At the edge of Shanks' territory.
Thousands of kilometers above, a massive fleet was anchored.
Bearing uniform military flags, it was evident that this was Sout's airborne fleet.
On the fleet.
Luo used his Devil Fruit ability, his hands moving continuously.
*Pop!*
"Alright."
Luo clapped his hands, signaling Drake that he could leave.
But Drake felt something was off about Luo's final touch.
He subtly took out a small mirror... veins bulged on his forehead:
"Bastard! What do you mean by that!!!"
Drake pointed at the bandages wrapped around his head... and the large bow tied on them!
He angrily lunged forward.
Luo quickly used his ability to dodge, exclaiming:
"Aesthetics! Aesthetics!"
Drake suppressed his rage:
"Aesthetics my foot! Stop!!!"
They chased each other... full of energy, completely unlike their recent battle with pirates.
*Tap, tap—*
The sound of leather shoes hitting the deck echoed.
It landed next to Sout, who smiled and nodded to the newcomer.
With a wave of his hand. /
The massive fleet slowly started to move... sailing towards Shanks' territory.
"What's the mission this time?"
"Destroy as much as you can."
"Just what I wanted..."
------------
New World, G-14 Branch.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Sakaski turned and headed towards the fortress.
In the office.
Enel, covered in bandages, slumped on the sofa, his feet on the coffee table, biting into an apple.
After being bandaged, with nothing else to do, he had come here.
*Click, click—*
The sound of a doorknob turning echoed.
Sakaski's voice came:
"How is it?"
Then, a figure in a fiery red suit walked in.
Enel casually tossed the finished apple core into the trash can:
"Nothing serious."
"Just need some time to recover."
Sakaski let out a light chuckle:
"Learned your lesson?"
Enel spread his hands helplessly:
"This lesson is quite painful."
"By the way... where are they?"
Sakaski walked to the desk and sat down:
"They've gone on another mission."
Enel looked a bit puzzled:
"It's not over yet?"
The final part of the plan was for Enel to destroy communications, preventing Blackbeard from receiving the message.
Sakaski would then draw out Blackbeard and Red-Haired Shanks.
This way, by the time Kaido's invasion was sufficiently advanced, the situation would be set.
Blackbeard would be powerless to turn the tide.
But because Enel was severely injured, the final step ended prematurely.
Now, Kaido had just attacked Blackbeard's territory.
He was betrayed by Sakaski... informed Blackbeard, and his men had all withdrawn.
It wasn't exactly selling out teammates... what teammates are there between pirates and the Navy?
What was supposed to be a situation where Blackbeard was helpless to turn the tide, because Sakaski informed him in advance.
It turned into a protracted war... dragging in Charlotte Linlin and Red-Haired Shanks.
Well... a chaotic brawl among Emperors.
Sakaski crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair:
"Plans are no match for circumstances."
"Kaido has allied with Charlotte Linlin to carve up the spoils."
"Blackbeard can't resist alone, and Red-Haired will surely intervene."
"So, his territory became vacant."
"We'll finish by raiding it."
"The dog-eat-dog battle of the Emperors won't stop anytime soon."
"Next, I'll focus on preparing for promotion to Fleet Admiral."
Enel's mouth twitched...
"Calculating like this... can those two endure it?"
"After all, they are also Emperors."
Sakaski said:
"Endure it or not, they have to."
"Do you expect Charlotte Linlin and Kaido to regurgitate the feast they've already tasted?"
"As long as they don't give up this profit."
"Blackbeard and Red-Haired won't be able to intervene."
He turned towards the window, his gaze drifting into the distance.
In the past, the Emperors maintained a balance, tacitly refraining from conflict or overstepping boundaries.
But now that the dam had broken, with Charlotte Linlin and Kaido having annexed numerous islands and plundered vast wealth, how could they possibly give it up?
In the past, maintaining balance meant not acting, because it was yours.
Now that the balance was shattered, there was no need to hold back; this is mine now, and you can't have it back.
A stalemate and a free-for-all were inevitable.
Could Blackbeard be content with this? No.
But it was of little use.
Blackbeard, with his slightly weaker strength, combined with the powerful Red-Haired Pirates, would struggle to achieve a decisive victory against two incredibly robust pirate crews led by powerhouse fighters.
After this, the forces under Blackbeard and Red-Haired Shanks would be severely depleted.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido's forces had greater depth, but this was precisely the outcome Sakaski desired.
Among the Emperors.
Only Blackbeard and Shanks were the most rational, the most normal, and the most formidable.
One was a ruthless mastermind who had built his empire from scratch, dominated the New World for years, and controlled its entire underworld.
The other was Red-Haired Shanks, who had been mentored by Roger and Rayleigh from a young age and was supported by a crew of brilliant companions.
This was why Sakaski sought to weaken them.
Compared to the aforementioned two.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, despite their immense strength, were relatively erratic.
Both were fixated on their own dreams... and due to their personality flaws.
Their shortcomings were numerous.
Nun photos, gluttony, heavy drinking, craving for war, etc...
Even with their immense power, it was of little use; their many flaws made them easier to control...
Enel picked up another apple and tossed it.
As if struck by a thought, he looked at Sakaski:
"By the way... Uncle."
"If I had really died this time."
"Would you have been sad?"
Sakaski withdrew his gaze from the window:
"Perhaps."
Enel spread his hands helplessly:
"Would you have avenged me?"
Sakaski let out a soft chuckle:
"Perhaps."
Enel pressed his forehead:
"Ah—"
"So perfunctory..."
"I'm hurt."
He clutched his chest as if stabbed and slumped onto the sofa.
Sakaski chuckled and shook his head, then walked to the window.
A gentle sea breeze blew, bringing a touch of coolness.
Facing the fiery setting sun, his broad back seemed to support the heavens and the earth, his justice-laden cape fluttering slightly...