In the East Sea, aboard the Vanguard fleet.
Crack—
Lightning struck Sakazuki’s warship.
Enel’s figure solidified:
"So boring, Uncle, there aren't many pirates in this East Sea."
"Only a few when we first arrived."
Sakazuki chuckled:
"Then let's go study weapons."
"Barrett quite likes the missiles you build."
Enel was somewhat helpless:
"The parts aren't complete."
"The most powerful things we can build are those."
"Anything stronger would require specialized equipment."
"Let's modify it when we get back to headquarters."
"Speaking of which… compared to the other three seas, this place is too backward."
Sakazuki smiled:
"Perhaps that's why it's more peaceful and tranquil."
"Old man Garp, he visits now and then, so there are naturally fewer pirates than in other seas."
"More importantly, the World Government wants to maintain the entire East Sea in an agricultural era."
"Only then will people not venture out to sea."
"If the atmosphere were like the North Sea or West Sea, with rampant martial arts and gangs."
"Then people exploring the sea would be endless."
"Their massive bridges, hidden among the East Sea's terrain, would easily be exposed."
"Although I don't know the purpose of these massive bridges built against the Red Line Continent."
"But the fact that this project has been ongoing for seven hundred years speaks to its importance."
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes, sometimes the World Government’s foundation was truly unfathomable.
Seven hundred years of invested manpower and resources were simply unimaginable.
As for the idea that these massive bridges were meant to connect the world's islands, that was nonsense.
Let alone seven hundred years, seven thousand years wouldn't be enough to build them.
Either they wanted to connect somewhere, or they were transporting something…
Enel’s heart also sank:
"Seven hundred years…"
"Such manpower, resources…"
"If only I had it."
"It wouldn't take many years to build my super 'Maxim'."
He clicked his tongue, unable to help himself.
Sakazuki's interest was piqued:
"Super Maxim?"
"Has Mr. Vegapunk optimized it for you?"
Enel smiled proudly:
"Indeed, after research by myself and Professor Vegapunk."
"We both agreed."
"'Maxim'… is a first-generation machine."
Sakazuki stroked his chin:
"First-generation machine?"
"It seems so…"
"I recall that in the diary from Skypiea."
"The diary's owner seemed to have designed it in his youth, and spent most of his time in the Blue Sea."
"He fled back to Skypiea after Joy Boy’s defeat, and died at his desk shortly after writing the last entry."
"So the model and blueprints we obtained back then must have been left by him in his youth?"
Enel was taken aback:
"Huh?"
"There was something like that!"
Sakazuki chuckled:
"You couldn't read back then."
"Even if I gave you the diary, you wouldn't understand it."
Enel's face fell:
"True."
"Never mind, after optimization by myself and Professor Vegapunk."
"It definitely won't be worse than his."
His expression turned serious:
"The blueprints for Maxim, after research by myself and Professor Vegapunk, we discovered that the man who designed it left considerable room for expansion."
"Besides the mechanical conduits and lightning cloud generators filling the hull, those empty spaces, if filled with batteries, calculations show…"
"The person controlling Maxim could launch at least two Raigeki from the control panel on the ship."
"As for techniques like Goro, they could be launched several times."
"And this is with a normal person controlling it without a Goro Goro no Mi. That guy's ambition and technology are exceptionally high."
"Even with this first-generation machine, if mass-produced and equipped by the Marines, no one in the world could stop us."
"One Raigeki isn't enough, then a hundred."
"Not even ashes would remain."
"The only trouble is its exorbitant gold cost."
"We can't build many. Professor Vegapunk and I are continuously optimizing the Maxim blueprints."
"Striving to equip them as much as possible."
"As for the Super Maxim… it’s too difficult, the cost…"
"Even the entire year's Navy budget thrown into it would only build a third…"
"If 'later'…"
Sakazuki’s brow furrowed, and he walked towards the ship’s cabin without hesitation:
"Impossible, don't even think about it."
"It won't be built even in the future, throw away the blueprints."
A third built with a year’s budget.
This level of profligacy…
Bang—
The sound of the cabin door closing echoed…
Enel was somewhat flustered and shouted at the cabin:
"What about installment payments later!"
"One-tenth built each year!"
"How about that!!!"
----
New World, Keke Island.
The sky cracked open, and the dark clouds split in two above the island's center.
The sea and the island trembled uneasily.
At the center of the island, two fierce figures, seven to eight meters tall, stood opposite each other, glaring intently.
Charlotte Linlin's expression was grim:
"Kaido, you've gone too far."
She unconsciously tightened her grip on Napoleon, never imagining she would be backstabbed by Kaido.
Before she could react, her forces on several islands had been annihilated.
Kaido roared with laughter:
"This is a pirate's game, you're too naive, Linlin."
"I need territory and influence."
"This sea is about to welcome its third Emperor."
Charlotte Linlin looked at him indifferently, but those who knew her well knew she was on the verge of exploding with rage…
"So that was your plan."
"But what you shouldn't have done, Kaido, is…"
"Betray me!"
"Vengeance!!!"
A colossal sword energy shockwave surged towards Kaido.
Kaido brought his kanabo, "Hassaikai," behind him, imbued it with Haki, and grinned:
"I treat everyone the same."
"That old man Hiriluc won't escape either."
"Thunderous··· Rumble··· Eight··· Trigram!!!"
Hassaikai pulsed with faint lightning as he met the incoming sword energy with a heavy hammer.
The sharp and violent colossal sword energy instantly turned and slashed towards Charlotte Linlin.
Charlotte Linlin sneered, and with a flick of her left arm, directly shattered the returning sword energy.
Gripping her saber with both hands, she lunged at Kaido.
Kaido also let out an angry roar, charging forward with Hassaikai held in both hands.
Clang!
Boom————!!!!!!!!!
Furious lightning erupted from the island's center into the sky.
The island began to collapse and crack, the sea churning restlessly…
----
The next morning.
The island where the great battle took place had vanished. The two figures, on their respective ships, sailed in opposite directions.
The two had eventually brokered a peace.
Charlotte Linlin acknowledged Kaido as an Emperor, and Kaido would subsequently engage in extensive cooperation with the Charlotte family to compensate for the seized islands. On the surface, Kaido seemed to have gained.
But… the departing Charlotte Linlin also wore a wide smile:
"Is everything settled?"
Her surrounding children chuckled cruelly:
"Yes, Mother."
"Not a single one left."
Before Charlotte Linlin could offer praise, Kaido's Den Den Mushi rang.
Answering the Den Den Mushi, Kaido's grim voice transmitted:
"Well done…"
"The cooperation continues, but don't appear before me again… Linlin."
"Or I will kill you…"
Charlotte Linlin grinned into the Den Den Mushi:
"Piracy isn't as simple as you think."
"Consider this a lesson for you."
"Don't forget, back on Rocks' ship, it was I who brought you into the pirate game."
"Mamamama~"
*Click*—
The sound of the Den Den Mushi being hung up on the other side was heard…
Before the great battle with Kaido, Charlotte Linlin had dispatched countless children to slaughter all of Kaido's territories except for those guarded by King and Queen.