In the year 1506 of the Sea Circle Calendar, four months had passed since the Nightfall Pirates officially decided to wage war against the Whitebeard Pirates.
During those four months, the Nightfall Pirates had quietly completed extensive preparations. Personnel, weapons, supplies, logistics, intelligence, and fleet deployment had all been carefully arranged. A brutal and prolonged war was drawing ever closer.
The islands designated for occupation had already been brought under Nightfall Pirate control during more than two years of continuous campaigning. Only the territories belonging to the Whitebeard Pirates remained untouched.
Such a massive military mobilization could never be hidden.
The Nightfall Pirates did not even attempt to conceal it.
Large numbers of troops, warships, and high-ranking cadres gathered together as fleets advanced toward the islands bordering Whitebeard territory.
This was no longer a warning.
It was an open declaration of war.
The Whitebeard Pirates were being given time to prepare because the Nightfall Pirates wanted to defeat them head-on.
Few people across the New World were surprised.
The signs had existed for years.
Had the Golden Sea War never erupted, the conflict would likely have begun much earlier.
Now that the Golden Sea War had ended, the Nightfall Pirates had resumed their expansion. A direct collision with the Whitebeard Pirates had become inevitable.
Moreover, the two crews had already fought a six-month war only three years earlier.
That conflict had ended with the Whitebeard Pirates suffering losses and surrendering dozens of islands to the Nightfall Pirates. Many members of the Whitebeard Pirates still regarded that defeat as a humiliation.
This time, the war would undoubtedly be even more ferocious.
The Nightfall Pirates were no longer the same force they had been three years ago.
From the scale of their current mobilization alone, their military strength already far exceeded what they had displayed during the previous war.
As fleets moved and armies gathered, the horn of war echoed throughout the New World.
Smoke rose from countless islands.
"Has Teach finally run out of patience?"
In the chaotic seas, Whitebeard laughed as he listened to the latest intelligence report, his massive bisento resting against his shoulder.
"I thought he'd launch the attack the moment the Golden Sea War ended. I didn't expect him to wait an entire year."
The old pirate's eyes remained as sharp as ever.
"Then let them come."
"We're ready."
Although the Whitebeard Pirates' overall situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable, Whitebeard still possessed the spirit of a king.
The Whitebeard Pirates had never feared war. And against the Nightfall Pirates, retreat was not an option. If they failed to fight, their territory would simply be swallowed piece by piece.
Meanwhile, on Beast Island within the Barbarossa Kingdom, Kaido received the news he had been waiting for.
For months, he had been gathering intelligence on Wano Country and the Road Poneglyphs.
Instead of information about the stones, however, he first learned that the Nightfall Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates were finally going to war.
"Worororororo!"
Kaido burst into laughter as he emptied a jug of sake.
"They're finally fighting!"
"That Teach really made me wait long enough."
He had been anticipating this war for years.
The Beast Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates had maintained a tacit understanding regarding the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Beast Pirates' options for expansion were limited. Beyond the western regions of the New World, the only truly attractive target was Whitebeard's vast northeastern territory.
Once the Nightfall Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates began fighting, the Beast Pirates could strike from another direction and create a pincer attack.
The thought alone excited Kaido.
"Lemor. Aomen."
Kaido grinned.
"Take enough men and wait for the right opportunity."
"When the time comes, seize that old man's territory."
"Yes, Governor!"
Aomen and Lemor immediately accepted the order.
Especially Aomen.
The battle-hungry pirate had been itching for war for a long time.
However, before Kaido could continue discussing military matters, Crayel stepped forward.
"Governor, the war can wait."
"The conflict between the Nightfall Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates won't end quickly."
"I've gathered new intelligence regarding Wano Country. We may finally have a lead on the Road Poneglyph."
"Wouldn't that be more important?"
Kaido's eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh?"
"Speak."
The surrounding executives also became interested.
After all, the Road Poneglyphs represented the path to becoming Pirate King.
Over the past several months, they had all experienced firsthand how difficult it was to obtain information about Wano Country.
Crayel smiled slightly.
"There isn't much information available."
"But I discovered something important."
His fingers unconsciously pushed against the bridge of his nose as though adjusting invisible glasses.
"Wano Country has maintained close ties with the Mink Tribe for generations."
"More specifically, the Mink Tribe has historically served the Kozuki Clan."
"In Wano's terminology, they were retainers."
"Considering the Kozuki Clan's role in creating the Poneglyphs, that relationship could easily date back eight hundred years."
At this point, Crayel finally revealed his conclusion.
"If the Kozuki Clan truly possesses two Road Poneglyphs, I don't believe they would keep both stones in the same location."
"They would separate them."
Before he could continue, Kaido's eyes widened.
"Which means..."
"There should be a Road Poneglyph in the Mink Tribe's homeland?"
"Exactly."
Crayel nodded.
Kaido immediately asked another question.
"Then where is the Mink Tribe's homeland?"
"The Mokomo Dukedom."
"It's located on Zou."
"And Zou itself exists on the back of Zunesha."
Crayel's expression became somewhat strange.
"According to the intelligence, Zunesha is a giant elephant over ten thousand meters tall."
The room instantly exploded.
"What?"
"That's impossible!"
"Ten thousand meters?"
"If something that large existed, how could nobody know about it?"
Many executives immediately rejected the idea.
Kaido, however, raised his hand.
The room quickly quieted.
"Zunesha is real."
His voice was calm.
"I've heard stories about it before."
"It's said to wander endlessly through the New World."
"It never stops moving."
Compared to his subordinates, Kaido possessed far more knowledge about many ancient mysteries.
Because of that, he found Crayel's theory increasingly convincing.
If an island truly existed on the back of such a legendary creature, then countless secrets could be hidden there.
"Find it."
Kaido stood up.
"I'll go personally."
Then he grinned.
"Before that, prepare to seize Whitebeard's territory."
The Beast Pirates officially began moving.
Facing the Nightfall Pirates' completely undisguised preparations, the Whitebeard Pirates naturally felt enormous pressure.
No one understood the Nightfall Pirates' strength better than they did.
Marco the Phoenix.
Jozu the Diamond.
Vista the Flower Sword.
Along with five other division commanders.
A total of eight Whitebeard commanders arrived in the sea region where the coming war would erupt.
Many affiliated pirate crews also came to reinforce them.
The future battlefield was known as the Notting Sea.
Years ago, the entire region had belonged to the Whitebeard Pirates.
Now nearly one-third of it had already fallen into Nightfall Pirate hands following previous wars.
This time, the Nightfall Pirates intended to seize the rest.
As well as several other scattered Whitebeard territories.
Although the major battles had yet to begin, the war had effectively already started.
At the borders between the two powers, spies moved constantly through the shadows.
Small-scale skirmishes erupted almost every day.
Fires were slowly spreading across the sea.
Troop deployments.
Commander locations.
Fleet movements.
Island defenses.
Supply routes.
Every piece of intelligence could determine the outcome of a future battle.
War was not merely a contest of strength.
It was equally a contest of information.
Sometimes, a single crucial report could decide the fate of an entire campaign.
Unfortunately for the Whitebeard Pirates, they were losing badly in that regard.
The Nightfall Pirates had prepared for years.
While they did not possess complete knowledge of Whitebeard's plans, they likely understood seventy to eighty percent of the enemy's overall strategy.
The reverse was not true.
Marco's expression remained extremely grim.
"No reports for this long..."
His voice trailed off.
The surrounding commanders immediately understood.
The spies they had sent into Nightfall territory were almost certainly dead.
If they had merely been captured, the Nightfall Pirates would have already contacted them and demanded ransom.
That was their standard procedure.
The complete absence of information suggested only one outcome.
The spies had been eliminated.
The Nightfall Pirates felt like an impenetrable fog. That uncertainty created an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
From the very beginning of the war, the Whitebeard Pirates were already at a disadvantage.
Marco rubbed his forehead. The intelligence they possessed was painfully limited. They knew that Mobius the Snake King was present.
Voss the Shadow Snake.
Wallace the Iron.
Sladar the Emperor Crocodile.
Mog Raddon the Blood Azure Dragon.
Shiryu of the Rain.
The Nightfall Pirates had deployed the vast majority of their top combatants.
Even the Whitebeard Pirates had to admit that every one of these individuals was terrifying.
Their reputations had been forged through countless battles. And none of those reputations were exaggerated.
Worse still, the Nightfall Pirates had expanded continuously for years. No one knew how many additional monsters had joined their ranks.
An invisible pressure hung over every commander.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Like a mountain resting on their shoulders.
Unlike the younger pirates who dreamed of revenge and victory, the Whitebeard commanders clearly understood the reality before them.
The Nightfall Pirates had grown into a true giant.
Marco had no intention of surrendering. But deep down, he no longer expected easy victories. Simply stopping the Nightfall Pirates would already be an achievement.
The situation was that bad.
Whitebeard himself remained trapped in the chaotic seas, where numerous pirate crews were deliberately provoking conflicts and creating trouble.
The Nightfall Pirates alone occupied at least half of the Whitebeard Pirates' available strength.
And that wasn't the end of it.
Recently, more alarming reports had arrived.
The Beast Pirates were mobilizing.
Several well-known Beast Pirate powerhouses had already appeared near Whitebeard territory.
Their intentions were obvious.
While Whitebeard's forces were tied down elsewhere, they planned to invade and seize territory.
The Whitebeard Pirates saw exactly what was happening.
Yet there was very little they could do.
To counter the Beast Pirates, they would have to split their forces even further. And the Beast Pirates were not some minor threat.
They were one of the Emperors of the Sea. Their mere presence carried overwhelming deterrence.
No one knew whether the forces currently deployed represented the Beast Pirates' full strength or only an advance contingent.
If Kaido personally entered the battlefield, only Whitebeard himself could stop him.
At this point, the Whitebeard Pirates were effectively fighting on three fronts.
The chaotic seas.
The Nightfall Pirates.
And the Beast Pirates.
Their forces were stretched thin in every direction.
Many outside observers had already noticed the situation.
The Whitebeard Pirates were not weak. Far from it. Their overall strength remained among the greatest in the world. The problem was that they could no longer concentrate that strength anywhere.
Fighting on two fronts was already pushing them to their limits. Adding a third front threatened to shatter the entire structure. And if the Beast Pirates committed even more forces, the situation could become completely unsustainable.
Meanwhile, countless factions hidden in the shadows began stirring.
To them, Whitebeard's territory resembled a wounded giant. A giant still capable of killing anyone who approached. But a giant that was finally bleeding.
Many pirate crews hoped to seize islands. Others hoped to plunder resources. Some merely wanted a share of the spoils.
Even a bowl of soup from such a feast would be enough to make them rich.
The Whitebeard Pirates had expanded through decades of conflict.
They had defeated countless enemies.
Naturally, they had also accumulated countless grudges.
Previously, those enemies had remained silent.
Whitebeard's strength was too overwhelming. No one dared challenge him. But circumstances had changed.
The enormous territory controlled by the Whitebeard Pirates now resembled a massive piece of meat surrounded by hungry predators.
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for the first wound to deepen.
Waiting for the first crack to appear.
Waiting for the moment they could rush forward and tear away a piece for themselves.
The Whitebeard Pirates had never faced a situation this dangerous. Their position had become extraordinarily precarious.
And the storm had only just begun.