Chapter 427: Giant Kingdom and Fishman Island Mobilize as War Looms

Word arrived from Karl.

The first to stir were the Giant Kingdom and Fishman Island.

Decades ago, the Giant Kingdom had already established strong ties with Karl’s Pirate Crew. Karl had put in a lot of effort laying the groundwork to get the giants involved in this war.

So as soon as the message arrived, the Giant Kingdom ordered its giant soldiers to set sail at once. “Loki, you’ll lead the vanguard this time.”

At the palace, the king of the Giant Kingdom looked at Loki, who gleamed in golden armor—it was like seeing his younger self all over again.

Loki couldn’t hide his excitement. “You can count on me, Father.”

“I’ll make sure the world knows the name of the Giant Kingdom.” Loki had been cooped up training and living on the island for years and was more than ready to break free.

Getting Karl’s letter only made him long for the world outside even more. Their ancestral prophecy spoke of a cataclysmic battle, which is why they agreed to Karl’s sugar-coated offer—this was their destiny.

“Move out!” Loki strode onto the high platform outside, sweeping his gaze across neat formations of giants below. With a grand wave, he declared the Giant Kingdom’s official entry into the war.

Soldiers who’ve never seen blood are nothing like veterans who’ve survived countless battles.

Of the Giant Kingdom’s 300,000 soldiers, most had spent their time training on the island, far from the front lines.

Sending them to sea was as much to help them confront true life-and-death terror as it was to grow stronger. And even if a massive army takes some losses, the numbers won’t cripple them.

These next 30 days would be their trial by fire—time for them to taste blood on the open sea.

Meanwhile, Fishman Island in the New World also sprang into action, joined by the Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, Beastfolk, Oni, Mink Tribe, and more.

Countless races were set in motion the moment Karl’s proclamation went out. It didn’t take long for spies from the World Government and Navy to catch wind of the mobilization.

“It’s confirmed—Karl’s side has begun a massive recruitment drive. It’s obvious their target is us and the World Government,” someone said.

Vice Admiral Tsuru put down her folder and addressed the room.

The entire Navy’s top brass were gathered, ready to discuss Karl’s recruitment efforts.

“Based on the latest intel, Karl and his affiliated forces have rallied nearly ten million troops. Most are scattered through the Four Seas. If it comes to a head-on clash, the Four Seas’ navy would crumble in an instant.”

That’s to be expected; with great pirates constantly rising in the New World, it’s astounding that any force could amass so many troops to begin with. The trade system alone shouldn’t support maintaining such vast numbers.

Only in the relatively peaceful Four Seas could Karl quietly arrange such large-scale maneuvers with the space and time needed.

As those words landed, every officer’s face went ashen.

A force of ten million—just saying it out loud was enough to intimidate anyone.

That number was several times greater than the Navy’s own strength.

“How are there that many people? Did we miscalculate somewhere?” Vice Admiral Onigumo asked, struggling to believe it.

For over a decade they’d clashed with Karl’s Pirate Crew in secret and open conflict, and even then, the factions they’d turned up barely added up to a million. How had it exploded tenfold overnight?

There’s no comparing a force of one million to a force of ten million.

“That’s right. We patrol the Four Seas all the time—how could that many people slip under the radar?” Vice Admiral Strawberry joined in, clearly suspicious. After all, they knew the Four Seas like the back of their hand.

The Four Seas had always been relatively calm. So where exactly had Karl gathered so many people from?

Most of the World Government’s member nations are located in the Four Seas. Could they have secretly switched allegiances?

“No, we’ve all underestimated Karl.” Vice Admiral Tsuru said, handing them another file.

As everyone opened it and read, she continued, “Every three years, a batch of so-called ‘graduates’ would be phased out from Karl’s Pirate Crew, and then new recruits brought in.”

“But those ‘graduates’ simply started new lives with new identities—the reality is, they’re still part of Karl’s network.”

“After nearly thirty years, even just what’s visible on the surface adds up to over ten million.”

Tsuru’s explanation felt like a bomb dropping in deep water. The nerves in the room went taut.

“Now the vital task is to keep the sea stable. We cannot allow chaos to spiral out of control.”

Sengoku stood up. Whatever schemes Karl had in mind, he believed overwhelming force would put an end to them.

Most of Karl’s top crew were active in the New World. As long as they could suppress the Four Seas and key players like Mama in the first half of the Grand Line, he didn’t think anyone else would dare make a move.

“First, since the Four Seas are most likely to erupt in rebellion, I’m ordering Doberman, Onigumo, Strawberry, and Burning Mountain to each take four vice admirals to the Four Seas to keep local unrest in check.”

“Second, since Admiral Tradis is the fastest, he’ll patrol the Four Seas and deal with any major crises that pop up.”

“Everyone else will focus strictly on patrolling the Grand Line—no need to send everyone out.”

“Finally, Admiral Udyr will stay stationed at Sabaody Archipelago.”

“For justice!”

“For justice!”

With the meeting over, some left to head out to sea, others to manage intelligence—the entire Navy Headquarters dove headfirst into a storm of activity.

Thud, thud, thud…

“Garp, I know what you’re thinking, but I hope you won’t betray the Navy.” In the dim corridor ahead, Sengoku walked briskly, his heavy voice echoing off the walls.

Behind him, Garp paused for a moment, then kept walking. “I just want to do what’s right.”

In secret, Dragon had already contacted Garp, trying to get him to join the fight against the World Government.

If this were the original timeline’s Dragon, maybe Garp wouldn’t have agreed.

But now, Dragon’s Revolutionary Army was truly bringing happiness to ordinary people.

Wherever the Revolutionary Army went, there was a new spark of hope for those at the bottom. That’s why people rallied behind them in battle—whoever stood against the Revolutionaries and lacked the World Government’s silent support lost their will to fight the moment the banners fell.

It wasn’t like the Celestial Dragons’ endless exploitation. In kingdoms the Revolutionary Army overthrew, people finally learned what it meant to be human.

Even Garp was wavering now. After all, he had always refused the position of admiral to avoid serving as the Celestial Dragons’ lapdog. Deep down, he may have wished someone would tear out that cancerous root.

But now that hope was finally within reach, Garp hesitated.

War always brings death. The bigger the war, the more terrifying the casualty count.

If they shattered the status quo on the Grand Line too suddenly, could it really bring true happiness to the people? Or was it just the start of a new tyranny?

Garp had no idea what the outcome would be—caught in doubt, he couldn’t make up his mind.

Sengoku, who’d long since guessed what his old friend was thinking, just sighed. “The path of innovation is always paved in blood…”