"This is an inevitable war at the top!"
As Vice Admiral He finished speaking, the Marshal's office fell into silence.
Zhan Guo and the Five Elders were in deep thought. Then, Zhan Guo's expression suddenly turned ugly: "We… might have been tricked. That brat Dewey did it on purpose!"
"What do you mean?" Den Den Mushi came back to its senses and asked.
"It's no secret on the sea that users of the Thunder Fruit have a unique level of observation Haki." Sengoku gritted his teeth and said, "So when Dewey and the others met Marshall D. Teach, they probably knew that Morgans's 'spy' was filming their confrontation with Marshall D. Teach, but they didn't stop him, allowing Morgans to spread the news that Marshall D. Teach was the second-generation user of the Float-Float Fruit on the sea. Then he guessed that I would contact him immediately after seeing the newspaper, and took advantage of our panic about the Tremor-Tremor Fruit + Float-Float Fruit to turn a guy he could easily deal with into the "Fifth Sea Emperor" with a first bounty of over 4 billion. Then he captured Marshall D. Teach, gave him the fame and fortune, and left all the mess to us!"
"When he first became famous around the world, I noticed this mature kid."
After listening to Sengoku's analysis, Vice Admiral Tsuru couldn't help but sigh: "When Portgas D. Ace, who was the same age and the same period as him, couldn't wait to challenge the "World's Strongest Man" after entering the New World, he was able to hold back the conspiracy theories of the New World, ignored the ridicule of the world, and quietly returned to the first half of the Grand Line to find the "Thunder Fruit" and even the "Dark Dark Fruit" for his companions. He waited until his strength reached the bottleneck of this age before he went to see the world's highest peak and broaden his horizons. After establishing his status as the "strongest newcomer in history", he immediately disappeared. When he reappeared, he had killed the "Golden Lion" and made himself the "strongest hunter". From the time he became famous in 1517 of the Sea Circle Calendar to the present, this kid has hardly encountered any setbacks except for an expected defeat at the hands of Whitebeard, and his strength is even more of a "mystery."
"He is indeed a kid who should not be underestimated, but that's all." Den Den Mushi nodded and agreed with Vice Admiral Tsuru's point of view, but his tone was nonchalant.
Although they are also three natural-type people, in the eyes of the Five Elders, Dewey and his companions are not even qualified to carry shoes for the three admirals.
Not to mention that the oldest of them is less than 20 years old, the three generals are now at their peak and their strength has reached the extreme.
Even if we exclude physical skills, Haki and swordsmanship, and just look at the fruit ability, the Flame-Flame Fruit of the so-called "strongest hunter" has been restrained by Akainu's magma.
The so-called strongest "Thunder Fruit" is only on par with Kizaru, and neither can do anything to the other.
The only noteworthy ability of the Dark-Dark Fruit is its sealing ability. As this natural element that cannot be transformed into an element is easy to kill as long as it is not touched closely.
As long as Dewey and the other two did not become pirates and recruit soldiers on the sea, they would be nothing in the eyes of the Five Elder Stars.
This is also the reason why the Navy failed to recruit Dewey and his team, but "Mary Geoise" did not care at all. Instead, it cooperated with Morgans and promoted them to the "Three Big Bounty Hunters" and the "Strongest Hunters".
As long as they become the strongest hunter team in the world, those pirates will hate them to the core, and it would be best if they could form an everlasting hatred. In this way, even if Dewey and his team become pirates, not many pirates will work for them.
"Whether that brat is plotting against us or not, it doesn't matter. As long as we have the ability to control the Float-Float Fruit user, we will be the biggest winner."
Den Den Mushi said meaningfully: "Vice Admiral Tsuru is right. The words 'I want Whitebeard to be king' in the World Economic Forum and our 'sincerity' have pushed each other to the edge of the cliff. Instead of waiting for Whitebeard's attack, perhaps we can use Marshall D. Teach as bait to lure the old lion into a trap."
"Sir, do you mean… that you agree with us going to war with the Whitebeard Pirates?" Sengoku said excitedly.
"Yes, Whitebeard is old. It's time to use the fall of the king of the old era to usher in a new era for the navy." The Five Elders nodded and said, "Publicly execute the "Flying Giant Rat" Marshall D. Teach and declare war on the "Whitebeard Pirates"!"
"What if Whitebeard and the others don't come? Do we really have to execute Marshall D. Teach, who is the user of the Float-Float Fruit?" Sengoku said with a frown.
"Zhan Guo, we know the importance of the "Piao Piao Fruit" better than you do."
Den Den Mushi said calmly, "Let's not talk about the world's perception that Whitebeard is a great father. The phrase 'I want Whitebeard to be king' has already made Marshall D. Teach popular with everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates. If Whitebeard doesn't come to save him, then his father's image will collapse, and the Whitebeard Pirates will automatically disintegrate. Those pirates who once respected Whitebeard will be disappointed. So the Whitebeard Pirates will definitely come to save Marshall D. Teach! Even if the Whitebeard Pirates don't come, we have ways to deal with it. It's not that this world doesn't have the ability to make people fake their deaths."
"Just do it, Sengoku!"
"Yes, Your Excellency the Five Elders!"
In the office, the rich and loud voice of Zhan Guo was heard.
A meeting that determined the turning point of an era has officially come to an end.
————
"The absolute nemesis of the "Piao-Piao Fruit"! After two days and two nights of hunting, the "Flying Giant Rat" with a bounty of 4 billion berries was defeated by the "strongest hunter" Dewey! "
""Flying Giant Rat" Marshall D. Teach has been imprisoned in the sixth floor of Impel Down, "Infinite Hell", and will be escorted to "Marinford Island" for public execution in 15 days!"
Just when Marshall D. Teach was rising to fame and was called the "Fifth Emperor of the Sea" by countless people, and the Whitebeard Pirates were about to dominate the New World and might even rule the world.
Two days later, with the joint efforts of the World Economic News and the Navy News Department, the two bundled newspapers were spread all over the world by countless news birds and seagulls.
The newspapers were still distributed free of charge, allowing the news to spread across the world at the fastest speed in just half a day.
When everyone saw the headlines of these two newspapers, the world was undoubtedly in an uproar again.
"Yes, the world is going to change!"
"Isn't this too sudden? The Whitebeard Pirates, who just had the power to dominate the world, suddenly fell from the clouds. Isn't the navy's action too fast? !"
"That's great! Whitebeard has lost his strongest support in dominating the world. The "strongest hunter" is worthy of being my idol!"
"Wait… Marshall D. Teach is going to be publicly executed. Is the Navy going to take action against the Whitebeard Pirates?!"
"The world's strongest pirate group vs. the ruler of the sea that symbolizes justice, what level of war is this?"
"The battle at the top, the ultimate showdown between justice and evil, is it coming?!"
"..."
Today's news caught the world off guard.
Just when everyone thought that the "Whitebeard Pirates" were about to dominate the New World, no one expected that the record breaker, Marshall D. Teach, whose first bounty was second only to "Red Hair" Shanks, would be captured.
When everyone was wondering if it was fake news, they saw that the person who captured Marshall D. Teach was the "strongest hunter", and suddenly they understood.
It turned out that he was the one who killed the legendary "strongest hunter". It seemed that the reason why Marshall D. Teach was exposed was because he failed to recruit them and the fierce battle broke out.
I didn't expect that the "Strongest Hunter" would chase Marshall D. Teach for two days and two nights. If I were defeated by the "Strongest Hunter", that would be acceptable.
With this idea in mind, people were discussing the upcoming "Marine War" while lamenting that the "Strongest Hunter" was so powerful. They also thought that if Marshall D. Teach had not met the "Strongest Hunter", he might have really become the "Fifth Emperor of the Sea" within a few years after returning to Whitebeard's territory.
So… labels such as 'the nemesis of the Float-Float Fruit', 'the terminator of the Whitebeard Pirates' domination of the New World', 'the existence of arresting the Pirate Emperor', etc. were all attached to Dewey by the world.
Just as Kalina said, the value of "The Strongest Hunter" quickly soared, and in just a few days it soared to a level that was no less than "The World's Greatest Swordsman".
If Dewey had only killed the second generation user of the "Float-Float Fruit", the reputation he would have gained would not even be as good as killing the "Golden Lion".
But Marshall D. Teach is different. He is the son of Whitebeard, the man who left three scars on the face of "Red Hair" Shanks. With such status and strength, and his ambition to make Whitebeard king, his threat level suddenly surpassed that of "Golden Lion".
With the Navy and "Mariejoa" adding fuel to the fire, no matter how exaggerated the 4 billion bounty is, the official recognition must be acknowledged, which has made Marshall D. Teach's status soar to second only to the Pirate Emperor.
Therefore, in the eyes of ordinary people who cannot see through the truth, Dewey has captured an existence that is no less than the Pirate Emperor, and it is natural that his reputation has soared.
This is the power of 'hype'!
While ordinary people are discussing and lamenting, the new world is ushering in the calm before the storm.
Everyone's eyes were simultaneously directed towards the direction of the second half of the sea area in the New World.
The affiliated pirate groups of the "Whitebeard Pirates" scattered around the world returned to the New World without even needing their father's call.
The entire gathering of the world's strongest pirate groups frightened the pirate groups below the Four Emperors so much that they dared not move.
Those pirate groups that were fighting for territory all stopped tacitly and retreated to their own territories, fearing that the sound of their guns and cannons would disturb the awakening lion.
Those nobles of the kingdom who were out traveling also fled back to their own countries, for fear that they might accidentally block the returning pirate groups at sea and be used by them to vent their emotions.
Those ordinary people don't even have the courage to go out to sea to fish.
At the same time, the Navy Headquarters was also recalling elite naval forces from all over the world and sending generals to forcibly summon the "Seven Warlords of the Sea".
15 days is the preparation time for both good and evil.
They have to race against time.
————
"…I'm sorry, Marshal Sengoku, I have no interest in participating in the "Top War"."
A week later, on the deck of the Flask, Dewey was talking to Zhan Guo and rejected the other party's invitation.
"Dewey, you are a bit unkind."
Hearing Dewey's reply, Den Den Mushi said with dissatisfaction: "You schemed against us, gained fame and fortune, and then threw the mess to us… I can ignore all these, but you can't stay out of this war that was started because of you, right?"
"Come on, you know it's because of me."
Dewey couldn't help but complain: "If I participate in this war, you know without thinking that I will be targeted by the entire Whitebeard Pirates… It is undeniable that I calculated you, but this is a deal that you and I are willing to make. Although I got a huge bounty and huge fame, these are just things that are not worth mentioning to you. On the other hand, you control the second generation of the "Float-Float Fruit" ability user, and you don't need to worry about the emergence of the third generation of the "Float-Float Fruit" ability user for a long time. You made a lot of money, okay?"
"…"
Sengoku fell silent, and Karina and the others who knew the truth also fell silent.
Then, several women covered their mouths to prevent themselves from laughing out loud.
But the look they gave Dewey changed, as if they had not expected that their majestic boss and captain would have such a shameless side.
He disguised a user of the "Paradox-type Light-Puattoo Fruit" as a second-generation user of the "Puattoo Fruit", and then gave him the identity of the "Fifth Emperor of the Sea". While defrauding the Navy Headquarters of 4 billion yen, he also made his own reputation skyrocket to the point where he was second only to the Pirate Emperor, and caused the epoch-making Marine War.
The devil fruit worth 100 million berries brought in a return of a thousand times, and it was said that the navy made a huge profit.
Those black-hearted businessmen are not even qualified to carry shoes for their bosses and captains.
"…Then what reward do you want to participate in this war?"
After a few seconds of silence, Zhan Guo finally asked in compromise.
"Needless to say, Marshal Zhan Guo, I have already got what I wanted. I will not participate in this war." Dewey said very firmly.
"Aren't you afraid that if our navy loses, the Whitebeard Pirates will take revenge on you later?" Sengoku couldn't help but ask.
"It doesn't matter. At worst, I can just hide it." Dewey shrugged and said nonchalantly, "We are still young now. We originally planned to finish this business and then hide it for a few years. Maybe when I appear again, whether it is Whitebeard or Marshal Warring States, you old men will have turned into a pile of yellow earth."
"You foul-mouthed kid…"
"Well, we are going to go on a trip, and we will cheer for your navy in front of the image Den Den Mushi."
"Wait, even if you don't participate, you can still let your crew…bye, click!"
Ignoring Den Den Mushi who was anxious to take a step back, Dewey hung up the phone with a smile on his face.
"Hahaha..."
"Uh-huh… Boss, you're so mean!"
"Hahaha…Bad Captain, you are worthy of being me!"
When the Den Den Mushi lowered its head, Nami, Kalina, and Perona burst into laughter.
Even Robin couldn't help but laugh.
"He really dares to think."
Dewey shook his head helplessly, then picked up the complete plan on the table, and said with a slight smile: "They all thought that my plan was just for the huge bounty and fame, but they didn't know that such things are also not worth mentioning to me! Teach's greatest value is that it made the difficulty of the last link of my plan from nightmare difficulty to simple difficulty."
"I was originally planning to use meteorites to reduce the difficulty, but I didn't expect Teach to come and help me. He is such a good man." Dewey couldn't help but shook his head and sighed at the end.
"Hahaha..."
Kalina and the other girls laughed even louder.