Sherwin could see what was going on, and of course the Marines wouldn't overlook it either, yet their reaction was just as calm…
They had clearly prepared contingency plans long ago, with countermeasures already in place.
So now, it came down to which side had prepared more thoroughly.
If the Marines were superior, then even if the BIG·MOM Pirates weren't wiped out today, they would definitely suffer a severe blow.
But if BIG·MOM successfully weathered this crisis, then the Marines and the World Government would have to start considering how to deal with Charlotte Linlin retaliation afterward.
As for Sherwin and the other Seven Warlords…
It was obvious that from the very beginning, they were never the protagonists of this battle.
Thinking this, Sherwin relaxed the force in his hands even more.
Perhaps because everyone was waiting for a new variable to appear, aside from Sherwin, the others also slowed down their attacks…
Except for Akainu, who charged about like a mad dog.
However, with Katakuri, Oven, and Daifuku—the triplet brothers—working together to tie him down, he wasn't able to cause too many casualties.
Being unable to carry out that so-called "absolute justice" made Akainu extremely irritable, and the way he looked at Sherwin and the other Seven Warlords who were putting in effort only on the surface grew increasingly dissatisfied.
But he still retained some measure of rationality. He didn't open his mouth again to offend them. Instead, he deliberately led Katakuri and the others toward Mihawk and Hancock, who hadn't made a move at all, clearly intending to forcibly drag them into the fight.
"Hmph!"
With Mihawk personality, there was no way he would go along with Akainu intentions. Before they could get close, he drew the Black Blade Yoru from his back and swung out an enormous slash.
Of course, Mihawk didn't forget his current position, so this slash also encompassed Katakuri and the others within its range.
After receiving Mihawk warning, Akainu expression darkened. He had no choice but to stop his little scheme.
The current situation simply wasn't suitable for picking a fight with the Seven Warlords—otherwise, he would definitely teach that bunch a lesson.
Silently, Akainu made up his mind to hold them accountable after the fact, then doubled the fury he vented upon the three Katakuri brothers.
…
"Buru buru buru buru…"
After the standoff continued for a while longer, the portable Den Den Mushi on Vice Admiral Tsuru wrist rang. Even though its sound was extremely faint amid the battlefield, it drew everyone attention the instant it rang.
Even Akainu, who seemed to be fighting himself into a frenzy, voluntarily stopped his attack and retreated back to the Marine side.
"Mama mama mama!" Charlotte Linlin appeared extremely confident in her backup plan. After forcing Garp and the others back, she actually took the initiative to stop and said to Vice Admiral Tsuru, "Looks like your Marines have run into some new trouble, Tsuru."
"Don't speak too soon, Linlin." Vice Admiral Tsuru still wore the same unhurried, kindly grandmotherly expression. She was equally confident in the Marine preparations, so she decisively answered the call. "Let hear exactly what happened."
As soon as the call connected, Sengoku voice came through. Just a single short sentence was enough to make every Marine present sink in their hearts…
"Tsuru, the plan has failed. Hurry and bring them back!"
If one listened closely, there was also a cacophony of noise in the background, as if Sengoku side was currently in the middle of a battle as well.
Wait—wasn't Sengoku supposed to be stationed at Marineford?
So…
Someone had gone to attack Marineford?!
If that was true, then there was naturally no other possible candidate. Someone bold enough to attack Marineford, and who would also make a move to help Charlotte Linlin, could only be Kaido.
The relationship between Kaido and Big Mom was hardly a secret. The World Government and the Marines couldn't possibly be unaware of it, and judging from Vice Admiral Tsuru and the other earlier behavior, they should have prepared a plan to deal with Kaido.
It was just that, judging from the current situation, something had clearly gone wrong.
As for what exactly had happened, Sherwin naturally had no way of guessing.
"Mama mama mama! Want to leave? It won't be that easy! Ikoku Sovereignty!"
This time, the one trying to keep people from leaving was BIG·MOM side. She raised Napoleon, wrapped in lightning and flames, and slashed toward Kizaru, the fastest among them.
"Everyone, the current situation doesn't allow you to keep going through the motions anymore."
Vice Admiral Tsuru expression finally turned serious as she addressed the Seven Warlords who were still slacking off:
"If you don't start pulling your weight, not only will the conditions we promised you be null and void, even your status as Seven Warlords may not be guaranteed."
For Tsuru to issue such a blunt threat, it was clear she was genuinely getting anxious.
Since all they needed to do was hold back the BIG·MOM Pirates so the Navy top combatants could withdraw—and with Sherwin still hoping to take the Dynamite Rock back to placate his own cats—he decisively exerted his strength, cleaving Cracker away and then charging straight toward Katakuri.
The other Seven Warlords weren't fools either. Hancock, who had yet to make a move, went after another female Sweet Commander, Charlotte Smoothie, while Mihawk directly inserted himself into the battle against BIG·MOM.
Even Doflamingo stopped stirring up trouble. He directly activated his Devil Fruit awakening, using threads to form white waves that separated the BIG·MOM Pirates from the Navy…
Sherwin, who was also cut off by this, glanced back at him.
This kind of behavior didn't match Doflamingo usual style at all. Even if he acted, he should have targeted a few of the stronger fighters, looking for chances to heavily injure or even kill them, not simply separate everyone like this.
Moreover, with this move, it was hard to say whether he was helping the Navy or the pirates.
The average strength of the BIG·MOM Pirates was lower than that of the Navy side by pulling a stunt like this, the Heavenly Yaksha was, in terms of actual results, giving more of an advantage to the pirates…
"Oh—!"
Sherwin suddenly figured out what was going on.
Doflamingo was a traitor!
Most likely, he had learned of the Navy arrangements through Vergo and notified Kaido ahead of time.
Although Caesar SMILE Fruits were gone, that didn't mean there were no other dealings between Kaido and Doflamingo.
Wano had been transformed by Kaido into a massive weapons factory, and the Heavenly Yaksha other identity—Joker—was deeply involved in the arms trade. The two sides must have been in contact for a long time already.
It was just that, in the manga, the Heavenly Yaksha had been openly delighted by Whitebeard fall. No one knew why, this time around, he would step in to help BIG·MOM deal with the Navy trap.
As the Seven Warlords began to exert their strength, the Marines on the scene withdrew from the battle one after another.
Kizaru, with the greatest mobility, was the first to leave. The other Marines headed for the base where they had previously taken shelter, where evacuation methods had already been prepared.
As for Sherwin and the others, after blocking the BIG·MOM Pirates, they also followed the Marines and left immediately.
"Mamamamamama! Wait for my revenge, Navy!"
Charlotte Linlin did not continue the pursuit, but instead hurled harsh words at the retreating Marines.
Following Garp and the others to the opposite coast, what awaited them there were several more "subspecies."
"Fufufufufu… when we came earlier, this thing malfunctioned. I don't want to go through that again." Doflamingo flicked a strand of silk toward the sky.
"The previous agreement only covered dealing with the Big Mom Pirates, so I can't be bothered to get involved in what comes next."
With that, the Heavenly Yaksha used Sky Path and left on his own.
"Hehehe! I still need to deal with the spoils I just picked up, so I won't be joining you either."
"Arrange an ordinary ship for me! I have no desire to get myself filthy all over again!"
With Doflamingo setting the example, the remaining Seven Warlords all refused to board as well.
Sherwin, meanwhile, stroked his chin thoughtfully…
That malfunction on the previous ship—could it have been the Heavenly Yaksha secretly messing with it?