirates were divided into three batches: the elderly group led by White Wolf Pirates, Seven Warlords who joined the World Government, and mid-generation pirates who joined neither side.
The third group had the most pirates, but disadvantages were equally obvious. These pirates completely lacked anyone to carry the banner; they were just a mob.
Once Silas won this battle, the remaining New World pirates would have to submit whether they liked it or not.
Even so, the World Government only changed Marines' original attack plan from attacking Sphinx to defending Acropolis Port. The other target remained unchanged.
As long as the Steel Eleven Nations were destroyed, even if Silas truly captured Acropolis Port, the benefits would greatly diminish. The New World was already a wasteland territory—not only with unstable weather and poor harvests, but maritime trade was risky everywhere.
Just destroy the eleven nations. Even giving the New World to White Wolf Pirates, so what?
Ultimately, this was a contest between the World Government and White Wolf Pirates.
Initially White Wolf Pirates wanted to limit Marine entry, so they conducted a public opinion campaign, keeping the White Wolf Pirates' clash with the World Government limited to non-Marine top-tier forces. But then the World Government captured Wano Country and had Marines issue a Buster Call against Sphinx—completely shameless.
Regardless, Sphinx was a World Government-approved allied nation. You issue Buster Call just like that?
Though White Wolf Pirates could flee with Sphinx, the final outcome would definitely be Marines intervening in the war against the eleven nations. So Silas could only gamble everything.
If playing, play big. He'd directly start war!
The World Government's reason for targeting the eleven nations was because they sought White Wolf Pirates' protection. Once White Wolf Pirates acted, this was confirmed. Marines could enter.
But this also caused a problem. With Marines' current strength, could they really steadily suppress White Wolf Pirates? Adding Holy Knights, enough? If not enough, did the Five Elders and Imu need to enter?
If the Five Elders and Imu entered, Silas could directly surrender. Truly couldn't fight at all. But this would expose the Five Elders and Imu to the world's eyes!
So this battle's understanding was: if Marines didn't interfere with the eleven nations' war, then whether Five Elders or Imu acted, White Wolf Pirates would accept it, because both sides wouldn't expose each other's existence.
But if Marines interfered, it meant all-out war between White Wolf Pirates and the World Government. Why still fight at Steel Nation?
So Silas chose to take initiative. He actively attacked Acropolis Port, actively triggered worldwide attention, and actively separated White Wolf Pirates from the Eleven Nations Alliance.
Even if the World Government destroyed the Eleven Nations Alliance, it wouldn't affect White Wolf Pirates' reputation at all. Just losses in interests.
Conversely, if White Wolf Pirates openly challenged and captured Acropolis Port, that would slap the World Government's face hard.
Simply put, the World Government lacked honor, so White Wolf Pirates prepared to flip the table. Worst case, have Ripley evacuate all eleven nations' civilians, reduce casualties, and then rebuild nations after the war.
Silas was gambling. Gambling that the Five Elders and Imu, before the whole world, wouldn't dare act. Also gambling the World Government believed even without the Five Elders and Imu, just Marines and Holy Knights could frontally defeat his White Wolf Pirates.
Arrogance was poison. Unluckily, Celestial Dragons were the most arrogant race Silas had seen, and Imu and the Five Elders were the best among them.
If they truly dared expose themselves before the entire world, Five Elders revealing their demon transformation forms, then Silas would admit defeat.
Sea Circle Calendar 1465, July.
White Wolf Pirates mobilized 30,000 Sphinx Guard soldiers, over thirty pirate crews large and small, and Elbaf's giant army, totaling 70,000 forces, heading to Acropolis Port.
Simultaneously, Marines gathered elite soldiers from worldwide bases to assemble at G-1 Marine Base. CP organizations likewise conscripted manpower.
In the future Summit War, it was just Marines versus one Emperor crew's war. But this war was White Wolf Pirates and the World Government's first full-scale clash.
Unknowingly, Silas's pirate crew had developed to levels making the entire world tremble. Though future emperors Newgate and Linlin hadn't grown to their peaks, they were beginning to show their fangs to the world.
Grand Line's first half.
A pirate ship with a crooked pirate flag set sail. After defeating Glyndwr, obtaining his first pirate ship, and recovering from injuries, Rocks finally departed with his crew.
"Haha, all-out war with the World Government? That old man's as arrogant as ever!" Finally glimpsing Silas's shadow, Rocks laughed wildly. "How can such a feast lack me?"
"Patrick Redfield, set sail! To Acropolis!"