Chapter 105: Big News - The War of the Best is About to Erupt!
The next day, Bane and his group moved into the courtyard next to Zephyr's residence.
The residences for high-ranking Navy officers were quite spacious—one courtyard was enough to accommodate Bane's entire group.
Bane's group moving there puzzled quite a few Navy officers, but before they could investigate this mystery, news quickly swept through all of Marine Headquarters.
That news was that Zephyr, this Navy big shot, had gained an adopted son—and this adopted son was none other than the mysterious Bane!
This matter left many Marines very confused. What was so special about Bane that deserved such favor from Teacher Zephyr?
Then, even bigger news swept across the entire world, drawing everyone's attention away.
Sea Calendar, September 1520.
The World Economic News obtained major news from the World Government headquarters—the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
**"War of the Best? Marine Headquarters Declares War on the Whitebeard Pirates!?"**
**"Whitebeard Pirates Second Division Commander Fire Fist Ace Has Been Secretly Arrested!"**
**"Whitebeard Pirates Second Division Member Marshall D. Teach Will Be Publicly Executed on October 20th at Marine Headquarters, Marineford!"**
**"The Mysterious Expert Bane Who Previously Killed Whitebeard Pirates Fourth Division Commander Thatch Has Been Invited to Participate in This Execution!"**
**"According to Reliable Sources, Bane is Currently a Guest at Marine Headquarters!"**
**"Former Navy Admiral Zephyr Has Taken Bane as His Adopted Son!"**
**"The Whitebeard Pirates Once Declared They Would Find Bane No Matter Where He Hid and Grind His Bones to Dust—Will They Still Honor This Vow?"**
For almost half a month straight, the World Economic News promoted these stories. Just as Sengoku had predicted, Bane's presence directly put the Whitebeard Pirates in an impossible position.
Previously, the Whitebeard Pirates had declared that no matter what, they would kill Bane for revenge.
Now Bane was right there at Marine Headquarters and would even participate in the public execution of their crew member. Could they still sit still?
When this news swept across the seas, anyone with half a brain could see that the Navy was going to war with the Whitebeard Pirates. Moreover, the Navy had already chosen the battlefield—Marine Headquarters—and given the Whitebeard Pirates a reason they couldn't refuse to come fight.
Come, and step directly into the Navy's trap.
Don't come, and the World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard Edward Newgate's lifetime reputation would be destroyed, making him the most famous "coward" on the seas.
All the so-called iron rules of the Whitebeard Pirates would become jokes.
The praise and glory that once made them so proud would become their shame!
New World, Wano Country, Onigashima.
In Kaido's stronghold, looking at the intelligence compiled in his hands, Kaido laughed heartily. "I've been waiting so many years for this top-tier war! No matter what the Navy and old man Whitebeard are thinking, I'm definitely going to join the fun. Queen, gather our forces—let's go raise hell at Marine Headquarters!!!"
"Kaido-san, Red Hair has been very active near our territory recently with his crew. If we shift our attention to the Navy and Whitebeard now, they might take the opportunity to ambush us," Queen said with a worried expression.
Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.
In the castle, Charlotte Linlin sat at a massive dining table, gorging herself. She grabbed delicate sweets and stuffed them directly into her mouth, scattering food debris everywhere with extremely sloppy eating habits.
In front of Charlotte Linlin, the Charlotte Family's eldest son, Perospero, was reporting the current situation to her.
As the Big Mom Pirates had the best intelligence network in the pirate industry, they obviously knew more information and intelligence.
"Bane has the Logia Dark-Dark Fruit. His junior brother is named Roronoa Zoro with the Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit. There's also unconfirmed news that the former Warlord Crocodile who was based in Alabasta has been secretly eliminated by them. Given the Dark-Dark Fruit's characteristics, it's very likely that the Logia Sand-Sand Fruit is now in Bane's hands. Currently, the Navy highly values Bane's group, and they have a great possibility of becoming Navy members in the future. If things really develop this way..." Perospero looked at his mother.
Charlotte Linlin chewed the pastry in her mouth, then said after a moment, "The Navy's situation of a generally weak new generation would be completely changed. If this Bane's group really grows up, the Navy might become powerful for at least another twenty years?"
"Exactly," Perospero said gravely.
Charlotte Linlin continued eating her pastries without speaking, but clearly she was thinking.
After about ten minutes, Charlotte Linlin sneered coldly. "Perhaps, but we don't have any way to change this situation now. Our hands can't reach into the Navy's interior. We can only do our own things, raise Bane's intelligence priority level, and if we find an opportunity, eliminate them first. What we need to focus on now isn't these young people, but that old man. The Whitebeard Pirates—mama haha haha—this will be quite a show."
"Mama, shouldn't we get involved in this matter?" Perospero asked again.
Just then, another figure entered the castle. This figure was tall, about five meters, with a scarf covering half his face—clearly Katakuri, the Charlotte Family's greatest masterpiece.
Although he wasn't the Charlotte Family's eldest son, he obviously had more authority and status than Perospero. He was the head of the Big Mom Pirates' Sweet Commanders.
"Katakuri," Charlotte Linlin glanced at this son and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Yes, Mama. Our fleet is ready to deploy. Smoothie, Cracker, and Snack are prepared for war," Katakuri said in a very calm tone.
Nothing seemed capable of surprising or shocking this man—he could always maintain his composure.
After hearing this, Perospero asked in surprise, "So we're really going to Marine Headquarters to fight?"
"Idiot!" Charlotte Linlin scolded Perospero, then smiled with a fierce and cruel expression. "That old bastard Whitebeard is indeed very powerful, but aside from him, the Whitebeard Pirates only have Marco who's barely worth noticing. Everyone else, including that Fire Fist Ace, can't shoulder the burden. In this war, their enemy is the Navy—the Navy. Although I hate those self-righteous bastards, their reputation as rulers of the seas isn't unearned. In this battle, if old man Whitebeard changed the battlefield, he might have some chance of winning. But if he really steps into Marine Headquarters, he's not far from death."
"So what do you mean, Mama?" Perospero's eyes flashed with anticipation.
"Once Whitebeard dies, as I just said, this so-called strongest pirate crew will instantly collapse. Marco can't possess the overwhelming strength to suppress everything like his old man. The so-called Four Emperors structure of the New World is about to undergo earth-shaking changes. Plenty of people are eyeing his piece of meat," Charlotte Linlin said, looking at Katakuri.
Katakuri quickly responded, "The Red Hair Pirates are currently hanging around near the Beast Pirates' territory."
"Hmph, that red-haired brat still loves meddling in others' affairs," Charlotte Linlin immediately guessed what Shanks wanted to do, her tone disdainful.
Then Katakuri continued, "At Beehive Island, Wang Zhi is already gathering forces. Obviously, he has corresponding plans too."
"Wang Zhi," Charlotte Linlin's eyes flashed with viciousness, then said, "If he doesn't come out, fine. But if he does, we'll deal with him too. Pass down my order—once the Whitebeard Pirates appear near Marine Headquarters waters, we declare war on Whitebeard's territory and seize as much of their interests as possible. After that old man dies, we Big Mom Pirates will be the strongest pirate crew!"
Clearly, compared to Kaido's enthusiasm for top-tier warfare, Charlotte Linlin was more focused on profits. She wanted to use this opportunity to devour the Whitebeard Pirates' massive interests!
Not just her and Kaido—ambitious individuals worldwide were getting restless.
Meanwhile, the Warlords of the Sea all received summons from Marine Headquarters.
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