These resources were unquestionably far more valuable than the ordinary islands of the Totto Land seas.
That much was obvious. But since the sword-bearing Elder could pose the question this way, it meant things were far from as simple as they appeared on the surface.
Making choices was not a matter of childishly picking whichever side offered greater immediate benefits.
They were the decision-makers standing at the pinnacle of World Government power. Every potential risk and variable had to be factored in.
This approach was indeed more sophisticated than scrambling for spoils after the war, but cooperation between the World Government and pirates—once exposed—would have unimaginable consequences.
Especially since they could not afford to stir up massive public backlash. Otherwise, even if they gained tangible benefits, the World Government's hard-earned prestige across the Four Seas could suffer catastrophic damage.
This was no longer the relatively closed and secretive era of God Valley.
News of the dual-Emperor war had already spread across the entire world, becoming an explosive topic that drew universal attention.
That alone doomed the World Government to avoid acting too openly in the conflict.
If they chose to support Big Mom, they would inevitably face Wano, which the world largely believed held the higher odds of victory. Both the operational difficulty and the cost of action would multiply.
If, however, they chose to support Tenma, then in exchange, extracting parts of the Totto Land seas from the defeated side would be almost effortless.
This was the classic gamble between high risk, high reward and low risk, low reward.
It was also a clash between the Five Elders' differing temperaments and governing philosophies.
In the end, the vote came out two to two, and the four Elders instinctively turned their gaze to the blond Elder who had yet to speak.
Suddenly holding the deciding vote, the blond Elder glanced around, pondered briefly, and finally declared:
"Send someone to make contact with Tenma first."
The two Elders who favored high risk and high reward raised their brows, but offered no further objections.
In the chambers of power, the minority submits to the majority—an iron rule that had never changed.
As for whether Tenma would refuse their "goodwill," that possibility did not even enter their calculations.
To pay the price of merely a few islands in exchange for the World Government's powerful assistance in eliminating another top-tier Emperor-level force—any strategist as sharp as the Flying General would never reject such a guaranteed-profit deal.
...
For now, let us set aside the World Government's inexplicable confidence.
On Cake Island, an oppressive air hung thick, heavy with the promise of an approaching storm. Charlotte Linlin understood perfectly well—numbers alone would not be enough to gain the upper hand against Tenma in the brutal battles ahead.
On a sea where monsters roamed freely, what ultimately tipped the scales was the absolute height of top-tier combat power.
With no other options left, she scowled and once again dialed the number of that "little brother" she both loved and hated—Kaido.
From the receiver came that familiar, low, rumbling voice. Even the way they addressed each other carried an awkward, plastic-sibling tension.
Kaido was no fool. From the tone alone, he knew exactly what Big Mom was after and immediately lashed out, saying she shouldn't think he didn't see through her schemes.
He bellowed bluntly that she was the one who lit this fire—was she really expecting him to jump in and wipe her ass like some unlucky sucker?
Charlotte Linlin snorted coldly and retorted that she hadn't started this mess, and that this wasn't child's play anymore. She'd run into a wall she couldn't climb over alone—and she needed his help.
Kaido continued posturing, saying that if you wanted to dominate the seas, this was supposed to be a life-and-death battlefield—begging for help was beneath an Emperor.
Seeing that brute force persuasion wouldn't work, Charlotte Linlin played her most overused card—the debt of gratitude.
She roared into the phone, demanding to know whether he planned to treat the favors of the past like a fart and just let them drift away.
She shouted that she'd treated him like a real brother, that his Mythical Zoan fruit had been given by her, and that such a debt was heavier than the heavens.
That finally irritated Kaido. His thunderous belch echoed through the receiver.
He snapped back that he'd said it ages ago—constantly dredging up ancient favors only made her, a Sea Emperor, look cheap.
Charlotte Linlin flew into a rage, barking that cheap or not didn't matter. As long as he helped her kill that bastard Tenma, they'd be even.
At the mention of Tenma's name, the fat on Big Mom's face visibly trembled—hatred etched deep into her bones.
On the other end came the sound of heavy gulps of alcohol. Kaido clearly wasn't taking her seriously.
Wiping the booze from his mouth, he said that as an Emperor himself, there was no way he'd shove his subordinates into a fire pit over her mess—especially when his arms-dealing business with Tenma was absurdly profitable, better than anything else.
Hearing that, Charlotte Linlin suddenly let out a sinister laugh, the sound filled with smug certainty, as if she'd seen through him long ago.
She said they both knew each other well—if he agreed, then after Tenma was dealt with, Wano plus all the benefits originally promised to him would be his alone. She wouldn't touch a single piece.
The line went silent. Only heavy breathing remained.
The greedy dragon had clearly taken the bait.
Seeing the fish hook itself, Charlotte Linlin ground her molars and dropped her final bomb.
She said she'd also give him a copy of her Road Poneglyph rubbing—this was her absolute bottom line, and he'd better not get greedy.
The Den Den Mushi's eyes bulged wide, gleaming brightly, as if the throne of the Pirate King itself had begun beckoning.
...
In the days that followed, the seas grew eerily quiet.
Both Totto Land and Wano resembled the calm before a storm—so still that even seabirds dared not fly freely.
Behind this suffocating silence, both sides were sharpening their blades like mad, preparing for a world-shaking war that would rewrite the global order.
The soup was boiling thicker and thicker. Every gaze—Marine, pirate, and gutter rat alike—was locked onto the waters where the clash would erupt.
On the surface, the sea was calm. Beneath it, monstrous waves already raged.
The scene shifted to somewhere in the New World, where the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick was anchored beside an island.
Division Commander Harta frowned as he stared at the distant horizon. "Big Mom looks like she's dragging out everything she owns this time."
He sighed. "At this rate, the New World's about to be turned upside down again."
Beside him, Rakuyo, idly playing with his chain hammer, chuckled. "You're just timid, kid. Since when have pirates been afraid of chaos?"
He turned toward the man sitting like a mountain at the head seat. "Pops, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. That guy caused trouble on our turf—perfect time to settle old and new scores together and get Fish-Man Island's dignity back."
Whitebeard reclined on his massive chair, IV tubes running into his body, yet his eyes remained razor-sharp. He didn't answer immediately, instead asking the kabuki-painted man beside him for his opinion.
Everyone knew Izo was a native of Wano.
Caught off guard, Izo paused, then shook his head with an easy smile. "Don't worry about me. This is my home now."
Whitebeard threw his head back and laughed, the booming sound shaking the deck.
Straightening up, he grinned. "If there's meat to eat, why would we just sit and watch? That brat Tenma has been getting a bit too wild lately."
Marco, pineapple head and all, leaned lazily against the railing and smiled. "We're the Whitebeard Pirates. Since when have we ever chickened out?"
The words hit like a shot of adrenaline. The crew immediately erupted in cheers, itching to draw blades and charge into battle.
Someone excitedly asked Pops what the plan was—should they just sail straight in?
At that moment, a sly chuckle came from the corner. Teach, stuffing cherry pie into his mouth, finally spoke up.
Blackbeard Teach, crumbs all over his beard, squinted his eyes. "Pops, I've got a half-baked idea."
All eyes turned to him. Though he wasn't a commander, he was an old hand, and people still gave him some courtesy.
Putting on a thick, honest grin, Teach suggested that while Big Mom and Tenma were locked in a deadly struggle, they should directly raid Wano's main base—maximum profit for minimum effort.
Hearing this rotten idea, many rolled their eyes. They'd thought he might say something worthwhile.
Still, dirty as it was, whether for revenge or seizing territory, it was the most cost-effective move.
Whitebeard's brow furrowed slightly. Marco instantly understood and shook his head in refusal.
"Teach, that's too underhanded. If we did that, how would Pops ever hold his head up on these seas again? What about the 'Strongest Man in the World' reputation?"
Trading Pops' name for a bit of profit—that deal was a loss no matter how you cut it.
Those who'd initially thought Teach had a point immediately switched sides, nodding along and agreeing that reputation mattered more than anything.
Several commanders added that Wano was Tenma's home turf—natural fortresses and defenses everywhere. It wasn't something you could just chew through.
Seeing the wind change, Marco stepped forward and proposed his own plan.
"If Tenma plans to swallow Big Mom's territory, then we play the mantis stalking the cicada. After they finish fighting, we move in and seize the spoils—on Big Mom's turf—and face Tenma head-on."
Whitebeard nodded repeatedly, slamming his hand down. "That's settled. Marco really gets me."
He even turned to Teach and asked, "You got any objections?"
Teach immediately scratched his head and grinned. "Of course not. I was just talking. Captain Marco's thinking is way more thorough. I didn't consider Pops' reputation."
Whitebeard smiled in satisfaction. To him, as long as the iron rules of the ship weren't broken, a little scheming among sons was no big deal.
The crew erupted into cheers, gearing up for a grand fight.
Teach laughed along with them, but deep in his eyes flashed a trace of cold darkness.
For years, he had genuinely admired Whitebeard's power—and genuinely coveted it.
He'd almost resigned himself to fate. If he couldn't find the Yami Yami no Mi, living out his life on this ship wouldn't be so bad.
But ever since Tenma burst onto the scene, wielding dual Devil Fruits, Teach's ambition had grown like wild grass.
He believed that power should have been his. Instead, a junior had stolen the spotlight, and the jealousy inside him was on the verge of exploding.
This had been a perfect chance to kill with borrowed blades—ruined by these idiots obsessed with honor and morality.
In his heart, Teach cursed them all. Pirates were supposed to steal—what was this family-play nonsense?
As for Wano's defenses? In front of the Gura Gura no Mi, they were nothing but a joke.
He tore into a chunk of meat, watching the "family" laughing together around him, his stomach churning.
The Whitebeard Pirates had long forgotten what it meant to be pirates.
He washed down his anger with alcohol and thought that though he was nearing thirty, his body could still endure. As long as Pops wasn't dead yet, he still had time.
A man's dreams never die. That secret of the "D" would one day bloom in his hands.
...
The scene shifted to the Amazon Lily stronghold in Wano.
Though still nominally part of the Land of Women, it had long since been transformed into a highly modernized military fortress.
The old wooden houses had been bulldozed, replaced by reinforced concrete high-rises.
The core royal palace, in particular, had been a lavish project under Hancock. She'd torn down the old residences of several previous Empresses and built a grander, more comfortable castle.
Many areas had been custom-designed specifically for Tenma.
When the former Empress Gloriosa found out, she'd nearly suffered a stroke. She'd tried several times to argue with Hancock—only to be unceremoniously thrown out each time.
Ever since Hancock had fallen completely into love, she still treated the old woman as family—but the moment Tenma was involved, blood relations meant nothing.
Deep within the palace, a luxurious hot spring pool steamed gently.
Having just finished arranging the defenses, Tenma was enjoying a rare moment of pre-war tranquility.
The pool was filled with alluring Kuja warriors, their figures stunning enough to look like a living painting.
Because of Black Maria 's current eight-meter-tall frame, part of the pool had even been specially expanded so she could soak comfortably.
Robin, wearing a purple bikini, sat atop a coral rock beside the pool, holding a dedicated Den Den Mushi and listening to a report from the shadow guards.
After hanging up, her long legs swayed lightly in the water as she turned to Tenma.
"Something's changed."
Tenma rested his arms on the pool's edge, opened his eyes, and smiled. "Did the shadow guards dig up more juicy intel?"
Robin set the Den Den Mushi aside. "Whitebeard's side has made a move. They plan to strike after we win and directly seize territory."
Tenma laughed. "Looks like everyone thinks we're guaranteed to win. They've already planned how to split the cake afterward."
Hancock let out a satisfied sigh, starry-eyed. "Of course. How could that old hag compare to Lord Tenma? Even if Kaido joins her, it's just delivering food."
Beside her, Salome coiled up obediently, acting as a backrest for her lovestruck mistress.
Yamato watched the scene, her face slightly red, her heart oddly restless—as if a new world had opened before her eyes.
Tenma remained clear-headed. He waved a hand. "Don't get too cocky. Two Emperors joining forces is definitely a major headache."
He had confidence in himself—he wouldn't fear even prime Whitebeard one-on-one. But the enemy were two genuine monsters. It wouldn't be as simple as chopping vegetables.
His Devil Fruit powers were world-destroying, but Haki was the real hard currency—and those two old monsters' Haki were no joke.
Still, in his eyes, this so-called dual-Emperor alliance was nothing more than a nuisance.
This was a war. Not just a clash of top-tier combatants, but a contest of overall foundations.
In elite quality, Wano's army could hang the Beasts Pirates and Totto Land together and beat them senseless.
Once Charlotte Linlin—the linchpin—was taken out, the Big Mom Pirates would collapse into a pile of loose sand.
Robin's cheeks flushed faintly as she suppressed her wandering thoughts and asked whether they should accept the World Government's proposal.
Though government envoys hadn't appeared openly yet, Catherine, embedded within CP, had already delivered the intel.
Under this vast intelligence network, every major faction's move was effectively happening naked under Tenma's gaze.
Tenma threw his head back and laughed. "These guys' scheme is loud enough to hear from miles away. Since they've come knocking, we might as well take it."
The surrounding beauties weren't surprised. Yamato, however, leaned in like a curious kid, asking question after question.
Tenma patted her head, then turned to Kozuki Toki and Robin. "Don't forget—we've also got the Revolutionary Army as a hidden ally. Perfect chance to have them tie down the World Government."
Drive the tiger to swallow the wolf.
Both chief stewards instantly understood.
Robin's eyes lit up. Brilliant. Take the government's benefits, let the Revolutionaries harass them, and in the end, even pry out that government nail.
Seeing the admiration in Robin's eyes, Tenma felt immensely pleased. This chief steward was really getting the hang of things.
He grinned and beckoned her to join the pool. Robin bit her lip briefly, then slid into the water without pretense.
Maria Fang laughed teasingly and casually pulled Yamato over to her side.
Kozuki Toki and Gion exchanged a glance. The pure-gold rings on their fingers glinted through the mist as they quietly withdrew.
...
Time slipped into Sea Circle Calendar Year 1511.
On a deserted island near the Totto Land seas in the New World, dense vegetation covered the land—normally not even a ghost would be found there.
But now, it was crawling with paparazzi from the World Economy News.
They'd been feeding mosquitoes here for a week straight and were practically growing mold.
At dawn, President Morgans' furious roar exploded from a Den Den Mushi.
He cursed his subordinates as useless, shouting that they'd been squatting here so long without even smelling a fart.
The reporters were full of bitterness. They protested that it wasn't for lack of effort—the Totto Land blockade was tighter than an iron barrel. Even flies couldn't get in.
This was work that required staking one's life, and no one wanted to die for a headline.
Then suddenly, a reporter holding a high-powered telescope went pale as if he'd seen a ghost.
Rubbing his eyes and confirming he wasn't imagining things, he jumped up and screamed:
"They're coming! Big Mom's grand fleet is moving out!"
At that shout, everyone sprang up like they'd been injected with adrenaline.
Long lenses and cameras were set up in an instant. Even from several nautical miles away, the scene was captured clearly.
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