"That's exactly what I'm thinking!"
Dragon quickly explained, leaning over the war table. "Although the God Valley battle didn't completely wipe out the Rocks Pirates, the most troublesome element—Rocks D. Xebec—was absolutely, one hundred percent eliminated. The World Government considered it a massive victory."
"Now, Captain York is showing the terrifying tendency to become a second Rocks," Dragon continued, his eyes darkening. "Besides, the World Government has undoubtedly learned about what we've done here in the Vodka Kingdom through their Cipher Pol intelligence channels. To prevent us from growing any stronger and solidifying the Crimson Empire, is it not entirely possible they are using Ochoku purely as bait?"
At this point, a horrifying new tactical angle seemed to click in Dragon's brilliant mind. After a brief pause, he tapped the map on the table.
"The goal might not even be to lure us to Pirate Island Hachinosu for a heavy, Admiral-led siege," Dragon realized. "It could be a classic feint!"
"They want to lure Captain York and the Empire's high-end combat power out to sea to attack Ochoku. Then, while the capital is left relatively undefended, the Marines dispatch an elite black-ops squad to raid us right here! It would be a repeat of their God Valley strategy—kidnapping Shakky or our weaker crew members to use as hostages! Or worse, their goal might be to directly initiate a Buster Call and destroy the nation we've painstakingly built, slaughtering everyone on this island!!"
Upon hearing this analysis, a fierce, lethal glint immediately flashed in York's eyes.
"That is indeed highly possible!!"
Not to mention the absolute ruthlessness of future hardliners like Sakazuki, who preferred to slaughter the innocent rather than let a single guilty person escape, the current commanders—Fleet Admiral Kong and Sengoku—were not much better. They were the ultimate, loyal hounds of the World Government.
How did Sengoku get the epithet of 'The Resourceful General'? It wasn't just his ability in battlefield command; it was his willingness to orchestrate brilliant, devastating, and entirely ruthless traps. York absolutely believed the Marines would launch a decapitation strike on his civilians the moment he left the island unprotected.
"So, what? Are we just going to sit here and watch Ochoku enjoy his new Warlord title on Hachinosu Island while we do nothing?!" Gloriosa slammed her staff against the floor, expressing strong dissatisfaction.
York raised his hand in a calming gesture, signaling Gloriosa to rein in her anger.
"There's still a way," York said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But it will require calling in a massive favor. We aren't the only ones with a bloody grudge against Ochoku!"
York stood up, grabbing his coat. "Don't act rashly while I'm gone. I'm going back out to sea to meet an old 'friend'."
Hearing this, everyone instantly realized what York was planning, and their expressions couldn't help but become incredibly complicated. He was going to request external help.
But strategically, it seemed this was the only viable approach at the moment. If they really had to blame someone, they could only blame their current collective weakness. They were not yet strong enough to simultaneously launch an Emperor-tier war and perfectly defend their home territory.
If York were just a lone wolf, he could truly go wherever he wanted. Even if the World Government simultaneously sent Sengoku, Garp, and Kong to surround him, they simply wouldn't be able to catch him. But a King has subjects to protect.
"Damn it!"
Kaido angrily smashed his fist down, fracturing the solid mahogany desk. "I wasn't strong enough to help back at God Valley, and now I still can't help!!"
Dragon silently watched the splintered desk under Kaido's fist, and silently clenched his own hands.
'Daily training must be doubled!!' Dragon swore to himself.
Back to York.
The custom red Striker, which had been docked for less than a few hours, roared to life and set sail once again.
York pulled a specific Eternal Pose from his pocket. Kaido and the others were right to be frustrated; he was indeed going to seek help. This was the unavoidable reality of ruling a territory. No matter how god-like one's individual power was, you couldn't stay cooped up at home forever as a glorified guard dog.
As long as he left, the Marines would have a window to destroy his territory. They genuinely had no way to deal with his individual high-end combat power, but his subordinates facing an Admiral-led Marine siege would not necessarily win.
Of course, York had briefly considered tactics of Mutually Assured Destruction—threatening to wipe out Marine Headquarters or Marie Geoise if they touched his island. But it was meaningless.
To the World Government, the affiliated nations and their citizens were not people; they were merely a herd of cattle that regularly paid the Heavenly Tribute to the Celestial Dragons. No matter how many ordinary citizens York slaughtered in retaliation, the World Government would not feel the slightest bit of pain. It might even cause the surviving nations to cling more tightly to the World Government's leg in sheer terror.
As for directly attacking the Holy Land... Imu's true body was there. The King of the World didn't want to be known to the public, but that didn't mean they were powerless. If truly pushed to the brink and forced to take action, the current York was not yet absolutely certain he could defeat Imu's ancient, hidden power.
So, the best tactical move was to recruit a peer-level external helper.
As for who this external helper would be, there was no need to guess. It had to be one of York's former companions from the Rocks Pirates.
Totto Land.
This was the inscription engraved on the Eternal Pose in York's hand.
The name might not be entirely familiar to the general public just yet, but its future moniker certainly would be: Whole Cake Island.
Ever since the Rocks Pirates disbanded at God Valley a year and a half ago, Charlotte Linlin had taken her children and occupied a vast archipelago, currently transforming it into the sugary, utopian empire of Totto Land.
Charlotte Linlin was the only potential Emperor-tier ally whose exact address York could ascertain. Others like Whitebeard, Golden Lion Shiki, and Roger were all drifting erratically on the high seas. Shiki was even floating his islands through the stratosphere, making it impossible to pin down their exact locations without extensive espionage.
He would find Charlotte Linlin first. If she agreed to handle the defense or the assault directly, then tracking down the other three wasn't necessary.
FWOOSH!
The jet ski cut through the rolling waves, leaving a long, blazing trail of solar flames across the ocean surface.
Several days later, York arrived at the candy-coated shores of the target island.
Upon learning of York's sudden arrival, Charlotte Linlin—currently in her late twenties, possessing a towering but dangerously alluring figure—personally came out of her developing capital to greet him.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma! York! What brings you all the way out here?" Linlin laughed, her eyes flashing with sharp intelligence.
"No one visits without a purpose, Linlin!" York replied with a charming smile, striding up the frosted beach, not bothering to hide his intentions at all.
Charlotte Linlin raised an eyebrow, stopping in her tracks. "There's actually a time when you, the great Atlas D. York, need my help?!"
Her gaze shifted, and she began to slowly size York up and down, as if looking at an exceptionally rare, highly valuable commodity.
York's mouth twitched. He knew that asking this notoriously greedy woman for a favor would definitely come at a heavy price. He kindly reminded her, "Don't forget! You still owe me a massive life debt from God Valley!"
Charlotte Linlin immediately clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"So you really still remember that!" Linlin scoffed, waving a massive, ring-adorned hand. "It seems you genuinely won't let me forget it! Never mind, the beach isn't the place to talk business. Let's go to my palace first."
Led by Charlotte Linlin, York arrived at the center of the island: the towering Whole Cake Chateau.
Compared to the colossal, multi-tiered cake structure it would become in the original manga timeline, the castle was not yet fully completed. However, one could already clearly see the grandiose, sugary shadow of its future form.
Entering the Chateau's lavish reception hall, Charlotte Linlin first gestured for her homies to arrange a massive feast of sweets and tea, then sat on her throne and questioned York.
"So? How can I help you?"
York ate a slice of cake while calmly explaining the situation regarding Ochoku, the Warlord system, and the World Government's highly probable tactical feint against the Crimson Empire.
"What do you say?" York finished, taking a sip of tea. "Give me a straight answer, Linlin. If you agree, we plan our move. If not, I'll quickly go track down Newgate or Shiki."
Charlotte Linlin's slender, manicured finger gently tapped the armrest of her throne.
She seemed lost in deep tactical thought, but in reality, her eyes were still intensely sizing up York's impressive, 2.8-meter-tall physique.
"If you want me to agree to this... it's not impossible," Linlin finally purred, leaning forward with a predatory smile. "But... I have conditions!!!"
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