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Days Later - The World in Uproar
[Battle of Gotter!]
[Yonko Red Hair Pirates Defeated!]
[Victor: Beast Pirates]
On the front page of the newspaper, a photo of the Red Hair Pirates' only pirate ship, the Red Force, burned to ashes, shocked the entire world.
For pirates, a ship was the most important flag of a pirate crew. Losing a pirate ship in battle was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation, let alone the only ship of the Yonko Red Hair Pirates.
When Shanks lost his arm back then, it didn't have as big an impact on the world as this moment. Furthermore, the Red Hair Pirates escaped disaster with the intervention of the Marines.
They did not escape on their own.
An undeniable crushing defeat!
In the pirate world, the most unacceptable thing for those in high positions was failure, which meant their flag had lost its power.
South Blue, An Island
"What kind of Red Hair is this?!"
Kid disdainfully threw the newspaper on the ground and stepped on it, not putting the Red Hair Pirates in his eyes at all.
"When I rule the South Blue, that's when I'll enter the Grand Line!"
"The man who will become the Pirate King is me, Eustass Kid!"
"Ha~ hahaha!!!"
North Blue, Jihan Port
"Captain, big news!"
"I already know, Bepo."
Trafalgar Law sat on the enemy's corpse, propping his chin with both hands, his eyes filled with intense amusement.
"With Red Hair's defeat, powerhouses vying for the Yonko position will surely flock. The Beast Pirates have become the biggest winner this time!"
"Bepo, we should also prepare!"
"To enter the Grand Line!"
East Blue, Windmill Village
"That Red Hair actually lost!"
The villagers held newspapers, unable to believe the news of Red Hair's defeat, but the photos of the Red Force burning were undeniable.
"Should we tell Luffy?"
"Luffy will definitely be sad if he knows."
Shanks was Luffy's idol. If Luffy knew, he would definitely be affected, and they didn't want to tell Luffy the news.
The old village chief, with a pipe in his mouth, sighed deeply.
"Let nature take its course."
Four Seas, Grand Line, New World.
People in various sea areas were discussing this Yonko war. Red Hair's defeat would inevitably bring a huge impact to the world.
The subsequent actions of both sides became the most concerned issue for all forces.
Elbaf, Underworld Tavern
With the help of the allied captains, the Red Force was transported to the port, but the damage was too severe, and the shipwrights were helpless.
"Boss, the ship cannot be repaired."
Shanks raised a giant wine bowl, drank all the wine inside, and then fell into a long silence.
In this war, not only was the ship destroyed, but his companions also suffered heavy casualties. Out of nearly a hundred crew members, only he and the officers, plus an intern, survived.
A decision had to be made.
"Sorry, everyone."
Shanks looked at his worried allied captains and sighed, "My flag can no longer protect you. Please return the flag to me."
"Boss, no!"
The captains were terrified.
"Without your flag, we can't survive."
"It's just one defeat, we still have a chance to start over!"
"Only you will shelter us!"
Facing the captains' pleas, Shanks shook his head.
His mind was made up.
He had become a target of public criticism. The powerhouses vying for the Yonko position would definitely target his territory.
Flying his flag would only attract more disaster. Even if he acted, he couldn't curb the hungry and thirsty pirates.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes it.
He was well aware of the cruelty of the pirate world.
Moreover, there were the Beast Pirates.
Shanks was melancholic for a long time.
"You all should join the Beast Pirates."
"Huh?!"
Everyone was stunned.
Shanks didn't explain much.
The Beast Pirates' current mode of operation was completely different from before. Although they were still villains, they no longer destroyed for pleasure.
The Beast Pirates were encroaching on his territory. If the allied captains were willing to surrender, at least they could have a stable life.
Without saying anything more, Shanks left the tavern with his officers and walked toward the Red Force on the coast.
"Here."
Beckman handed him a torch.
The Red Force could no longer sail. Sending it off was the only thing they could do. Being buried at sea was the ship's destiny.
Shanks took the torch and set the Red Force ablaze.
The officers watched the burning ship, no longer able to suppress the pain in their hearts, tears streaming down their faces. Even Shanks lowered his head.
Tears dripped.
In the burning flames, the ship's wreckage sank into the sea.
They mourned for a long time.
Shanks turned to look at his companions, a relieved smile on his face, feeling a sense of relief.
Perhaps this failure wasn't entirely a bad thing.
"Everyone, once the new ship is built, I plan to travel to other sea areas for a long journey, just like before. Do you want to come with me?"
"Of course, Boss."
The officers smiled. After they became a Yonko crew, they hadn't traveled freely like before for a long time.
The Yonko throne was both glory and a heavy burden.
"I really miss the old days!"
"Exactly!"
"I can't wait!"
"Haha, how about we have a banquet!"
"Good idea!"
"To celebrate being alive!"
Instead of wallowing in pain, it was better to face the future happily. Pirates should enjoy every day they were alive.
On the Other Side, Labor Country
At Groudon Shipyard, laborers were bustling, repairing the heavily damaged Beast Pirates warships.
Looking around, every laborer's mental state was completely different from their previous passive demeanor, and their work efficiency was at least several times higher than before.
The effect of the new policy was very significant.
Shipyard Office
Kikara reported softly.
"Daichi, Kaido and the three All-Stars have returned."
"Okay."
Daichi sat at his desk, flipping through the statistical reports of Labor Country.
Dozens of nearby islands had all been incorporated into Labor Country. Both in terms of population and the scale of industrialization, they were more than ten times that of Wano Country.
The national conditions of the two sides were different. The islands of Labor Country were already in the industrialization period, and the residents of each island had a high acceptance of labor. As long as they had hope for the future, their work enthusiasm far exceeded that of the poor people in Wano Country.
With external resource supply, this giant factory disguised as a country would be the biggest cornerstone for the Beast Pirates' development and growth!
Now the biggest problem was how to sell the surplus products, not just weapons trade, but also other industrial products.
Shipbuilding, steel smelting, food processing, textile industry, as well as toys, tobacco and alcohol, etc., almost covered all walks of life.
Such a huge country and population could not all be used to manufacture weapons, especially women who were idle at home could engage in some light labor.
Doflamingo alone could no longer handle it.
He needed to find new agents, and the New World was too small. The products of Labor Country should preferably be sold to the Four Seas!
The Four Seas were the broadest market.
KIkara held a newspaper and a bounty poster.
"Daichi-sama, and this."
"Let me see."
Daichi took the bounty poster and looked at the amount on it, a smile playing on his lips.
"Daichi the Destroyer" Groudon Daichi, bounty 3 billion berries!