Chapter 119: Great Battle About to Begin
Chapter 119: Great Battle About to Begin
The World Nobles also expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, with the Five Elders, and with both the Marines and the Army.
Never underestimate the influence of the Member Nations; many Member Nations have ties to World Noble Families.
Through the Member Nations, they can understand the World Government's actions and the current situation.
Such a rotten situation was unacceptable to the arrogant World Nobles.
They were even more furious, as they had given significant support to the World Government.
They provided money and people, yet this was the only result.
How could they be satisfied?
Every Celestial Dragon Family expressed their dissatisfaction, and the Celestial Dragon Council continuously pressured the Five Elders.
Some radicals even wanted to depose the Five Elders, believing they were incompetent and should be replaced.
But this was impossible.
The Five Elders actually wanted to as well, but they needed to wait for an opportunity.
Two years ago, the Intelligence Force of the Marines and the World Government suffered heavy losses, so they needed time to re-establish their plan.
They placed more Intelligence Force in the New World Center, outside the territory of the Rocks Pirates.
This was to prevent that incident from happening again.
The Marines and the Army also needed a certain amount of time to integrate.
Just as they had predicted, the Marines and the Army were full of contradictions and constantly at odds.
The Army looked down on the Marines' incompetence, while the Marines looked down on the Army as mere "recruits" who had never undergone any tempering.
Facing the Army, the previously fiercely competitive factions within the Marines instead united, facing the common enemy with shared hatred.
This temporarily enhanced the overall cohesion of the Marines.
The main reason was the sacrifice of the two Four Seas Governors, which greatly weakened the influence of the Four Seas Faction.
The Marines and the Army were incompatible, and the same was true for the high-ranking officers, including the Admirals and Vice Admirals.
Admiral "Brown Anaconda," a Logia-Type Mud-Mud Fruit Ability User.
Admiral "Storm Dragon," an Ancient Zoan Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Pterodactyl Form Ability User.
The high-ranking officers of the Army always faced the Marines with an arrogant attitude.
If it weren't for the suppression by the even more terrifyingly strong "Steel Bone" Kong, they would have already started fighting.
Strength is everything.
With Kong present, the ones in charge will always be the Marines; the Army is merely providing reinforcements.
And the Army was indeed sent by the World Government as support.
The Marines also needed the strength of the Army to face the Rocks Pirates, this great enemy.
Normally, the hostility between the Marines and the Army would be something the Five Elders hoped to see.
But now, only by truly uniting can they unleash greater strength.
Therefore, Kong had the support of the Five Elders behind him.
The integration of the Marines and the Army was a relatively long process.
Despite the Five Elders' warnings, implementing it in practice was difficult.
The Army and Marines seemed naturally opposed.
During this process, conflicts occurred among the lower-ranking Marines, Vice Admiral-level high-ranking officers, and even the Top Tier Combatants.
Two years was almost enough time.
Coupled with pressure from various sides, the Five Elders finally decided to act.
They would completely ignite the great battle, engage in slaughter, and divert the Rocks Pirates' attention away from the Member Nations.
Switching from defense to offense, they wouldn't allow the Rocks Pirates to be too idle.
Although the losses would increase, this was within expectations.
The Heavenly Tribute is the foundation.
The World Government is not afraid of a war of attrition.
Of course, most importantly, they could no longer allow the Rocks Pirates to continue their expansion and must curb their rising trend.
The Five Elders' command was issued.
The Joint Legion of the Marines and the Army was mobilized.
Marine warships sailed across The Great Sea like giant beasts.
They began advancing from the New World Front towards the rear.
Their speed was not fast.
The massive fleet was ultimately too small compared to the Great Sea.
Like a net, they drove out and captured the Pirates in their path.
With intelligence from the Marines and the World Government, many Pirates could not escape and were captured or killed.
Of course, the vast majority of Pirates had already fled at the first sign of trouble.
A total of five Admirals: "Steel Bone," "Evening Elephant," "Daytime Tiger," "Brown Anaconda," and "Storm Dragon."
Plus four Admiral Candidates and numerous powerhouses.
Such a Legion was simply unstoppable.
Currently, the Marines still have four Admiral Candidates.
Excluding the sacrificed Ferdinand and the one who lost an arm, Cruyff.
"Purple Lion" Messi and "White Rat" Ronaldo stepped forward, replacing their original positions.
This could be seen as compensation from Marine Headquarters to their factions, but who can truly say what the real purpose was?
The Marines had lost two Admiral Candidates, one dead and one crippled, so they indeed needed to replenish their ranks.
The World Government had prepared for an all-out war, ready to fight a tough battle, not the back-and-forth skirmishes from before.
Hades was not anxious about the Marines' actions.
Although he might be the primary target of the Marines and Army, judging by the direction the allied forces were coming from.
However, this would take at least another two months.
The allied forces needed to establish strongholds, supply points, military supplies, grain, and other necessities on important Islands along the way.
The Heavenly Tribute was spent like flowing water, not lasting long.
They relied more on the World Government's own foundation.
Or perhaps printing Beli.
To deal with the war actively initiated by the World Government, the Rocks Pirates would not simply watch.
Just the day after the news spread, the entire Rocks Pirates mobilized.
The entire Rocks Pirates went all out, bringing along all their Affiliated Pirate Groups.
And those Affiliated Forces would provide various supplies to the Rocks Pirates in this upcoming war.
With years of operation, the Rocks Pirates possessed a rich foundation.
Although it couldn't compare to the Heavenly Tribute, it wasn't far off.
Furthermore, the numerous Pirates in the Rocks Pirates did not require salary, nor did they need severance pay.
Even if they were buried in the sea.
From this moment on, they would all fight for their own survival.
The World Government's allied forces were clearly coming with the goal of destroying the Rocks Pirates.
(end of chapter)