"If you want to dominate the New World, then why not just wipe out all the other guys in it?"
Wano Country, Onigashima.
Bullet looked annoyed. "Whether it's Whitebeard or Charlotte Linlin, for you right now, they're nothing more than ants you could crush with a flick of your finger. And let's not even mention Crocodile."
At this point, even if the Whitebeard Pirates, the Charlotte Family, and Cross Guild joined forces, they probably still wouldn't be able to defeat the Beasts Pirates, let alone if they fought separately.
So why be so polite with those people?
What's the point of just telling them to get out of the New World? Why not just annihilate them all?
"Worororororo!" Kaido laughed, drinking from his gourd. "Ian, what do you think about that?"
Ian swirled the sake in his cup and took a light sip of Wano's specialty brew. "At this stage, the World Government is our only and greatest enemy."
"Do you really think relying on the threat of Dyna Stone alone will be enough to shake the government's resolve? I doubt it."
Judging from the level of fear the Government had toward him, Ian believed there was a very high chance they would still act recklessly.
So what if they had Dyna Stone?
The Government also had their own stockpile of them.
True, they didn't have someone like Kuma who could deploy them so conveniently.
But relying on this alone to completely scare the Government into submission? Ian thought that was impossible.
"To start a war with both the World Government and the monsters of the New World at the same time would be reckless. That would be falling right into the Government's trap."
Ian continued, "Now that they know we have Dyna Stone, neither Whitebeard nor Auntie Linlin should have any reason to pick a fight with us."
At this point, the so-called monsters of the New World were no longer that important.
They could be dealt with anytime.
In fact, Ian had always believed that when the day finally came for the ultimate battle against the World Government, those same people might even become useful allies.
"From here on," Ian raised his cup and downed the sake in one gulp, "it depends on the choices they make."
"If they insist on resisting, then yes, we'll have no choice but to crush them first."
Ian's declaration sent shockwaves throughout the New World.
Cake Island.
"Damn brat!!"
Charlotte Linlin roared in fury.
Her crazed screams were laced with bursts of Conqueror's Haki, shaking the entire castle with every pulse.
Her children couldn't even get close. They clutched their ears in pain, faces twisted with agony.
"Could it be… he already took the Dyna Stone back then?"
Her mind flashed back to last year, when she and Crocodile had gone with Ian to seize the Dyna Stone.
At that time, both she and Crocodile had returned empty-handed. She had assumed that bastard Ian had failed as well. But now, it seemed he must have already found a way to get his hands on it!
That damned little brat! He played everyone for fools!
Even the World Government had been tricked, completely unaware that Zephyr had long since lost the Dyna Stone.
"Mother!!"
Katakuri, his ears blocked with mochi, shouted at the top of his lungs, "This situation is dire! If we don't act soon, Ian's bombardment will begin any moment!!"
Linlin's roaring slowly faded, but her eyes darkened, cold and heavy as if dripping with shadow.
"Mother, Ian still has a stockpile of Dyna Stone!"
Seeing that their mother had calmed somewhat, Perospero quickly added, "If we choose to aid the World Government and go to war under these conditions, it's far too dangerous!"
Just imagining it sent shivers down his spine.
One Dyna Stone could wipe out the entire Charlotte Family.
If Ian wished, erasing Totto Land itself would be effortless.
"So what you're saying is…"
Charlotte Linlin's glare turned on Perospero, vicious and cruel. "I should obediently let that bastard brat Ian threaten me, and meekly crawl out of the New World?"
Perospero flinched, his whole body trembling, cold sweat pouring down his back.
Fear gripped his heart, terrified that in the next moment his mother might cast her Soul Pocus upon him.
"Mother!"
Seeing his elder brother falter, Katakuri quickly stepped forward. "Now is not the time to act out of pride! We have no reason to become pawns for the World Government!"
"The Beasts Pirates alone are already dangerous enough—and with the Dyna Stone in play…"
Sweat trickled down the forehead of the Charlotte Family's greatest masterpiece.
"One wrong move and we'll be wiped out!"
Charlotte Linlin's expression was dark.
No matter how stubborn she was, she clearly understood—right now, the Beasts Pirates were not an enemy the Charlotte Family could possibly oppose.
And with the Dyna Stone now in play, trying to start a war against Kaido's crew would be the most foolish decision imaginable.
Linlin's eyes shifted rapidly, calculating gains and losses in her heart.
After a long silence, she finally let out a cold laugh.
"Then let the New World belong to that bastard Ian and the World Government! Let them fight to the death!"
"Perospero, prepare to withdraw from the New World!"
"Yes, Mama!"
Perospero exhaled a long sigh of relief.
At last, they wouldn't have to go to war with the Beasts Pirates.
Katakuri bowed his head deeply.
His feelings were complicated.
Perhaps Mama was afraid too…
But she would never admit it, no matter what.
Almost at the same time, within the Cross Guild—
Inside the massive fortress built upon their grand ship—
"Head to the West Blue."
That was Crocodile's order.
"Oh?"
Shiryu raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I thought Ian's declaration would have provoked you. I half expected you to challenge him to a fight to the death."
"Don't be stupid."
Crocodile rolled his eyes.
"And let the World Government swoop in to reap the benefits? I'm not that much of a fool."
"Since Ian has the Dyna Stone in his hands, things are different now. Let him and the World Government clash first."
"Damn it!"
Moria gnashed his teeth in frustration.
"Stop messing around," Shiryu teased him with a mischievous smile. "Or do you want to come up with a way to deal with Dyna Stone?"
Moria didn't say a word.
"Let's go, don't waste time,"
Crocodile said. "The sooner we reach the West Blue, the sooner we can start our plan."
"The world might be on the brink of a major change. We have to be ready first!"
Shiryu nodded with a smile.
But there was something strange in his eyes.
Crocodile, you've made a very good decision. Otherwise, I'd have to make a difficult choice.
New World, Rear Sector.
Whitebeard Pirates.
Today, the atmosphere on the deck of the Moby Dick was tense.
"Father?"
Marco looked at his father solemnly.
What should we do?
What comes next?
Should we leave the New World?
If we don't leave, we'll have to face the Beasts Pirates—and their Dyna Stone.
But if we leave, what will happen to the islands and nations under the Whitebeard Pirates' protection?
**********
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