One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 503: Everyone's Thoughts Before the War (Part 2)

Whitebeard looked at the calm sea in the distance and sighed inwardly.

"The sea is about to become turbulent again."

He then glanced at his excited sons.

"This time, Pops will do everything in his power to protect you all."

He recalled the great war from over a decade ago. The Whitebeard Pirates had faced their first major war just three or four years after their formation. The successive offensives from the Flying Pirates and the Marines had caused the White-beard Pirates to suffer heavy losses.

A large number of young children had died in that war.

It was since that time that Whitebeard had always tried his best to avoid any major conflicts.

But this time, it was unavoidable.

"Keep a constant watch on the Rockefeller Pirates' movements. If they show signs of collapse, provide support immediately."

Whitebeard looked at the many sons standing before him: Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the numerous other commanders.

"This time, we will use our own fists to tell the Marines that the New World is absolutely not a place they can touch."

Whitebeard tapped the end of his Murakumogiri on the deck, creating a dull thud.

"Yes, Pops!"

All the commanders and crew members replied, looking up at the tower-like figure standing before them.

The Whitebeard Pirates began to assemble urgently.

Their subordinate pirate crews, scattered throughout the New World, started to gather.

The situation in the New World instantly grew tense.

Even though the Marines had not made any official announcements, their actions could not be concealed. With such a blatant, large-scale mobilization, everyone knew their target was the New World.

Of the three great pirate crews of the New World, the Rockefeller Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates had both swung into action.

Only the Big Mom Pirates seemed to have made no move.

The Big Mom Pirates' response was limited to the children of the Charlotte Family becoming more vigilant.

But as the captain of the Big Mom Pirates, Charlotte Linlin herself had made no move at all.

"Mama, the Whitebeard Pirates and Rockefeller Pirates have already begun to move in response to the Marines. It's clear that Whitebeard will support the Rockefeller Pirates against the Marines. Shouldn't we, the Big Mom Pirates, do something?"

Katakuri looked at his mother, who was sitting on her throne ravenously eating a cake. A sense of helplessness appeared in his eyes, but he continued to speak.

"Mamamamama, so the Marines want to enter the New World!"

Charlotte Linlin paused her cake-eating, a red glint flashing in her eyes.

"The New World isn't a place the Marines can just step into. I am a pirate, after all."

Charlotte Linlin said something that seemed out of context.

But this sentence allowed Katakuri to breathe a sigh of relief.

If their Big Mom Pirates made no move in response to the Marines' actions, they would lose their footing in the New World. Everyone would become hostile towards them, which would be extremely disadvantageous. But thankfully, his mother wasn't being foolish about this matter.

"Get ready. When that old geezer Whitebeard makes his move, we'll follow. Don't take the lead. Let that boy Charlotte suffer a bit. Mamamamama!"

Charlotte Linlin burst out laughing at the end.

She was more than happy to see that boy Charlotte get put in his place.

It couldn't be helped. Ever since the Big Mom Pirates had clashed with the Rockefeller Pirates, she had never once gotten the upper hand against Charlotte. This left the perpetually petty Charlotte Linlin extremely dissatisfied.

"Yes!"

Katakuri bowed slightly and retreated.

Currently, Katakuri was not only the top combatant of the Big Mom Pirates besides the captain, but also their general manager. He arranged everything, big and small. If anything went wrong, Katakuri had to be the first to arrive.

This left Katakuri incredibly fatigued.

On top of that, for the past few years, that woman Esdeath from the Rockefeller Pirates had been constantly harassing their borders, which annoyed Katakuri to no end.

There was no benefit in winning, but if he lost, they would lose territory.

As for capturing Esdeath, Katakuri was not prepared for an all-out war with the Rockefeller Pirates.

Only those who truly understood the Rockefeller Pirates knew how terrifying they were.

This terror wasn't embodied in their captain, Rockefeller Charlotte, alone. It was experienced from the entirety of the Rockefeller Pirates.

Whether it was their crew members or their commanders, they were all at a level the Big Mom Pirates currently couldn't match.

Katakuri went out and immediately summoned all the officers and ministers of the Big Mom Pirates.

"Mama has already agreed to cooperate in dealing with the Marines' invasion of the New World. For now, we'll see when the Marines launch their offensive. However, we will only act when the Rockefeller Pirates are on the verge of collapse. This will allow us to maximize our own benefits and limit the power of the Rockefeller Pirates."

Katakuri looked at his many older and younger siblings, as well as the officers and subordinate captains who had joined the Big Mom Pirates.

"Don't worry, Brother Katakuri. We'll listen to you," Oven and the others said, patting their chests after hearing the news.

The corners of Katakuri's lips turned up, though it was hidden by the scarf covering his mouth.

The New World fell into a complete calm.

Even the smaller pirate crews caught between the three great pirate crews ceased their activities, watching the changes in the New World.

The tranquil sea was like the calm before a storm.

Everyone was waiting for the Marines' next move.

And the Marines did not disappoint.

A massive fleet of warships began to assemble from the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line, a move that seemed to gather the full strength of the Marines.

But only the Marines themselves knew they were merely mobilizing the elites from the various branches.

For this operation to succeed, Fleet Admiral Kong had essentially gambled everything the Marines had, including his own political career.

If he failed, the Marines would be unable to enter the New World for a decade, or even several decades.

Only two paths would await him. One was to take all the blame and resign in disgrace. The other was to let the Marines be completely submerged under the World Government, becoming nothing more than a sharp blade for them.

And he would cause the 800 years of the Marines' legacy to vanish into thin air.

This was a political gamble.

But on the surface, Kong didn't think he would lose.

The full strength of the Marines was clearly greater than that of the pirates.

The New World was currently only propped up by the three great pirates: Whitebeard Edward Newgate, Rockefeller Charlotte, and Charlotte Linlin.

This was the Marines' most promising opportunity to reclaim the New World, and Kong truly did not want to miss it.

If he did, he would really have to step down in shame.

"Fleet Admiral, everyone has been assembled."

Sengoku walked up behind the Fleet Admiral, his voice heavy with worry.

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