Chapter 271: The Beast Pirates' Visit
The ascension of the new Fleet Admiral transformed the entire seas, creating a quiet, oppressive atmosphere—like the unnatural calm preceding a devastating storm.
A new broom sweeps clean, as the saying goes.
And the one assuming office was none other than Sakazuki—the hawkish Admiral known for his iron-fisted Absolute Justice philosophy.
Nobody dared act recklessly during this critical transitional period.
Even the most rampant pirates throughout the New World fell into cautious silence.
The Blackbeard Pirates also ceased their aggressive pursuit of the Whitebeard remnants, as though preparing defenses against potential threats.
The military power represented by Marine Headquarters proved simply too overwhelming.
If it weren't for Shanks' intervention at Marineford, perhaps less than one-tenth of the Whitebeard Pirates would have successfully escaped.
The catastrophic devastation wrought by three Marine Admirals working in coordination remained deeply ingrained in everyone's memories—nobody dared underestimate such force.
During such turbulent moments, perhaps only the three reigning Emperors of the New World could maintain genuine composure.
"Don't be nervous,"
Rhodes stated calmly to his assembled crew.
The Marines were actually at their weakest operational point currently.
With Sengoku and Garp essentially retired, and Kuzan having departed, the massive Marine Headquarters possessed—on paper—only Sakazuki and Borsalino as Admiral-level combatants. This barely proved sufficient to defend the major seas. Launching large-scale offensive operations remained impossible under these circumstances.
Sure enough—
Although the Marines constantly made demonstrative moves, even relocating Marine Headquarters to the former G-1 Branch deep within the New World to demonstrate their firm resolve combating piracy, they initiated no concrete military actions.
Conversely, the World Government made a dramatic strategic move.
The World Military Draft commenced!
This represented a stage for the truly powerful. As long as one possessed sufficient strength, they could instantly obtain high-ranking positions, bypassing decades of traditional advancement.
Within moments, a storm of recruitment swept across the seas, with warriors from all backgrounds vying for recognition.
The Marines, within this world, ultimately represented the banner of justice itself—countless individuals desperately wished to join their ranks.
"World Military Draft..."
Rhodes seemed lost in contemplative thought.
Powerful warriors throughout the seas proved as numerous as fish in an ocean current.
Issho and Aramaki were monsters who'd emerged from the World Military Draft, directly promoted to Admiral rank without traditional service.
Rhodes wasn't particularly familiar with Aramaki, but he knew Issho quite well.
He'd genuinely considered recruitment attempts, but the vast ocean made locating specific individuals incredibly difficult. Despite asking Robin to maintain surveillance long ago, he'd come up completely empty-handed.
"Never mind,"
Rhodes sighed softly.
Finding someone didn't guarantee successful recruitment anyway. Individuals of that caliber possessed their own philosophical understanding and life pursuits, maintaining unwavering beliefs—they couldn't be recruited through simple persuasion.
Better to rely on one's own strength development than depend on uncertain external factors.
"With my current capabilities, I should be able to stalemate one of the Four Emperors. I might not achieve outright victory, but with my superior speed, I can advance and retreat strategically, definitely maintaining equilibrium."
"However, my subordinate forces' strength remains grossly insufficient."
A standard Yonko crew—like Kaido's Beast Pirates or Big Mom's forces—possessed three All-Stars and four Sweet Commanders respectively. The Whitebeard Pirates had proven even more formidable, with their top five division commanders all qualifying as genuine monsters.
But Rhodes' only notable high-tier combatant currently was Jinbe. Enel possessed development potential, but he still lacked one additional commander-class fighter to meet standard Yonko crew requirements.
As for mid-tier combat power and specialized divisions, those remained even further beyond reach.
"I wonder where Kuzan is now. With my growing influence, will he consider joining us?"
Rhodes pondered thoughtfully.
Kuzan was a former Marine Admiral—his strength was absolutely undeniable, and his extreme cold freezing capabilities provided excellent crowd control, making him strategically invaluable in this world dominated by seawater.
If he joined Rhodes' organization, they could immediately challenge the Blackbeard Pirates and legitimately ascend to Yonko status.
Just as his thoughts wandered, footsteps suddenly approached from nearby.
"The Beast Pirates have arrived."
Robin appeared at Rhodes' side, speaking with grave seriousness.
"Finally here? Who did they send?" Rhodes smiled knowingly.
The Donquixote Family possessed two primary revenue sources: one involved acting as the underworld's central broker, while the other centered on exclusive trading arrangements with the Beast Pirates.
Doflamingo had supplied the Beast Pirates with artificial Devil Fruits to generate enormous profits, alongside rare resources like the Seastone that Wano Country uniquely produced.
"Jack the Drought. We absolutely cannot initiate warfare with the Beast Pirates currently."
Robin glanced meaningfully at Rhodes while speaking.
"I understand the strategic situation."
Rhodes nodded acknowledgment.
Engaging in full-scale war with the Beast Pirates now—even if they could theoretically achieve victory—would reduce Dressrosa to absolute ruins again, potentially worse than before.
"But everything still depends on their diplomatic approach,"
Rhodes smiled with calculated intent.
Although their forces weren't yet equal to the Four Emperors, they weren't intimidated either and possessed genuine combat capability. Their attitude needed to project strength.
Weak, submissive organizations couldn't survive long within the New World's brutal environment.
In the seas approaching Dressrosa.
A massive pirate vessel slowly sailed forward.
"Jack, Dressrosa isn't what it used to be. The Thunder God Swordsman far exceeds that Doflamingo in power. Don't act impulsively, or I'll have Kaido-san confine you to the mines,"
a white-haired elderly man stated sternly.
Incredibly—
Jack the Drought, notorious for his ruthless and domineering temperament, didn't argue back, merely grumbling,
"I don't need your constant lecturing!"
"I certainly hope not,"
the white-haired elder snorted, displaying absolutely no deference whatsoever.
His subordinates, Sheepshead and Ginrummy, remained completely unfazed by this dynamic.
This was because the elder was none other than Kyoshiro—chief strategist of the Beast Pirates!
He'd followed Kaido for extensive duration, possessing even greater seniority than the Three All-Stars themselves. Numerous Beast Pirates strategies—including colonizing Wano Country and monopolizing Seastone distribution—had originated from his tactical brilliance.
Without Kyoshiro's strategic guidance, Kaido might have assembled a powerful pirate crew, but never could have achieved Yonko status, reigning supreme over vast New World territories.
The Four Emperors weren't merely defined by overwhelming individual strength—they commanded formidable organizations far exceeding entities like the Donquixote Family.
Kaido of the Beasts and the Three All-Stars, those muscle-bound powerhouses, certainly possessed capability to battle multiple opponents simultaneously, but relying solely on them to develop organizational infrastructure...
"Kyoshiro-san, is the Thunder God Swordsman genuinely as powerful as rumors suggest?"
Ginrummy—the sole female member under Jack's direct command and a Gifters unit member—inquired respectfully.
Kyoshiro felt pleased that Ginrummy addressed him with the honorific "-san." He personally preferred this title, finding it conveyed greater sophistication than crude alternatives like "Boss."
"To successfully eliminate Doflamingo and remain essentially unharmed despite enraging the World Government—that individual's strength is absolutely beyond question."
Kyoshiro stroked his white beard thoughtfully, projecting an air of sage-like wisdom.
"Tch. One punch would send him flying."
Jack's assessment proved characteristically concise and direct.
Kyoshiro glanced at him sharply and snapped,
"You'd better exercise extreme caution.
The Thunder God Swordsman represents an emerging power, but they're genuinely formidable with substantial momentum. They've even seized control of our artificial Devil Fruit supply source, making them critically important to our operations!
Extremely important!
If you sabotage these negotiations, you'll be confined to isolation for three months!"
Jack fell into sullen silence upon hearing this ultimatum.
If anyone else had spoken those words, they'd be instantly pulverized, but with Kyoshiro, he let it pass—this certainly wasn't their first such exchange.
"Naturally, appropriate demonstrations of strength remain necessary. Follow my directives when the situation arises."
Observing Jack subdued beneath his authority, Kyoshiro's lips curled into a subtle smile of satisfaction.
While these discussions occurred, the vessel approached Dressrosa proper and—guided by patrolling escort ships—slowly entered the harbor.
At the harbor, Jinbe—responsible for Dressrosa's territorial defense—had already arrived with his guard contingent to provide formal reception.
And also to prepare for worst-case scenarios.
(End of Chapter)
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