Chapter 290: Urgency
The situation in the New World remained as turbulent as ever.
Led by Sakazuki, the Marines launched a four-pronged offensive, sweeping across all fronts. Even the notorious pirate "Mad Wolf" Denra was killed on the spot, their overwhelming force sending shockwaves throughout the world.
This made the pirates of the New World acutely aware of one undeniable truth: The Marines remained the dominant force.
Although the Marines had suffered two defeats at Rhodes's hands, with even the Fleet Admiral being bested in combat, their sheer scale and terrifying lineup were unmatched by any other power.
Kuzan had departed, but Ryokugyu and Issho had arrived. Even setting aside the aging Sengoku and Garp, there were still four top-tier combatants like Sakazuki and Borsalino, and Momousagi and Chaton were formidable forces in their own right.
But what proved even more terrifying was this:
The Marines weren't rushing for quick victories. Instead, they advanced methodically and deliberately.
They constructed one impregnable fortress after another, conquered neutral islands, established supply depots, and demonstrated an organizational capability that pirate crews could never hope to match.
"A storm is coming..."
a prominent pirate captain murmured, his gaze fixed on distant Dressrosa.
Everyone understood that once Sakazuki solidified his position in the New World, his first target would undoubtedly be the Thunder God Swordsman.
This wasn't merely because the Thunder God Swordsman had repeatedly challenged the Marines and the World Government, but also because he remained a rising power, far inferior to the Yonko in terms of military strength, alliances, and territorial influence.
In truth, aside from Rhodes's personal strength, Dressrosa couldn't even compare to the Blackbeard Pirates—partly due to its location at the forefront of the New World.
Meanwhile, in Dressrosa,
at the highest point of the royal palace,
Rhodes faced the rising sun, radiating brilliant golden light—not merely the sun's radiance, but also the luminescence of faith itself.
The two combined, making Rhodes's figure appear from afar like a towering presence, inspiring reverence among the people of Dressrosa.
"Hoo."
After some time, Rhodes slowly opened his eyes and exhaled.
The breath shot forth like an arrow, extending dozens of meters, hissing through the air as though piercing the atmosphere itself.
"Armament Haki..."
Rhodes slowly extended his palm, and with a thought, a substantial amount of Armament Haki manifested, coating his hand.
The enhanced Armament Haki appeared dark and unassuming, yet possessed a molten, flowing quality—incredibly powerful.
"This level should surpass Jinbe's by a fair margin, approaching the peak of Armament Haki mastery."
Rhodes clenched his fist, sensing the Armament Haki coating his palm, a contemplative expression crossing his face.
The battle at Punk Hazard had yielded considerable Faith Power, though not enough to evolve his physique to the next stage, so Rhodes had channeled it into strengthening his Armament Haki.
Dispersing his Armament Haki, Rhodes slowly stood, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance.
From his vantage point, the vast expanse of Dressrosa lay almost entirely beneath him, granting him a transcendent sense of control and authority.
He lowered his gaze slightly, looking toward Dressrosa proper.
With Rhodes's victory over Sakazuki, his reputation had soared, and the underground trading market in Dressrosa gradually revived, becoming increasingly prosperous.
In this chaotic world, the most crucial elements of trade were security and a sufficiently powerful intermediary.
Previously, the Donquixote Family had relied on Doflamingo's Celestial Dragon heritage.
Rhodes, however, relied on his world-renowned strength and prestige.
As for the threat of Marine intervention, those engaged in underground commerce paid it little mind.
Of course,
Rhodes had established certain boundaries, such as prohibiting the slave trade entirely.
With merchants coming and going, Dressrosa's economy improved dramatically, and the citizens' faces radiated contentment and ease—a picture of peace and prosperity.
Unfortunately,
they remained unaware of the crisis Dressrosa was about to face.
Rhodes shook his head inwardly, his gaze shifting toward the distant sea.
"The Marines..."
he murmured softly, a sense of urgency welling within him.
The Marines' power was simply overwhelming. Bearing the banner of justice and backed by the World Government, their strength was something even the Yonko crews could barely withstand.
Once Sakazuki finished consolidating Marine Headquarters, Dressrosa would inevitably face its greatest challenge yet.
Facing the Marines with their current strength and influence would lead to virtually one outcome: defeat and forced retreat.
A Fleet Admiral and three Admirals—the combined might of these forces exceeded Rhodes's capabilities, not to mention the likely involvement of their old adversary, CP0.
"If I were an ordinary person, I'd be completely helpless in this situation. But me? It seems I can still put up a fight."
Rhodes smiled faintly, finding a measure of humor in his predicament.
It wasn't overconfidence, but rather a clear-eyed assessment of his own limitations and the disparity in power.
If Garp and Sengoku joined the assault, he'd be better off making a hasty escape.
"No wonder Blackbeard risked infiltrating Impel Down to recruit a powerful crew. Without sufficiently strong subordinates, confronting the formidable Marines would be impossible."
Impel Down was no easy target to breach. Magellan was incredibly powerful, and the Doku Doku no Mi's abilities were amplified within Impel Down's sealed environment. In the original timeline, the Blackbeard Pirates had nearly been annihilated there.
But high risk brought high rewards.
Had Rhodes not intervened, Blackbeard would have emerged as the biggest victor of the Paramount War with those crew members, subsequently replacing the Whitebeard Pirates as a new Yonko.
"What can be done?"
Expanding one's forces essentially came down to training and recruitment.
Training was clearly too slow at this point.
Recruitment remained the only viable option.
But top-tier combatants were scarce in the world, and the World Military Draft had already claimed most of them, leaving only a handful. Even if found, they might refuse to join.
Therefore, the only alternative was recruiting specialized combat forces.
"The Mink Tribe, the Giant Tribe..."
Several days later, Dressrosa Palace.
Rhodes was receiving an unexpected visitor.
"Giggs, aligning yourself with me at this juncture isn't exactly a prudent choice."
The newcomer was none other than Giggs, the former lord of Aurora Island and a scientist specializing in explosive research.
The magnetic bombs he'd developed possessed extraordinary destructive power, several times more potent than conventional explosives.
"A helping hand in times of need is worth more than icing on the cake."
Giggs's eyes remained calm, though his heart was filled with resignation.
Aurora Island lay near the entrance to the New World, not far from Marine Headquarters, and possessed considerable resources—making it a prime target for Marine occupation.
Forced to flee, Giggs had gritted his teeth and decided to ally directly with Rhodes.
He sensed that this enigmatic and unpredictable man wouldn't be easily defeated by the Marines and possessed a promising future.
"..."
Rhodes understood perfectly well what motivated him but didn't call him out. He simply smiled and said, "In that case, report to the research division. I'll provide you with sufficient funding for your work."
Giggs's recruitment was an unexpected windfall.
It also revealed to Rhodes another avenue for expanding his power:
Technology.
(End of Chapter)
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