Chapter 402: The Navy's Retrenchment
Once again, the pirates of the New World reminded the world—
The New World belongs to pirates.
Boom!!
Fleet Admiral Kong slammed his palm on the table, shattering it into pieces.
He glared at the battle reports from the New World with a face as dark as thunder.
None of the present Navy higher-ups dared speak.
Even the ever-lively Garp was utterly silent.
Kong's eyes swept over Garp, Sakazuki (Akainu), and the three remaining Vice Admirals who had returned from Sabaody.
All of them were bandaged from head to toe.
The moment Kong returned from Mary Geoise, he had already heard everything that had transpired at Sabaody Archipelago.
The result of the battle was beyond everyone's expectations.
Even Kong himself had been caught off guard.
In Kong's plan, even if they couldn't capture Charlotte Rockefeller, the objective was to suppress his rising arrogance and send a clear warning to the pirates of the New World.
But the outcome…
Garp was pinned down by Charlotte himself.
Sengoku was held off by the Rockefeller Pirates' first mate, Douglas Bullet.
Sakazuki was stalled by Charlotte's son, Rockefeller Caesar.
Kuzan (Aokiji) was double-teamed by Estes and Tesla, Charlotte's daughter and son.
And Tesla… was the user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, the long-lost Logia-type Devil Fruit not seen in over 400 years!
One of the strongest Devil Fruits in existence…
The significance was clear. Just look at the Navy's three strongest up-and-comers—all wielders of Logia Fruits.
Now that the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had fallen into Charlotte's hands, he had future disaster written all over him.
From this battle, Kong had come to understand the true combat strength of the Rockefeller Pirates.
And it frightened him.
They already had four Logia-type users:
Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Tesla)
Gas-Gas Fruit
Snow-Snow Fruit
Swamp-Swamp Fruit
Where had Charlotte even found all these?
Had he spent these years sailing the Four Seas just to hunt for Devil Fruits?
Kong wasn't just dreading Charlotte now—he was terrified.
These kids… most of them were only around ten years old.
What would they become when they reached maturity?
How had Charlotte grown so strong, right under the noses of the Navy and World Government?
"Tell me—what should we do about the Rockefeller Pirates?"
Kong's voice rang out.
But the room remained deathly silent.
"What? Has the Navy lost its courage just because of one defeat?"
Kong's fury flared at their silence.
At last, Vice Admiral Tsuru stepped forward.
"Fleet Admiral… we're in no position to go on the offensive anymore.
With the loss of over 10,000 elite Marines and the injuries of key commanders,
we must pull back, tighten our defense lines, and bide our time for a proper counterattack."
There was no disagreement.
Even the ever-aggressive Sakazuki remained silent.
He wasn't stupid—he knew they couldn't hold their positions in the New World with the current losses.
And sending in Four Seas recruits would only weaken the rest of the world's peace.
No—the real foundation of the Navy was the Four Seas.
As long as the Four Seas remained under control, they could rebuild.
Give them a year or two—if the World Government boosted their funding, it wouldn't be hard to train another ten thousand elite soldiers.
Kong inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down.
He turned to Tsuru.
"Fine.
Inform all New World bases—except those near the Red Line—to retreat.
We'll abandon all other outposts and fall back to the edge of the New World."
After issuing the order, Kong collapsed into his chair.
This decision was an admission that two years of progress had been undone—reverting them to pre-1495 levels.
Back then, the Navy had only advanced thanks to the war between Roger and Shiki, giving them an opportunity to expand.
Now, all of it… lost.
Kong was bitter, but there was no other choice.
If they didn't retreat now, their scattered forces would be picked off one by one.
"Also—raise the bounties of everyone in the Rockefeller Pirates.
Especially Charlotte's children—make their threat level known to the world.
Big Mom must be warned. Make it clear that the Rockefellers are dangerous."
"Have CP agents spread rumors that Big Mom and Charlotte Rockefeller are in conflict—
start with the idea that Big Mom seized Charlotte's old territories."
"And Roger… and Whitebeard… and Shiki…
stir the pot—turn the New World into a chaotic mess.
The more chaos, the better.
While they fight among themselves, we rebuild the Navy's strength."
Kong's eyes burned with grim resolve.
"Yes, sir!"
The Navy's upper echelon responded in unison.
And soon, the headlines of Morgans' News spread like wildfire:
"Navy Fails to Capture the Rockefeller Pirates!"
"Over 10,000 Elite Marines Killed!"
"Rockefeller Pirates Suspected of Owning Pluton!"
"Golden Lion Shiki Returns—Navy Bases Fall Across the New World!"
"Legendary Pirate Charlotte Rockefeller Enters the New World!"
The entire world shook.
First to respond?
Big Mom's Pirates.
Totto Land.
Whole Cake Island.
Katakuri stood staring at the day's paper in disbelief.
The news was too overwhelming. He was momentarily dazed.
But once he came to, he rushed toward the center of the island.
Ever since her defeat at the hands of the Red Count, Big Mom had returned home and… resumed having more children.
Now, she was bloated, face lined with fat, and constantly stuffing her face with cake.
Her massive belly left no doubt—she was pregnant again.
"Mama! Mama!
Bad news! The Rockefeller Pirates are back!
They defeated the Navy!!"
Katakuri burst in, out of breath.
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