Cake Island.
"Nani?! That bastard Ochoku actually wants to make a move at a time like this?!"
Big Mom, who had already entered her labor period, was furious. She hadn't expected Sleeping Island—territory she already considered to be in her pocket—to be targeted by Ochoku.
Especially since he had chosen the moment she was at her weakest to launch an attack.
"Mother, please calm down. We have no control over him choosing this timing. According to current intelligence, Ochoku has gathered at least 7,000 pirates."
Seven thousand men was an enormous force at this stage. The Big Mom Pirates, excluding the Homies Big Mom created, only had about that many in total. Considering they needed to leave people behind to guard their base, they could only mobilize three to four thousand at most.
Ochoku had directly pulled out 7,000 men. Adding in those left behind, he likely commanded close to 20,000 pirates.
When the Marines fought Whitebeard, they deployed 100,000 troops. But those were elite soldiers with firm conviction. Ochoku's 20,000 were mostly cannon fodder who would scatter at the first sign of danger.
"What should we do, Perospero…? I don't want that bastard Ochoku to swoop in and steal the prize!"
Sweat covered Perospero's forehead… At this stage, Ochoku's deterrence was roughly on par with Big Mom's. Both were legendary great pirates. It would only be in the future that the gap between Yonko and non-Yonko would truly widen.
Asking Perospero to solve Ochoku… It really felt like throwing a mere catfish spirit against the Monkey King.
"How about… we invite Vane to Cake Island? He surely understands what kind of person Ochoku is. Cake Island is closer. If he's willing to come, we can work together with the Shipping King and transport all the resources over."
Big Mom narrowed her eyes. A Homie carrying a Den Den Mushi bearing her distinctive features appeared.
Perospero quickly dialed Vane's Den Den Mushi. After several "purururu" sounds, the call connected.
"Hello~ This long-tongued voice simulation—Perospero, my dear brother-in-law, right? What's this, calling at a time like this to increase your weapons quota? No problem at all. I've recently expanded—"
Vane's voice sounded extremely relaxed, without the slightest hint of urgency.
Perospero, on the other hand, spoke with tension in his voice.
"Vane, you know, don't you? Ochoku of Hachinosu Island has set his sights on your Sleeping Island."
"Oh, you mean Ochoku? Of course I know. I even know it was my neighboring island's Pizarro who lured that guy over."
Perospero said, "That's Ochoku with a bounty of 2.4 billion Belly—more than double your 1.1 billion! Aren't you nervous at all? You're not his match… come to Cake Island."
"As long as you come to Cake Island, Ochoku won't dare attack here!"
The Den Den Mushi revealed a faint, enigmatic smile.
"Have me go to Cake Island… Even you don't have the authority to make that decision on your own, do you? Big Mom is right there beside you."
"I've managed Sleeping Island for over half a year now. I have absolute feelings for this place. As for making me leave because of Ochoku? He's not capable of that."
Since she had already been exposed as present, Big Mom finally spoke.
"Mamamama~ Vane, while Ochoku doesn't amount to much in my eyes, he was still a cadre under Rocks in the previous era. His strength is likely not something you can handle."
Big Mom looked down on Ochoku, but in her weakened state she didn't dare clash with him head-on—especially given his powerful pirate alliance.
In her view, Vane's actions were practically asking to get himself killed.
"Big Mom, I don't think much of Ochoku either. A guy who makes a big show but is actually an incompetent fool. He wants to recreate the glory of the Rocks Pirates, yet his own strength falls far short."
The men under Rocks who survived to this day were all monsters. Ochoku's subordinates were clearly nowhere near that level—and even then, he couldn't fully control them.
"You've only been in the New World for half a year, and you're already this arrogant? Nation-Slayer!"
Half a year isn't long enough? Big Mom probably couldn't even imagine that in the future, she would be defeated by the Straw Hat crew—who hadn't even been in the New World for a few months—along with the Heart Pirates and the Kid Pirates.
"I'm young. If I'm not a little high-spirited, can I even call myself young? If you want weapons, bring the money. My business won't stop just because of Ochoku."
With that, Vane hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Perospero was filled with dread. Someone had actually forcefully hung up on Mother. If Mother ever caught him, she'd definitely drain every last year of his lifespan!
"Mamamama… Young people these days really have no regard for their lives… Katakuri."
The man who had been standing to the side stepped forward immediately upon hearing Big Mom call him.
"You and Zeus go to Sleeping Island. See how the battle between Ochoku and Sleeping Island ends. If Sleeping Island loses, see if there's a chance to capture Vane and bring him back."
The thundercloud Zeus possessed its own intelligence. It could act independently, unleash terrifying lightning, and even came with Armament Haki.
Nami's rise in strength had depended on obtaining Zeus as her support.
"Understood, Mother."
"Mission will be completed, Mother."
...
The news that Ochoku would launch a large-scale assault on Sleeping Island had a tremendous impact. Almost no one believed Sleeping Island could win.
The enemy's pirate numbers nearly matched the island's resident population. Moreover, Ochoku's bounty was far higher than Vane's. With such a huge difference in bounty, the gap in strength should be just as large.
Foreign merchants and pirate figures all left Sleeping Island in a short time.
The Shipping King also temporarily halted large-scale shipments to Vane, sending only smaller goods meant for internal consumption.
"Why would Ochoku from Hachinosu Island travel all this way to attack Sleeping Island?"
"Yeah, this place is near Big Mom's territory. Between them are the seas of the Whitebeard Pirates and the waters influenced by Kaido of the Beasts. Even if he takes it, it won't be easy to rule."
"What do you know? He's after Sleeping Island's weapons production capability."
"What a pity. Sleeping Island probably won't survive this disaster."
Some people about to leave the island chatted idly at the docks.
A man with a camera hanging around his neck said,
"I wouldn't be so sure. Sleeping Island is a weapons-producing island. Its own firepower must be extremely formidable."
"After a few rounds of artillery bombardment, they might not even dare to advance."
He was from Morgans' newspaper. Others might leave—but he absolutely would not. As a journalist, he had to obtain firsthand material from a war like this.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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