Seeing that the Dream Team ignored them, the three CP0 members looked to the one wearing the lion mask.
They seemed to be waiting for orders.
The lion-mask CP0 also frowned. The fact that the Dream Exploration Team had gotten involved in the situation between the Kingdom of Magiatsuka and the World Government made things very difficult for the CP group.
They weren't allowed to start a fight with royal-level powers, and even if they could, they couldn't win. If this escalated, it would definitely force the Marines to step in.
And that was the last thing CP wanted.
But at this point, it was clear the Dream Team had already stepped in. The only option left was to retreat.
"We're leaving," the lion-mask CP0 said flatly.
The other three didn't say a word and followed him off the blood-soaked battlefield. They had to report what happened here to the World Government right away and wait for further orders.
As the four CP0 left, Kana and the other revolutionaries sat down on the ground. Their injuries were too serious to stay standing.
"Quick!"
"Treat the wounded!" The kingdom's army, which had just arrived, immediately called for the medics to begin helping.
"Huh???"
"It's already over?"
Just after CP0 had left, Nami, Robin, and Daisy arrived—only to find the battle was already done, with no sign of the enemy. Their faces showed clear disappointment.
"Nami? Robin? Daisy? You guys came too?" Nojiko asked in surprise.
Nami then told them what Ryuen had said earlier.
But after hearing her out, Kuina, Nojiko, and the others who had arrived first all had the same regretful look on their faces.
"What's wrong?"
"Ryuen said from now on we can do whatever we want. Isn't that great?" Nami noticed the odd looks on their faces and asked in confusion.
"They're thinking—if only you guys had arrived earlier, they definitely wouldn't have let those CP0 agents get away."
"Look, even Kuina can barely hold her sword steady," Sugar paused her blueberry snack and explained.
"Hahahaha~"
"You can still chase after them now, you know... anyway—"
Before Nami could finish her sentence, all anyone saw was a blur—and in the blink of an eye, Kuina, Hogg, and Nojiko were already gone!
"Uh…"
"They've already left. Isn't it kinda bad to still go chasing after them?" Reina muttered quietly, shrinking her neck a bit.
Kana and the other revolutionaries were speechless. To them, the Dream Exploration Team was really something else. The enemy had already retreated, yet they still wanted to chase them down and fight.
The medics quickly treated the wounded, and the bodies of the fallen soldiers were taken care of.
Witt and Princess Angela looked visibly upset.
Because technically speaking, in the Kingdom of Magiatsuka, Witt and the soldiers he brought were the only people Princess Angela could truly trust and rely on.
After handling the situation, the group was escorted by soldiers toward the port city.
....
New World, Marine Headquarters.
There was one piece of news in today's paper that made the Marines uneasy—and shocked the entire New World, except for the Four Emperors.
The Four Emperors had formed a military alliance!
What did that mean? It meant the whole balance of power on the seas was about to change!
Even though everyone knew the alliance was meant to counter the Marines' move into the New World, no one had expected them to actually team up.
After all, they were the Four Emperors!
Or rather, three of them—three kings standing at the top of the New World. Any one of them could shake the world with a single move.
The Marines looked at the paper with serious faces, filled with worry and unease.
They understood very well that this alliance was a huge challenge for them. The Four Emperors had already been tough to deal with—now, united, they were an even bigger threat that couldn't be ignored.
And for the other powers, the alliance was just as shocking.
They realized that surviving in these seas would now come with more pressure and fiercer competition. Many started thinking about their next steps—how to adjust and prepare for the storm ahead.
But in these turbulent waters, no one could predict what would happen next.
In the meeting room next to the Fleet Admiral's office, the mood was heavy and tense.
A few of the top Marine officers sat around a long table, staring at maps and intel reports, studying how to deal with the Four Emperors' alliance.
Fleet Admiral Akainu sat at the head of the table, his sharp eyes like a hawk's—like he could see straight through the enemy.
Admiral Kizaru sat leisurely to the side, playing with a nail clipper that made crisp little clicks now and then.
Admiral Fujitora quietly sipped his hot tea, calm and unreadable.
Vice Admiral Tsuru was flipping through documents with a sharp, thoughtful look, catching details others might miss.
Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku, in his colorful beach outfit, crouched nearby, feeding his beloved goat with paper.
"Looks like our move to take a third of Whitebeard's territory made the other three pirate crews feel threatened or upset~~~" Kizaru said slowly as he filed his nails.
"The people on their side aren't all short-sighted. It won't be easy for us to take action now." Fujitora took a light sip of tea, set the cup down, and spoke in a calm, steady tone.
"We've still got plenty of time." Akainu's voice was low and firm. He scanned the room, full of determination. "We've already taken a third of Whitebeard's territory. That's enough for a foothold in the New World. Now it's time to make our move. Those new-generation pirates are eyeing the Four Emperors' positions closely."
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded slightly in agreement. Her gaze landed on the map as she said calmly:
"Yeah, that's true."
"The Four Emperors' alliance may be strong, but it's not unbreakable. If we can take advantage of the conflicts and differences among them, we can find a way in."
"At the same time, we need to strengthen ourselves—boost our fleets' fighting strength and mobility to handle any challenges that come our way."
The meeting room fell into a brief silence. Everyone was deep in thought, trying to figure out the next move.
They knew very well that against a powerful enemy like the Four Emperors alliance, any decision had to be made with extreme caution. One wrong step could cost them everything.
But they also believed this—
With the Marines' strength and intelligence, they would definitely find a way to turn things around and protect the peace and stability of the world.
Just then, the door to the meeting room opened. A Marine soldier walked in holding a document, handed it to Brannew, saluted, and left.
Brannew skimmed through it quickly, then stepped up to Akainu and handed it over. "Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, a direct order from the World Government."
Akainu, chewing on his cigar, took the document and read through it.
"Bastards!"
"Useless trash from the World Government!"
---
You can read 10 Chapters ahead on my
pat reon.com/GMadman