Free Web NovelChapter 1292: Chapter 3: The Cause of the Naval Battle
The sea has completely calmed, and the previously tumultuous large ship is now stationary on the water.
Although the weather has cleared, the pirates on the ship have tense expressions, their hands gripping knives with bulging veins. Although the Donquixote Family is a renowned pirate group in the New World, their opponent this time is one of the Four Emperors. Without the support of other Four Emperors, the Donquixote Family would have been defeated long ago. This is a gap in hard power.
The pirates under the Four Emperors, even the small fry, are elite pirates. Their strength is not weak, and their actions are ruthless. Each one is a desperado on the sea, without some fame, they are not qualified to join the BIG MOM Pirates.
In this area of the sea, there are a total of 15 ships, 7 from the BIG MOM Pirates, 4 from the Beast Pirates, and 4 from the Donquixote Family.
versus 7, originally, the Donquixote Family should have the advantage, but the Beast Pirates are only here to assist. To expect them to fight desperately is unlikely; the Beast Pirates are only cooperating with the Donquixote Family. They can support their allies, but fighting desperately for them is not worth it.
Some months ago, whether the Beast Pirates could provide support was still unknown. But recently, a certain technology mastered by the Donquixote Family has matured, and they have conducted several transactions with the Beast Pirates. The traded item is called ’Artificial Zoan Devil Fruit.’
Artificial Devil Fruits have actually been developed a long time ago, but, unfortunately, it was not in the hands of the Donquixote Family. However, after they sponsored a certain individual, they acquired this technology and invested a large amount of capital to mature the technology, with a vague trend of mass production recently.
The captain of the Beast Pirates, Kaido, values the artificial Devil Fruit greatly. Hence, he sent trusted aides to support the Donquixote Family, effectively helping Doflamingo.
As for the BIG MOM Pirates, did they really come to seize territory? Of course not; Dressrosa is at most a large, wealthy island. There are many such islands in the New World.
Engaging in a conflict with Kaido and Doflamingo solely for Dressrosa Island is not a wise move. While Charlotte Lingling might not be that mentally stable, she is a female pirate aspiring to be the king of pirates. She clearly understands the gains and losses involved.
Charlotte Lingling’s initial objective was not Dressrosa Island, but the technology of artificial Devil Fruits held by Doflamingo. This technology has strategic value for pirate groups.
Although Doflamingo has the technology, manufacturing artificial Devil Fruits is not simple. First, there’s a scientist named M·Caesar·Clown, the core figure of artificial Devil Fruits. Without him, Doflamingo could not obtain artificial Devil Fruits.
M·Caesar·Clown provides the raw materials, which are then cultivated by the Tontatta Tribe living underground in ’Dressrosa.’ The cost is extremely high, and the production rate is very low.
If Charlotte Lingling wants the artificial Devil Fruit technology, she’ll almost need to seize ’Dressrosa Island’ and ’Punk Hazard’ entirely. Additionally, she would need to capture M·Caesar·Clown and the Tontatta Tribe.
Charlotte Lingling doesn’t care about these issues; her order is very simple: ’I want that thing, snatch it.’
Thus, the Dressrosa Sea Battle officially begins. The two sides are not only seizing territory but also competing for the technology of artificial Zoan Devil Fruits.
Su Xiao leans against the ship’s railing, having roughly analyzed the situation. It’s not a difficult deduction, and he believes that over 97% of the Contractors could figure out this information.
Though the forces that one can join are three groups, the Beast Pirates are the most difficult to join. The Donquixote Family and BIG MOM Pirates are relatively easier forces to join.
The BIG MOM Pirates are the attacking side; joining this camp is simply for seizing the island or the technology of artificial Devil Fruits.
The Donquixote Family is on the defensive side; joining them only requires defending against the attacks from the BIG MOM Pirates.
As for the Beast Pirates, they originally came to assist, so even if recruiting crew, they won’t be as urgent as the above two sides.
The ship on which Su Xiao is located is named Black Spade, managed by the top cadre Pika of the Donquixote Family.
The power structure of the Donquixote Family is interesting; at the top is, of course, Donquixote Doflamingo. Below him are four sections: Clove, Black Spade, Square, Heart.
The top cadre of Clove is Trebol, a Sticky-Sticky Fruit User. His strength is above average, but his battle methods are somewhat disgusting—not because he’s tricky but genuinely nauseating. This guy likes to fight with snot, and the Clove section is responsible for security.
The top cadre of Black Spade is Pika; within the Donquixote Family, his strength ranks among the top three. The ship Su Xiao is on is under his management, and the Black Spade section mostly consists of guards for Doflamingo, with key members being Gladius, Baby-5, and Buffalo.
The top cadre of Square is Diamante, one of the oldest members of the Donquixote Family. As for strength... Su Xiao could take care of him within five minutes; this section manages ’Dressrosa’s’ Bullfighting Arena.
The Heart section is a special unit of the Donquixote Family; most of them can’t be exposed to light and are responsible for intelligence-related duties, represented by Vergo and Monet.
And the sea area where Su Xiao is located is the battle between top cadre Pika and Charlotte Perospero.
Doflamingo trusts Pika, but Pika’s opponent this time cannot be underestimated. His opponent, Charlotte Perospero, is Charlotte Lingling’s eldest son, a Paramecia System·Pero Pero Fruit user. As long as his stamina is sufficient, he can almost infinitely produce candy, comparable to the Natural Type.
Pika, however, is not a soft target; his Stone-Stone Fruit is also Paramecia Type. Combined with Armament Haki and swordsmanship cultivation, while he may not defeat Perospero, keeping him at bay is not a problem. The ship is not suitable for Pika’s fruit abilities.
With a whooshing sound, the ship Su Xiao is on lowers its sails. A dozen pirates work together to maneuver the ship, steering ahead.
The squad leader from before not only doesn’t bother Su Xiao but is rather friendly, having recognized who Su Xiao is. Indeed, this pirate leader actually knows Su Xiao.
Su Xiao once helped the World Government manufacture alchemy bombs. Back then, his strength wasn’t as formidable as it is now, but his mastery of bomb technology has made the World Government wary, worried he might join the Four Emperors or the Revolutionary army. Alchemy bombs have strategic significance, something the World Government confirmed long ago.
After the Enies Lobby incident, Su Xiao completely fell out with the World Government, thus entering their must-kill list, and bounty orders were issued.
Su Xiao’s bounty order is not like typical pirate bounties where life and death are irrelevant. His bounty is as high as 200 million Belli, only earned by capturing him alive.
The intelligence that Su Xiao excels in making high-power bombs was learned by Doflamingo through secret channels; hence, he also sent people searching for Su Xiao, but the attempt bore no fruit, though his subordinates have seen Su Xiao’s bounty order.
This impending sea battle means the small leader has no time to report the situation, merely dispatching three pirates to monitor Su Xiao.
Su Xiao glanced at the three pirates not far away; with at most three shots, he could take care of these pirates.
