(POV: Third Person - Daz Bones / The Meeting)
"Time is of the essence," Daz Bones stated, his voice grave. "The situation the Captain feared is already underway."
When the communication with Captain Kuro ended and the meeting resumed. The situation had changed completely. The danger of the grand offensive by the Navy, which they had been guarding against, had decreased to some extent, but a greater chaos was beginning to spread across the West Blue.
Daz turned his attention to the Den Den Mushi connected to the port town. "Amisu, the unit you are currently organizing, will be deployed immediately as an advance party to the Superior Kingdom."
"Ha!"
Having heard Kuro's briefing earlier, Amisu—who had been heading to the port town to organize a reconnaissance unit and prepare for a sortie in anticipation of an anti-government fleet—requested instructions over the line. "Is the objective suppression?"
"Ultimately, yes, but do not overextend yourself," Daz cautioned. "That island is large enough to be called a continent... It certainly lives up to its reputation as the breadbasket of the West Blue."
"Then, I shall establish a bridgehead," Amisu proposed.
"Yes, please do. We will send the main force as soon as possible while monitoring the Navy's movements."
When Daz glanced at Mihawk, the swordsman answered by pushing his beloved sword slightly out of its scabbard with his thumb to reveal the edge, before deliberately clicking it back into place.
The Black Cat's highest combat power was already brimming with motivation.
"First, secure a location where landing is guaranteed, and then securely hold the surrounding area," Daz ordered. "If it is a town, ensure the protection of the civilians. I leave the selection of the location to the judgment of the field command."
"Understood."
Commodore Taki spoke up from the side. "Sir Daz, let us also have Vigle in the Kanan Kingdom send troops. Whether for suppression or establishing an encampment, we can at least secure the manpower."
"...You're right," Daz agreed. He shifted his attention to another communication line. "Vigle, can you move?"
Accepting Taki's suggestion, Daz addressed the former Marine Captain who, like Amisu, was connected via communication but from the more distant Kanan Kingdom.
"Ha! Considering our own defense and the provisions on hand..." Vigle's voice crackled through the speaker. "I can send two medium-sized ships and 300 soldiers immediately."
There was a bit of static mixed in due to the re-implementation of interception countermeasures, but a reassuring reply came back nonetheless. Like Taki, the man whom Kuro had evaluated as a field officer to be relied upon during the battle against the Pirate Alliance was indeed capable. Despite the drastic change in environment, he had already grasped the personnel required for defense from a logistical standpoint and calculated the deployable military strength.
That troop strength matched the figures Daz had previously estimated with Tesoro and Galdino, considering a scenario where they would have to deploy troops from the Kanan Kingdom.
"Good, I'm counting on you," Daz said, finalizing the order. "Mihawk will go with the First Fleet and—"
"Wait, Vice-Captain."
Hancock interrupted Daz, who was trying to deploy all available military power. If they could secure the Superior Kingdom and the Ligalo Kingdom and succeed in development, the food situation would improve significantly. If they could just connect directly with the nations of the West Blue, it would be possible to keep the populace away from starvation, even if it meant needing to gain some profit through trade.
"I apologize for this at such a time, but I wish to borrow the flagship and its elites and take a leave of absence for a short while," This was coming from Boa Hancock, who could be called a loyal retainer of Captain Kuro.
"I wish to leave the command of the fleet to Sonia during that time," she continued. "Judging by her command of the detached force on this occasion, she already possesses sufficient ability."
While Daz paused, momentarily speechless, Hancock pressed on.
"And—"
She then bowed her head toward a single man. An elderly man wearing a hood. A living legend. She addressed the 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh, who had been the only one drinking sake and observing the situation.
"I ask of you. If you were able to cross all the way to this West Blue, then the reverse—taking us to the Grand Line—should also be possible, should it not?"
Her gaze was intense. "I want you to send me, along with a bare minimum of elites, to the New World."
She stood tall, her resolve clear. "If it is now, I can go and retrieve Captain."
–
(POV: First Person - Captain Kuro)
"Captain Kuro, purchase of provisions is complete! If we can find the target ship and seize it, we can load up immediately!"
"Thank you, Seaman First Class Spaniel," I replied. "Everyone else, please stand by here for now."
After I cut the communication with Daz and the others, I decided to start with the replenishment of supplies as originally planned. Span-san must have put considerable effort into the camouflage. There were barrels packed with real stones, ostensibly for transport efficiency, but in total, there was enough food, water, and alcohol to last a month or two.
Having replenished these basics, if we gather fish by fishing or jumping in to attack them while on the ship, and secure water by distilling seawater, we can keep going even longer. After all, we have Seaman First Class Spaniel, who has been taking care of us since the trip to the Holy Land. He is the best cook among all the Marines I've met, and the most skilled at handling and managing ingredients.
So, I'm not that worried about the food, but...
"However, are you really going to come with us?" I asked, looking at the blind swordsman. "Honestly, it's quite dangerous."
"It is only natural that the path a pirate takes is dangerous," Issho replied calmly. "All the more so if it is the path of a rare breed like yourself."
I never thought Issho would volunteer to accompany us before I even tried to persuade him... Well, the conversation was that he would come if we could get a ship or some kind of usable Pose, but...
Even in the Grand Line where one loses their sense of direction, time remains constant. This place shouldn't be that far from the Red Line, at least.
With no charts right now, the means we can take are limited. That is precisely why we must move first, or we will run out of moves entirely.
"A rare breed... well, I suppose that can't be helped," I muttered.
"That goes without saying," Issho chuckled. "I have never seen a pirate crew whose morale is boosted not by encouraging looting or combat, but by shouting praise for the righteous path."
"...I wonder if you can call it a righteous path."
Hina is currently leading soldiers alongside Captain Wire, looking for a certain something I asked for. I briefly used Observation Haki to scan the presence of the entire island, but it seems anyone Hina couldn't defeat was already blown away in the initial commotion, so there shouldn't be any problems. Naturally, I haven't taught her 'Silent Step' or its derivatives, but she has mastered some kicking techniques I taught her to some extent.
Wire is there too, so if there's trouble, I'll know immediately.
"It is because they feel your path is correct that not only your subordinates but also the Marines are lending you a hand," Issho observed.
"...Honestly, it feels nothing but wrong to me," I admitted.
If this were Smoker, I might have understood it better. He was a character who, despite being a "Absolutely Unforgiving to Pirates Man," had his own justice and seemed to have grievances against the Government.
And yet, the one lending a hand to me, a pirate, is Hina, the one who used to preach obedience to the Government...
No, let's stop expecting things to follow my knowledge. From here on out, it's a serious battle of wits between the Golden Lion's faction and the World Government.
...I feel bad for Sengoku-san, but the Navy has been broken both mentally and politically by this incident. The flow toward becoming dogs of the World Government is likely unavoidable. Those who can't endure it will either quit or rebel... It wouldn't be strange if a moral hazard occurred sooner or later.
The best strategy for the Navy is inevitably to distance itself from the World Government. ...When it comes to this, it becomes less about intellect and more about connections and political power.
"However, are you truly going?" Issho asked again, his tone serious. "To be honest, without making any detours, if we just had some kind of heading, I could deliver you all to the West Blue."
"...I have no choice but to go," I answered. "It may sound strange, but the World Government has lost its grip on its own reins. Of course, they will try to grab them back immediately, but..."
The problem is that even in that brief interval, their influence is too great. In addition to that, if, as I felt during the dialogue with Kizaru, the reins didn't just snap causing a rampage this time, but they have simply been repeating similar behavior while covering it up until now...
Even the Five Elders, can they stop the flow? The precedent that they 'have been doing it' is heavier the longer the history is...
If the Five Elders can't stop it, then no one can. Even if there is a King hiding above them, if no one knows about him, it doesn't matter what kind of guy he is. The only ones who can move—no, guide—the situation are those who step out into the open and make their existence and will known, regardless of good or evil.
So well... since even the Navy can't move, I have no choice but to move myself...
"Well, given the location, the possibility of it becoming a major incident is low. I just want to confirm the situation..."
To be precise, it's a binary choice: either it has little impact, or it has become a catastrophic situation.
"——Kuro!!!"
"Oh, is that Hina?" I turned toward the voice.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" I called out.
"It looks like it," I noted. "Judging by that face."
Good. I asked them to search, thinking it would be there since this island isn't that far from the Red Line, and it turns out I was right. Now, it just depends on whether we find something to serve as a guide.