"That's what I was thinking!"
Dragon hurriedly explained: "Although the Battle of God Valley didn't completely annihilate the Rocks Pirates, the most troublesome Rocks was definitively, 100%, taken out."
"Now Captain York is showing a tendency to become the second Rocks."
"Besides that, the World Government has likely learned of our actions on this island through some special channels."
"To prevent us from continuing to grow bigger and stronger, is it possible they are using Wang Zhi as bait?"
At this point, a new idea seemed to pop into Dragon's head. After a brief pause, he continued:
"They might not necessarily lure us to Wang Zhi's island for a heavy siege."
"It could also be a diversion tactic ('Luring the tiger away from the mountain')."
"Lure Captain York and the pirate crew's high-end combat power to attack Wang Zhi."
"Then the Marines dispatch an elite squad to raid us here."
"Maybe to reenact the story of kidnapping Shakky back then, kidnapping the weaker members of our pirate crew as leverage."
"Or maybe to directly destroy the island we've worked so hard to manage and kill everyone on this island!!"
Hearing this, a fierce light instantly flashed in York's eyes.
"That is indeed possible!!"
Never mind the future Sakazuki being ruthless, preferring to kill the wrong person rather than let one go.
Actually, the current Kong and Sengoku weren't much better.
Both were loyal hounds of the World Government.
How did Sengoku get the title "The Resourceful General"?
Besides his ability in battlefield command, was there nothing else?!
York didn't quite believe it anyway.
"So we can only watch helplessly as Wang Zhi lives free on Hachinosu and do nothing?"
Gloriosa expressed strong dissatisfaction.
York raised his hand to signal Gloriosa not to get angry for now.
He spoke: "There is still a way, but we'll have to pay a small favor."
York narrowed his eyes slightly. They weren't the only ones with a grudge against Wang Zhi!!
"Don't act rashly for now. I'll go out to sea to meet a few people!"
Hearing this, everyone instantly realized something, and their gazes couldn't help but become complicated.
This was going to ask for reinforcements.
But it seemed this was the best course of action currently.
If there was anyone to blame or complain about, it seemed they could only blame their current strength for being too weak, unable to even defend their territory.
If it were just York alone, he could truly go wherever he wanted. Even if the World Government dispatched Sengoku, Garp, and Kong together to corner him, they simply wouldn't be able to catch him.
"Damn it!"
Kaido smashed the desk with an angry punch.
"I couldn't help back then, and now I still can't help!!"
Dragon watched silently as the desk was smashed by Kaido, and similarly clenched his fist silently.
'Daily training needs to be doubled!!'
...
Back to York.
The crimson motorboat, having docked for less than a few hours, set sail again.
He fished an Eternal Pose out of his pocket.
Kaido and the others guessed correctly; he was indeed going to ask for reinforcements.
There was no helping it. Once you had territory, you would have such weaknesses.
So what if your personal strength was great? You couldn't just hole up at home forever, right?
As long as you left, the Marines would have a certain opportunity to destroy your territory.
They indeed couldn't do anything to you, the high-end combatant, but your subordinates might not necessarily win against the Marines!
Of course, York had thought about mutual destruction tactics.
But it wasn't very meaningful.
Because for the World Government, the people of those allied nations weren't their citizens, just cattle and horses who regularly paid the Heavenly Tribute.
No matter how many were killed, the World Government wouldn't feel a tiny bit of heartache.
It might even make the remaining allied nations cling tighter to the World Government's thigh, paying money to the World Government like their lives depended on it.
As for attacking the Holy Land...
Imu's main body was there. She was unwilling to be known by the world, not that she couldn't be known by the world.
If truly pushed to the brink, and the main body took action, the current York was not yet her opponent.
So, to sum up, the best tactic now was really to find outside help.
As for who this outside help would be, no need to guess; it would definitely be York's former companions.
Totto Land. This was the inscription on the Eternal Pose in York's hand.
This name might not be familiar to future generations, but changing it to another name would definitely ring a bell.
Whole Cake Island!!
That's right, the future Whole Cake Island was currently called Totto Land.
And the archipelago it was located in was also called the Totto Archipelago.
Since the Rocks Pirates disbanded, Charlotte Linlin had occupied that place with her children and was currently transforming it into the appearance of the future Whole Cake Island archipelago.
She was the only reinforcement target whose address York could determine right now.
Others like Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Roger were all drifting around on the sea. Golden Lion was even drifting wildly in the sky, making it impossible to find an accurate address.
Find Charlotte Linlin first. If things could be settled directly here, whether to find the other three or not wouldn't matter much.
Vroom vroom vroom...
The motorboat cleaved through the waves, leaving a long trail of fire on the sea.
Several days later, York arrived at the target island.
Learning of York's visit, Charlotte Linlin came out to welcome him personally.
"Mamamama! York, how do you have time to come to my place?"
"Of course, one doesn't visit a temple without a cause!"
York answered with a smile, not intending to hide anything.
Charlotte Linlin raised a slender eyebrow. "There's actually a time when you, York, need my help?!"
Her gaze changed, and she began to size York up and down, as if looking at a rare commodity.
York's mouth twitched. He knew asking this woman for help would definitely cost him. So he kindly reminded her: "Don't forget! You owe me a favor from God Valley!"
Charlotte Linlin immediately clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"So you still remember!"
"Seems you really wished I'd forget!"
"Never mind, this isn't the place to talk. Let's go to my palace first."
Led by Charlotte Linlin, York arrived at what she called the palace, a castle shaped like a cake.
Compared to the original manga, this castle hadn't been fully perfected yet, but the shadow of its future self could barely be seen.
Entering the castle's reception hall, Charlotte Linlin first waved for food and wine to be arranged, then asked York.
"What do you want me to help you with?"
While eating, York explained his intention to deal with Wang Zhi and the potential crisis he might face.
"So? Give me a straight answer! If you agree, you agree. If not, I'll hurry to find the next person."
Charlotte Linlin tapped the armrest of her throne lightly with a slender finger.
Seemingly deep in thought, she was actually still sizing York up.
"You want me to agree... it's not impossible."
"But... I have conditions!!"
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