Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 962: Chapter 961: Scheming and Mutual Deception

The rules of pirates are ultimately rather loose. One is the highest-ranking official in the crew, the other a future successor. They’re both using every ounce of their strength to argue over the position of ”Defense Commander.”

Everyone makes their points clearly, and under their debate, if they don’t guard their home, it’s a tremendous loss for the Hundred Beasts.

The logic is there, and Kaidou almost bursts out laughing as he listens, but it’s a laughter born of anger.

”Shut up! You two, honestly follow me to the battlefield. Such a grand event is rare; the Navy has never mobilized so many forces at once, comparable only to the battle at Divine Valley.

If you shrink back now, how will you face even bigger events in the future!”

The War at the Summit is said to be the largest war the Navy has seen in decades, with a hundred thousand elite naval forces drafted from around the world, the Seven Warlords of the Sea forcibly summoned, the Navy Headquarters’ Three Great Admirals, the Navy Hero, the Navy Marshal.

Excluding any actors or slackers, and not considering damage to the surrounding environment, this lineup could firmly take down the Whitebeard Pirates.

Or rather, from the beginning, the World Government has been wary of the other Sea Emperors and prepared for any possibility.

Since the end of the battle at Divine Valley, Kaidou has experienced many great wars and fought against strong opponents, but he’s never seen such a crowded battle.

Divine Valley may not match the current forces in numbers, but at its peak with Rocks, along with a young Garp and Roger, the intensity of that battle was not low at all. At that time, Kaidou wasn’t even qualified to join the decisive battle.

For Whitebeard, he wants to rescue his son. For the Navy, they want to achieve their strategic goals and stabilize the sea’s order. But for Kaidou, the War at the Summit is his Paradise.

Others’ arrangements are up for negotiation, but neither Yamato nor Queen has any chance of escape.

”I object! Brother Kaidou! You know exactly my situation. At that place, do you want me to be a target?!”

Although the bounty poster still marks only alive, before he found some confidence on Banana Planting Island, but there’s always a risk that those guys might want to take him down.

Going out is one thing, but going to the enemy’s stronghold is quite another.

”Queen, think about it differently. Once you prove your strength, they won’t send small fry to trouble you. Isn’t this a once-and-for-all solution?”

Kaidou didn’t plan to let Queen and Yamato go, but he didn’t purely impose orders as captain, trying instead to entice them to join the battle voluntarily.

”But without the small ones, the bigger ones will come!”

”No, no, no, Queen, you’re mistaken. Such top-tier forces don’t have time for trivial assassinations. What you need to do is not avoid them, but make them fear attacking you. That’s the only way to gain true safety.

Besides, it’s not that easy for them to defeat the current you, isn’t it?”

Kaidou attempted to sway Queen by his logic, only that Queen felt something was off, and although Kaidou made some sense, it didn’t fit his situation.

”I object as well! Father, if you want to fight, just go by yourself! With or without me, it’s the same!”

”As long as you display enough strength in this war, I won’t care about you in the future, and the things you’ve done while out will be irrelevant.”

With his daughter, Kaidou used a different tactic, starting to make lofty promises.

”I wasn’t out to play! I was helping my adoptive father find something. What do you mean by ’not care’?”

”I mean I won’t ask you to train anymore. You’ll be thoroughly graduated. As long as you show enough strength, I’ll adhere to this promise.”

Kaidou set the standard as ”strong enough” but didn’t specify how strong, retaining the final interpretation of his words.

Yamato didn’t notice this loophole. Instead, she was drawn by Kaidou’s ”generous conditions,” immediately abandoning her previous stance and even starting her own warm-up.

”I understand! When do we set off?”

Yamato showed an extremely enthusiastic attitude, though she harbored other thoughts internally.

Usually, it’s not difficult to hoodwink her, but not by Kaidou. She already didn’t quite trust his words, and although she didn’t notice Kaidou’s final say, she has another idea.

[Anyway, Father’s going there to fight. Once he’s caught up in the battle, he wouldn’t think about me on this side. I just need to slack off somewhere. Foolish old man, don’t think you can string me along this time.]

[Why does my daughter’s brain seem to be missing something; whom did she inherit this from...]

Kaidou’s gaze met Yamato’s, and both worn eerie smiles. The war hasn’t started yet, but certain people have already begun their own scheming.

”That’s settled then, as for guarding Wano Kuni... you make the arrangements; you’re more adept at this than I am.”

In the end, Kaidou handed over the assignment of defense arrangements to Arceus, undecided about who should defend.

”Zeraora and Setsuna, Wano is entrusted to you two, with the Elephant Master recalled too. With it and the Gyarados outside, no fleet could approach.

Also, let Perona and Lammy assist in the defense; you know their abilities well. Even if there are small leaks, it’s nothing significant.”

”As you command.”

The couple plus the Elephant Master, which equates to the entire Fur Race being left in Wano Kuni, functioning as a kind of special labor for an ”allied state.”

”Ulti, Page One, you siblings will accompany me for a trip.”

”Yes.”

”Mandfeish, the defense work of the outer territories is up to you, and the remaining few Numberer are also under your command. And as for Shaina...”

”Lend me Shaina for a bit; it’s inconvenient not to fly when at Navy Headquarters.”

Among the high-level officials, only Shaina had yet to be assigned. As for Greninja, he hadn’t participated in external missions, always responsible for law enforcement in the Flower Capital, which this time was no exception.

Kaidou’s pre-selected crew includes King, Queen, Yamato, plus his eight-headed dragon, an intended group for creating chaos. Eyeing Shaina with Arceus still having no plans for her, he targeted this high-level force.

After all, suitable candidates for causing trouble at Marinfanto weren’t many; flying provided flexibility, and being strong ensured protection. So except for high-level officials, Kaidou didn’t plan to bring anyone else.

”Shaina, do you have any objections?”

”None, Holy Beast Master, if you don’t require me there, I can go anywhere.”

”Wahaha, then it’s decided. There are nine days until the war, from now on, everyone prepare for battle!”