Multiple goals achieved.
Akainu didn't argue, he just forcefully exhaled a puff of smoke, clearly fond of this plan.
He merely looked up and asked, "What's the position you gave that kid?"
"Isn't Tokikake's position vacant now?"
Sengoku gazed out the window and said solemnly,
"As long as he can prove his stance after this battle, giving him the Admiral candidate position is fine, and as for the codename… considering the Woods-Woods Fruit."
"Let's call him 'Ryokugyu'."
.........
"What, a green bull?"
The Endgame was sailing at full speed, and from the deck came Chopper's exclamation.
"It's fascinating."
Sanji smiled, drawing his gaze back from the sea beast that had leaped into the ocean far away, "The upper body is a green bull, the lower body is like a snake; no wonder it's the New World, where all sorts of weird things exist."
"It's time to head back, Chopper. The combat meeting is starting soon. We're newbies, can't keep the seniors waiting too long."
"Oh!"
The two of them headed towards the cabin, and from this direction, a glance revealed the other ships lined up behind and on both wings of the Endgame.
A rough count showed more than twenty.
Various sizes and types, mostly large ships with two or three masts, some with just one mast, and even a uniquely shaped submarine...
But uniformly, they all flew a white flag with two sharp blades piercing a seagull, and the emblem of the Combat Corps was painted on the sails and sides.
The Endgame's Combat Corps is still expanding, currently totaling over five thousand soldiers, more than twenty combat squads.
This time, we've brought around four thousand, undoubtedly making up a fleet of considerable scale from any angle.
Squeak~
When Sanji pushed open the door to the meeting room, a somewhat choking cigar smoke and a chilling atmosphere greeted him.
The long table was lined with squad captains from the Combat Corps, seated by squad number, including Trafalgar Law, X-Drake, Bartolomeo...
Near the top seat were various cadres from the Endgame Headquarters.
This time, the Endgame Headquarters has four people in charge of staying behind.
One of the top cadres Fujitora, as well as Zeff, Nami, Glutinous Rice Cake... wait, can that cat even be counted as a cadre?
Sanji wasn't so sure, but what concerned him more was why this supposedly powerful Uncle Issho hadn't come along.
"What a fool..."
Zoro, beside him, seemingly knowing what he was thinking, sneered:
"Can't figure that out? Hey, don't forget, we just clashed with the Heavenly Celestial Dragon. The Navy Headquarters and World Government people may be lurking, ready for revenge anytime. If there's no strong defender at the home base, how can we confidently fight the Charlotte Family?"
Indeed so.
Sanji acknowledged with a nod, though he was somewhat suspicious about when it had become Zoro's turn to analyze things so thoroughly.
Bam!
The mystery was soon revealed, as Zoro's smugness was met with a punch.
"Repeat like a parrot, copying my words, and from now on, I'll be responsible for training your Haki in duels."
Kuina retracted her fist, coldly glancing at the teary-eyed Zoro nursing his aching head.
"Is this the power of the big sister? Completely suppressed." Chopper covered his mouth and chuckled, but upon receiving Zoro's fierce glare, he quickly hid behind Sanji's back, scared.
Meanwhile,
people continued to enter, the remaining empty seats soon filled.
As the last squad captain took a seat, the noise in the meeting room gradually subdued.
All eyes focused on the main seat—a high-backed chair that remained empty for the moment.
Almost simultaneously,
the meeting room door was pushed open again, and a figure cloaked in black strode in with a majestic Silver Wolf, its fur like snow, surveying the room.
The whole meeting room instantly fell silent, everyone instinctively sat up straight.
"Everyone's here?"
Shano sat down at the main seat, eyes scanning the room, "Good, let's not waste time and start the combat meeting right away."
He snapped his fingers.
Prepared already, Smoker promptly caught the cue, stood up, and spread out a large nautical chart on the whiteboard.
The chart clearly marked the route from the Galaxy Sea Region to Ten Thousand Nations.
Especially the Tutelan Sea Region, indicating the outline of the areas and rough distribution of the thirty to forty islands quite comprehensively.
Last year, during the tea party, Nami sketched along the way, much more refined and detailed than what could be bought in the black market.
It now proves useful prematurely.
"According to intelligence, excluding those external islands flying the BIGMOM Pirates' flag, just counting within Ten Thousand Nations' territory, there are thirty-five islands in total."
"With the advantage of fighting on home ground, they can gather over thirty thousand troops anytime."
Smoker pointed at the maritime chart and said solemnly, "This strength, not to mention the Combat Corps, is even unmatched by adding up all Four Major Armies, greatly surpassing us in scale."
"But the combat power may not be!"
He cast his gaze over the crowd, "The Charlotte Family is bound by blood ties, with almost all core strength stemming from BIGMOM's children, including four general-level commanders, among other strong fighters among the offspring, but in average quality, they are definitely lesser than ours!"
"That's for sure!"
Bartolomeo slammed the table, shouting excitedly, "Not even a question! With Lord Shano here and all you seniors around, those trashy Commanders are nothing!"
This victory is undoubtedly theirs, belonging to the Endgame!
"Sit down, Barto."
Shano glanced at him, "Listen to Smoker's analysis first—strategy can afford to underestimate the enemy, but tactics must be taken seriously."
"Yes, my lord!"
Bartolomeo immediately obediently sat down as if tamed, though his eyes were still ablaze, "Mr. Smoker, please continue!"
This guy...
Smoker shook his head, barely reacting to it, took out five warrants, lining them up, and adeptly posted them on the whiteboard.
"Those mid-level forces, the cadres and captains can deal with according to the battlefield situation as needed, but these five individuals, I believe, should be assigned for match-ups in advance."
Introducing each in order from lowest to highest bounty, Smoker began:
"Charlotte Snack, one of the Four Sweet Commanders, Minister of Fried Foods, with a bounty of 600 million Belly!"
"Charlotte Perospero, the eldest son of the family, almost like a steward internally with considerable standing and power, bounty as high as 700 million Belly!"
"Charlotte Cracker, one of the Four Sweet Commanders, Minister of Biscuits, bounty of 860 million Belly!"
"Charlotte Smoothie, one of the Four Sweet Commanders, Minister of Juice, bounty of 932 million Belly!"
"Charlotte Katakuri, the head of the Four Sweet Commanders, Minister of Powder, bounty... 1 billion 5700 million Belly!"
Smoker's voice echoed in the meeting room, and upon mentioning the figure of 1 billion 5700 million Belly, a few who had just arrived in the New World couldn't help but gasp.
To have reached the ten billion Belly level...
Luckily, even without counting Fujitora, who was guarding the base, they had three such individuals among them.
The newbies instinctively directed their gazes over, and Jack reveled in the attention, pointing a thumb at himself and laughing boisterously:
"What's there to say; Katakuri is definitely the trickiest, right? I'm up for it! That guy loves posing cool, I wanted a fight with him since back on Thunder God Island!"
"Not your fight, Jack."
Kuina spoke coldly, "I'll handle this man."
"Wha?"
Jack was instantly stumped, scratching his head:
"Big sister, no need to overdo it, right? You handled the strongest Kizaru last time on Shampodi; this time, let me help ease the pressure a bit."
After all, he also commanded a bounty over 10 billion!
Though it just hit the 10 billion threshold, precisely...
Yet he's ranked similarly with Katakuri, bounty-wise at least!
"Leave it to you?"
Kuina looked up at him, "Will you win?"