https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1285-Sakazuki-s-Old-Man-Disagrees/13542336/
Chapter 1286: Kuro Must Not Fall!
Chapter 1286: Kuro Must Not Fall!
"What face? Who cares about face!"
Another voice barked from the Transponder Snail: "Your Navy is just the World Government's puppet. Naturally, our dignity matters more, Sakazuki. Don't you dare confuse priorities!"
"Right, stop being stubborn. The situation in New World can afford to ease off temporarily. Withdraw your forces and deal with the Revolutionary Army first", another voice chimed in from the Transponder Snail.
Sakazuki gritted his teeth. "Why now?! If we retreat, the pirates' arrogance will surge! We withdrew from the New World decades ago—now we're retreating again? Once we pull back our forces, we might lose the entire New World! Do you want the Navy crawling back to Marineford?!"
"Drop that! The priority is here—obey orders, Sakazuki!" a third voice snapped from the Transponder Snail.
Sakazuki countered, "What about Kuro? If we retreat, the pirates will unite against him!"
"We'll coordinate with Kuro. His base in Wano Country is secure—the Farming Region isn't easily breached. Compared to you, he's far more reasonable to negotiate with. Move out now—deal with the Revolutionary Army first!"
"Beep—beep—"
The Transponder Snail's line cut off, leaving only its mechanical buzz.
"Unforgivable!!!"
Sakazuki roared, crushing the Transponder Snail into molten shards. His lava-hot fist slammed onto the desk, burning a gaping hole through it. Flames erupted around the crater, engulfing the table in an instant.
The desk met its demise.
Ignoring the Navy scrambling to douse the flames, Sakazuki strode outside, barking, "Summon Fairy He!"
The Navy was divided across multiple fronts. While Tatsumaki remained in Mariejois to protect the capital, the rest mobilized fully. Yi Xiao fought on another front, while Sakazuki and Fairy He had recently converged after concluding a major campaign.
As Sakazuki stepped onto the deck for air, Fairy He's flagship docked alongside. A staircase extended from its hull to theirs. The aged, hunched figure of Fairy He approached slowly.
"Let me, an old man, think first", Fairy He interrupted Sakazuki's impending words. "They ordered you back, didn't they?"
Sakazuki glared at the sea, teeth clenched. "That bunch is unforgivable! Such a golden opportunity, and they throw it away!"
"I knew it." Fairy He massaged his brow. "When I heard the Revolutionary Army massed in New World, I feared this. The World Government prioritizes its own agenda—we're just puppets. We must obey."
"But this will have dire consequences!" Sakazuki shouted. "Since Whitebeard's era, to Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks, the Navy has nearly ended the Great Pirate Era. We finally stabilized the situation. Retreat now, and our prestige plummets! Pirates will think they've won, their arrogance exploding. The world will erupt in chaos again. All our efforts—wasted!"
"And Kuro? What happens to him if we retreat?!"
Fairy He's expression darkened.
He understood Sakazuki's point. The Navy had forced pirates into an uneasy alliance. Recently, Kuro dealt a crushing blow—eliminating Eustass Kid and Law, who inherited the New World territories of the fallen Four Emperors. Their defeat severely crippled pirate morale, pushing them to the brink. Continuing the assault would have sealed their downfall.
This was a golden opportunity. Even Fairy He, known for calculated strategies, believed they should press on, ignoring Sakazuki's ruthless tactics and Navy casualties.
War on the Grand Line inevitably brought losses. But a decisive victory could secure long-term peace—a price worth paying.
Yet now, retreat would render everything futile. Navy sacrifices wasted. New World pirates undefeated. The retreat's news would reignite global chaos. The battered pirate forces would surge anew, possibly restoring the Four Emperors' era of anarchy.
And Kuro.
Previously, even after seizing Wano Country and defeating the Four Emperors, pirates had opportunities to regroup. Kuro's isolation in Wano left pirates unbothered.
Now, the united pirate forces would turn their sights to Kuro in the New World's vulnerable rear.
Fairy He sighed. "The World Government won't let Kuro retreat."
Wano Country was too vital. Kuro's control ensured steady weapon supplies and Seastone production for the World Government. They'd never abandon it. If Kuro withdrew, Wano would fall to pirates or local usurpers, reverting to past chaos—a loss the World Government couldn't afford.
But staying meant immense pressure.
Kuro was formidable, but no single warrior could withstand endless waves of elite pirates. Attrition alone could break him. Worse, pirates would vie for his fallen prestige, fueling relentless assaults.
If he fell, the consequences would reverse everything. The Navy's most celebrated "Navy Hero" dying at pirate hands wouldn't just be a loss of face—it would be catastrophic.
"Provide support", Sakazuki growled. "Recall Kuro! Abandon Wano Country's strategy. If the World Government questions it, let the old man take responsibility. The Navy's future hinges on him—he must not fall, not even once!"
Once, Sakazuki cared little. Everyone had losses—public or secret. Even he had tasted defeat.
Victory and defeat were routine in war.
But a warrior who never lost—could never afford to lose.
Kuro's prestige was too great. A single defeat would shatter Navy morale. Death would be worse.
Especially for a young prodigy—his legacy must not be stained by failure.
He was the undisputed pillar of the Navy's future, recognized even by veterans like Sakazuki.
Kuro must not fall!
(End of Chapter)
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