By the time Smoker started moving against the Big Mom Pirates, Diarmuid had just entered the New World.
When Diarmuid finally arrived at Stussy's base, Maria Pleasure Island, the entire New World had already erupted. This was because Smoker was extremely proactive. In two months, he single-handedly shut down three New World nations flying the Big Mom Pirates' flag. At the same time, in coordination with the Whitebeard Pirates, he won two large-scale naval battles involving tens of thousands of people, sinking over a hundred and thirty of Charlotte Linlin's ships.
Diarmuid was completely bewildered. What the hell is going on? How is this guy Smoker in cahoots with the Whitebeard Pirates?
Currently, in Queen Stussy's home, Diarmuid was sitting on the living room sofa, his eyes burning with unconcealed anger as he glared back and forth between Stussy and Smoker. That's right, Smoker had also rushed to Maria Pleasure Island to meet Diarmuid.
"What are you doing? Aren't you causing enough trouble in the New World already? Are you really trying to be a pirate?" Diarmuid roared at Smoker.
Smoker's expression was a little aggrieved as he whispered, "Well, you were the one who told me to chant the slogan back then..."
"Chant what slogan?" Diarmuid was taken aback.
"I'm going to be the man who becomes the Pirate King!" Smoker stated solemnly.
Hearing this, Diarmuid immediately grabbed the cushion from the sofa and threw it directly at Smoker, cursing, "Are you out of your mind?!"
"I was just joking, alright?" Smoker laughed awkwardly, holding the cushion.
Diarmuid ignored Smoker and turned to Stussy, asking with a grim face, "He's gone pirate-crazy, so he's got issues. Do you have issues too? He asks you for intelligence, and you just give it to him?"
"We're collaborating partners..." Stussy explained softly, then quickly added, "Besides, before he asked, he didn't say he was going to make a move on the Big Mom Pirates. I thought he was trying to run some black market cargo and wanted to avoid the Big Mom Pirates or something... By the time I realized what was happening, they were already fighting. I couldn't just watch Smoker get wiped out by Big Mom's people, could I? Of course I chose to support him."
Since she was his woman, Diarmuid only lectured Stussy briefly and didn't say anything more.
He turned his attention back to Smoker. "The moment I entered the New World, the Fleet Admiral contacted me as if the world was ending, asking me what the hell was going on. You, you brat, are a Warlord of the Sea and a Marine, my direct subordinate. How am I supposed to explain this mess to the Fleet Admiral? Thanks to you, they were just cautiously fighting each other, but now, they might go straight into a massive decisive battle! Our Navy originally estimated they would fight for at least four or five years. Because of you, the whole plan is ruined! Tell me, how do I clean this up?!"
"Big Mom touched our goods, 700 billion Berries! And that's just the principal. It was my biggest transaction in the past six months. If I had sold all the cargo, I could have made at least 300 billion in profit. In other words, that old hag swallowed 1 trillion Berries worth of my goods in one go. If I didn't react, the Amway Group's reputation would be ruined in my hands, Boss! You don't want to see that happen, right?" Smoker explained.
Diarmuid's original purpose for coming to the New World was to meet with Dragon, retrieve the things buried beneath Mariejois, casually hand the Gold-Gold Fruit to Smoker, and then return to Marineford to be a slacker. He had even started planning a vacation, thinking of taking Hina and Gion along.
Yet, within days of entering the New World, the whole region exploded into chaos. The conflict kept escalating, and the Whitebeard Pirates and the Big Mom/Beasts Pirates alliance were truly incensed. With Smoker stirring up trouble in the middle of it, Diarmuid nearly coughed up blood from sheer exasperation.
Yes, the Marine Headquarters' plan was to watch the two sides fight to the death, letting them exhaust themselves for at least four or five years. By that time, the Navy would likely be fully prepared for all-out war and might even have freed itself from the World Government. Once the Navy sorted out its own issues, they could fight whoever they wanted, whenever they wanted. Now, Smoker's interference had set off a chain reaction, lighting the fuse on the powder keg.
On his way, Kong had already contacted Diarmuid multiple times, urging him to quickly find a solution to this situation. Because the one-and-a-half-year deadline was approaching, the Navy was currently at a crucial juncture of power transfer, just waiting for Jinbe to finalize Tiger's 'funeral' arrangements and return from Mariejois. Now that the New World was in such a state, how could he go? Could he not be anxious?
But listening to Smoker's defense, the fire in Diarmuid's heart gradually subsided. It was true. Big Mom started the whole thing. If Smoker hadn't reacted at all, he would have instantly lost his standing in the New World. Dealing with pirates is not much different from dealing with the underworld; stability depends entirely on one's prestige.
Smoker might seem glorious now, but if he was bullied by Big Mom and didn't dare retaliate, his reputation would instantly be shattered. How many of his pirate subordinates would remain loyal? Once he showed weakness, the Amway Group, a massive piece of rich territory, would be instantly ripped apart, especially with the New World engulfed in war and everyone needing money.
This outcome was unacceptable to both Diarmuid and Marine Headquarters. Therefore, Smoker's reaction was correct; he just went too far. Or rather, he never expected the Whitebeard Pirates to seize the opportunity and completely drag him into their conflict.
Now, the entire New World was talking about the Whitebeard Pirates forming an alliance with Smoker the White Hunter. The Whitebeard Pirates' naturally disadvantageous financial situation seemed to have been replenished by the backing of the Amway Group.
Whitebeard himself was decisive enough. He knew Smoker couldn't truly stand with him forever, after all, the man was a Warlord of the Sea. But the pressure on him now was immense. Kaido and Charlotte Linlin's alliance was more than one plus one; it was far greater than two. He couldn't use a clean, swift action to directly decapitate Charlotte Linlin and Kaido. Judging by their forces, there didn't seem to be much difference in power right now; the fighting seemed to be back and forth.
But Newgate knew in his heart that the Whitebeard Pirates could not compare to the combined wealth of the Big Mom Pirates and Kaido. Big Mom had the entire Totto Land to support her, and Kaido had many businesses in the underworld, especially arms dealing.
With the New World fighting so fiercely now, Kaido's arms business was booming. He wasn't exactly flush with cash, but he could definitely outlast the Whitebeard Pirates in a war of attrition. So, if the conflict continued on this trend for another four or five years, Newgate could already foresee that he would be the one to suffer the most.
Therefore, the moment Smoker made his move, Newgate didn't hesitate to drag the guy down with him. It wasn't about the Amway Group's financial support, but about using Smoker's entry as a catalyst to force the Big Mom and Kaido pirate alliance into a decisive battle! This was his chance to turn the tide!
Smoker had truly been duped by that old man Whitebeard. Now the entire New World believed he was allied with Whitebeard.
Big Mom, feeling guilty about stealing over 700 billion Berries worth of Smoker's goods, felt it made perfect sense that Smoker would turn against her in a rage and side with Whitebeard, so she was also preparing for a decisive battle.
She knew very well that the Whitebeard Pirates' weakness was their lack of money. If Smoker covered this weakness, a war of attrition would definitely put her at a disadvantage, potentially leading to a major rout.
So, her mindset was the same as Newgate's: strike now, before Smoker could fully commit, and determine the winner with one blow!
Diarmuid subdued his anger and pointed at Smoker. "I'm telling you, Smoker, the Fleet Admiral is furious about this. If I can't come up with a solution, I'm definitely going to be in trouble. And once I'm in trouble, you bastard, you won't have an easy life either!"
Smoker gave an awkward smile, then said, "Boss... actually, I do have a few ideas and a plan..."
Diarmuid was taken aback. Did this guy actually grow a brain? In reality, he only said all that to warn Smoker, to make him remember the consequences, and prevent him from causing an even bigger mess next time. He hadn't truly expected Smoker to have a plan. On the contrary, Diarmuid had been thinking about it for a long time on the way, and had a few vague ideas.
"Let's hear it," Diarmuid said, picking up the teacup on the table and taking a sip.
Smoker straightened up a little and began, "Boss, according to our analysis, this war for the supremacy of the New World now appears evenly matched, a contest between the challenger, the Big Mom Pirates and the Beast Pirates, and the old-guard top-tier pirate crew, the Whitebeard Pirates.
"We believe that in the short term, they might not reach a decisive conclusion, but if the fight drags on for three to five years, the Whitebeard Pirates will inevitably lose ground. At that point, the entire New World will be dominated by Big Mom and Kaido. They are allies, and unlike Whitebeard, who has no great ambition anymore, those two will certainly cause huge trouble once they take the throne. Is that an outcome our Navy can accept?"
After Smoker finished, he looked at Diarmuid with an expression of complete confidence.
Diarmuid, however, said with surprise, "Why can't we accept it?"
Smoker was speechless. That shouldn't be the answer, should it? Shouldn't the Admiral be shocked after my analysis, realize the seriousness of the matter, and then quickly ask me for my brilliant ideas? You're this calm? Can the Navy really accept this outcome?
"Did you get something wrong, you bastard? We Marines couldn't care less which of those two pirate crews wins! All we care about is time. As long as they fight for four or five years, we can finalize all our affairs, resolve our internal conflicts and issues. Then, whoever wins, they won't be able to beat the Navy. I'll sweep them all away in one go, leaving them no room to be arrogant! So we don't care about any of that, alright!?" Diarmuid rebuked him.
Smoker's face shifted, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "I thought our Navy wouldn't accept the fall of the Whitebeard Pirates, a relatively more stable pirate crew that doesn't like to cause trouble..."
Actually, Smoker's thought process was quite correct. At least compared to the restless bastards Big Mom and Kaido, the Navy preferred a crew like the Whitebeard Pirates, who wouldn't stir up trouble if left alone. If the Navy didn't genuinely need time and wasn't afraid of the pirates, what Smoker considered would indeed be very useful to the Navy.
However, he was only an externally posted Warlord of the Sea and couldn't access the true will of the Navy's high command. Diarmuid hadn't explained all of this to him, or rather, he had simply told him to focus on his Amway Group and his Warlord of the Sea duties and not meddle.
Yet, he still managed to mess things up to this extent. Consequently, Smoker didn't understand the Navy's true strategic intent, which resulted in the situation spiraling out of control.