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Marineford, Briefing Room.
Based on the analysis from Vice Admiral Tsuru, the various strategic think tanks, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this war was an inevitability. There was simply no room for compromise.
Whitebeard's "son" had killed the Thunder Emperor's men. The subtext of the incident was a blatant, naked provocation. To back down now was impossible.
And if neither side would yield, the coming storm was already visible on the horizon.
"Hahaha! A duel between the two legendary pirates of the New World... A war of this magnitude is practically doing the Navy's work for us, thinning the ranks of this burgeoning pirate menace!"
"The effectiveness of the Warlord system is becoming clear now..."
High-ranking officers sat below the dais, whispering among themselves with irrepressible glee. For an event that would drain the collective strength of the pirate world, they naturally hoped for as much carnage as possible.
"This is a true struggle for the apex of hegemony, isn't it? I hear the Beast Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates are about to cross paths as well. Another war in the making!"
The World Government's CP0 had infiltrated the gathering places of the world's strongest quite deeply. The Navy, which kept a constant watch on the movements of every Great Pirate in the New World, was well-informed about every major event about to unfold.
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The Red Force sailed freely across the open sea.
Spray from every direction converged into growing swells, as if foreshadowing the turbulent tides about to sweep the New World.
"Shanks! The Thunder God Pirates have officially declared war on Whitebeard!" Lucky Roux said, munching on a massive meat bone, a strange excitement on his round face.
Yasopp, the sniper, took the newspaper, a defiant smirk crossing his face.
The entire ship was packed with elites. Having entered the New World, they had emerged from its brutal baptism as top-tier contenders. Their strength was leagues beyond what it had once been. Anyone who survived these waters was the cream of the pirate crop.
After marching out of Big Mom's Totto Land, the Red Hair Pirates had a terrifying, unstoppable momentum.
"A clash for the title of the strongest crew, huh? It's a shame we can't be part of that collision," Yasopp remarked, polishing his rifle with a look of regret.
"Our priority is seizing territory and establishing a firm foothold... The Thunder Emperor and Whitebeard are both too powerful. Engaging them now would be highly unwise," Ben Beckman said, biting his cigarette as he coolly mapped out their path. "Shanks, what do you think?"
"Hm?" Shanks sat on the deck, leaning against a wooden sake barrel, appearing somewhat pensive. "I was wondering... what exactly is the Thunder Emperor after? He must know the consequences the entire New World will face once he declares total war on Whitebeard."
He maintained his rational focus. "Perhaps it was destined from the start. A battle between the Thunder God Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates was always unavoidable."
"Hahahaha! Why worry about all that? Once we repel the Beast Pirates, we can officially start claiming our own turf!"
The crew returned to their high spirits, drinking deeply and ignoring the chaos of the outside world.
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The massive sea-faring entertainment city, Gran Tesoro, was currently under rapid expansion near Dressrosa, the island occupied by Doflamingo.
The old grudges between these two Warlords had long since dissipated. After witnessing each other's respective power, they had quickly launched a series of collaborations.
Gran Tesoro was colossal. Everything upon it was cast in gold, luxurious to the point of decadence. Gildo Tesoro's compatibility with the Gold-Gold Fruit was nothing short of miraculous; in less than four years, he had achieved Awakening.
At the highest point of Gran Tesoro, in a magnificent hall overlooking the entire entertainment city, three Warlords had gathered: Donquixote Doflamingo, Gildo Tesoro, and Mad Treasure.
"Treasure, the tribute you've provided lately is far less than before. Are you tired of our partnership?" Tesoro, dressed in a pink suit, crossed his fingers and narrowed his eyes with a sharp shout.
The entertainment city was nearing completion. His plan to control all the Berries in the world was about to begin, yet at this crucial juncture, Mad Treasure was dropping the ball.
Gran Tesoro was so massive that it couldn't possibly be built entirely from the gold he manufactured; "artificial" gold was, after all, different from the real thing.
"Gyaralalala! You really are a fool, aren't you, Tesoro?" Mad Treasure sneered, a trace of mockery behind his tinted goggles. "The struggle between the Four Emperors and the One Sovereign is still raging. I may be arrogant, but I'm not brainless. Who would dare go around flaunting their presence and searching for treasure in this climate? Do you think I have a death wish?"
"If you're so capable, why don't you learn from the Thunder Emperor? Like him, seize a few gold mine islands, be self-sufficient, and build yourself a massive golden fortress!"
At the mention of the war fortresses on the islands in the Thunder God's territory, Mad Treasure's eyes burned with envy. Even from outside that sea, one could clearly see those hemispherical structures that were larger than the islands themselves. After years of construction and Vegapunk's constant technological upgrades, the Thunder God Fortresses were halfway to completion.
"Fuffuffuffu... Both of you, settle down. There's no need to take such trifles to heart. Once this war settles, the New World will likely see a long period of peace," Doflamingo grinned, playing the mediator with a hypocritical air. "Tesoro, why did you call us here?"
"A matter of grave importance. One that only the three of us can know!" Tesoro turned serious. He straightened his collar and looked at his two partners, speaking each word with deliberate weight.
"Have either of you heard of the legendary metal... Pure Gold?"
"What did you say?" Doflamingo lost his composure instantly, his eyes fixed on Tesoro.
"What's the big deal? Pure Gold? What even is that?" Mad Treasure asked impatiently. "If it's just another metal, I couldn't care less. I exist solely to find treasure!"
"Idiot!" Doflamingo was annoyed at being interrupted. "Pure Gold emits a light that causes the passage of a person's vitality to slow to a near-standstill. It is a peerless treasure coveted by the highest powers of the World Government. Obtaining it is equivalent to obtaining eternal life. It is practically no different from the ultimate ability of the Op-Op Fruit—the Immortality Surgery!"
Doflamingo had seen with his own eyes that Arthur had consumed the Op-Op Fruit, so he didn't care if that secret was exposed. Furthermore, if they had news of Pure Gold, they could abandon the need for the surgery entirely.
Doflamingo knew about Pure Gold, but he had zero leads on it!
"Immortality Surgery? Eternal life?" Mad Treasure stood up abruptly, losing his cool.
Men like them could never refuse the temptation of immortality. In an instant, his desire for Pure Gold surpassed everything else.
Taking in their reactions, Tesoro smiled, just as he had expected.
"I have received intelligence. Every scrap of Pure Gold in the existence of this world... is held in the hands of the Thunder Emperor, Arthur."
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