Although it wasn't raining in O'hara, the fleet's ocean voyage was shrouded in dense clouds, with torrential downpours and thunder and lightning.
The enormous fleet sailed through the ocean, looming ominously in the rain, just a glimpse through the dim curtain of rain sent shivers down spines, while closer inspection revealed a dark mass sweeping across the ocean alongside the storm.
Under the fierce storm, the captains of each ship either stood on deck or gazed solemnly from the captain's quarters.
However, the situation on the leading Death Star ship was somewhat different.
Inside the first floor of the tall structure on the deck, there was still music and dance festivities.
Sage rested his cheek on one hand, propped a leg on the armrest, his head nodding to the music and dance, while a maid immediately served him fine wine and delicacies at his gesture.
There was no hint of an impending battle.
Accustomed to comfort, he couldn't leave behind luxury even when heading out.
Having struggled for over twenty years, what's wrong with enjoying some fortune now?
"Sage..."
Lily stepped up from below, approaching Sage and said, "Link called, asking if the current spoils should still be collected?"
Sage waved a hand, "Just carry on as usual. By the way, Lily, how many people do we have this time?"
Lily sighed lightly, "A total of 23,682 people, consisting of one flagship, four battleships, six cadre ships, and 150 warships."
Currently, Sage is known as the 'Three Unknowing' Sea Emperor.
He's unaware of how much territory he owns due to too many conquests; aside from remembering the number of islands at Magnetic Field Island, he doesn't know the rest, sometimes asking about something good he's consuming or using, then forgetting it's Marika's task to recall how much tribute is needed.
He's unaware of how much wealth he has, whether it's resources or Belly, it's all circulated, especially after establishing the banking system, inquiries are sometimes merely for facilitating orders or indicating directions.
He's unaware of his manpower, whether it's the population of territories or pirates recruited, the numbers are too vast, he's lazy to remember them, those are Lily's responsibilities to tally.
Including unmoveable, retired pirates and O'hara's native defenders on various islands, their military force exceeds the standard Sage set before his rise—30,000 people.
Bringing this number made Lily feel it's still insufficient.
Their time in the New World is too short; although their reputation is large, the development is rapid, compared to the seasoned Four Emperors, they're still lacking.
This is almost all the force they can muster, even the Fur Race in Zou responded to the call, contributing half of their citizens to gather together to join the battle.
However, according to the intelligence from Lucci, the Big Mom Pirates, stationed in Totto Land, have a total military force of a whopping 40,000...
The number means nothing to strong individuals, but with a few strong ones facing equally strong opponents, they can't attend to everyone, real fierce clashes are inevitable.
No matter the victory or loss, the battle won't be easy.
"Captain Sage! Lady Lily!"
As Sage continued to enjoy the music and dance, the door burst open, a pirate drenched in water gasped, pointing outside, "There is, there is..."
"What's the rush?"
Sage tossed over a bottle of wine, "Drink up and speak slowly."
The pirate responsible for watching at the mast watchtower downed the wine in large gulps, took a deep breath, and shouted, "We've spotted the flag of the Four Emperor Kaido!"
Lily furrowed her brows; her figure vanished instantly from its spot, and in the blink of an eye, she had sped out into the storm, reaching the forefront of the deck.
"Binoculars!"
She stretched out a hand, and some pirates gathered on the deck respectfully handed her the binoculars.
Despite the wind and rain, upon close inspection, it was visible—a solitary ship was approaching their grand fleet from within the tempest.
The flag atop the ship was indeed the Beast Pirates' emblem of Kaido, but at the bow, there was an elephant head with extremely long tusks...
Waves churned as the ship rocked with the tide, rapidly closing in on them.
On that ship's deck, Lily saw a figure with a tall, robust physique, blonde hair in a ponytail and two braids, a metal jaw covering the lower half of his face, with elephant tusk ornaments on his head and shoulders.
That fellow...
"Drought Jack?" Lily blinked in surprise.
...
On the Mammoth, a pirate responsible for observation and watching put down his binoculars, his eyes widening with panic, "Oh no, ahead, ahead is the Disaster Grand Fleet! That flagship, it's... the Death Star!"
They were initially headed to Zou, this journey should have started earlier, but they heard Zou had joined the Disaster's ranks, so they hesitated.
However, recently, they heard rumors of hiding fugitives on Zou, Jack couldn't hold back any longer and set sail directly.
But shortly after embarking, they encountered a storm.
A simple storm was manageable—though Thunderbolt accompanied it, such weather in the New World has been faced before.
But amid the storm, a huge shadow suddenly loomed ahead, that was chilling.
And then they saw...
It's dire!
The Death Star was right ahead!
Doesn't that mean the Disaster is ahead?!
"Quickly, turn the ship! Don't clash with the Disaster Grand Fleet! It's fatal!"
The remaining pirates panicked, raising sails or steering as needed.
"Don't panic!"
At this moment, a tall figure appeared on the deck.
"Master Jack!" a group of pirates exclaimed.
Jack stared at the massive shadow looming from the storm, steadily revealing the grand fleet and spoke in a deep voice:
"Disaster? The one who injured Kaido Boss? Where is this fleet headed?"
"Master Jack, there's still time to evade!" a pirate reminded.
"Why evade!"
Blood-filled eyes gleamed in Jack's gaze, "Wasn't Dressrosa taken over by that guy! Ruined Kaido Boss's deal... No need to dodge, I'm going to confront them, move the ship closer!!"
...
On the Death Star, as Lily lowered the binoculars, a pirate asked, "Lady Lily, how should we handle this?"
"Instead of evading, they're approaching us?"
The wind howled, tossing her long golden hair back, Lily handed the binoculars to the pirate, placed her hand on her sword hilt, and said coldly:
"Let me see his courage... Bring the ship closer!"