https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1310-We-Will-Combat-in-Every-Place-/13542754/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1312-Let-the-Spider-Clan-Expand-/13542756/
Chapter 1311: No Weaklings, Only Strong Men
Chapter 1311: No Weaklings, Only Strong Men
This was a battle between one hundred thousand Marine Elites and the Whitebeard Pirates. The certainty of victory was absolute. In the Grand Line, the Navy was naturally the supreme ruler.
But this assumption had a prerequisite: pirates wouldn’t unite as they did now.
The Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the Navy had once formed a balanced triad of influence. However, the first two factions were both "pirates", though not a unified force.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea were seven Great Pirates. Even in the New World, they were merely silver-medal contenders. The Four Emperors were four sea emperors, each commanding the Navy’s utmost caution.
Currently, the Seven Warlords of the Sea operated under Kuro’s command. The old Four Emperors were gone, and the so-called new Four Emperors had already lost two members. While this made them easier to handle than before, new problems had emerged.
The Navy was now fully engaged in war against New World pirates. Its elites, including an Admiral, were holding the frontlines. Extracting troops to deal with the two remaining new Four Emperors would be difficult.
He said, "If you lead personally, and with Kuzan back, we could attempt to advance the frontlines."
"There’s no time for that, He Popo."
Kuro replied, "I’ve calculated this. It would take at least three years to see results, five years to gradually suppress the pirates, and seven years to completely eliminate their arrogance. This estimate assumes no major setbacks, like another Luffy disrupting the Grand Line. This timeline is too long, but my superiors only gave me one year. You know this. The Revolutionary Army has launched a full-scale offensive now. I don’t have time to spare—I must take an unconventional approach."
He pulled out a cigar box, took a cigar, bit it, lit it, and exhaled smoke. "Maintaining the frontlines is enough. Slow down appropriately. Pirates won’t truly unite into a single force. As long as we eliminate Luffy and Blackbeard, the rest can be dealt with gradually."
Pirates would never disappear entirely due to the nature of the Grand Line. Ending the pirate era meant eliminating only the most threatening ones—that would suffice.
"Send Kuzan to the frontlines. He’s an old Navy man; his command skills are top-tier. He Popo, you’ll have to endure. You can’t retreat now—you must hold the frontlines. Then bring Yi Xiao here. Let him and I handle this decisive battle. As for other personnel… we’ll think of something else." Kuro exhaled more smoke.
Personnel were hard to mobilize now.
Renowned Vice Admirals had to guard key New World locations and couldn’t move freely. The same went for Marine Elites. Few remained available for deployment.
But—
"We may not match the Top War’s manpower this time, but our composition won’t be weaker!"
Kuro’s eyes sharpened. "I’m different from Sengoku. I’ll fight personally. No matter how many enemies come, I’ll crush them all!"
Unlike Sengoku, whose strategy during the Top War focused solely on eliminating Whitebeard and Ace while allowing others to escape, Kuro aimed for total annihilation. He wouldn’t care about terrain advantages this time.
"I’ll inform headquarters to treat this base as nonexistent. This time, I won’t hold back—no matter who the enemy sends."
He sighed. "If you have a plan, then this old woman will lend her remaining strength. I was about to retire, wondering if you had someone to replace me as Chief of Staff."
The Navy’s Chief of Staff had several qualified candidates.
Tina was one. As He’s elite officer, she had the qualifications, though her seniority was lacking.
Vice Admiral Zhuge Liang would also suffice, but his lack of combat record and relatively weak strength made his "justice of strategy" seem feeble in the Grand Line.
Then there was Black Wolf Klah under Kuro’s command—a man of both intelligence and strength. If Kuro wished, Klah could directly take the position.
"Now isn’t the time to discuss this. We’ll settle everything after the war. He Popo, help me coordinate. My elite forces will join the decisive battle directly. As for the rest, you’ll manage them. I don’t need many people—no need for defense, only offense. No weaklings, only strong men. This time, I’ll focus on an elite battle!"
Luffy’s crew was small, so Kuro didn’t need to deploy many officers against them. However, some forces were necessary to counter Marshall D. Teach. Yet too many troops would hinder Kuro’s own combat.
He’d had this idea during his previous fight with Blackbeard at G-3.
Too many personnel restricted his ability to unleash indiscriminate destruction.
Unlike Logia users, who could confine their attacks to specific areas, Kuro’s power required open space. If the area was too confined, his attacks would lose their impact.
But if all were Navy officers—especially the most elite—there’d be no problem. They could dodge on their own. Kuro wouldn’t need to hold back.
"You’re placing the entire burden on yourself", He Popo sighed. "What if you fail?"
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
Kuro’s gaze fixed ahead as he looked through the grand balcony toward the sky. "I cannot fail. You’re an old-timer too—you know Red-Haired Shanks’ strength back then. But he was too timid, holding back as a pirate fearing the World Government. I’m Navy. I have no such fears. Let everyone retreat from the surrounding areas. From Headquarters to Mariejois’ diameter, leave no one behind."
He fell silent for a moment, then shook his head with a faint smile. "Among the Navy, you’re truly one-of-a-kind. Such strength—too precious to keep idle."
Indeed, Kuzan, Sakazuki, and even Gramps possessed the all-around ability to ravage the Grand Line. Kuzan’s ability could freeze a section of the Grand Line so vast that ordinary people could walk on the sea surface for three to five days, lasting a full week. Such overwhelming Logia power hadn’t been fully displayed during the Top War due to the Navy’s large numbers and caution.
Now was different. Kuro had decided to abandon mass forces entirely, relying only on elites like Smoker. He was determined—this approach would ensure no one could snatch Shanks from him.
Kuro wouldn’t let that chance arise. Shanks couldn’t be killed immediately. He needed Luffy to appear and advance deeper first. Only then would he kill Shanks and challenge Luffy to a final showdown. Blackbeard would likely come too, but that was merely probability. Thus, Kuro needed to prepare something extra to guarantee Blackbeard’s arrival.
Once those two were eliminated, Kuro would accomplish his mission as Fleet Admiral.
The suffering would be brief. Once done, he could finally sleep soundly and enjoy the fruits of victory.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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