"I'm afraid that's not all."
Aokiji stroked the stubble on his chin. "The location of Whitebeard's territory is the gateway to the heart of the New World. If the Navy takes it, it would be a step forward, establishing a frontline base between the Endgame and Navy Headquarters."
"To go a step further..."
He looked up at Shano, his tone solemn:
"Whitebeard is the immediate target, but he's not the final one. This is the prelude to the World Government's full-scale attack on the New World. Take down Whitebeard first, and use that as a springboard. The ultimate goal is ultimately still us, the Endgame."
"Hmph, what a well-thought-out plan."
Kuina's eyes flashed with coldness. "If it weren't for that woman leaking the intelligence, we might really be in the dark until the Whitebeard Pirates started to fight."
"Indeed."
Shano grinned. "But now that we know in advance, the play can't go according to their script."
Just as Aokiji analyzed.
Whether for public or private reasons, he couldn't sit by and watch the Whitebeard Pirates be destroyed by the World Government!
"Pass my command!"
"Immediately gather all the top officials for a meeting on the Isle of Dawn. Also, order all corps into combat readiness, and have the intelligence department fully operational. Since they want to play big, we'll accompany them to the end!"
"Understood!"
Kuina accepted the order solemnly and turned to leave.
She always knew what was more important.
Even though she still had some doubts about what kind of feelings led the Empress to show goodwill to Lord Shano, deep down.
But it would never let her minor emotions affect the serious matters.
"Should we also notify Whitebeard?"
After watching Kuina leave, Aokiji scratched his head and said:
"But that old man is notoriously stubborn. Even Mr. Garp and Zephyr-sensei together can't match him. Even if he trusts the intelligence because of your friendship with him, he probably wouldn't condescend to ask us for help or join forces with us."
"Oh, I know that, of course."
Shano squinted his eyes.
Without faith and pride, one cannot become a world-class powerhouse.
But this pride often turns into a shackle. If at Whitebeard's age, he could truly set aside his pride.
Then on the original timeline, the Red Hair wouldn't have gone on a futile trip to persuade Whitebeard to recall Ace. During the war at the top against Marinfanto, it wouldn't only have been his men.
"Anyway, contact them first; just inform them. As for whether we join the fight or not, hmph, that's not something they can control."
Shano grinned.
The old man doesn't want to rely on others' power?
Well, that's convenient. I just happen to be aiming at the World Government and Navy Headquarters. Do I need Whitebeard's nod of approval for that?
The battlefield of this war, and how it's fought, is for him to decide!
No one can stop him.
Moreover, the strength of the White Team, in the face of the entire world's government engaging, is merely a speed bump.
His Endgame is the protagonist of this war and the key to ultimate victory!
......
New World.
In a certain sea area, a light rain was pattering down.
On the main ship of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard sat grandly in his exclusive chair, receiving intravenous treatment, his gaze calmly fixed on the distant gray sea.
"Father, the weather is a bit chilly now. Shouldn't we move the meeting inside?" Marco brought a cup of hot tea, advising with concern.
"Gurararara!!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, took the cup, and drank it in one go. "What's a little rain? I'm not so old that I need to hide from it. But you, rascal, I told you to bring hot sake, and you sneaked in this instead!"
"Well, your week's quota is already up." Marco shrugged. "As the ship doctor, I can't indulge you too much, Father."
"Tch, stingy brat."
Whitebeard smacked his lips, set down the cup, his eyes scanning over the sons gathered on the deck.
These young faces, it had been a while since they gathered so fully, reminding him of himself decades ago, and the days of roaming the seas with Roger, Rocks, and the others.
Time flies; now the old comrades had passed, and the remnants of the old era left only him...
"But in the end, the World Government couldn't hold back anymore."
Whitebeard chuckled softly, "Gurararara... But if they want to take me on, they better see if they have that ability!"
Marco's expression turned solemn at his words: "Father, is there some news you've received that's prompted you to gather us and say such things?"
"Ah, just now, that kid Shano called me personally."
Whitebeard handed the empty cup to Marco, speaking in a deep voice, "The World Government has secretly summoned the Seven Warlords of the Sea, preparing for a full-scale war on the New World, and the first target is to annihilate us, the Whitebeard Pirates."
"What?"
The face of the 10th division captain, Kuriel, changed drastically. "Is this news real? We haven't received any wind of this at all!"
"That's understandable, as that kid has paid a lot of attention to building his intelligence network since conquering his territory. His information is more insightful than ours, these old timers,"
Whitebeard said with a grin, feeling it's not comparable. He often learned about many events through the newspapers.
While in contrast, the Endgame has already directly incorporated the entire World Economic News Agency.
"If Shano himself says it, then it's undoubtedly trustworthy." Marco's expression turned grave, squeezing his chin and furrowing his brow.