Chapter 109: The Navy Retreats
CLANG!
After yet another powerful strike, Kong hovered midair, panting heavily.
"You monster… It's impossible to use a Devil Fruit without exhausting stamina! Even awakened Zoan users can't keep up such high-intensity techniques endlessly, let alone a Paramecia-type like you!"
Listening to Steelbone Kong's incredulous words, Luo Han remained calm. Glancing at the still-intact telekinetic shield surrounding him, he smirked. After all, a man's most important ability... should be staying firm.
"Kong, let's end this battle here. We can continue some other time," Luo Han said in a flat tone. "Don't bother refusing—if you want to risk the lives of your adorable subordinates, be my guest."
Kong clenched his jaw. Remembering what happened to Garp and the others, he ultimately chose not to continue. Without another word, he turned and flew back toward the warship.
Watching Kong's retreating figure, Luo Han narrowed his eyes and glanced up at the sky with a chuckle.
"Rocks must be having a headache about this now. Never expected this, huh?"
The Navy's sudden full-scale assault had exposed the true state of the so-called strongest pirate crew. Luo Han couldn't speak for the others, but he certainly wasn't going to throw his life away for Rocks.
If he had really wanted to, even with Steelbone Kong present, killing the other Marines would've been effortless.
"After all, at my current level of telekinetic mastery, the weak don't even get a chance to fight back. If you meet me, your life depends entirely on my mood."
Luo Han laughed quietly, thinking about how some protagonists always seem to win due to plot armor. "I wonder... when I meet Pirate King Luffy someday, will I suddenly get nerfed like Shiki did?"
He shook his head to cast off the ominous thought and dispelled his barrier, flying back to the ship.
As he landed, everyone gathered around, asking how the fight went. He casually told them the Navy had retreated, brushing off their concerns, then turned to Spoon-jie.
"Spoon-jie, how are things looking outside these past few days?"
"It's chaos."
She tossed him a stack of newspapers without emotion.
"Haha! Just as I expected!"
Luo Han laughed after reading them. The papers detailed the Navy's recent operations. With Whitebeard, Shiki, John, and others barely lifting a finger, the Rocks Pirates' territory had fallen into disarray. There weren't enough men to maintain control. After all, such a vast empire held together only by intimidation would inevitably crumble when challenged by equally powerful or stronger forces.
As expected, many countries had chosen to join the World Government.
"The World Government really played their hand well," Luo Han murmured.
He had come to realize a harsh truth: pirates were still pirates. Not everyone supported the Rocks Pirates. Rocks had forced many powerful factions to join him in order to win the loyalty of their subordinates. But this Navy offensive revealed the flaw in that plan.
"When everyone starts slacking off, the end of the Rocks Pirates isn't far off."
Turning his gaze toward Battleship Island, Luo Han fell silent. The port was a mess. Many ships hadn't managed to leave in time and had been capsized by the waves. The city looked like it had been hit by a tsunami—pools of water and destruction everywhere.
"Don't dwell on it. This is just how the world is," Spoon-jie said as she walked over and patted his shoulder.
"I'm fine."
"Let's set sail. We should get Toki back to Wano. The New World's only going to get more chaotic—this ship isn't the place for her anymore."
Luo Han moved to the bow, eyes serious as he took the helm and guided the two pirate ships toward the horizon.
…
At the same time, as Luo Han and his crew left Battleship Island—
On Hachinosu Island in the New World, the usual sunshine, beaches, and beautiful women remained. But the constant party-like atmosphere had died down significantly. Only a few stragglers were still living in indulgent bliss.
In the top room of the skull-shaped fortress, a wild figure lounged on a sofa. In front of him was a row of Den Den Mushi, one of which whispered softly.
"So, they left, huh? What a cocky little brat. Does he really think he can defy me? Heh…"
The man on the sofa grabbed a juice and took a heavy swig, chuckling softly without any major shift in tone.
"Rocks, with the Navy's recent campaign, many nations that never joined the World Government are now switching sides. Are you going to do something about it?" came a sly voice from one of the Den Den Mushi, sounding especially eerie in the quiet room.
"Haha! Don't worry about that. Just focus on tracking the movements of the Celestial Dragons. The moment those pieces of garbage set foot in the New World, report it to me immediately."
Rocks laughed, entirely unconcerned about how much territory the Navy had taken.
"Oh? I've been curious. Why have you been fixated on the Celestial Dragons for the past few months, Rocks?"
Silence fell over the room. After a long pause, the only sound was the gurgling of juice being drunk.
"Hahaha…! You'll find out soon enough. It's going to be an explosive, world-shaking headline," Rocks said with a deep laugh.
"Heh heh! I'll be looking forward to the world-shaking headline from Captain Rocks."
Click! The Den Den Mushi call ended. The room, dim a moment ago, seemed a little brighter.
Step step.
Rocks walked to the window. Creak! He opened it, gazing at the peaceful sea and the blue sky. He smiled slightly and murmured:
"The legendary dwelling place of gods on earth… I really am looking forward to it. Shouldn't be long now… Celestial Dragons!!"
…
At the same time, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise—
"The plan is going smoothly. At this rate, the New World will soon fall completely under the World Government's control."
"And with that, the Will of D will be silenced forever, until it's forgotten entirely."
"Let's hope so."
The Five Elders sat in their chairs, satisfied with the intelligence reports in their hands.
Initially, when Rocks declared his intent to rule the New World, the Five Elders had scoffed.
But they hadn't expected him to use brute strength and pirate ruthlessness to force many nations into submission, building a massive pirate empire.
That was when the Five Elders saw a chance to rule the New World themselves. They kept the Admirals at Marineford to train recruits and sent only Garp and a few others to slow Rocks down—allowing him to rise quickly.
Their plan was to let Rocks conquer quickly and harshly, then swoop in with the Navy as "saviors" and "justice," toppling the Rocks Pirates and convincing previously resistant nations to join the World Government.
(END CHAPTER)
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