"Father's right," Marco nodded in agreement.
"Intelligence now points to several key gathering places. If we can precisely strike these locations, we can cripple their alliance and throw those guys into complete chaos."
A nearby New Navy staff officer looked up and reported:
"We've received some reliable information from our spies embedded within the pirates.
It's said that these pirates are trying to elect someone powerful enough to unify and command the entire alliance.
But currently, they're riddled with internal conflicts and haven't reached an agreement."
Hearing this, Kuzan's eyes lit up slightly. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said:
"If their internal conflicts are severe, then that's our breakthrough point.
We can exploit their divisions, create more chaos, and prevent them from forming a true cohesive force."
Jin'an's lips curled into a smile once more upon hearing this:
"That's a good idea. But, honestly, if we want these guys to turn on each other, we can't just sit back and watch the show."
Jin'an walked to the map and marked several key areas with red arrows:
"Our first step is to blockade the sea, cutting off their supply lines.
What those guys need most are weapons and food.
Once they can't get these things, their alliance will quickly collapse."
Whitebeard listened and said in a deep voice:
"Leave this task to me and my men.
My ships are familiar with every inch of these waters. Blockading supplies won't be difficult for us."
Jin'an nodded:
"The second step is intelligence warfare.
Send more spies deep into their alliance to create chaos.
Let suspicion and distrust spread rapidly. Their infighting will save us a lot of time and resources."
"You can leave this task to me," Kuzan lazily raised his hand.
"I couldn't be more clear about the psychology of these pirates."
Jin'an continued:
"The final step is to concentrate our forces and launch a swift and fierce strike on their core strongholds.
This time, we're not just destroying their strongholds, but completely depriving them of the ability to resist."
As the tactical deployment gradually took shape, the entire New Navy fleet entered a state of high alert.
The crew members were busy organizing equipment on the deck, and the weapon warehouses were filled with shining swords and cannons.
Everyone could feel the tension and murderous aura in the air.
Jin'an stood on the deck of the flagship, the sea breeze blowing his cloak, his gaze firmly fixed on the distance.
He knew that the outcome of this battle was not only related to the fate of the New Navy and the pirates, but also to the future of the entire world.
"The age of pirates must end," he murmured to himself, gripping the hilt of his sword, his heart already burning with fighting spirit.
......
On an island surrounded by layers of storms, a life-or-death meeting was taking place in secret.
Dim candlelight burned in the hall, the mottled battle flags on the walls fluttered in the sea breeze, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and decay.
This was the most crucial temporary command center of the Pirate Alliance, led by the remaining forces of the World Government, with remnants of the Big Mom Pirates and the leaders of the Egbertan Pirates gathered together.
They had to find a way to reverse the current precarious situation.
"We can't go on like this!"
A roar exploded in the conference hall, shaking the map on the table slightly.
The speaker was the leader of the Egbertan Pirates—Gran Egbertan, a tall and burly man with deep scars on his face. The huge battle axe in his hand slammed heavily on the table, his eyes full of anger and unwillingness.
"These navies and New Navy bastards have already taken four of our strongholds!
If we don't fight back, they'll slowly eat away at our power sooner or later!"
His voice echoed like thunder in the hall, and every pirate present could hear the anxiety and killing intent in it.
On the other side, Perospero, the leader of the remnants of the Big Mom Pirates, licked his lips, revealing a sinister smile:
"We've never encountered such big trouble since Mom failed."
His candy cane tapped lightly on the ground, making a crisp knocking sound.
"But, you don't need to panic too much, Gran.
We're not soft persimmons to be slaughtered."
"Soft persimmons?"
Gran sneered, turned and looked directly at Perospero.
"Then tell me, how do we fight back?
Now is not the time to show off!"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.
Indeed, although these pirates were all ruthless characters who once dominated the sea, they had gradually shown signs of defeat in the face of the joint suppression by the New Navy and the Navy.
If they didn't take action, the forces they had painstakingly built up might completely collapse in the next offensive.
A decision must be made—now!
Just as the anger of both sides was about to explode, a cold and majestic voice slowly sounded, like a cold wind sweeping through the entire hall.
"It seems that you are still a rabble after all."
Everyone fell silent instantly and looked at the source of the sound.
It was a man in a black robe, sitting in the shadows of the conference table, tapping his fingers on the table as if he were a manipulator in control of everything.
His eyes were indifferent, and his face wore a mocking smile, as if he were looking down on a group of unruly beasts.
"We are not here to argue about failure, but to find a way to win."
The man slowly stood up, his eyes swept over all the pirates present, his mouth with a look of disdain.
"You shout for a counterattack, but what's your plan?
What can you do besides chaotic bickering?"
Perospero's face sank. Of course, he knew that this man was not an ordinary pirate, but the most important strategist among the remaining forces of the World Government—Krivian, who was once responsible for the World Government's strategic scheduling, and now helped the Pirate Alliance behind the scenes to conduct war layouts.
Krivian continued:
"The alliance between the New Navy and the Navy is indeed strong, but they are not invulnerable.
We only need one thing—time."
"Time?"
Gran frowned.
"You mean...stall them?"
"That's right."
Krivian nodded slowly, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light.
"They seem powerful, but they also have their limitations.
Although the New Navy has the support of the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, their actions have not been fully integrated, and the Navy may not really be able to work with the New Navy with one heart."
He paused and sneered:
"And, don't forget, there are many forces in this world who are uneasy about their expansion.
We only need to create more chaos, stall their attack, and wait for other potential enemies to surface. By then, it will be hard to say who will win or lose."
Perospero licked his lips, a sly smile on his face:
"Sounds like there's some truth to it.
What should we do?"
Krivian slowly unfolded the sea chart on the table and pointed to several key locations:
"First of all, we must launch a fierce enough attack in a place they didn't expect."
His finger moved slowly and landed on a sea area—"S-79 route."
"This route is one of the main supply lines of the New Navy, and they transport supplies, weapons and warships from here."
Krivian's eyes turned cold,
"If we can ambush here and destroy their supply fleet, there will be a brief period of chaos on their front line."
Perospero's eyes lit up:
"What then?"
Krivian continued:
"At the same time, we must cause them greater psychological impact."
His fingertips slid across another area,
"We will create the illusion of the assassination of a senior naval officer, causing greater suspicion within them."
Gran's eyes flashed slightly:
"You mean...create chaos?"
"That's right."
The corners of Krivian's mouth raised into a sinister arc.
"What we have to do is not confront them head-on, but let them have cracks themselves.
While they are trying to control the chaos, we will launch a full-scale counterattack."
Perospero laughed, his eyes flashing with dangerous light:
"Sounds like a real war."
Gran grinned, his palm pressed on the battle axe, his tone full of hideous killing intent:
"Very good...then let's fight."
The storm is about to come, and the blade in the dark has been unsheathed.
This war is far from over, and this ocean will usher in the bloodiest battle.
...
