The battle on the border between the Barrid Kingdom and the Dunlite Kingdom had ended. Although it wasn't the biggest conflict between the two nations, the level of bloodshed was exceptionally brutal. Most importantly, it marked the largest clash between the Donquixote Family and the Garfield Pirates in recent times.
The Donquixote Family's forces consisted of the Dunlite Kingdom's 30,000 troops, the Spade Army, and 2,000 regular subordinates. Their opponents were the Barrid Kingdom's 25,000 troops and the Garfield Pirates' three island-ruler level officers and their 3,000 pirate subordinates.
In this battle, the Barrid Kingdom and the Garfield Pirates were soundly defeated by Pica's hundred-meter-tall, constantly regenerating rock giant and the attacks of the Spade Army.
The Barrid Kingdom's 25,000 troops were almost completely wiped out, with fewer than a thousand retreating from the battlefield. Of the Garfield Pirates' three island-rulers, two were seriously wounded, and only a few hundred of their 3,000 pirates remained.
As soon as the battle ended, it immediately made headlines in major newspapers. Many factions were surprised, speculating on the meaning of the conflict, as it was the most intense clash between the two sides in years.
However, how could the Garfield Pirates, who had suffered such a great loss, not retaliate?
Less than three days later, they struck back. Led by the Garfield Pirates' First Mate, Elroy the Speedster, they deployed four island-ruler level officers, 3,500 elite pirate subordinates, and were supported by 50,000 troops from the Barrid Kingdom. They successfully breached a fortress on the Dunlite Kingdom's border.
In that battle, the entire border fortress of the Dunlite Kingdom was reduced to ruins. The kingdom's army suffered nearly 40,000 casualties. The Donquixote Family also suffered heavy losses; most of their 3,000 subordinates were killed in action, and many of the Diamond Army's officers were seriously wounded.
Diamante, in particular, who was fighting Elroy the Speedster, would have been slain on the spot if Señor Pink hadn't rescued him in time.
This development made many factions hold their breath. They even thought that the Garfield Pirates and the Donquixote Family would madly reinforce Aznat Island for an all-out war, and the final outcome of the battle could lead to a small-scale reshuffle of the underworld and the New World.
However, to the surprise of many factions, after both sides suffered losses in the two battles, both the Garfield Pirates and the Donquixote Family fell silent. While they were both replenishing their numbers and various supplies, they only sent ordinary subordinates as reinforcements, not a single officer.
In the time that followed, the two sides maintained a standoff along the border. There were minor skirmishes every few days, but not a single officer-level expert intervened, as if they were wary of each other.
"What game are they playing?"
Caesar, on the Fernal Archipelago, was somewhat puzzled. But since the other side hadn't sent any officer-level reinforcements, he hadn't either. After all, officer-level fighters weren't easily replaced, and he was afraid that this might be a ploy to lure him out.
The Garfield Pirates' arms factories were located on the various islands of the Fernal Archipelago. If the enemy were to infiltrate and destroy them, would there even be a war to fight?
On the other hand, he still didn't know the exact location of Doflamingo's arms production facilities. Moreover, Doflamingo could buy arms from the Clifford Kingdom, while he had angered the Chris Pirates by robbing their merchant ship.
Comparing the two, it was best to stand still if the enemy didn't move and only react if they did.
....
The Royal Plateau of Dressrosa.
"Fufufufu~ Let them fight it out, let them fight until they've bled out every last drop! Let's see how they'll fight me then. Fufufufufu~"
Doflamingo sat on his throne, his arms spread wide and his fingers curled into claws. He grinned widely, his sinister laughter echoing throughout the palace hall.
Three months passed in a flash, and a new force, belonging to none of the four major powers on the island, landed on Aznat Island.
Night fell, and a small port in the Dunlite Kingdom was now under the control of the Donquixote Family, and a total lockdown had been implemented.
Soon, three large, fully armed ships arrived under the cover of night. As the ships approached, everyone noticed that their sails bore two symbols: a red clover, the merchant guild's emblem, and a Golden Ring Jolly Roger, the emblem of the Chris Pirates. They appeared to be merchant ships under the Chris Pirates' command.
However, after these warships-disguised-as-merchant-ships docked, a large number of fully armed personnel disembarked, along with a variety of firearms, rocket launchers, and other military supplies.
Tap, tap, tap, tap... Tap, tap, tap, tap...
A group of formidable individuals walked onto the port. The crisp sound of their high-quality crocodile leather boots echoed on the wooden ground.
Of the dozen or so people, four were at the forefront. One was a tall, thin young man in a light-colored shirt and a blue coat, with a dagger made of beast fangs and a refined ivory flintlock pistol at his waist. He seemed to have an extraordinary demeanor.
The other three were a tall, thin man with yellow, pointed teeth; a broad-shouldered man with messy blonde hair; and a man nearly three meters tall in a short-sleeved shirt with a triangle tattoo on his arm.
"Welcome, everyone. I didn't expect you to use merchant ships as a cover."
Gladius, in a black uniform and face mask, walked towards them. Behind him was an elderly bald man with bulging veins on his head—Lao G.
"Welcome, you G! Now that you're here, you'll definitely help us teach those bastards a lesson G!" Lao G said, making his "G" hand sign with both hands.
"We had to fool those guys. More people will be arriving in a few days," Dimitri said with a smile, shaking hands with Gladius. "Once our people are all here, we'll give those guys a nice surprise."
"Oh~ Are one of those two coming?" Gladius was surprised and couldn't help but ask.
"No. Oliver had a new realization about swordsmanship and is currently in seclusion, and Arlan is tied up managing all the affairs of the country and can't leave," Dimitri said, shaking his head.
"That's a real shame."
Gladius's tone was full of regret. He was aware of the close collaboration between the Donquixote Family and the Chris Pirates, so he naturally knew how powerful Oliver, the Head of Combat and First Mate, and Arlan were.
He knew that the family's four top officers were not necessarily their match. At the very least, Diamante, a top officer of the Diamond Army, was completely outmatched when he sparred with Oliver. Even Arlan, who had sparred with Pica, had blown him away to the point where he didn't dare to show his head.
This was why Gladius was so respectful. After all, strength was what commanded respect.
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my patreon ——— patreon(.)com/JuanFiction [remove the parentheses ( )]
There are over 100 advance chapters available for you!