"This matter is indeed an internal issue on our side. After we take Sleeping Island, let Pizarro be the second to claim the spoils."
Ochoku was also displeased about how easily the information had leaked. His own forces were like a sieve—no ruler would be happy about that.
"Hmph! I'll take all the gold from Sleeping Island as compensation!"
In this battle, everyone else—including Ochoku—could withdraw midway. Only Pizarro could not. If this war was lost, his Carnival Island would fall under Sleeping Island's control.
Several captains showed dissatisfied expressions, especially the Tree-Tree Fruit user with a bounty of 500 million Belly. He was Ochoku's number one subordinate; at best, Pizarro ranked second.
"Pizarro, don't be too greedy. Sleeping Island has been operating for half a year—who knows how much money they've made. If you take it all, what will the rest of us get?"
"When the time comes, we'll let you take double the spoils. Don't forget that destroying Sleeping Island is already a huge benefit to your Carnival Island."
Ochoku offered Pizarro more benefits while also stabilizing the others, making sure he wouldn't dominate alone.
"In fact, distributing things now is meaningless. Why not reward based on merit? Whoever can take the head of a Rocket Team pirate officer will receive greater rewards."
Sleeping Island studied Hachinosu Island, and naturally Hachinosu Island studied Sleeping Island as well.
They weren't entirely sure which officer on Sleeping Island was the strongest, but they could at least identify who the officers were.
"Hahaha, what about capturing them alive? No need to make it so bloody. I've heard that Vane has several very beautiful lovers by his side, and there's an officer named Hancock who's said to be a rare beauty in the world. I've been eyeing her for a long time."
"You bastard, sooner or later you'll die on a woman's belly."
"Don't underestimate Sleeping Island either. I've heard there are quite a few ability users among them. If any of you accidentally die at the hands of one, don't blame me for inheriting your fleet and women!"
That was how their pirate alliance worked. If a companion died, whoever arrived first claimed everything—the fleet and the women alike. Anyone who disagreed would be thrown into the sea to feed the Sea Kings.
…
In the waters around Sleeping Island, several ships were observing from afar.
They weren't ships from Hachinosu Island, but observation vessels from other forces.
For example, Katakuri's ship. This time, Katakuri hadn't brought many people and had only sailed out on a small boat.
"Katakuri, shouldn't we get a little closer? I can't see anything at all."
The thundercloud Zeus floated beside Katakuri, complaining that he couldn't see the situation clearly.
"Zeus, this distance is enough. Our relationship with Sleeping Island is ambiguous. If we get any closer, we risk being mistaken for reinforcements."
The outside world knew that his sister Galette had married Nation-Slayer Vane, becoming one of the largest arms dealers of Sleeping Island. If he showed up here and got too close, even he would think of himself as reinforcements.
"What a hassle."
"If you really want to see, Zeus, you could disguise yourself as an ordinary cloud and go take a look."
"On second thought, forget it. I'm scared too."
Deep down, Zeus was actually a cowardly thundercloud, fragile at heart. Without Big Mom by his side, he was easily intimidated by others.
Katakuri's Observation Haki spread outward. He wasn't sure which factions the nearby ships belonged to, but he was certain that agents of the World Government were on at least one—perhaps several—of them.
All of them had come either to watch the outcome or to pick up the scraps.
If he had to choose someone to win, Katakuri hoped it would be Vane.
Before coming, he had secretly contacted Galette on Sleeping Island, telling her that if she wished, he could take her away from the island.
But his sister had refused to leave.
As the most devoted brother in their family, Katakuri naturally wanted his sister to remain safe. The cooperation between the Big Mom Pirates and the Rocket Team pirates had been pleasant enough. He had no ties whatsoever with Ochoku, so in his heart he definitely supported the Rocket Team pirates.
"Defending the island… Is it confidence in strength, or just arrogance? Let me see."
…
Ochoku's pirate alliance finally entered the waters of Sleeping Island. As most had expected, the alliance adopted no strategy at all; all ships charged straight at Sleeping Island from the front.
"Foolish pirates, attacking from the front. Aren't they worried that an island producing weapons like Sleeping Island would have powerful firepower?"
A World Government agent aboard one of the observation ships sneered at Ochoku's actions.
An arrogant pirate without strategy like this would never achieve greatness.
"All hands, prepare yourselves!"
"Enemy ships spotted!"
"Man the cannons! Be ready to fire at any moment!"
The dock was bustling with people. Two enormous giant figures stood at the rear, exuding a certain oppressive presence. Vane had turned this battle into a miniature Marineford War.
"The target has entered a range of 4 kilometers!"
"The target has entered 3.5 kilometers!"
"The target is approaching 3 kilometers!"
At 3 kilometers, Ochoku's fleet had already begun loading cannonballs into their cannons. Another kilometer or two forward, and they would begin bombarding the dock.
At that moment, however, they saw a blue-white point of light rise from the direction of the dock.
Ochoku's gaze sharpened slightly, and his hand unconsciously gripped the treasured blade at his waist.
The blue-white point of light rose high into the sky—then plunged straight down into the sea.
The churning surface of the ocean froze instantly. Ochoku and the others watched with their own eyes as the ice spread toward them. Most of them were powerless to stop it.
Only Ochoku moved.
He leapt high into the air, releasing large amounts of black, viscous liquid from both hands. Like a massive net, it adhered to his great ship.
When the freezing wave arrived, he exerted sudden force, lifting his ship out of the sea. The other ships were frozen into the water; only his vessel landed atop the ice.
"What's going on? How could it freeze from such a distance?"
Everyone knew that Vane was a Mythical Zoan fruit user with ice-related abilities.
But to freeze the sea from several kilometers away—wasn't that something only the Navy's Vice Admiral with the Ice-Ice Fruit could do? Had he come to join the battle?
"The ice extends several kilometers behind us too!"
In other words, they were frozen in the middle. Even if they chipped their ships free, they would still have to push them across several kilometers of ice!
Did they think everyone was a monster like Whitebeard, capable of stopping ships with bare hands? Most of them would be exhausted to death.
"An unfavorable start… The enemy might be stronger than we imagined."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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