Chapter 318: Shifting Tides in the New World

“Alright, stop the act. Just tell me what you want. I don’t have the brain power to waste on all this,” Indigo said, clearly impatient.

Indigo shrugged, throwing up his hands with a look that said, “You win.”

“So we’re just here to watch the show?”

“Why not take this chance to grab more territory?”

Hearing that, Golden Lion looked downright gloomy. Of course he wanted more land.

“You think I don’t want to?”

“It’s one thing to seize it; it’s another to actually hold it.”

“Right now, the New World is dead calm, like a stagnant pond.”

“Unless some new force crashes in, nothing big is going to shake up the power balance.”

Golden Lion saw things pretty clearly.

Even though the Flying Pirates could take over an island and make it float, if they actually provoked Whitebeard or Karl’s Pirate Crew,

he’d definitely have them hunting him down. Then there’d be nowhere left for him to hide in the New World.

Not to mention, Whitebeard treats his precious sons like rare treasures.

If anything unexpected happened, the last thing Golden Lion wanted was trouble with that monster.

And as for Karl, it’s not even worth discussing. On the surface alone, he’s got three pirate captains at admiral level. Trying to go against him isn’t a winning play.

But if someone suddenly appeared and broke the stalemate—attacked Karl and Whitebeard’s territory—and he stepped in to snatch it back, that would be a whole other story.

“That person has already shown up.”

“Looks like it’s my turn to give things a little nudge.”

Golden Lion’s gaze grew deep as he watched the Beasts Pirates slowly vanish over the sea.

Kaido’s sudden entrance might just be the force to shake up this stagnant pond.

You had to remember that back in the day, he was called a little monster too.

Give him enough time to grow. He’s got the ambition—even if he’s still young and his forces aren’t huge yet.

Once he grabs a few islands and settles in for a while, he’ll start to realize just how rare resources are.

Those handful of islands won’t be nearly enough to satisfy his ambitions.

He’s bound to launch attacks against the territories under Whitebeard and Karl. That’s when Golden Lion’s opportunity would come.

“Keep an eye on the lawless zones. I know Kaido won’t be content to let himself rot away.”

“If needed, give him a little push.”

The remaining islands under Golden Lion’s control are barren. Only in Whitebeard and Karl’s territory do the islands’ people enjoy a bit of wealth.

Kaido would naturally end up targeting either Karl or Whitebeard’s turf. All it’ll take is a little pressure at the right time.

Just as Golden Lion finished setting things in motion, he noticed the situation on the field had changed.

Turns out, it was because Golden Lion, after seeing Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin clash, had let slip a hint of his aura. The two sensed it, used the opportunity, and ended their fight on the spot.

They understood the whole ‘the fisherman profits when the snipe and clam fight’ thing well enough. With Golden Lion lurking in the shadows, there was no telling when he’d pounce and take a bite.

Once peace on the sea was broken and things got lively, that wasn’t something they wanted to see.

“Whitebeard Newgate, my offer still stands.”

“Take your time and think it over.”

“I know you’ll make a choice.”

The two factions parted as soon as they met, neither wanting Golden Lion to reap windfall gains.

Kaido’s disappearance meant Charlotte Linlin lost the urge to keep fighting.

She’d mainly come to catch up with Kaido and see if she could pull him into Karl’s Pirate Crew.

But after all this chaos, that hope was looking slim.

Honestly, with Kaido’s clear ambition, he didn’t seem like someone who’d ever sign on with Karl.

“Gurarararara!”

“Still, we owe Golden Lion for showing up when he did.”

“Kids grow up and leave—that’s just how it goes!”

Newgate shrugged his cloak back on, stepped onto the deck, and led his ship back toward their base.

He’d never wanted a full-scale clash with Karl’s Pirate Crew anyway. Getting through it this way was perfect.

In his heart, though, he was still weighing whether or not to accept Charlotte Linlin’s proposal.

Seeing his sons all hyped up from the recent battle,

he couldn’t help but sigh.

Silently, he made his decision.

Meanwhile, after leaving the battlefield, Kaido didn’t just let things go. He actually conquered three or four islands along the edges and began building the Beasts Pirates.

He picked a spot in just the right place—right between Golden Lion, Newgate, and Charlotte Linlin.

Since this was unclaimed territory, as long as he didn’t actively provoke anyone, nobody would come after him.

Of course, if he stayed there too long without any pushback, other pirate crews would start showing up, and then there’d be a real fight on their hands.

“Wororororo!”

“Listen up! Starting now, this is the Beasts Pirates’ new headquarters!”

“Go out and collect every Zoan-type Devil Fruit you can find. I’m going to create a true Beasts Pirates!”

Kaido’s ambition couldn’t be clearer. After roaming the Four Seas for years, he’d recruited all sorts of talented crew, and now he’d finally gotten his hands on the one thing he’d dreamed of: a Zoan—Mythical Zoan—Dragon Turtle form!

Felt the power this Zoan-type brought him, Kaido just couldn’t wait to form a whole pirate crew of Zoan Devil Fruit users.

A few days later!

Near Dressrosa.

Garp led his fleet, closing in on Roger as he sailed toward the New World.

As soon as he heard Roger had entered the New World, Garp set out right away. On the tenth day in, he finally spotted the Roger Pirates.

“Bone Fist—Meteor Shower!”

A barrage of cannonballs rained down around the Oro Jackson.

With the relentless assault, the ship began rocking back and forth.

“Garp’s really tenacious. We’d just popped our heads into the New World and he’s already on to us,”

“That guy’s a real mad dog.”

Rayleigh drew his rapier and sliced the incoming cannonballs clean in half.

This was classic Garp—

throwing bombs with his bare hands!

“Hahaha!”

“Makes the journey even more exciting, doesn’t it?”

Roger was always the optimistic one.

Even as he fought back, seeing Garp again felt like meeting an old friend he’d faced death with.

“Captain, there’s a pirate ship blocking the way up ahead!”

Jabba called out from the control station.

The crew blocking them was none other than the infamous Happo Navy.

At this time, the Happo Navy was still a fierce pirate crew ruling the seas.

They’d come to the New World to see just how strong the true powerhouses really were.

“If they’re in the way, let’s leave them for Garp to deal with.”

“Just watch.”

Jabba shifted the ship to the side, dodging the oncoming Happo Navy.

Chinjao, still in his prime, was fearless as a newborn calf. Spotting the legendary Roger Pirates up ahead,

he’d been dying for a fight.

“That’s the Roger Pirates up ahead—bring us alongside!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Hearing a sound from above, Chinjao glanced up at the sky.