Bonus Chapter for completing 100 Powerstones last week.
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"Captain Kuro! We have started engaging the zombie soldiers slipping through the fire net!"
Yes, okay, keep pushing them, keep pushing.
"Please continue forward. If the enemy soldiers try to run straight back, the ship behind them will become a wall and they will lose their escape route. As a result, greater confusion will occur at the two exits."
Yeah, I can see it from here, so no mistake.
At the two corners of the base of the triangle, confusion is happening between the army trying to attack from both sides avoiding the ships, and the soldiers trying to flee from the enclosure.
Damn it, Hina set up the communication network so efficiently...
Thanks to that, my work increased.
Please, please let me sleep.
"General Zephyr. From your view, are there any soldiers floating around, trying to stay in place among the soldiers running back?"
"Umu, I confirmed a few ...Commanders?"
"More likely guides. Since they can't control the confusion, their command skills aren't great, but leaving them be is troublesome."
"Understood, we will crush them first."
That helps. They are confused, but they are deep in enemy territory, so unless it's a strong unit, they will be crushed.
I just diverted the direction of the confusion, so they are still a mob.
They told me not to burn too much, so to minimize damage while following their wishes... well, this is about it.
The enclosure also works as a countermeasure against the soldiers packed with gunpowder, but there are fewer of them than I thought. The damage to the plaza is less than expected.
I mean, why am I doing this again?
Just like the Pirate Alliance incident before I rebuilt the command system, the Marines are too obedient...
It is amazing how they follow a pirate's orders.
...Come to think of it, except for a few, I didn't feel much pressure from the officers who came.
...Oops.
"Commodore Affen's unit, retreat while keeping the enemy in check. Go resupply. Captain Shih Tzu, Captain Norwich, move up to replace them."
"Wait, Black Cat! We can still fight!!"
"I know. But your remaining ammo is probably below 30%."
"We are elites! As long as we have sabers in our hands—"
"Although there are fewer than expected, there is a possibility that zombies packed with gunpowder are still mixed in."
"...!"
Is he the type who got promoted due to sudden reorganization... he is too used to front-line work.
Unlike the defense battle until now, now that we have pushed back and switched to offense, the timing of resupply is much more important.
"Commodore, every battle has a psychological aspect," I explained patiently. "We fanned the confusion and broke the enemy, but if we corner them too much, they might recklessly try to break through one point again."
"That is exactly why! If we hit a bomber zombies poorly here and the explosion injures our troops, the mob might see it as a breakthrough."
"...But."
Hmmmm, he is not convinced yet... Combat high? Then—
"I want Commodore Affen's unit to resupply and be in perfect condition to handle the rear guard that will settle the situation later."
"Rear guard?"
"The battle with the main army is mostly settled. From here on, it is a battle of how to suppress the enemy while minimizing damage. I want to ask your unit to handle the decisive battle."
I am not lying. No I'm not.
However, if they go back, refill their rifle ammo, clean their swords, and treat light injuries...
It will let them rest for at least fifteen minutes. Including travel time, they should cool down a bit.
"So I want you to retreat once and get the soldiers in perfect condition. I don't want to cause any more damage or burden to the soldiers if possible."
Now, how about that?
"...Understood. We will retreat."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Sir Kuro, should we push them in!?"
"Yes, Captains, please continue forward. But be careful of the distance from the opponent. Advance to protect Commodore Affen's retreat path, and pursue."
"Roger!!"
Yeah, it's late to say this, but you shouldn't say 'Roger' to a pirate.
...Really late.
I mean, it is annoying to have to communicate and gain trust in the battlefield one by one.
I think this again and again and again, but if only a few of my Guards were here, it would be so different.
At least, if the Marines I fought with in the West Blue were here...
"Mr. Spandine, how is it over there?"
"The soldiers flowing here have decreased a lot! What should we do, push them in!?"
Not bad. If CP hits the flank here... ah, no—
"No, we are using the enclosure to cause confusion in the army. If we make one wrong move, they might regain order."
"I see... then what should we do?"
...Let's see.
"Slowly push up your front line to give some space, and I want to borrow some normal forces."
"Huh? Well, since the situation has calmed down, I don't mind... will they be useful?"
"Yes. And I want them to get on the two ships acting as valves towards Pangea Castle."
"On the ships? ...I see, from high ground!"
"Yes. I kept the scale of the fire plan to a minimum, so to make up for it, I want to pressure the mob with gunfire from high ground."
Good, he is quick to understand because I gained some trust.
If I didn't have to watch my back, it would be so much easier!!
"We can't burn everything down, but I can let them use Molotov cocktails! Inside the enclosure, the fire won't spread!"
"Please do."
Wow... I never thought the day would come when I would rely on Spandine.
Thinking about Robin makes it incredibly complicated.
Now then...
If CP and government forces move, the confusion will last a while longer. Thanks to Zephyr, the agitators and guides are being crushed. In the range where modified zombies were confirmed, I placed at least three Headquarters field officers. Considering the loss of soldiers, I want a little more push to create a margin of safety... Should I fire one shot even if I pass out... no, once I took command, I can't pass out until the end...
At that moment, suddenly, a roar and shock exploded in the sky above the Holy Land—very high up, about the height where I was fighting Shiki.
I was completely off guard, so I braced myself thinking it was an attack from the enemy—that rotten rooster old man—but a ridiculously huge firework was going off in the sky.
...It looks like the one in Alabasta... wait, is this...
A little below that, I feel Garp's presence.
Maybe because his Haki is too strong, my Observation Haki isn't working well, or it feels blurry.
No, no, this isn't the time to space out. I have to do my job properly.
This is a chance. We might be able to finish this at once.
I switched the Den Den Mushi to open channel instead of individual lines and shouted.
It is really tough, but this kind of thing is important to raise morale.
"Marines! The enemy's trump card has been destroyed by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and Vice Admirals Garp and Tsuru! The enemy has no cards left to turn the situation around!!"
I don't know if it was a trump card, but well, I'm probably not wrong.
At least, since that huge firework ended up being a waste, unless they have multiple of the same thing, it is true that it's meaningless now.
Even if they did, Sengoku and Garp can handle it.
"All that is left is to annihilate the enemy! There is no need to rush! If you narrow the siege as instructed, you will definitely not lose!!"
If we could settle it with a charge, that would be best, but with our current strength, a battle of attrition would cause huge damage.
It is important to stop the enemy from moving and hit them one-sidedly.
"Vice Admiral Whippet's unit, wait there for a moment! Respond after watching the enemy's movement, which will deepen the confusion."
"Understood."
"Commodore Affen, what is your location?"
"We just reached the rear and are rushing resupply and treatment."
Oh, oh.
You can take your time.
"Once resupply and treatment are done, please secure the point with the giant fountain in the southwest."
"The enemy will come there?"
"Not yet. But if the enemy falls into complete chaos, that is where they are most likely to flood."
"Understood. But if the enemy floods in, I am worried about handling it with only my unit."
Right.
Um, wait, the units I sent to the rear temporarily are... Commodore Shet is one of the keys to defending the south gate... Vice Admiral Stafford... his individual skill is low but he is quick-witted, so I want him to maintain the front line... Rear Admiral Litany's unit is focused on close combat... who else...
"Captain Pembroke and Captain Wire, can you move?"
Two people who are slow to judge but follow orders faithfully would be good.
They are especially useful for defense within my sight.
"is this Black Cat? no problem here."
"We finished treating the soldiers. We can move anytime."
Good, we can do this.
"Once Commodore Affen finishes resupply and treatment, please support him."
"Roger!"
"Understood."
"Kuro! The enemy soldiers from the southwest exit are about to flow in here!"
I know, Hina! I already took measures, so relax!!
"It is fine. Vice Admiral Keeshond is already securing the defense. If they know they can't break it, the enemy will scatter further. Teams 3 and 5, wait behind Vice Admiral Keeshond. Strike the enemy's flank after the battle starts."
Seriously...
I will definitely end up helping with the reconstruction too.
Please let me rest, please let me rest.
In the end, it took another two hours to sweep up the enemy.
What Holy Land, this is hell, damn it...