Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Recruitment, the Fourth Calamity of the Beasts Pirates
"As expected… the Whitebeard Pirates have started cultivating more Devil Fruits," Kizaru said as he looked up.
"Alright then, I won't be playing with you guys any longer. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again very soon," Roy said as he stood on the dragon's head, waving goodbye to Kizaru.
"You can't just leave that easily," Kizaru said, firing a laser at Roy.
"Boro Breath!"
Atmos opened his maw and unleashed a scorching blast downward.
BOOM!
The collision between the fiery breath and the laser triggered a massive explosion.
WHOOSH!
The sky twisted with wind and clouds as the massive dragon soared upward, not pausing for even a second.
This incident quickly became known to forces all around the world.
After a year of silence, the Whitebeard Pirates had resurfaced, and it was Roy who had made the appearance.
Although Whitebeard was still officially the captain of the crew, everyone knew that with the retirement of Sengoku, Garp, and others, Whitebeard himself had stepped off the stage of history and was living in peaceful retirement.
Roy had become the new face of the Whitebeard Pirates, leading them to unprecedented heights.
Everyone knew the Whitebeard Pirates still existed; they just didn't know where. Now that they had reappeared, the first to panic was undoubtedly the World Government.
....
Pangaea Castle, Holy Land of Mariejois
"The incident at Egghead wasn't due to Vegapunk's failed experiment, he was coerced. The mastermind was Roy of the Whitebeard Pirates," Saturn declared.
"After a year of silence, they've reemerged. Since the Beasts Pirates introduced their second dragon, Devil Fruit cloning has begun spreading. Fortunately, their cloning tech is poor; otherwise, we'd be facing another terrifying pirate crew," Nusjuro said.
"The Whitebeard Pirates' return is an ill omen. And now, a third dragon has appeared. Who knows how many Phoenix or Fish-Fish Fruits they've amassed?" Mars grimly.
"A year ago, we failed to eliminate them, instead, they deceived us, making us lose our best opportunity. We must devote all resources to tracking them down and eradicating them," Warcury snapped.
"But can we still eradicate them now?" Ethanbaron questioned.
"What, are you suggesting we recruit them? This man survived the God Valley Incident. do you really think he'd accept?" Saint Warcury scoffed.
"It's worth an attempt," Ethanbaron countered.
"Let's find them first. I suspect they're somewhere above the sky. It's a region we haven't explored, and we can't even locate Dragon of the Revolutionary Army. How are we supposed to find the Whitebeard Pirates?" Saint Nasujuro said angrily.
"Fine. We'll try. Once we locate them, if they refuse to cooperate… we exterminate them," Warcury conceded.
"That's all we can do for now, find them first."
Even the Five Elders were troubled. The Whitebeard Pirates' cunning had exceeded their expectations, and their control over the world was far from absolute; otherwise, the Revolutionary Army would've been crushed long ago.
Not every nation stood with the World Government. Among the millions of islands in the world, even if only a hundred thousand were inhabited, a mere hundred-plus were affiliated with the World Nobles. The rest? Countless pockets of resentment.
Every faction, especially those in the New World, soon got word of what had happened.
There were intelligence dealers in the Navy who had connections to the underworld.
These dealers were more than willing to sell the intel to the World Economic News. Typically, the news agency releases such information within three to seven days.
But in many cases, classified intel that couldn't be officially reported was sold off for favors, or at a high price.
A vast intelligence network had been built by the underworld's spies.
The first to leak this intel could make a fortune, far more than any Marine's salary.
The Marines didn't work out of love; they needed the World Government to pay for their operations. But their wages were meager, and corruption was rampant. Outside of key fortresses in the Grand Line, the Marines of the four seas were already rotten to the core.
"The Whitebeard Pirates have resurfaced."
The first to get the news was Charlotte Linlin. Blind in one eye, she had lived comfortably over the past year since the Whitebeard Pirates had gone into hiding. With no outside expansion, she had reclaimed former territories.
However, she hadn't dared to take deeper territory. After all, the Whitebeard Pirates hadn't been wiped out. Who knew when they'd suddenly strike back?
"Mama, the report says a monster appeared at Egghead, something from a failed experiment. Admiral Kizaru went to handle it, but it turns out Roy was behind it. Vegapunk also got injured," Perospero said.
"After a year, he finally shows himself. What else?" Linlin asked.
"There was also a dragon, different from Kaido's blue and Loxus's black one. This one was gray," Perospero answered.
"That must be one of Whitebeard's commanders. Damn it! That fruit we fought so hard for at God Valley is now worthless! This is all Kaido's fault!" Linlin roared, her rage flaring.
She had acquired the Fish-Fish Fruit during the God Valley Incident 38 years ago, gifting it to Kaido as a favor. Now? That favor meant nothing.
"If not for Kaido's carelessness, Roy wouldn't have replicated it so easily, and even given one to his subordinate!"
Perospero wanted to say: Loxus is Roy's son. Giving a fruit to his own kid made sense.
Especially under Kaido's tutelage, Loxus had become a second coming of the "Strongest Creature," lacking only Conqueror's Haki infusion.
In fact, Loxus led the Beasts Pirates to take over Hachinosu, once ruled by the Whitebeard Pirates. It was a reversal of fate, a son snatching his father's former territory.
After the Whitebeard Pirates withdrew, other pirates took over Hachinosu. Loxus's rise to fame came from this battle.
That battle earned him the title of the Beasts Pirates' Fourth Calamity. A year later, his fame even surpassed that of King. He became Kaido's Little King.
In Kaido's card-themed hierarchy, Kaido is the King, and originally, the Little King title was meant for Yamato. Now, that title belonged to Loxus, followed by King, Queen, Jack, and the Tobi Roppo.
"What's the word from the Vinsmoke family?" Linlin asked suddenly.
"They've agreed to the marriage alliance," Perospero said quickly.
"Still insisting on the third son?" she frowned.
"Yes. The Straw Hat Pirates have appeared, and they said they'll bring him along for the marriage," Perospero replied.
"Too slow! If the Whitebeard Pirates can replicate Devil Fruits, and Kaido has artificial ones and powerful weapons, we need new strength too!
We must obtain the Vinsmoke Technology, especially the enchanments of the Germa army!" Linlin declared, crushing the armrest of her throne.
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