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"Jihahahaha! Little ones, let's get to work! Load all the valuables onto the ship! Kill anyone who gets in our way!"
"Yes, Captain!"
On a small, unnamed island, once a peaceful town near the Marines' ironclad defenses, chaos reigned. Vicious thugs grinned maniacally, their curved blades raised against terrified residents.
Flames devoured buildings, the streets awash in innocent blood. A bustling marketplace, just moments ago, now lay silent, broken by only the helpless cries of the wounded and the sickening stench of death.
The ideals of the era's leaders couldn't alter the inherent savagery of pirates.
On a nearby hillside, an Assassination Force agent remained emotionless, hidden in the grass, unfazed by the carnage below. He wasn't heartless, merely numb after witnessing such horrors too often.
"The White Blade Pirates... they've reached this far already."
"As the Commander predicted, these scoundrels are exploiting the current power vacuum."
Noting the pirate crew's name in his notebook, the agent contacted his superiors.
"Well then..."
"It's time for judgment, pirates!"
…
At the Marine Command Center on Sabaody Archipelago:
"Understood. Prepare yourselves."
Ending the call, Rowen pinned a marker on the map. The vast map was already a tapestry of red lines and pins, forming a circular pattern. Unbeknownst to the plundering pirates, they had already fallen into the Marines' trap. The true battle was about to begin.
As Rowen connected this island to the surrounding ones, the Command Center buzzed with renewed purpose.
"Is it starting, Rowen?"
Akainu with a cigar clenched between his teeth, his eyes burning with murderous intent, inquired.
Rowen stroked his chin, lost in thought. Then, with a different colored marker, he began plotting Marine positions. Soon, a clear encirclement emerged around the red zones. The numbers, initially meaningless, now revealed the precise troop distribution. Rowen's meticulous coordination showcased strategic brilliance.
This was art! The art of war!
Tsuru, a seasoned veteran, couldn't hide her astonishment. Rowen's calm yet decisive movements mirrored the commanding presence of Sengoku in his prime. Every move was precise, every decision resolute. The pirates were being herded into a trap and their fates were being predetermined.
"These three locations..."
Rowen flicked three markers across the room, pinning them to the map.
"These are our weakest points, and they are also most vulnerable to unexpected challenges."
"The two distant locations will be handled by Admiral Kizaru and myself. Fleet Admiral, the last one falls to you."
Kizaru smirked mischievously, scratching his head.
"You know how to delegate, Rowen."
Kizaru, with his Glint-Glint Fruit, possessed unparalleled speed, a privilege he shared only with Rowen in this world.
Akainu, expressionless, vowed solemnly: "There will be no mishaps!"
"This time, we will claim a flawless victory! Understood?!"
"Yes, sir!"
With Akainu's order, battleships emerged from hidden bases, converging on their designated positions. The operation to annihilate the pirates was underway. They were determined to reach their positions swiftly, form a complete encirclement with their allies, and wash away three days of humiliation in the blood of pirates.
On the ocean, the White Blade Pirate Crew, jubilant after their raid, sang loudly. Blood-stained treasures piled high on the deck, the golden hues mingling with red, an ominous aura of death.
"Jihahahaha! It's been ages since I've felt this exhilarated!"
"Yeah, Captain! If the Marines hadn't foolishly retreated, we'd still be out there, hiding!"
"Exactly!"
Joster, the White Blade Pirates' captain, laughed heartily.
"This sea belongs to Pirates!"
"The Marines? They're nothing!"
"Little ones, onward! The next island awaits. Stay sharp!"
"Yes, Captain!!"
"But Captain, we've plundered so much. We might not have room for more!"
"Then throw away the junk! Are you stupid or what?" Joster roared with laughter.
For a pirate, a ship overflowing with treasure was a dream come true, a joy that could wake you laughing in your sleep.
The gleam of gold was so dazzling that Joster, staring at the blazing sun, felt as though even the sunlight was tinged gold. Was it an illusion?
Wait…
Gold?!
Joster's eyes narrowed. "Be careful! We're under attack—"
Whoosh… BOOM!!
A thick golden laser descended from the sky. After a brief silence, it exploded on the ocean surface, creating a massive mushroom cloud.
High in the sky, Kizaru casually retracted his finger, pouting.
"My, my… it's like a field overrun with pests."
He turned and continued onward. As he did, a smile curved his lips.
"Rowen, you've outdone yourself. This is a Marine feast!"
Pirates were everywhere in this relatively small area.
With Kizaru's speed, he only needed to travel a short distance before spotting another pirate ship.
For the Marines, accustomed to chasing down individual pirate crews across vast seas, this was a gift. This stretch of ocean was a delectable cake, ready to be devoured.
Nico Robin's prediction had come true. A feast was indeed underway. But the ones feasting were the Marines.
"Now, I'd better hurry to my destination."
With that, Kizaru crossed his arms, conjuring a series of golden prisms that propelled him forward.
The pirates had anticipated a Marine counterattack. But they never imagined it would come from all directions.
It was clear now— they had fallen into a trap!
The Marines had deliberately withdrawn their defenses to lure the pirates inland.
But it was too late for the pirates to realize this now...
The chaos of their recent plundering had not yet subsided when a terrifying steel army erected an impenetrable wall, sealing off the seas.
Observers calculated that the pirates trapped within the Marine encirclement comprised over half of the previous pirate coalition— over a million in total!
Had they concentrated their forces, they might have broken through.
But tempted by greed, they had scattered across the region, fighting individually. Against the sudden Marine onslaught, not a single pirate could escape.
Facing the Marines' ironclad warships with their fragile wooden sailboats, their fate was sealed.
This was a massacre— blatant and merciless!
The Marines' orders were simple: annihilate the pirates and leave none alive!
In an instant, the world fell silent.
It was an astounding reversal!
The pirates had initially forced the Marines into a defensive retreat, but the tide had turned. Now it was the pirates struggling desperately to survive.
This battle was unprecedented in scale and intensity!
But there was no doubt— it would end in a decisive Marine victory.
As for the pirates, they would pay with the lives of over a million of their kind, becoming mere stepping stones for the Marines to display their might.
(End of Chapter)