“You analyzed it correctly.
The ‘Heavenly Tribute’ was indeed just a smokescreen for the Kuja Pirates.”
“Mhm, and then?
Was it some other treasure?” Ron eagerly pressed for more.
“Their…
real target was to rescue their ‘comrades’.”
“…” Hearing this, Ron’s eyes dimmed slightly.
He fell silent for a couple of seconds, then turned his head expressionlessly to look at Kaido.
“No, it has nothing to do with you.
What are you so happy about?”
“Can’t say that,” Kaido explained righteously.
“Don’t you have that sudden feeling of enlightenment?”
Ron released his shoulder and walked ahead on his own, not looking back as he said, “I hereby announce the dissolution of the intern alliance.”
“What are you saying, Ron?
You can’t just say things that harm unity!” Kaido hurriedly followed, complaining with a dissatisfied expression.
….
Yes, the goal of the Kuja Pirates was, as Kaido said, to rescue their comrades.
According to the information they had gathered, those responsible for this escort mission were the Fleet Admiral “Kong,” and the Admiral, Sengoku the Buddha.
With their current strength, they simply could not shake such a lineup and could only seek cooperation from outsiders.
Their initial intended partner was the Roger Pirates, with the Rocks Pirates being a last resort choice.
But as time grew increasingly tight, the Kuja Pirates, on their way to meet with the Roger Pirates, happened to run into the Rocks Pirates, and the plan changed from there.
The terms of cooperation between the two sides weren’t complicated either.
The Kuja Pirates were only responsible for providing the route.
Whatever amount of the “Heavenly Tribute” they managed to seize would all go to the Rocks Pirates.
The only condition was that if the Kuja Pirates encountered an unstoppable danger, the Rocks Pirates had to step in to help.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World, on a certain stretch of sea.
Three massive World Government warships sailed side by side at a steady, unhurried pace, their hulls cutting through the waves, leaving three long white trails on the sea’s surface.
Onboard, they carried the “Heavenly Tribute” they had recently collected from various nations, along with some treasure used as “collateral” for the tribute, and…
“slaves” for the entertainment of the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons.
Inside the cabin of one of the warships.
The fragrance of tea wafted gently.
“Hah.” Kong gently blew on the tea in his cup, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
His gaze looked out through the porthole at the calm sea.
“It’s been a long time since we sat down to have tea together, hasn’t it, Sengoku?”
“Hahaha…
Thanks to you, I finally get to enjoy some good tea.” Sengoku chuckled lightly, raising his cup to take a sip.
Kong waved his hand.
“Not thanks to me.
We both owe it to the World Government.
The achievements we’ve reached today are all bestowed by the World Government.
At critical moments, we must not let the World Government down.”
Sengoku nodded slightly.
Although the words sounded somewhat grating, what Kong said was indeed the truth.
“Hahahaha, justice will prevail!!” Kong finished with a laugh.
Before his words fully faded, a young man in a Marine uniform hurried in, holding a Transponder Snail.
“Report!
Admiral Sengoku, your personal Transponder Snail is ringing.”
After speaking, the young marine naturally handed the Transponder Snail to Sengoku and tactfully turned to leave.
Kong watched the entire process without uttering a word.
Sengoku answered the Transponder Snail.
Soon, a low voice came from the other end.
“Mr.
Sengoku, what you mentioned earlier still stands, right?”
“Of course.” Sengoku nodded firmly.
“However, how much you gain will depend on the value of the information you provide.”
“Their target is the ‘Heavenly Tribute.’ They plan to ambush you along your route.”
“Hmm.
Very valuable.” Sengoku’s gaze darkened slightly.
“Hehehe…
I hope you’ll honor the agreement.”
“Naturally.
Our cooperation won’t end with just this one time.”
The Transponder Snail call ended.
The cabin fell silent for a moment.
Kong, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke, his tone neutral: “It seems…
we have a traitor here too.”
Sengoku set down the Transponder Snail, his brow slightly furrowed.
“What do you plan to do, Kong?
The Rocks Pirates aren’t easy to deal with.
If the ‘Heavenly Tribute’ is stolen, we won’t be able to answer to the World Government.”
As he analyzed the situation, Sengoku mentally calculated various countermeasures.
Kong remained silent for a long while.
The tea in his cup had grown slightly cold.
Suddenly, a faint smile appeared on his face.
“In that case, we’ll turn their scheme against them.”
Sengoku paused briefly, then quickly understood Kong’s intention.
His furrowed brow relaxed.
“That’s actually an excellent plan.”
Kong slowly stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the boundless sea.
“Sengoku, go make the arrangements.
Let’s give those Rocks bastards a big surprise.”
Much later.
A speedboat was cutting swiftly across the sea, leaving a trail of white foam in its wake.
“The World Government guys are really cunning,” Wang Zhi, sitting at the front of the speedboat, mumbled through a mouthful of pizza he was eating with relish.
This is what happened.
As the Rocks Pirates were advancing at full speed along the route provided by the Kuja Pirates, they suddenly received new intelligence: to prevent an ambush, the Marines had split their fleet into three groups, each taking a different route.
This forced the Rocks Pirates to divide their forces into three teams for the ambush.
One team consisted of Rocks and the Kuja Pirates.
Another team included Ron, Whitebeard, Stussy, Kaido, and Wang Zhi.
The remaining members of the Rocks Pirates formed the third team.
“More than that,” Whitebeard said, sitting in the middle of the speedboat, leaning against the gunwale with one hand gripping Murakumogiri, his gaze slanting toward Wang Zhi.
“What’s strange is that you, Wang Zhi, are willing to travel with me.”
The initially decided team was Ron, Whitebeard, Stussy, and Kaido, tasked with ambushing the weakest of the World Government warships according to the intelligence.
Unexpectedly, Wang Zhi had proactively requested to accompany Whitebeard.
“Hehehehe.” Wang Zhi chuckled coldly, took another bite of pizza, and said leisurely, “I won’t gain any advantage tagging along with those maniacs.
But with you…
you understand.”
He didn’t spell it out, but the implication was clear—Whitebeard had no interest in treasures or such things, while Ron and Kaido were just apprentices who could be brushed off with a token gesture.
The only one who needed a share of the spoils was Stussy alone.
Even if they came up empty-handed later, Wang Zhi wouldn’t mind.
After all, he hadn’t put in much effort, and the only loss would be a few bites of pizza.