Chapter 485: Storm on the Red Line

Derlin saw how agitated Nassourang was getting and quickly stepped forward.

“Isn’t this a bit too aggressive? If we do this, Mariejois will be left dangerously under-defended.”

These three army corps aren’t like the newly formed Fifth Corps. They’ve been shaped by the World Government’s brutal training over the years—their combat strength far eclipses even the top Navy at the same level. If we pull all three at once, wouldn’t that be…”

Marcus raised his left hand to calm everyone. “Don’t worry about it.”

“With the Revolutionary Army short on top commanders, three divisions personally led by Admirals can easily sweep the Revolutionary Army from the remaining three seas. Only once the Four Seas are cleared will Mariejois finally be secure.”

Right now, as far as they were concerned, the only force that could truly threaten Mariejois came from the Four Seas.

Mariejois was closest to the Red Line. If anyone from the New World wanted to get here, they’d need to get past not just a web of spies but also the Navy Bases scattered everywhere. The odds of pirates charging straight from the New World to Mariejois were basically zero.

“Still, this sort of thing isn’t exactly new.”

“Have you found out who’s really pulling the strings behind the scenes?”

Marcus refused to believe the Revolutionary Army could stir up this much chaos on their own.

Up until now, the Revolutionary Army never promoted any ideals of fairness or justice. All they ever did was topple regimes, only to overthrow the next king as soon as he took power.

This repeating cycle had gone on for years. When did they start conquering nations and sticking around to rebuild them themselves?

This was shaping up to be a direct showdown against the World Government.

“There is indeed another power backing them, but whenever they communicate, it’s all vague and coded. We haven’t decrypted the content yet. What we do know is the signal comes from the New World.”

Derlin said, standing his ground, neither humble nor arrogant.

The Navy’s technology is no joke. For 800 years, they’ve suppressed public tech development while quietly advancing their own.

So when it came to interception signals, they had it covered. But unfortunately, they haven’t cracked the codes in those comms yet, so they still have no clue which forces from the New World are working with Dragon or funding them in secret. It’s even a mystery how supplies are getting from the New World to the Four Seas.

“We can table that for now. Once we wipe out the Revolutionary Army in the Four Seas, I doubt all these secrets can stay hidden.”

Marcus made the final call, standing up.

“If that’s the case, then get the orders out asap. Every unit moves in secret. The Revolutionary Army can’t know what’s coming.”

“Let’s give the Revolutionary Army—and whoever’s backing them—a big surprise.”

The three generals, once they received the Five Elders’ secret directive, immediately passed through hidden tunnels beneath the Red Line to reach the other three seas. But they’d barely set out when the Mysterious Man tipped Dragon off to their every move.

…

“Oorah hah hah hah!”

“Now this is what I call an all-out war!”

“Lord Kaido, don’t get too fired up yet. We’re the last to enter this fight, remember?” King shot a sharp look at the hyped-up Kaido and quickly poured cold water on his mood.

Kaido’s Devil Fruit had changed. Once an Azure Dragon, now a Dragon Turtle—but his love for drinking hadn’t changed at all.

He’s already downed two or three massive wine jugs, each taller than a man.

“Relax, King. I won’t mess this up. Still, a battle this big… it’s got me itching to swing my fists again.”

Ever since awakening his Dragon Turtle Fruit ten years ago, Kaido was convinced he had no equals left on the sea. He even went out of his way to challenge both Whitebeard and Karl, but lost both times.

Those defeats sobered him up quick. For the past decade, Kaido kept his distance from direct clashes with Whitebeard and Karl’s crews. Instead, he sent his own people out for training, turning the chaos of skirmishes into practice. But whenever he fought Shanks, things always got real, and neither side ever held back.

Too bad every fight with Shanks ended in a draw. Kaido’s dream of swallowing up Shanks’ crew was put on ice.

Laying low for the past ten years, Kaido hadn’t picked serious fights. Now his hands were practically itching with impatience.

“Lord Kaido, are we just going to keep following them like this?”

Ever since Quinn left Vegapunk’s research division and joined Kaido’s Pirate Crew, he’d grown ever more arrogant. He was convinced he’d long outpaced Vegapunk in ingenuity.

So following behind Whitebeard, quietly waiting for a chance to catch them weak, left him fuming. In Quinn’s mind, Kaido’s pirate crew was every bit the equal of Whitebeard’s—why should they play the waiting game just to be vultures?

“Oorah hah hah, you musclehead!”

“If I jump in after both sides are injured, then I’ll be the bird catching the mantis catching the cicada. But if Whitebeard’s spent, I’ll take him down fair and square—that’s how you prove you’re really the mightiest by land, sea, and air.”

“Of course. Once you show your strength, Lord Kaido, the whole sea will remember your name…”

…

While Kaido’s group fiercely argued whether to face Whitebeard’s Pirates head-on or attack Marines first, Marco up in front noticed someone tailing them—a whole squad led by Kaido himself.

“Dad, there’s something weird going on behind us.”

“Gurarararara!”

“It’s just a bunch of kids tagging along. Ignore them, pick up the pace.”

“You got it, Pops!”

From the very beginning, Whitebeard had sensed Kaido’s group tailing them. The corner of his mouth curled into a sly grin. “Don’t get in my way, Kaido!”

As all sides kicked into high gear, Luffy’s group was heading for Impel Down. With Rayleigh’s help, they’d just unlocked advanced Armament Haki—Ryuo.

“Sugee—so this is Ryuo?”

They managed to master Ryuo so quickly, but it came at a cost; training bruised and battered them. Right now, they didn’t need slow recovery—they needed emergency treatment. So Rayleigh chose a tougher approach.

He sparred one-on-one and in groups with Luffy and the others, letting them experience Ryuo’s true power firsthand.

“Time’s tight—only a day and a half left. You get two hours of rest. After that, it’s straight into advanced Conqueror’s Haki training for you two.”

Luffy and Zoro had been waiting for this moment. At Luffy’s insistence, Sanji whipped up huge plates of roast meat. After stuffing themselves, their hour-and-a-half break flew by.

Luffy then begged Rayleigh to train them in Conqueror’s Haki— and squeezed in another round of Coup de Vent Cannon to close the distance for real.

“Clang!”

“We’re short on time. The only place we can rest is this deserted island—just for a few hours.”

If it hadn’t been for the two Coup de Vent Cannons, Rayleigh never would’ve been able to buy them even this much time.

“Old man, let’s go!”

“Alright, kid. Witness true power at the peak—then learn it, and make it your own!”

“Divine Departure!”

…