Chapter 213: The Unfolding Storm: Navy, Rocks, and the Linlin Threat

“So that’s how it is.”

Bogart immediately realized something.

If Charlotte Linlin is leading her pirates to attack the Navy’s New World base, then it’s possible Karl will show up too.

If Garp can’t get there in time, Sengoku could be sandwiched between Charlotte Linlin and Karl.

Life and death could be decided in the next second.

“Come on, faster!”

“Full speed ahead to Hachinosu Island!” As Garp’s adjutant, Bogart understood Garp’s intent and rushed straight to the engine room, ordering the Navy crew to push the warship to its limits.

Fortunately, they weren’t far from Hachinosu Island in the New World.

As long as there were no delays, they could arrive within ten hours.

“I wonder if just Sengoku and Garp can hold off Charlotte Linlin’s assault?”

Back at Navy Headquarters, Kong gathered all current vice admirals and above to discuss this very question.

“According to intel, Karl left Cake Island more than ten days ago.”

“And the latest info says agents of the World Government attacked Cake Island in the Sweets Sea, but Karl didn’t show up, which proves it further.” In the Strategy Division, Vice Admiral Tsuru held up a file and read it to everyone.

A brief silence settled over the room.

“If that’s the case, Karl’s probably up to something shady again,” Zephyr muttered. He was especially wary of Karl these days.

The others clearly felt the same.

Ever since the God Valley battle, the Navy had been picking apart everything that happened before and after the conflict.

They even traced the chaos on the Red Line back to someone sent by Rocks.

And as for the Four Seas, large-scale unrest all pointed straight to Karl, according to the evidence they’d collected.

Especially after Karl was declared dead—South Blue and North Blue plunged into turmoil. It seemed like a Mafia civil war across the Four Seas.

That’s right. They called it a civil war because they found enough proof—the Mafia organizations across the Four Seas all knew each other, and they might all answer to Karl.

Then, as soon as news broke that Karl was alive, chaos in South Blue and North Blue stopped instantly.

It made the Navy wonder if Karl had vanished again to stir up something big.

“Vice Admiral Tsuru, any ideas from the Strategy Division?”

Kong turned the attention to Vice Admiral Tsuru.

Everyone’s eyes landed on her. In recent years, she had produced some of the biggest wins in the Strategy Division. When it came to intel and reading the situation, no one could match her.

“I believe Charlotte Linlin is heading for the Navy base in the New World just to vent her rage.”

“That anger probably started when the World Government tried something on Cake Island and failed, which only made her madder.”

“She’s risking her own safety to press the matter, maybe to force our hand.”

“She wants to make the Navy and Government back off.” Tsuru shrugged. “But when has the World Government ever listened to threats?”

Kong cleared his throat. “Let’s not say anything that will divide us.”

He cut off what Tsuru was about to say.

Every high-ranking Navy officer knew the cost of God Valley. The World Government had tried to wipe out the entire Rocks Pirates, even if it meant sacrificing most of the Navy soldiers left alive. The memory still hurt.

Watching comrades they admired die without rescue, buried on that island, every Navy man blamed the World Government.

Yet, to pursue their own version of justice, they couldn’t leave the Navy. And with the Government constantly weakening Navy forces, everyone saw what was happening.

“There’ll be people on the Government’s side to handle things,” Zephyr said, shooting Kong a look. “But do we send backup or not?”

Seeing Kong didn’t want to go further on that topic, Zephyr made a sarcastic comment then steered things back to the matter at hand.

“We definitely have to send reinforcements.”

“Just the people Charlotte Linlin is bringing are already too much for Sengoku alone to handle.”

“And we don’t even know if Garp will make it in time.”

Vice Admiral Tsuru laid a stack of photos on the table.

“Ledfield. Zoan Mythical Vampire form.”

“He’s admiral-level—one of the top fighters in the Rocks Pirates.” Tsuru got right to the point, highlighting the most dangerous players first.

This was to make sure everyone understood the threat Ledfield posed.

“Borsalino, Logia-type—Light Fruit user.”

“Sakazuki, Logia-type—Magma Fruit user.”

“Kuzan, Logia-type—Ice Fruit user.”

Then she tossed out three more photos. “All three are at least vice admiral level.”

“And with Logia Devil Fruits, their destructive power is off the charts.”

Next, Tsuru produced another set of photos. “These are the Young Vanguard team led by Borsalino.”

The photos clearly showed Moria, Kuma, Aramaki, and others.

“Their strength ranges from vice admiral down to rear admiral…”

After a long briefing, Tsuru finally finished breaking down Karl’s force.

“Whew. I never expected Rocks’ forces to be this strong.”

“Looks like we really underestimated them.” One vice admiral spoke up, and the others nodded. No one had realized how massive Rocks’ faction had gotten.

If Davis, Notty, and others hadn’t sailed deeper into the New World, Sengoku and Garp would be facing even more top-tier opponents.

Tsuru took a sip of water to wet her throat. “And that’s not all!”

At her words, the room erupted in noise.

“Isn’t that enough already?”

“Rocks now is like a second coming of the old Rocks!”

“They’re too powerful. Doesn’t the World Government have any real countermeasures?”

Dozens of vice admirals started talking at once—the scale of all this was just too shocking.

Tsuru, having known all this, wasn’t fazed by their reactions. She kept going.

“And that’s only Karl’s side.”

“Karl’s children are formidable too.”

One by one, she laid out photos of Perospero, Katakuri, Ye Lindang, and the others.

“Perospero, fifteen years old, Charlotte Linlin’s eldest son. Paramecia Devil Fruit, awakened abilities.”

“Katakuri, thirteen, Linlin’s second son. Paramecia Devil Fruit, awakened abilities.”

“…”

“Ye Lindang, just two years old, youngest daughter of the Rocks family. And every one of them inherited Karl’s titan bloodline.”

Tsuru displayed even more photos for everyone to see.

“These pictures show just how strong Karl’s titan blood really is.”