Chapter 246-250

Chapter 246: Then Let's Blow That Shanks to Hell!

After thinking for a moment, Diarmuid asked directly, "Is this 'Straw Hat Pirates' crew a significant threat?"

Tsuru replied, "In reality, he hasn't done anything terribly bad, but as for the level of threat, it should be considered very high."

Shanks's personality was not particularly malicious. He didn't casually provoke the Marines or plunder civilians. Of course, since he sailed under a pirate flag, didn't produce anything, and managed to rise to the position of a Yonko in the original story, you couldn't possibly call him a good person. Even Roger had a dark history of destroying entire countries in a fit of rage.

But as far as Diarmuid knew, Shanks hadn't caused any major trouble since he began his journey, so the Marines hadn't bothered with him much before.

Why the sudden change?

"What's the situation?" Diarmuid asked again.

"We've investigated and found that Shanks was once a member of the Roger Pirates..." Tsuru said softly.

Diarmuid nodded, staying silent.

"Of course, we've known this for a long time, and it was never considered too important. As you know, we've stopped bothering with and capturing former members of the Roger Pirates in recent years," Tsuru explained.

This was true. In the first few years after Roger's death, the Marines aggressively hunted for his crew, but they made little progress. In the years that followed, these former pirates genuinely went into seclusion and caused no trouble.

The Marines couldn't afford to focus too much energy on people who were no longer a "threat." Therefore, although the search for the Roger Pirates was still officially a priority, it had effectively been sidelined within Headquarters and wasn't given much attention.

Marine Headquarters had also known that Shanks was a member of the Roger Pirates, but since Shanks had remained quiet before, they were too lazy to deal with him.

"Alright, so what's different now?" Diarmuid asked.

"Now it's different. 'Straw Hat' Shanks has made a powerful return to the New World, and in his very first battle, he defeated Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, showing his crew's immense strength. This is already a threat. At the same time, his return to the New World means he's different from the other Roger Pirates. He has no intention of leaving this sea, so we can't afford to ignore his 'member of the Roger Pirates' label. Finally, Garp-san suddenly remembered that Shanks's straw hat was once Roger's... and it seemed very important to Roger. But he gave it to Shanks. We have reason to believe that Shanks might have inherited Roger's will, which is a much bigger threat," Tsuru said with a grave tone.

Diarmuid now understood. He had always been a little arrogant in his thinking, believing that the Marines hadn't taken major action against Shanks, which was why Shanks became one of the New World's Yonko about five years later in the original story.

But now, he realized the Marines must have had some targeted plan for Shanks from the beginning, but it just wasn't successful. Shanks's pirate crew was the kind that, if you didn't kill them with one blow, they'd escape, and then it would be very difficult to find them again. Later, he rose through the ranks in the New World's pirate power struggle, becoming one of the four winners and reaching the top position of Yonko.

That was likely the real chain of events.

But now, the situation was different. First, the New World hadn't even formed the basis for a power struggle. Charlotte Linlin couldn't beat the Whitebeard Pirates. Kaido, who had been building his strength, had been on the run for almost three years since he was captured by the Marines. During that time, Wano and the Beasts Pirates were leaderless. Forget about growing; they probably fragmented. So his power plummeted. He was just a little brother now. He couldn't even beat the Big Mom Pirates, so how could he compete for dominance?

And for the past few years, the Marines had been aggressively clearing out pirates in the New World. Akainu was in charge of these matters and had done a lot. This had made the New World even more chaotic. Shanks had just entered not long ago, so from the current situation, there was no basis for a new war for dominance in the New World. Aside from the Whitebeard Pirates, who were true kings, the other three factions were not ready.

So, history had already been significantly altered.

The Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates hadn't yet reached a level where the Marines desperately wanted to get rid of them. The Marines' main defensive target was still Whitebeard. But they couldn't just start a war with the Whitebeard Pirates because Whitebeard was too strong and difficult to deal with.

At this very moment, a person who could defeat Charlotte Linlin had entered the New World. This person was a former member of the Roger Pirates and seemed to have inherited Roger's will. At the same time, his path was similar to the Roger Pirates, focusing on a small, elite crew with no fixed territory. He had only one ship, but the crew members were all very strong.

Given their way of developing, the Marines now saw them as a major threat. If they were allowed to grow unchecked, they could become the new Roger Pirates. By then, they would be too familiar with the New World, and it would be impossible to capture them.

Therefore, Marine Headquarters immediately took the Straw Hat Pirates seriously, unanimously agreeing that they had to eliminate this crew as soon as possible, or they would likely become a second Roger. Was this threat not big enough?

So, Diarmuid received the Fleet Admiral's order to go to the New World and deal with "Straw Hat" Shanks.

After a long discussion with Tsuru, Diarmuid finally got a clear picture of the whole situation. He had no objections to the Fleet Admiral's orders. He didn't care if the concept of Yonko would appear or not. From the moment he came to this world, joined Marine Headquarters, and set his sights on becoming a Marine Admiral and even the Fleet Admiral, he knew that this world would be changed by him. So, from the very beginning, he had no intention of following any plot. He didn't feel constrained. If something needed to be done, he would do it.

If he had any hesitation or doubt before, it was gone now that he had brought Ace and Luffy to Marine Headquarters. What was the point of a plot when Luffy and Ace were now Marines? He would deal with whatever came his way, and if things needed to change, he wouldn't hesitate.

Headquarters wanted him to capture Shanks? Then he'd go and capture the hell out of him! There was no reason to refuse.

"Okay, I understand. Is there any intelligence about the location of the Red Hair... no, the Straw Hat Pirates?" Diarmuid asked.

He now understood that the supposed alliance between the Big Mom Pirates and Kaido's Beasts Pirates wasn't the main issue. If Diarmuid showed up in the New World, their plan would likely fall apart. So, he didn't need to get involved. If it didn't fall apart and they did ally, it probably meant they were targeting the Whitebeard Pirates, which had nothing to do with the Marines for now. In fact, if the three crews fought, the Marines would just enjoy the show. So, there was no need to interfere.

Diarmuid's main goal on this trip to the New World was to deal with Shanks!

"No. Three days ago, after their fight with Charlotte Linlin, they disappeared. It's very difficult to track them now. They're probably afraid of being found by Charlotte Linlin, right?" Tsuru said softly.

Diarmuid felt a little disappointed. It seemed he would have to go to the New World and find them himself.

But before Diarmuid could speak, Tsuru added, "However, we've observed that Warlord of the Sea, Dracule Mihawk, entered the New World two days ago. Compared to 'Straw Hat' Shanks, his movements are easier to track because he's a lone individual. He can't travel long distances and has to sail within a certain range of islands to resupply. We've had no major issues tracking him..."

Diarmuid was a little confused. We're going after Shanks, so why are we talking about Mihawk's intelligence?

But he quickly realized what was going on and laughed loudly. "I see..."

"That guy arranged to meet with Shanks, right?" Diarmuid said with a laugh.

"We can't be sure, but it's been almost two years since their last confrontation. When Mihawk suddenly entered the New World, we suspected he was looking for Shanks. As for them arranging to meet... we actually suspect Mihawk has Shanks's Vivre Card," Tsuru said gravely.

Diarmuid was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "That's very possible."

When you think about it, Mihawk, a lone swordsman, probably didn't have a good intelligence network. But somehow, he always managed to find the carefree Red Hair Pirates in the most remote corners of the world and have an epic duel with Shanks. It was very likely that they each had the other's Vivre Card.

Right now, it would be difficult to find a single ship like Shanks's in the chaotic New World, especially one that was intentionally hiding its movements to avoid being found by Big Mom. So, instead of doing that, it was better to keep an eye on Mihawk... What if he led them to Shanks?

"Alright, then I'll just follow Mihawk," Diarmuid said. It was the most practical approach at the moment.

"Understood. I'll send the relevant intelligence files to Hina. She's already on her way to Mariejois," Tsuru said.

"Got it. Then I won't be returning to Headquarters. I'll head straight for the New World from Mariejois," Diarmuid said with a nod. After clarifying a few more things, Diarmuid hung up the Den Den Mushi.

He looked at Stussy, who had been happily eavesdropping. "Eavesdropping on a Marine Admiral's conversation, and such a classified matter at that, is a major crime..."

"It's not eavesdropping. I was listening openly," Stussy said playfully.

After a short pause, Stussy's eyes sparkled, and she said seductively, "But I'm willing to accept my punishment..."

Without a moment's hesitation, Diarmuid scooped Stussy up by her long, pale legs and carried her toward the bedroom.

As he walked, he said, "Then I won't show you any mercy. If your Pleasure District gets any intelligence on Shanks, be sure to let me know immediately. Also, aren't you on good terms with Charlotte Linlin? Why don't you try to sound her out and see what this alliance of hers is all about?"

Stussy wrapped her arms around Diarmuid's neck and said with a captivating smile, "Well, that depends on your sincerity..."

Diarmuid chuckled, then carried the Queen to the bed and said, "I'm always very sincere..."

Chapter 247: The Straw Hat Pirates' Captain: Straw Hat Shanks!

On a deserted island in the New World.

The Red Hair... no, the Straw Hat Pirates were setting up camp.

Come to think of it, Shanks had indeed inherited many of Roger's habits, such as not having a fixed territory and not having many people under him. His crew of brothers lived wherever they landed.

Of course, this was only the case for now. After Shanks became a Yonko, some things changed. While his ship, the Red Force, still carried an elite crew, he also gained more followers and occupied some territory. But those were later developments.

At this moment, most of his future companions were already with him, including Lucky Roux, Yasopp, and Ben Beckman. There wasn't much change there. However, in the original story, he should have still been in the East Blue, but now he had entered the New World ahead of schedule.

Lucky Roux and the others were busy setting up tents, while Shanks sat on a rock, holding a Vivre Card and observing it. He adjusted his position a few times but found that the Vivre Card consistently pointed in one direction. Over the past few days, he had changed his course at sea several times, and the direction of the Vivre Card had changed along with it.

After a long while, Shanks shook his head and said, "That guy is coming again..."

He was very familiar with this. The Vivre Card he held was indeed that of Dracule Mihawk. Back in the East Blue, the two had an "instant connection" and fought fiercely in the sea, but neither could claim victory. In the years that followed, he and Mihawk seemed to have a unique destiny, as they would always run into each other in various seas without either of them actively seeking out the other.

Every time they met, they would start a fight. Mihawk was extremely annoyed with Shanks, but he had to admit that Shanks was a very strong swordsman. In this world, it was hard for him to find a master like Shanks with whom he could test his swordsmanship. So, even though he disliked Shanks's personality, he greatly respected his strength. Every time they met, they would engage in a friendly exchange. Over time, a real bond formed between them.

Later, for some unknown reason, they exchanged Vivre Cards. These past few years, whenever Mihawk had nothing to do, he would come to find Shanks for a duel. It was no exaggeration to say that Mihawk's contribution to Shanks's rapid growth in strength was significant.

In terms of overall power, Shanks should be the stronger one, especially since he had also learned to imbue his attacks with Conqueror's Haki, a skill Mihawk didn't possess at the time. However, in terms of swordsmanship alone, Mihawk was a tiny bit stronger than Shanks. But that tiny bit wasn't enough for Mihawk to completely suppress Shanks.

Mihawk also intended to use Shanks as a "whetstone" for his own skills. So when they fought, it was mostly to test their swordsmanship, not to win or lose. Thus, it could be said that in these years of sparring, neither of them had truly won.

As for Shanks, he realized that constantly fighting Mihawk could indeed rapidly sharpen his skills. On another note, he hadn't given up on trying to recruit Mihawk as a crewmate. In Shanks's eyes, Mihawk was definitely strong enough to be his partner. If the two of them could combine their strength, it would be a huge boon for his Straw Hat Pirates. Unfortunately, Mihawk was so dedicated to the sword that he had no interest in Shanks's proposal.

"What's wrong, Captain?" Lucky Roux asked with a chuckle after he finished setting up the tent. He saw the look of helplessness on Shanks's face.

Shanks pointed to the Vivre Card in his hand. "Mihawk's on his way. Judging by how often this Vivre Card has changed direction, he can't be too far from us. He'll probably find us in ten days to half a month."

"Hahahaha, so we'll get to see you fight him again?" Yasopp said, walking over with a bottle of sake in his hand.

Shanks first nodded, then said helplessly, "This is the New World. If I start a fight with him, the commotion will likely bring Charlotte Linlin right to us..."

"So what? We beat that old woman once, we can beat her ten more times..." Yasopp said without hesitation.

Shanks shook his head, about to explain, when a man with a cigarette in his mouth walked over. He patted Yasopp's shoulder and said, "Yasopp, don't underestimate the Big Mom Pirates. We were lucky that day that we only ran into her. She couldn't fight us all at once. If she had gathered her crew and managed to hold us off, I don't think we would have been her match."

"We weren't, and there's no need to hide it," Shanks said casually, readily admitting his crew's shortcomings.

He knew his strength had grown rapidly in recent years, but he was still a bit shy of the level of monsters like Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Whitebeard. He was like Diarmuid when he first met Whitebeard, standing at the threshold of the top echelon of masters but not yet able to hold his own in the first rank. He was only a tiny bit away, and that tiny bit could be overcome in three to five days with a sudden flash of inspiration, or he could be stuck there for the rest of his life.

Shanks's helplessness came from this realization. After fighting Charlotte Linlin, even though he won, he knew his own limitations. He really wanted to have a proper fight with Mihawk to see if he could break through, but he was worried that fighting Mihawk would bring Charlotte Linlin back to them, which would be very unpleasant.

"Don't worry too much, Captain. We've heard the news in the New World these past two days. The Big Mom Pirates want to form an alliance with Kaido. They probably don't have time to deal with us," Ben Beckman said.

"What if they're allying to fight us?" Lucky Roux thought out loud.

"How could that be? We aren't that big of a threat. Charlotte Linlin knows very well that we aren't her match. Losing just one fight isn't enough to make her so angry. In my opinion, if the Big Mom Pirates and Kaido are truly forming an alliance, their target could only be one of two factions," Beckman said gravely.

Shanks chimed in. "That's right. It couldn't be to deal with our Straw Hat Pirates. Most likely, it's either because in the past two years, the Marines have been consistently trying to control the gateway seas of the New World, giving them a sense of urgency. They want to ally to fight the Marines and drive them out of the New World again. Or, they can't stand Whitebeard's constant pressure on them and want to team up to take him down... We're not worthy of that kind of attention."

Beckman nodded again, but then he smiled and said, "But now, I've pretty much ruled out the possibility that they are teaming up to fight the Marines."

"How so?" Shanks's eyes lit up.

He had great faith in Beckman's intelligence. Ever since Beckman joined the Straw Hat Pirates, he had always acted as their strategist, and he had never disappointed the crew.

Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke. "You all heard the news, right? About Marine Admiral Rodriguez Diarmuid leading a team into the New World? Someone mentioned it at a tavern on Vistara Island two days ago."

"Diarmuid..." Shanks said, feeling a bit annoyed hearing the name. He didn't have much interaction with Diarmuid, but it was that guy's fault that his ship was sunk by a single cannon shot in the East Blue, forcing him to fight Mihawk in the sea and then drift for days before finding another ship.

"What does that mean?" Yasopp asked.

"If they were planning to fight the Marines, Charlotte Linlin and Kaido would have conspired in secret. The entire New World wouldn't know about their alliance in just half a month. Furthermore, Diarmuid's arrival in the New World as a Marine Admiral is a statement from the Marines. It's a way of testing Big Mom and Kaido. Yet, even after this Admiral arrived, they haven't held back at all. On the contrary, they've released all the information, which shows they're making a statement to the Marines. Therefore, the target of their alliance is most likely not the Marines, but Whitebeard," Beckman explained with a laugh.

Shanks nodded, seemingly in agreement with Beckman. Then, getting excited, he asked, "So do you think the Marines will intervene?"

"Of course not," Beckman said without hesitation.

"Why?" Yasopp asked again.

"First, the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates allying to fight the Whitebeard Pirates is a great thing for the Marines. They would love to see those pirates fight to the death. Why would they stop them?" Beckman said with a smile.

He paused for a moment, and without waiting for the others to ask, he continued, "Second, the Marines are either bluffing, or they are... powerless." However, when he said this, Beckman's expression became a bit puzzled. He had a sneaking suspicion that the Marines might be holding back their true power.

After all, the Marines had been developing very rapidly in recent years. The Great Pirate Era brought countless pirates, and the Marines had significantly expanded their forces. The new recruits quickly gained rich combat experience. For almost a decade, the Marines should have been in a process of 'weeding out the old and bringing in the new,' and their strength should be much greater than before. Yet, in all these years, the Marines hadn't made any major moves, which puzzled Beckman.

That doesn't make sense...

But whether the Marines were bluffing, holding back, or truly powerless, based on their current deployment in the New World, they didn't seem to have any intention of truly venturing deep into the New World to start a war to wipe out pirates.

Thinking this, Beckman continued, "In short, the Marines probably won't be making any big moves for a while. Otherwise, the war in the gateway seas of the New World wouldn't still be in a low-level stalemate. I have reason to suspect that the Marines' actions in the gateway seas are just for training. They're not ready yet."

Shanks couldn't guess the Marines' plans and deployments, and even with his intelligence, Beckman couldn't know everything, so he could only make general assumptions. The conclusion they came to was that as long as Charlotte Linlin and Kaido weren't targeting the Marines, the Marines wouldn't interfere with the alliance.

"In that case, could the Marines become the final winners? When Big Mom, Kaido, and Whitebeard are all in a difficult spot, the Marines could suddenly step in and settle the chaos?" Yasopp asked.

"That's also unlikely. If the Marines don't intervene, the three of them might fight to the death, but if the Marines make a move, it's possible that it would quickly affect the rivalry between the three pirate crews. They might stop fighting... and even team up to pull a fast one on the Marines," Beckman said with a laugh.

But in the end, he concluded, "But what I'm saying is just a regular assessment. People are the ones who make things happen, and many impossible things often happen, so we can't rule out those possibilities..."

"So you've just been talking nonsense this whole time?" Lucky Roux said, munching on a drumstick.

"Hahahaha, no. What I mean is that maybe a lot of people are overlooking one thing: it's not just the Marines who can be the fisherman and watch the three of them fight. In fact, there is another group in the New World that can be that fisherman..." Beckman said with a sudden laugh.

"Who?" Yasopp asked curiously.

Shanks's eyes lit up as if he had realized something.

And Beckman pointed to his own nose and said, "Of course, it's us."

Chapter 248: If Shanks Escapes, I'll Hold You Responsible!

While Ben Beckman was strategizing for the Straw Hat Pirates, preparing to use the chaos in the New World as a foundation for their rise, a few merchant ships were sailing on the sea not too far away, about a ten to fifteen-day journey.

These merchant ships were flying the Amway Company flag, and Diarmuid and his crew were on board. The Amway Company had contact with all sorts of characters in the New World; even Whitebeard often bought his liquor from them. The Amway Company's business policy was to never ask who you were. As long as you had the money, they would sell to you.

With the backing of Warlord of the Sea, "White Hunter" Smoker, and the help of the Pleasure District in the underworld, and now with the Donquixote Family as their partner, the Amway Company was growing larger and larger in the New World. Few people would dare to make trouble for them.

Diarmuid's group had been on the ships for a long time, sailing in the New World without any issues. Inside the cabin, Diarmuid stroked his chin with one hand and held a teacup with the other, his gaze fixed on a map of the New World on the table. The map was marked with many routes and intelligence codes.

Standing beside him were Marine Admiral Akainu and Admiral Candidate Gion. Behind Gion stood Momonga and Yamakaji, while behind Akainu was Onigumo.

"Look, Mihawk resupplied here yesterday. As usual, it's a five-day supply. In other words, he must reach the next island within five days. We've figured out his speed, so in five days, he can only reach these few islands..." Diarmuid said, pointing to a few islands on the map.

Akainu and the others nodded, listening in silence.

Diarmuid continued, "We've sent out two teams of Amway Company merchant ships. They haven't seen Mihawk on the routes to these islands..." Diarmuid pointed to a few more islands. Akainu and Gion remained silent, listening intently to Diarmuid's plan.

"While we can't be 100% certain, we can largely conclude that Mihawk has no intention of going to these islands. There's no need for us to bet on that possibility. Assuming he's not going there, we can rule out these islands. So that leaves these three islands..." Diarmuid pointed to three more islands on the map.

Akainu and Gion looked over. This time, Akainu spoke. "If it's those three islands, then we can be pretty sure that the Straw Hat Pirates are on one of them."

"Yes, unless they've left the New World," Gion said with a smile.

The three islands on the map were located right on the edge of the northern Calm Belt, in the northernmost part of the New World. There were no other islands to the south, east, or west. So, as Akainu and Gion said, if Mihawk was indeed looking for Shanks, then Shanks's Straw Hat Pirates were most likely on one of those three islands. Otherwise, they would have had to enter the northern Calm Belt and leave the New World.

But that was unlikely. They had just entered the New World. Why would they leave so soon? It didn't make sense.

"These two islands..." Diarmuid pointed to two of the three islands. "Are inhabited. I hear the smuggling business is thriving, since most islands near the Calm Belt rely on it. But that also makes it easier for us to gather information..."

After a chuckle, Diarmuid took out a Den Den Mushi, dialed a few numbers, and made a call.

"Hello? Is this Stussy-san?" Diarmuid asked cheerfully.

A voice on the other end responded, and the Queen of the Pleasure District asked with a smile, "Admiral Diarmuid, how can I help you?"

"No, I wouldn't dare instruct you. It's just that the Marines would like to conduct a joint operation with the CP organization, so I'm calling you for some information," Diarmuid said with a laugh. As an Admiral, he could initiate a joint operation himself without reporting it, so his casual remark gave Stussy a good reason to get involved.

"Since you put it that way, how can I refuse? Please go ahead," Stussy said with a smile.

Akainu, standing by, didn't react, thinking it was normal. He had already heard that Diarmuid was on good terms with Stussy of the CP organization, so there was nothing surprising about it.

Gion, however, looked a bit annoyed and glared at Diarmuid, but she didn't interfere.

Diarmuid shot a glance at Gion and then said, "Help me check if there's any intelligence on the movements of the Straw Hat Pirates on Korinth Island and Bynesse Island. And make it fast."

"No problem," Stussy replied, hanging up the Den Den Mushi without any unnecessary chatter.

Diarmuid put away his Den Den Mushi. "Now we just wait for her message. If Stussy rules out these two inhabited islands, we'll go straight to that uninhabited island. If we find Shanks on one of these two, we can go directly there, too..."

Akainu had no objections. He knew that in terms of strategy, Diarmuid was far more skilled than he was, after all, he was a professional from the Intelligence Division. Gion had no reason to object either, so they didn't dwell on the matter.

Akainu asked in a deep voice, "By the way, are we not going to do anything about Big Mom and Kaido?"

"Do what?" Diarmuid asked, taking a sip of tea with a laugh.

"Didn't the Fleet Admiral say we should stop their alliance if we get the chance?" Akainu frowned.

"We don't have a chance, do we?" Diarmuid said with a smile.

Akainu: ???

You haven't even tried, and you're already saying there's no chance?

Before he could say anything else, Diarmuid spoke up. "Don't worry, the Fleet Admiral just wants to see what those two are up to. As soon as we entered the New World, Charlotte Linlin started telling everyone that she was going to ally with Kaido. That's a statement in itself. Their alliance is aimed at Whitebeard."

"So we're not going to do anything?" Akainu asked with a touch of hesitation.

"We can't do anything for now. It's a good thing for us that they're allying to fight Whitebeard. If we intervene, it would be counterproductive. Let them fight like dogs. Akainu... until we're ready and have broken free of all the Marines' chains, we need to keep the pirates around. Otherwise, all our efforts will be for nothing. When the prey is gone, what reason does the World Government have to keep the hounds? When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away. Just follow the plan of Admiral Sengoku and the Fleet Admiral. For now, we just need to keep a firm grip on the gateway seas of the New World and prepare for our push. Once we've solved our internal problems, then we'll deal with these pirates," Diarmuid said softly.

Akainu let out a sigh. "I guess there's no other way." Although he was a bit unhappy, he understood the logic. If the Marines were to take out Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin right now and clean up the pirates in the New World, would the World Government still give them so much funding every year? Would they still treat the Marines so well?

Impossible.

Without an external threat, the Marines would become a threat to the World Government, and they would definitely find a way to suppress them again.

This was not in the Marines' best interest, and the Marines were not in a position to cause another rift with the World Government. It was better to lie low for a while. Once they had control of the economic lifelines, set up the Warlord of the Sea system, and the Fleet Admiral became Commander-in-Chief of the Entire Military, all these internal issues would be resolved.

Only when the Marines could operate stably without the World Government's support and funding would it be time to truly begin their plan to clean up the pirates.

In fact, ever since the World Government went against the Marines' wishes and insisted on the Warlord of the Sea system, the high-ranking officials within the Marines had reached a consensus on this matter. Therefore, after the year 1502 of the Marine calendar, the Marines hadn't made any major moves. On the surface, it seemed as if maintaining the status quo of the ocean had exhausted the Marines and left them with no extra capacity to get involved. In reality, the high-level officials were focused on reorganizing internal Marine affairs.

In recent years, the pro-World Government faction among the lower and middle ranks of the Marines had a difficult time and had almost no chance of promotion. This was one sign of the change. As for the top brass? The Marine top brass currently had no one who was close to the World Government. This was Diarmuid's handiwork over the past ten years.

"Go after the smaller fish while leaving the big ones. We don't need to worry about the established top-tier pirate crews like Kaido, Whitebeard, and Big Mom for now. We'll use them as a front and take out potential up-and-comers like Shanks. This will prevent them from stirring up trouble when we decide to move on the pirates in the New World," Diarmuid said with a smile.

This was a policy the Fleet Admiral had been implementing for the past few years. The Marines had been specifically hunting and eliminating promising pirate organizations like the Straw Hat Pirates.

After a short pause, Diarmuid said gravely, "I don't care about anything else. Since the Fleet Admiral has given me this order, we will not let Shanks get away this time. We will either kill him outright or send him to Impel Down to rot in a cell. You all need to be on your guard and stop with the flashy nonsense. If Shanks gets away, I will hold you all responsible."

Gion, Momonga, Yamakaji, Onigumo, and the others immediately snapped to attention and saluted. "Yes, Admiral!"

Akainu didn't respond, as he was on the same rank as Diarmuid. But it was clear that he, too, was impressed by Diarmuid's presence. Diarmuid had been an Admiral for almost eight years, while Akainu had just been promoted. In terms of commanding presence, Diarmuid was definitely stronger. He could include Akainu in his command, but Akainu could never say something similar and include Diarmuid.

Right after Diarmuid finished speaking, the Den Den Mushi rang again. It was the Queen of the Pleasure District calling back.

"It seems the Queen is quite efficient," Diarmuid said with a smile.

He answered the Den Den Mushi. "So, what's the news? Did you find anything?"

Stussy didn't beat around the bush. "No, I didn't. Both of those islands have branches of my Pleasure District, and I've just checked the intel. There's no sign of the Straw Hat Pirates on either of them."

"I see. Thank you very much, Queen Stussy," Diarmuid said politely.

Without a moment's hesitation, Diarmuid hung up the Den Den Mushi and put it away. "Alright, we can now pinpoint the uninhabited island. Full speed ahead!"

Chapter 249: Kaido: What if I Marry Linlin? I'd Be Untouchable!

New World, Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.

This is the headquarters of the Big Mom Pirates and the capital of the Totto Land Kingdom.

At this very moment, in the port of this island, a pirate ship flying a skull flag slowly pulled to a stop. It looked completely out of place next to the other pirate ships in the harbor, which all bore the Big Mom Pirates' flag.

A short time later, a tall, burly figure walked off the ship, accompanied by a small, young-looking lad who appeared to be only about fifteen or sixteen.

This towering man was Kaido. He was bare-chested, wearing black pants and a long, furry coat draped over his shoulders. With two horns on his forehead, he looked both mighty and domineering.

However, a conspicuous scar ran across his robust chest, starting from his shoulder and ending just before his navel.

This scar was, of course, the one Diarmuid had inflicted on him with a single sword strike.

As soon as Kaido stepped ashore, Katakuri, the first of the Big Mom Pirates' Sweet Commanders, approached him and said softly, “Kaido-sama, welcome to Whole Cake Island. Mama has been waiting for a long time.”

Kaido didn't say anything, only nodded to Katakuri, then said, "Jack, let's go."

“Yes, Boss Kaido!” the young man beside him replied.

It turned out he was the infamous All-Star, Jack the Drought.

Although Jack looked very young, as if he were only fifteen or sixteen, his sturdy frame told a different story. He looked nothing like a youth, but more like a hulking brute.

After Kaido 'escaped' from the World Government's control, he met this boy on his way back to the New World.

He discovered that Jack was a Devil Fruit user, possessing the Elephant-Elephant Fruit, Ancient Zoan Model: Mammoth.

Kaido already had a strong preference for Zoan-type Devil Fruit users, and at the time, his crew was lacking strong subordinates. Only Queen and King could really hold their own.

Jack's appearance brought Kaido immense joy. After observing him for a while, he realized Jack was a perfect fit for his crew.

He was young, an Ancient Zoan user, and hadn't been part of any other shady organizations or powers. Kaido took a liking to him immediately and brought him back to Wano Country, keeping him close and teaching him personally.

But to be honest, Kaido's teaching skills were lacking. He was a monster who relied on pure talent, not someone with the aptitude to be a teacher.

As a result, Jack didn't learn much from Kaido, but it was better than nothing, far better than if he had ventured out on his own.

However, while he didn't pick up Kaido's techniques, Jack did absorb his personality and way of doing things.

By now, Jack had become a reckless hothead who feared nothing. If someone ticked him off, he'd fight them!

It was precisely this reckless personality that made Kaido fond of him. That's why Kaido didn't bring Queen or King with him to meet Charlotte Linlin. Instead, he brought this young fellow, Jack.

Led by Katakuri, Kaido swaggered into the castle on Whole Cake Island.

Before long, Kaido saw Charlotte Linlin. At this moment, Charlotte Linlin's body was even more bloated and looked much fatter, her once decent appearance now distorted.

But none of that mattered; Kaido wasn't there for Charlotte Linlin's looks.

When he saw her, the old woman was devouring a meal, having already eaten more than half of a table full of sweets. Drool, mixed with what looked like stomach acid, dripped from the corner of her mouth. One drop landed on the table and burned a small hole in it.

After seeing Kaido, Charlotte Linlin showed no expression and simply pointed to a large couch in the distance.

Kaido paid no mind to it; he and Charlotte Linlin were close. But the young Jack on the side couldn't stand it. In his mind, Boss Kaido was the strongest, unbeatable.

His boss came all the way to Whole Cake Island to meet this Charlotte Linlin, and this old hag dared to put on airs?

“You idiot!!! Who do you think we are?! Show some respect for Boss Kaido, you old hag!” Jack roared.

Kaido was stunned, Katakuri was stunned, and Charlotte Linlin's chewing of sweets came to a halt.

“Wororororo…” Kaido suddenly burst into loud laughter.

Charlotte Linlin also started laughing, while Katakuri composed his expression and stepped back.

Just then, Charlotte Linlin suddenly reached out a hand. A burst of ghostly green soul power erupted from her arm, forming a massive hand that grabbed Jack from a distance.

“Brat, do you know who you’re talking to?” Charlotte Linlin cackled menacingly.

Jack struggled for a moment, realizing that he couldn't break free from this seemingly invisible restraint with his boasted strength, but he didn't panic.

He remained arrogant and defiant, shouting, “You're just an old hag who lost to the Straw Hat Pirates, aren't you?”

As soon as he said it, a flash of annoyance crossed Charlotte Linlin’s eyes.

It was at that moment Kaido spoke up, “Linlin, you're too old to be mad at a kid, aren't you?”

“Hmph!” Charlotte Linlin grunted and flung her arm, sending Jack flying. He crashed into the castle wall, immediately spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The injury looked neither too severe nor too light.

Kaido had no intention of helping Jack. Jack had just gone too far by bringing up Charlotte Linlin’s past, and the fact that she didn’t kill him was a sign of respect for Kaido.

“Jack, shut up and stand over there,” Kaido commanded calmly.

Jack, who usually looked like he didn't care about anyone and was ready to fight, was incredibly respectful of Kaido and obeyed his every word. As soon as Kaido spoke, he picked himself up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and stood to the side.

While he was doing this, he glared fiercely at Katakuri.

This puzzled Katakuri, who couldn't figure out what was going on in the guy’s head. What was this? Why were you glaring at me?

What a blockhead.

Kaido didn't rush anything. He simply sat on the couch without a word, looking around Charlotte Linlin’s castle.

Charlotte Linlin didn't bother with the brat anymore and quickly, and without grace, devoured the rest of the sweets on the table.

Only after she had finished everything did she turn to Kaido and say, “You came all the way from Wano Country to see me. Does this mean you’ve given up on your old plans, Kaido?”

Kaido finally looked at Charlotte Linlin, his eyes a little annoyed. “Why do you care so much?”

“Mamamamama…”

Charlotte Linlin let out her unique laugh, then said, “Looks like I was right.”

She was indeed correct. Originally, Kaido’s plan was to quietly develop his strength in Wano Country for another ten or twenty years, building up enough power and waiting for the global situation to change before making his move.

In the original story, Kaido did something similar, accumulating power until the great pirate war for supremacy erupted in the New World. Only then did he truly get involved, no longer staying dormant, and quickly became one of the Yonko.

But now, due to Diarmuid’s interference, Kaido was captured and locked away for two and a half years. During his absence, the Beasts Pirates were without their captain. Queen and King bickered and fought amongst themselves, while the samurai in Wano Country stirred up trouble.

Destruction is far quicker and more brutal than construction. In just two and a half years, Kaido's accumulated wealth was all but gone. His weapons business had cooled down, and he hadn't found many promising new subordinates.

He was basically back to square one.

Because of this, Kaido had been miserable for the past two years and didn't want to talk about it.

“I didn't come here to listen to your nonsense, Linlin,” Kaido said in a low voice.

“I told you long ago that your methods were no good and that Wano Country isn't a great place, but you wouldn’t listen. If you had teamed up with me back then, none of this would be happening. The Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't have grown so powerful, and maybe Roger wouldn't have become the Pirate King. If you and I had joined forces, we would have already taken out Shiki, Roger, and Whitebeard!” Charlotte Linlin grumbled.

But Kaido didn't take any of it seriously. He knew that Charlotte Linlin was just bragging. Even if they had joined forces ten years ago, they wouldn't have been a match for Roger, Newgate, and Shiki.

He hated to admit it, but that era truly belonged to those three.

During that time, both he and Charlotte Linlin could only be considered "the underlings."

The reason Charlotte Linlin was saying all this now was simply to gain the upper hand and take the lead in their upcoming alliance.

Kaido might look like a brute on the surface, but he was keenly aware of this.

If it were possible, he would, of course, want to be the leader of this "pirate alliance."

But he knew it was impossible now. While his individual strength might not be inferior to Charlotte Linlin's—they could fight for ten days and ten nights without a clear winner—in terms of overall power, the Big Mom Pirates were clearly stronger. With Katakuri at the helm and many other powerful fighters, most of whom were Charlotte Linlin's own children, a family-based pirate crew like hers was notoriously difficult to deal with, especially with Charlotte Linlin herself holding everything down.

When it came to the overall strength of their pirate crews, Kaido had to admit that his Beasts Pirates were a step behind Charlotte Linlin’s Big Mom Pirates.

Charlotte Linlin was even capable of holding her own against the Whitebeard Pirates. The two sides had fought many times before, and although Charlotte Linlin lost more than she won, in the end, Whitebeard still couldn't do anything to her, could he?

In fact, the two sides were on the verge of signing a peace treaty, but Kaido and Diarmuid's sudden appearance ruined it, leading to the current situation.

In short, Kaido had already figured it all out on his way here. In this alliance, he probably wouldn't be the leader. That role would fall to Charlotte Linlin.

But he could tolerate it. As long as he teamed up with Charlotte Linlin and they defeated the Whitebeard Pirates, he would reap immense rewards. It might even allow him to break free of his current stagnation and let the Beasts Pirates grow at a rapid pace.

After achieving that, he could then consider whether or not to turn on Charlotte Linlin…

As he thought about this, Kaido looked at Charlotte Linlin again, and a strange idea crossed his mind.

Although Linlin was old and no longer as sexy and beautiful as she once was, she was definitely valuable. Should he, during this alliance, find a way to "conquer" her?

If he, Kaido, could "subdue" Linlin, wouldn't he naturally become the father figure to all the members of the Big Mom Pirates?

And what if he handled things properly… maybe he could even absorb the Big Mom Pirates?

He even thought about getting a child with Charlotte Linlin. If the child inherited the strengths of both of them… and if they were raised well, wouldn't they become an even more powerful monster in a decade or two? They could also rightfully inherit their combined legacy.

Huh? Thinking about it like that, it was a little tempting.

But soon, Kaido reined in those thoughts. It was just a fantasy. The immediate priority was to first form an alliance with Charlotte Linlin.

However, from now on, he could change his attitude toward her.

With that thought, a "gentle" smile appeared on Kaido's face. He nodded to Charlotte Linlin and said, "You're right, Linlin, you're right."

When Kaido tried to make a gentle expression, it was as unnerving as it got. Charlotte Linlin was almost disgusted. She said unhappily, “Are you out of your mind, Kaido? Why are you smiling so disgustingly?”

I'll be damned... Kaido cursed silently in his heart.

Chapter 250: Charlotte Linlin and Kaido's Pirate Alliance!

Charlotte Linlin had no idea that Kaido was plotting to "conquer" her.

After some more small talk, Charlotte Linlin spoke, “I can’t deal with the monster Whitebeard on my own. But with you, it should be no problem. Besides him, there’s also the Marines.”

Kaido nodded but remained silent.

Charlotte Linlin continued, “However, we don’t have to worry about the Marines for now. I’ve made this alliance so public that the whole world knows about it. The Marines should understand that our primary target isn’t them, but Whitebeard. Knowing how despicable they are, they’ll probably wait until we’re in a heated battle with Whitebeard before they make a move. But we can be careful and not let them seize an opportunity. If they really dare to show up, we’ll deal with them first.”

Kaido still didn't speak, but a nod indicated his agreement with Charlotte Linlin's assessment.

Charlotte Linlin glanced at Kaido, then said with a meaningful look, “Since you have no objections on that, let's talk about the alliance itself…”

Kaido was silent for a moment before replying, “My crew is short on big hitters, but our troops are strong. Plus, I can provide excellent weapons to solve any problems your Big Mom Pirates have in that regard…”

“I've already considered all that, Kaido. What I want to know is, since we’re forming an alliance, there has to be a leader, right?” Charlotte Linlin asked with a sinister smile.

Kaido looked at her and said, “How about we fight? Let's see who's stronger, and whoever wins becomes the boss!”

Even though Kaido had mentally accepted reality and was willing to hold back his pride to let Charlotte Linlin be the leader for the sake of his future, at this critical moment, he still had to contend for it. If for no other reason than to show his attitude. He couldn't let Charlotte Linlin get what she wanted too easily.

A smirk appeared on Charlotte Linlin’s face. “Why fight when we’re about to form an alliance? It’ll just give others a good laugh. Kaido, let me be blunt: what does your Beasts Pirates crew have that can even compare to my Big Mom Pirates? When it comes to the number of capable officers, you only have King and Queen who are worth mentioning. But I have countless strong fighters. In terms of territory, you're only in Wano Country, while my Totto Land Kingdom stretches across a quarter of the New World. As for population, how many people are in Wano? My Totto Land has a population of tens of millions, and my military strength is more than enough. Not to mention wealth, which I have in abundance. From every angle, Kaido, you can't compare to me. If you want to be the boss, will my people ever accept that?”

Charlotte Linlin's words were extremely rude, yet she said them anyway. She knew that being polite to Kaido was useless. You had to crush him to keep him in line.

“What a load of rubbish!” Kaido bellowed. Then he stated, "Back on the Rocks' ship, everything was based on strength. We pirates decide who's the boss or who's the captain based on that, don’t we? If the weak have too much, it's nothing more than pity from the strong, Linlin!”

“Are you saying you can take all of my stuff?” Charlotte Linlin sneered.

As she spoke, her aura exploded, pushing the table in front of her away. Kaido glared at Charlotte Linlin, and an equally powerful aura burst forth from him. The two forces surged through the castle, making it seem like a fight could break out at any moment.

“Don’t forget, you owe me a huge favor…” Charlotte Linlin said in a low voice.

At the mention of this, Kaido’s expression changed slightly, and his aura weakened. Still, he retorted, “That was so many years ago. Are you still bringing it up?”

“That’s a debt you can never forget. Who gave you your Devil Fruit ability? It was me! Who took the best care of you on the Rocks’ ship? It was me! And now that you've gotten stronger, you're all grown up and ready to turn on your big sister?” Charlotte Linlin raged.

Katakuri, watching from a distance, looked a little surprised, not to mention Jack.

Charlotte Linlin’s words seemed to reveal a hidden secret.

Back on the Rocks' ship, was Kaido Charlotte Linlin's junior?

Despite his surprise, Katakuri found it plausible after thinking it over, especially since Kaido didn't deny it.

He also remembered his mama saying that the Zoan-type, Mythical Zoan, Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon was a gift she gave to Kaido after the Rocks Pirates disbanded.

In other words, during the time the Rocks Pirates were active, Kaido couldn't transform.

That would mean his strength must have been greatly compromised.

So, it wasn't impossible that Kaido's status on the ship was lower than his mother’s.

Kaido’s expression was unpredictable as he stared intently at Charlotte Linlin. She stared back, their eyes locked as if a fight were about to begin at any second.

After a long time, Kaido finally let his tense aura go and scoffed, “It’s not because I’m afraid of you. I’m just paying back the debt from all those years ago!”

Charlotte Linlin also relaxed her aura and laughed. “Let’s just get along, like we used to…”

“Hmph!” Kaido grunted again.

But this was his way of expressing that he agreed: Charlotte Linlin would be the leader of the alliance.

Charlotte Linlin was satisfied and couldn't help but laugh.

It was an invisible confrontation with no clear winner or loser. While Kaido didn't get the leadership position, he hadn't had much hope to begin with. Plus, he used the opportunity to pay off his "debt" from back then, clearing his name. It was like getting something for nothing.

It was clear that underneath his brute exterior, Kaido was very cunning.

As for Charlotte Linlin, she knew in her heart that her old favor was worthless. What use was a debt of gratitude with a pirate like Kaido?

If she didn't demand payment now, he probably would never pay her back. So it was better to use it. It worked, and as long as she achieved her goal, she wasn’t at a loss.

Afterward, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin quickly reached an agreement. They formed a pirate alliance, and during its duration, Charlotte Linlin would be in charge.

Following this, Totto Land, Whole Cake Island, held a three-day feast, and the news of the official alliance between the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates spread across the world via newspapers.

Many pirates in the New World were shaken by the news.

They had heard whispers before, but they never expected it to be finalized so quickly.

With the alliance of the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates, the pirate factions in the New World were now divided into two major regions.

On one side was the Whitebeard Pirates, and on the other was the alliance of Charlotte Linlin and Kaido.

At least from the current situation, if you wanted to survive in the New World, you couldn't avoid these two major powers and had to choose a side.

And once both sides were ready, there was no doubt that a war would break out between them!

With the news of the Kaido and Charlotte Linlin alliance spreading, many smart people realized that the long-overdue war for pirate supremacy—which had been postponed since Shiki’s defeat—was about to begin!

Would the Whitebeard Pirates, renowned as the world’s strongest, win, or would the alliance of Big Mom and the Beasts Pirates, a union of two monsters, win?

In recent years, there had been continuous wars between the Big Mom Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates, but in most cases, the Whitebeard Pirates were victorious.

Charlotte Linlin was often on the losing side.

But it was undeniable that even so, the Whitebeard Pirates were unable to destroy the Big Mom Pirates. The Totto Land Kingdom continued to thrive.

Therefore, most people believed that while the Whitebeard Pirates were stronger, Charlotte Linlin was not weak either.

Now, Charlotte Linlin had found an ally in Kaido, and two Yonko crews were joining forces to take on the Whitebeard Pirates.

It was now impossible to predict who would win, and because of this, many people weren’t willing to bet.

In short, with this alliance, the entire world's power balance had shifted.

Even the Gorosei, who were working on a construction project in Mariejois, felt uneasy. The alliance between Kaido and Charlotte Linlin had a disturbing resemblance to the formation of the Rocks Pirates.

At that moment, in the Gorosei’s office, they were discussing these matters with Fleet Admiral Kong.

“Didn't Diarmuid and Sakazuki go to the New World? Were they unable to stop this meeting?” the man with the large beard asked Kong.

Kong shook his head, then said, “Actually, they were going after the Straw Hat Pirates. We suspect that the Straw Hat Pirates could evolve into another Roger Pirates. As for this alliance, the Marines’ plan is to wait for them to tear each other apart…”

The Gorosei weren't in a hurry; they were just a little unsettled. After hearing the Fleet Admiral’s calm reply, they felt somewhat reassured. The man with the large beard then asked, “And after that?”

“After that, the Marines will keep them locked in the New World. According to the analysis from our Intelligence Division, even if the Kaido-Charlotte Linlin alliance and the Whitebeard Pirates have a major battle, the possibility of one side destroying the other in a short period is extremely low. Our projection is that this conflict will likely turn into a long, stable struggle after one intense battle, possibly lasting five years, or even ten…” Kong said in a deep voice.

The Gorosei nodded again, feeling much more at ease. It made sense; the situation was an even match, so how could a winner be decided so easily?

“Since you Marines have a plan, we won’t interfere. We’ll leave it to you, after all, you’re the experts.” The blond-haired Gorosei said with a laugh.

It was clear that the World Government and the Gorosei's attitude toward the Marines was much friendlier than before.

Kong also smiled, saying, “Yes, please rest assured, my Lords.”

Kong's words were spoken with confidence, because he knew that the Marines now had the power to prevent things from spiraling out of control. No matter what chaos the pirates caused, as long as the Marines were determined to handle it, they could keep a lid on it and prevent the situation from getting out of hand.

That’s why he was so steady!

“Then let’s talk about Diarmuid and his team. What's the deal with Shanks the Straw Hat? What about the Straw Hat Pirates? Why do you think they have the potential to become the next Roger Pirates? Is that why you want to eliminate them in advance?” the bald Gorosei asked.

Kong nodded seriously, then said, “Shanks the Straw Hat was a former member of the Roger Pirates. With most of the other Roger Pirates members in hiding, he never gave up on being a pirate. We noticed his true threat recently in the New World…”

Just as Kong was explaining these things to the Gorosei, Diarmuid’s fleet of armed merchant ships, flying the flag of the Amway Company, was getting closer to its destination in the New World!