"Where did this little brat come from?!"
Buggy was startled, thinking a fight was about to break out, only to realize it was just a child.
"Fight!" The little girl showed no fear and threw her toy knife.
Normally, a child wouldn't have much strength, but the toy knife spun through the air like a shuriken.
Thud!
It hit Buggy squarely on the head, knocking him off the ship's bow.
"Hahahaha!!"
Rein clapped her hands and laughed joyfully.
"Rein, stop causing trouble. Come back here," Whitey Bay rushed out, scooped up Ryan, and carried her away.
"Whitey Bay… Roy's child," Crocodile narrowed his eyes.
The next moment, Crocodile sensed something and turned to meet Whitebeard's gaze.
"What did you mean by that?" Whitebeard said in a low voice.
"Did you sense malice…?" Crocodile broke into a cold sweat. "Nothing. Achieving our goals by any means necessary is normal, but I wouldn't go so far as to target a child," he said.
"You just saved yourself," a voice came from behind Crocodile.
"Always like this, appearing behind people."
Without even turning, Crocodile knew who it was. He looked back to see Roy sitting on the mast, casually twirling a gun in his hand. The next moment, the gun dissolved into black mist and vanished as if it had never existed.
"Alright, you're here. There's no escape. Make your decision."
"Naturally, we'll fight."
Mihawk, Crocodile, Gecko Moria, and Kuzan spoke simultaneously.
The battle began instantly and ended just as quickly. With such a lineup, how could they lose?
Hidden within Wano, World Government intelligence agents were attempting to observe Pluton near the Whitebeard Pirates' base.
"That's the Pluton battleship."
"It's huge, almost the size of an island."
"But why don't we see any destructive weapons on it? Wasn't it said that Pluton could destroy an island with one shot? Why does it seem to be producing clouds?"
"I think so too. Maybe Pluton's cannons are hidden elsewhere."
"Should we get closer?"
"If we go over there, it's Whitebeard Pirates' territory. Approaching would be seen as an act of hostility, and we'll be attacked."
"Was that the Cross Guild earlier? Didn't Water Buffalo Atmos take them up to Wano's summit?"
"They're about to clash. Too bad we can't see it. The area above is controlled by the Whitebeard Pirates. We can only see the Pluton battleship."
"Quick, transmit the data back. It's time for us to leave."
There were three of them, CP0 agents who had been lurking in Wano for a long time.
"Look! What's that?"
"What's wrong?"
The three looked up simultaneously. Something was falling rapidly from the sky.
It grew closer and closer until,
Boom!
The Cross Guild's Big Top Blaster crashed into the sea. From ten thousand meters high, the sea surface was as hard as concrete.
Instantly, the massive ship shattered into countless fragments. The people on board were covered in blood before being swallowed by the sea.
"The Cross Guild… has been annihilated!!!"
Under the witness of the three CP0 agents, one of the Four Emperors' crews had been wiped out.
The news quickly reached Mary Geoise.
"R-reporting to the Five Elders!"
In the Room of Power, the Five Elders were deep in discussion. The world was shifting; not just one country was opposing them now; more and more were joining the resistance.
Coupled with food shortages, they urgently needed supplies and were planning to target the Revolutionary Army.
"What is it?" Saint Ju Peter asked.
"Intelligence from Wano. The Cross Guild that went to Wano has been defeated, wiped out by the Whitebeard Pirates. The battle lasted less than an hour!!" The Marine officer kneeling at the entrance was drenched in sweat.
"Buggy the Clown lost?" Kong was shocked.
"The Cross Guild, with Kuzan and Mihawk, was defeated just like that?" Even Saint Figarland Garling showed surprise.
"Are you certain?" Saint Nusjuro asked.
"Confirmed. We have photographic evidence. The Cross Guild's Big Top Blaster arrived at Wano and was taken up the mountain by Water Buffalo Atmos. Within an hour, the ship fell from the sky, crashed into the sea, and disintegrated. Buggy the Clown, Kuzan, Mihawk, Crocodile, and Gecko Moria were all defeated," the Marine officer reported.
"The Whitebeard Pirates have grown this powerful…?" The Five Elders found it hard to believe.
"With the Cross Guild defeated, one of the Four Emperors' crews is gone. Any news from Elbaf?" Kong asked.
"Shamrock and the God's Knights are engaged in battle with the Straw Hat Pirates," Saint Garling said.
"The Red Hair Pirates are about to clash with the Spade Pirates. The pirates will soon determine a winner," Saint Warcury added.
"The Revolutionary Army is also on the move. Seven more countries have had their governments overthrown," Kong sighed. "Their armies had just been conscripted when internal coups occurred. The original kings and nobles were overthrown and replaced by Revolutionary Army members."
"So you're saying our conscription plan was a mistake?" Saint Nusjuro said.
"I still maintain my position; it was a mistake. Now those countries have even more reason to resist conscription. In their view, it's too dangerous," Kong said.
"Enough, Kong. I know what you're thinking. Don't bother with the lives of those ants. Those things will reproduce soon enough, they're just our slaves. There's no need to grieve for them. This isn't the time for sadness. We need to deal with the Revolutionary Army and the pirate king who will soon be crowned," Saint Warcury said.
"The pattern of the world is changing. The era of the third great upheaval has arrived. We won the second time, we will win this time too," Saint Ju peter said.
Kong sighed and stood aside silently.
"Have we found her yet?" Saint Garling asked.
"N-no. There's still no sign of Princess Vivi. We've searched everywhere but found nothing," the Marine officer at the entrance said.
"Keep looking. Find her within three days. If you fail-"
"Yes! I will relay the order immediately."
The Marine officer turned and fled, fearing for his life.
"Just how powerful are the Whitebeard Pirates now?!"
Roy had left a significant psychological shadow on the Five Elders. After all, two Elders had died at his hands, meaning they could share the same fate.
They had expected the Cross Guild's defeat, but not how quickly it would happen.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu