The roar faded, leaving behind a heavy silence. Even the den den mushi looked drained, its tiny face slack from the effort of producing such a thunderous sound.
Aether casually picked his ear, his tone turning serious.
"Linlin, you started this war. You knew Fish-Man Island was under my protection, yet you still sent those three here. That tells you don't take seriously."
There was a brief silence on the other end. When Charlotte Linlin spoke again, her voice had steadied, though a trace of restraint lingered beneath it.
"When I sent them, you hadn't raised your flag over Fish-Man Island yet. By rights, it wasn't yours at the ti. Let's settle this. Release them, and I will send one of my daughters to marry your son as compensation."
Aether's eyelids twitched slightly.
So that's your idea of an apology. You're not even trying to hide your intentions.
He did not bother calling her out.
"Linlin, stop wasting ti. Ace's marriage is his own choice, I won't interfere. If your daughter is capable, she can try to win him over herself. Now listen carefully. Withdraw your forces from the border and pay 10 billion Berries. Do that, and I will release them unhard."
He ant every word. Whether Ace accepted or not was irrelevant, and Rouge would not tolerate such an arrangent. If she learned he had bargained her and Roger's son away, she would not hesitate to tear him apart.
"Impossible, Roger. You expect to pay 10 billion Berries? That would disgrace Totto Land. I will withdraw my forces, nothing more."
"No. The 10 billion Berries is not negotiable."
"Roger, you will regret this."
The line cut off with a sharp beep.
Aether lowered the den den mushi slowly, already certain of what would co next. The conflict between two Emperors had just escalated. Charlotte Linlin would not sit still after this.
"Good. If we don't settle this properly, you'll keep stirring trouble."
Holding the largest territory among the Yonko ant constant challenges. Strength had to be proven, not once, but repeatedly. Otherwise, peace would never last.
He imdiately contacted another den den mushi.
"Rayleigh, Linlin knows Katakuri has been captured. She's preparing to move. Where are you?"
"I'm still a few hours from Raina Island. Can't you hold her off for now?"
"...You know how she is."
The call ended.
Aether calculated quickly. If Rayleigh reached Raina Island in a few hours, then even if Big Mom mobilized imdiately, the eastern front would hold.
The bigger concern lay elsewhere.
Three forces required attention. The most dangerous was Kaido. Given his ties with Big Mom, there was a real chance he would strike from the north while Aether's forces were tied down.
Even if Kaido had no intention of occupying territory, he would plunder everything, wealth, resources, even people. That alone was enough to cause serious trouble.
After Kaido ca the Blackbeard Pirates and the Marines.
Blackbeard had just been driven off recently, so he was unlikely to return imdiately, unless the war dragged on long enough to present an opportunity.
The Marines posed the least threat for now. Their own responsibilities would keep them occupied, making large-scale intervention in the New World unlikely.
Aether made two more calls.
He instructed Marco to hold position and wait for Rayleigh's arrival. Jozu, on the other hand, was ordered to disengage and withdraw from the north, avoiding further clashes with Queen.
After Jack's repeated failures, Kaido had sent Queen the Plague to take command. The man was not only a brilliant scientist but also a powerhouse, easily matching Diamond Jozu. Their battle had already lasted two days without a clear victor.
After finishing his calls, Aether turned to Shirahoshi. She was watching him with wide, curious eyes.
"Shirahoshi, once we return to Fish-Man Island, I'll have to leave for a while. Sorry, I won't be able to stay and play with you."
She smiled gently.
"It's okay, Brother Aether."
At the sa ti, the eastern and northern fronts sprang into action.
On Raina Island, Marco ordered the highest level of alert. Signals echoed across the island as subordinate pirate crews were summoned. More than ten captains gathered quickly, including Flower Sword Vista.
"What's going on, Marco?" one of them asked. "Why call a full alert like this?"
Marco did not hide anything.
"Big Mom is coming in person. Her goal is to capture us and exchange us for Katakuri. She should arrive within half a day. Prepare yourselves."
The ntion of Katakuri's capture brought brief excitent, but it quickly faded under the weight of the next revelation.
Vista frowned.
"Can we stop her? Or will Aether intervene?"
"I can't stop her alone," Marco admitted. "But Rayleigh is on his way. He's strong enough to face her."
The na alone steadied the room.
Dark King Rayleigh was a legend, equal in reputation to any Emperor. With his restored vitality, few doubted his ability to stand against Big Mom.
While the east prepared for battle, the north moved differently.
Jozu had already begun withdrawing. Supplies were packed and transported with urgency. He intended to leave nothing behind for the Beasts Pirates.
Even during the retreat, he managed to send a call to the rear.
That single call set another force in motion.
From Sphinx Island, a pirate ship bearing two flags set sail. It belonged to the Spade Pirates, led by Fire Fist Ace.
At his side stood a striking woman with long, wavy golden hair.
Back at sea, Wadatsumi continued pulling the ship forward. After hours of effort, the light of the Sunlight Tree Eve beca visible in the distance. Fish-Man Island was close.
Suddenly, sothing at Aether's waist grew hot.
He took it out and saw the Beherit of the King.
"So it begins. A feast where demons gather, and humans are nothing but offerings."
His lips curved slightly, eyes gleaming with interest rather than fear.
"Gods, is it? Let's see what you really are."
He turned to Shirahoshi.
"I need to step into the cabin for about twenty minutes. Stay here."
"Okay."
With her agreent, Aether activated the Beherit without hesitation.
A crimson light flickered.
In an instant, the worn cabin vanished, replaced by a dark, grotesque world.
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