It wasn't just Marine, the World Governnt, or Claudius working tirelessly to develop their influence and recruit talents. Every major faction was doing the sa. The Revolutionary Army was moving in silence, and of course, the pirates were constantly expanding their ranks.
Among the pirates, the ones developing their operations most aggressively were Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, Doflamingo, and Crocodile.
Even Enel could be counted in this group. Having ventured into the New World, he was carving a na for himself. Given two more years, he could likely take up the mantle of a Seven Warlords of the Sea without much difficulty.
As for Whitebeard, Newgate's faction wasn't showing the sa explosive growth. The Whitebeard Pirates felt like they were on the defensive, lacking the sa aggressive expansion seen with others.
What set Linlin apart from the rest, though, was her thodology. While Doflamingo, Crocodile, and Kaido pursued power by "seeking a kingdom," carving out territories like Dressrosa, Alabasta, and Wano, Linlin's approach was entirely different.
Rather than seeking a kingdom, she had built one.
The "Whole Cake Island" region of Totto Land was the largest pirate nation in the New World. Comprising dozens of islands spread across an entire sea, it had developed rapidly, though it hadn't yet reached its peak. Even now, its strength was undeniable.
Normally, forming a pirate nation of this scale would require hundreds of years of accumulation. But Linlin managed it in re decades, and she used the most unconventional thods to do so.
By ensuring her personal strength remained unmatched and tirelessly expanding her family through relentless childbearing—ten or more children at a ti— Linlin rapidly grew her influence. Adding to this, her frequent marriages and alliances brought in talent and power, further solidifying her empire.
Through these political marriages, Linlin recruited skilled individuals from across the sea, strengthening the foundation of Totto Land. And now, her sights had fallen on Gild Tesoro—a rising star in the dark world.
Tesoro's background was clean, supported by CP-X and the World Governnt, so much so that even the renowned intelligence network of the Big Mom Pirates couldn't uncover any skeletons in his closet.
As a ruler of such an expansive system, Linlin was constantly in need of money. After all, any major power seeking to grow required massive financial resources to sustain their operations. Naturally, when a financial genius like Tesoro erged, Linlin's interest was piqued.
"I didn't expect this," Claudius murmured as he rubbed his chin, his tone contemplative.
It hadn't occurred to him that Tesoro would catch the attention of the Big Mom Pirates. Yet now, it seed like an opportunity worth seizing.
After thinking for a mont, Claudius asked, "So what's Marine planning to do about this?"
Sengoku smiled knowingly. "For the third ti, Your Highness, I must stress this is only an idea. We've been busy with internal restructuring over the past week and haven't formalized anything yet."
"Well, even if it's just an idea, let hear it. I'm curious," Claudius replied with a smirk.
"Why else would I bring CP-X into this? Without your assistance, any plan we make is dood to fail," Sengoku admitted openly.
Claudius raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "So, we're talking about a decapitation strike, aren't we?"
"Exactly. I knew you'd get it, Your Highness," Sengoku said, his tone a mix of relief and anticipation.
Before Claudius could respond, Sengoku continued, "As I said, this is only a concept right now. A large-scale war is off the table, it's neither practical nor tily. But if we rule out open warfare, the best option is a surgical strike.
"If we can eliminate the head of the Big Mom Pirates—Charlotte Linlin herself—the entire Totto Land system would collapse. We wouldn't even need to intervene further; the sea's hungry wolves would descend and devour what's left."
"Sounds ambitious," Claudius remarked, though his expression didn't betray his thoughts.
"To pull it off, we need the right timing and the right tools. Linlin's tea party provides the perfect opportunity, and CP-X is the perfect tool," Sengoku said firmly.
Claudius stared at Sengoku with a peculiar expression. Monts ago, the fleet admiral had claid this was "just an idea," yet now he was outlining the plan in ticulous detail. Clearly, Sengoku had thought this through.
Sengoku ignored Claudius's skeptical look and pressed on. "The tea party will gather the upper echelon of the Big Mom Pirates, leaders who are usually spread across Totto Land. On any other day, it's impossible to target them all effectively.
"But at the tea party, they'll all be in one place. A decisive strike could capture or eliminate a significant portion of their leadership."
"Wait a second," Claudius interjected. "You're talking about capturing them all? Don't you think that's a bit... overambitious?"
Sengoku chuckled sheepishly. "It's not about capturing everyone, just as much as we can. The more, the better."
Claudius leaned back, crossing his arms. "And you're confident you can handle that? What if the tables turn? Who's the hunter, and who's the prey in this scenario?"
"With CP-X on board, I believe we can control the situation," Sengoku replied confidently.
"Are you sure?" Claudius pressed, narrowing his eyes.
Sengoku hesitated briefly but then nodded. "If you commit your resources fully, I'd say it's a solid bet."
Claudius rolled his eyes. "I knew it. You're just trying to drag into this ss."
"Co now, Your Highness," Sengoku said with a grin. "Punishing evil and promoting good, it's our shared responsibility, isn't it? You're not afraid of a little pirate, are you?"
Though Claudius saw through the provocation, he couldn't help but smirk. "A little pirate? You're underestimating Linlin. But fine, I'll bite. I've never been one to back down from a challenge."
Sengoku's grin widened. "Exactly. With Marine's top-tier forces and CP-X's expertise, we can strike a devastating blow. We've done it before—Byrnndi World, Douglas Bullet. This is no different."
Claudius mulled it over. It was true, Marine and CP-X had successfully collaborated on high-profile takedowns before. And yet, sothing about this plan seed... overly ambitious.
Before he could voice his doubts, the door to the office opened, and Vice Admiral Gion entered. Her sharp gaze imdiately locked onto Claudius, her expression cold.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the venue is ready. The inaugural speech can begin," Gion said crisply.
Sengoku nodded. "Understood."
Gion turned to leave but not before giving Claudius another piercing glare.
"What was that about?" Claudius asked, genuinely puzzled.
Sengoku chuckled. "Your Highness, you really don't rember? You arranged for Mihawk to challenge our swordsn at Naval Headquarters. Gion was one of his opponents."
"Oh, I see," Claudius said, scratching his head. "Let guess—she lost?"
"In terms of pure swordsmanship, yes. But in overall strength, it was more of a draw," Sengoku explained.
"No wonder she's glaring at ," Claudius said with a shrug.
Sengoku stood, gesturing toward the door. "Care to join for the speech?"
Claudius waved him off. "I'll pass. Global live broadcasts aren't my thing. I'll just offer my congratulations in advance."
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