“So you guys finally drank enough?”
This time she didn’t embarrass Kaido publicly, but neither did she show much respect. There was even a faint trace of disgust in her tone.
At the same time, she noticed Beckman and Perospero had also been called over by their respective captains, while Shanks was announcing the newly created rules to them.
“The three of us drinking alone still can’t decide a winner, so after thinking about it, we decided to let other people take our places. No need to fight, just competing in drinking here will be enough.”
“You really are… quite cunning.”
Listening to Shanks’ explanation, Beckman felt his eyebrow twitch. If the situation were more appropriate, he really wanted to have a proper talk with his captain.
【I’m not interested in this kind of thing, you idiot father. What exactly are you thinking?】
Yamato said nothing, only glaring at Kaido while her pupils continuously moved. Thanks to their many years of fighting each other, the tacit understanding between the two had already become astonishingly high. At times like this, they could even communicate silently.
【Beat them. In any aspect, I don’t want to lose to those two.
That ball from earlier was aimed at my head, wasn’t it? Knock those two down, and I won’t pursue the matter.】
【What nonsense are you spouting? I wasn’t aiming for your head!】
The silent exchange of glances ended, though after returning to the drinking table, Yamato seemed to have rejected what she had implied earlier.
Perospero was the only one who didn’t object. He merely recommended Smoothie to Charlotte Linlin, believing she was more suited for this occasion than himself. But Charlotte Linlin had no intention of doing something as embarrassing as swapping generals just before the battle, and forcibly pushed him forward instead.
“Alright, now we can finally have a proper talk. This alliance isn’t just going to be us verbally declaring an alliance and then doing nothing, right? Kaido, what exactly is your plan?”
As the user of the “Face-Face Fruit,” Shanks understood the concept of “face” better than anyone.
Competing in Haki, competing in drinking, competing in laughter, competing to see who could sit on the ice chair longer—
It’s all about saving face; if they didn’t settle this issue, even sitting here for three days would be pointless.
Kaido had spoken of an offensive and defensive alliance. If he launched an attack, the Red Hair Pirates couldn’t just stand behind and watch. And based on Shanks’ understanding of the World Government, if Kaido truly lost, they would probably carry out a massive purge across the entire sea.
Shanks had already bet everything he had on Kaido, so naturally he had no intention of backing out. Instead, he wanted to prepare in advance.
That was why Shanks shifted the competition onto their subordinates and brought the topic back on track.
“A plan? Not really, for now. But I do have a pretty good opening move. The question is whether you dare to try it.”
“An opening move?”
“The Celestial Dragons. There are far too many useless people among them. Since the World Government protects them, how about using that group as the opening act?”
Although Kaido longed for a world-scale war, he had never actually participated in a conflict of that scale. His old fighting style had always been charging in alone and smashing through everything.
Even now, he had no intention of changing. If he killed a Celestial Dragon, he could simply wait in place for the World Government and Marines to come knocking on his door. In a sense, it was a strategy of conserving his strength while waiting for the enemy.
“Mamamama~ Kaido, you really are bold. Have you forgotten what happened at God Valley? Celestial Dragons are a troublesome bunch.
If not for that incident, Rocks might not have been defeated so quickly.”
As one of the people who had personally experienced the God Valley Incident, Charlotte Linlin understood how much importance the World Government placed on the Celestial Dragons, and she also knew what kind of consequences Kaido’s actions would bring.
“Worororo, I haven’t forgotten. But I’m not Rocks. I won’t be weaker than him, and I have people I can trust. Besides, Rocks’ crew back then was nothing but loose sand. We are different.”
“The consequences of that would probably have an even bigger impact than attacking Marine Headquarters. It’s hardly a beneficial plan for us.”
“I know. That’s why it won’t happen immediately. We need to find the right opportunity before we do it. I don’t mind hearing your ideas either, as long as they don’t change my goal.
As for smaller goals, we can first settle the ownership of the One Piece…”
As he spoke, Kaido took out his Rotom and tapped on it a few times, issuing several orders.
“President, it seems our reporter lady has run into a bit of a situation.”
“It doesn’t matter. The important photos have already been taken. Just these alone are enough for us to make a huge front page. Maybe even one won’t be enough. Have the photos all been sent back yet?”
“They’ve already been transmitted back. If you’ve decided on the content to publish, then at the earliest tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest, the newspaper can go into circulation.”
“Mm, good. Let me think… these three pirate flags should go right at the top of the A-side. But that still won’t provide enough space. Better make it a double A-side layout instead. Use the same structure for both the cover and the inside pages.
An alliance between pirates on this scale deserves some exaggerated reporting.”
Morgans sat in front of a rock, sorting through the photos and manuscripts in his hands while planning his next massive headline.
But at that moment, Flaming Attach received a message sent from the headquarters of the World Economy News Paper.
“President! Big news! Marine Hero Garp has gone missing in a shipwreck, and the Marines are currently conducting a search and rescue operation. Should we publish a missing persons report for him as well?”
“Missing? A monster of that level went missing?”
“Uh… that’s the information sent from headquarters.”
“That counts as big news too. In that case, let’s add a side column here as well.”
Morgans reorganized his layout, but before he could send it back, Solitaire walked over.
“Our Governor-General asked me to give this to you. He said you can decide for yourself how you want to write it.”
“Hm?”
Taking the information Solitaire handed over, Morgans’ expression froze, and then he fainted on the spot. Solitaire had to catch him before he hit the ground.
“Your president fainted, and you’re not worried at all?”
Seeing Attach remain completely unmoved, Solitaire felt confused. Attach had clearly shown Morgans a great deal of respect earlier, yet now he was completely indifferent after seeing him faint.
“You’re not trying to scam me here, are you?”
“You misunderstand. We’re just used to it by now. The president’s always been like this these past two years.”
Attach skillfully took out some medicine, and while administering it, leaned close to Morgans’ ear and said:
“President, wake up. You still haven’t finished the big news yet!”
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