The sea territory controlled by the Red Hair Pirates is referred to by New World pirates as the Red Sea.
Within this maritime domain, the Red Hair Pirates possess sixty-eight large islands and over a dozen small to medium-sized kingdoms.
Their core base, Blood Rose Island, is where the Red Hair Pirates are permanently stationed.
Blood Rose Island also features extensive structures, resembling a bustling city.
It boasts every kind of entertainment facility imaginable.
Although Shanks is relatively upright in character, he is still a pirate at heart, and his subordinates are not heroes who champion justice and refrain from bullying the weak.
His enterprises also encompass war mercenary work, armed transport, pleasure districts, and casinos.
At this moment, in a recently constructed luxurious building on Blood Rose Island, the officers of the Buggy Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates had gathered once again for a banquet.
"Buggy, aren't we good brothers? Hehehe, I heard you struck it rich and found Captain John's treasure?" Shanks grinned, slinging an arm around Buggy's shoulder and speaking in a playful tone.
Buggy pushed Shanks' face away with disgust and snorted, "Cut it out. I have just as many expenses as you do. Besides, that's my money. If you need cash, why don't you earn it yourself? Capture a few Admirals, and I'll have Mr. 3 pay you according to their bounties."
Shanks burst into laughter upon hearing this, slapping his thigh and laughing until tears streamed down his face.
"What's this, Buggy? You're not actually thinking of putting bounties on Marine officers, are you? Look at you—Crocodile founded the Cross Guild, but now Edward Weevil is dead, Crocodile himself jumped ship mid-way and joined Caesar, and Hancock never agreed to join.
So now, the guild is essentially defunct, with only Mihawk and you left. Caesar is still keeping an eye on you, so I suggest you lay low for a while."
Hearing Shanks mention Caesar, Buggy shrank his neck in fear.
But he quickly remembered that they were thousands of miles away from Totoland, and no matter how powerful Caesar was, he couldn't reach them here.
So...
"Wahahaha! Who cares about Caesar? I'm a Yonko, Buggy! Shanks, do you really think that as a fellow Yonko, I'd be afraid of him?
My subordinate is the world's greatest swordsman, and I command a mercenary army of over a hundred thousand. Most importantly... my own strength is nothing to scoff at!"
Buggy declared triumphantly.
Instantly, the pirates drinking and feasting in the hall erupted with all sorts of flattering praises, which only fueled Buggy's pride.
"Captain Buggy is invincible! Crush the Beast God Pirates, and we'll elect you as the Speaker of the Pirate Council!"
"That's right, that's right! Defeat Caesar, take down Kaido, Lord Buggy will sweep through the New World!"
Buggy listened to the praises one after another, feeling somewhat intoxicated.
He pinched his chin in thought, and the more he pondered, the more feasible it seemed.
"With my strength... it might not be impossible to take down Caesar..."
Sitting at a nearby table, Mr. 3 stared blankly, watching Buggy once again lost in wild fantasies and the pirates who were fervently flattering him.
He was utterly speechless.
Fortunately, though Buggy lost himself quickly, he snapped out of it just as fast.
A large, chubby man dashed in from outside like a speeding meatball, yet he moved with surprising agility and speed.
"Lucky, why are you running so fast?" Yasopp asked, looking up from cleaning his rifle barrel.
The big man, Lucky Roux, gasped for breath, pointing outside and exclaiming.
"It's terrible! Kaido and Charlotte Linlin have passed through the Red Sea again! They're leading a massive fleet of over a dozen pirate ships!"
"What?! How can this be? Didn't they say they were just passing through last time? Why are they back? Could it be that the Beast God Pirates want to start a war?"
Shanks abruptly stood up, his expression turning grave.
"Ka... Kaido and Big Mom must be joking! Shanks, hurry up and drive them away!"
Buggy shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, leaping three feet into the air.
In that instant, he snapped out of his sweet dream, breaking out in goosebumps all over.
Lucky Roux's lips trembled, his face twisting oddly as he said, "No, it's not that. Anyway, you should just go and see for yourself. The situation... it's just... just absurd!"
"Oh?"
Shanks furrowed his brows and without another word, took the lead, striding out the door.
Among the crowd, an elegant swordsman carrying a large black sword stood up and followed Shanks outside.
Wherever he passed, the pirates respectfully made way for him.
"Buggy, Buggy! Should we take advantage of the chaos to escape? I have a bad feeling about this. Our opponents are Kaido and Big Mom!"
Mr. 3 wore a worried expression.
Buggy forced a smile, the thought of fleeing rising in his heart.
But soon, Buggy realized that the New World was only so big—where could he possibly run to?
Right now, Shanks' territory was the safest refuge for him.
"Men! Follow me outside to check the situation!"
With a resolute heart, Buggy rejected Mr. 3's suggestion, gritted his teeth, and flew out of the hall.
"Whoo! Follow Captain Buggy! Defeat Kaido and Big Mom!"
"Annihilate the Beast God Pirates!"
Buggy stumbled mid-flight, nearly falling from the air.
These pirates had no sense of discretion, especially those who had followed him all the way from the depths of Impel Down—they were utterly devoted to flattering him.
Once outside the hall, the group quickly ascended the coastal cliffs of Blood Rose Island, looking down at the sea below.
At a glance, Shanks was stunned.
Spread across the sea were over a dozen massive pirate ships lined up in a row, towing behind them large rafts made of bundled giant logs.
And on these rafts were bound enormous giants, each of colossal size.
With a quick scan, Shanks estimated there were at least several hundred of these burly giants!
"This is incredible. When the Beast God Pirates passed by our territory a few days ago, they must have been heading to the Giant tribe village, Elbaf. Six hundred and thirty-seven giants... That bastard Caesar has likely captured the entire Giant tribe of Elbaf!"
Benn Beckman held a cigarette between his lips, his expression extremely grave as he watched over a dozen large ships sailing toward Totto Land, completely ignoring their presence as the local authorities.
Buggy was utterly stunned when he saw the Giant tribe members bound together in chains.
Then, he showed a look of fear.
"Oh my god, the Giant tribe has been completely captured! So many giants—does the Beast God Pirates want to create a Giant Legion? If they succeed, that would be terrifying! Back in my day, I only had five giants under my command!"
He looked at Shanks, unable to hide the fear in his eyes.
Benn Beckman nodded and said gravely, "Buggy is right. If Caesar takes all these giants back and actually forms a Giant Legion, their combat power would be absolutely terrifying, Shanks. What do you think—should we just let it be?"
Shanks watched for a long time but ultimately shook his head.
"It's not the time to start a war with the Beast God Pirates yet. Besides, with Kaido and Big Mom up there, even if we launch an attack, we'd have to pay an extremely heavy price to intercept them. Right now, it's not worth it. Benn, leak this information to Teach... Actually, never mind. They'll find out sooner or later anyway."
....
On the Queen mama charter, Kaido glanced sideways at the high cliff wall and snorted coldly.
"Red-Haired Shanks, you'd better know your place."
"He'd better be sensible. I'm in a foul mood right now!"
Linlin's face was dark as she looked toward Totoland.
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