Whole Cake Island was on high alert, preparing for the impending war.
Charlotte Linlin was not idle either, standing majestically at the dock with a long sword in hand, her eyes blazing as she stared at the naval warship across the water.
To her right, the Sweet Commanders led by Katakuri stood in a line, their gazes fixed ahead with the same intensity as if facing a formidable enemy.
To Charlotte Linlin left stood all the combat members of the Charlotte family, led by Perospero.
With the war approaching, every member of the Charlotte family was on edge.
Some had their hands on the hilts of their swords, others carried rifles on their shoulders and a few even stood beside Gatling guns, all waiting for Charlotte Linlin command.
On the frozen sea across the harbor, Kuzan stood at the forefront accompanied by Vice Admirals Stainless, Yamakaji, Momonga, and Bastille, who had rushed from headquarters.
The cold wind whipped their capes, creating a fluttering sound.
"Admiral Kuzan—"
Suddenly, an officer hurried to Kuzan side, exclaiming.
"Admiral Sakazuki and Admiral Gion have arrived!"
Before Kuzan could react, the unfrozen waters behind them were pierced by one warship after another, cutting through the waves.
At the forefront were the massive warships of Sakazuki and Gion, two of the Marine top admirals.
Between the two large warships sailed an even more colossal prison ship.
On the deck of the prison ship, Vice Admiral Tokikake and Commander Hina stood with grave expressions, their eyes fixed on the massive cage holding Kaido, along with Queen and King, two of the Beasts Pirates' top calamities.
Beside the enormous cage stood a smaller iron cage guarded by a dozen soldiers.
Inside this cage were Who's who and several other top executives of the Beasts Pirates.
As the fleet led by Sakazuki and Gion approached the frozen sea and came to a halt, Charlotte Linlin, standing at the port of Whole Cake Island, noticed with her keen eyesight the tightly bound Kaido locked inside the cage.
Charlotte Linlin wasn't surprised by Kaido arrest.
Long before Kaido became one of the Four Emperors, he had been defeated six or seven times, arrested by the Marine over a dozen times and sentenced to death a staggering forty times.
Each time, Kaido miraculously survived the execution and managed to escape.
On several occasions, Kaido even sank the prison ships transporting him back to Marine Headquarters, making quite a spectacle.
Given Kaido illustrious history, Charlotte Linlin had long grown accustomed to his arrests and executions, considering them trivial matters.
But that was all in the past.
This time, Kaido had fallen into Sakazuki hands, and with the decisive leadership of the Marine young leader, it seemed Kaido fate was sealed.
Perospero, standing to Charlotte Linlin left, lowered his binoculars and said with a grave expression.
"The Beasts Pirates have been utterly crushed this time."
As the eldest son of the Charlotte Family, Perospero understood the Beasts Pirates better than many of his younger siblings.
For the younger members of the family, the Beasts Pirates were just another one of the Four Emperors of the New World, like their own Big Mom Pirates, but they lacked a concrete understanding of just how formidable the Beasts Pirates truly were.
It was precisely because of the immense power and influence of the Four Emperors in the New World that neither the Marine nor other combat organizations like CP0 under the World Government dared to recklessly wage war.
However, all of this would come to an end with Kaido capture.
The Marine bold disregard for the order established by the World Government and their decisive action to annihilate the Beasts Pirates led by Kaido meant they would not hesitate to target the Charlotte Family as well!
This inevitably meant that war was on the horizon.
Of course, there was still some room for maneuver.
Earlier, when Charlotte Linlin had entered a state of frenzy and wreaked havoc on Whole Cake Island, Admiral Kuzan had not taken the opportunity to attack.
Instead, he had merely observed from a distance, surrounding the island without engaging.
This suggested that Kuzan inaction wasn't due to fear of conflict but rather that the Marine had other plans in mind.
As soon as the prison ship docked on the frozen sea, Sakazuki leaped forward and landed in front of Tokikake.
"Tokikake, I'll stay here! You and the others follow Admiral Gion to rendezvous with Kuzan!"
Caught off guard by Sakazuki decision to remain, Tokikake blinked in surprise.
However, when he saw Sakazuki slightly pale face, he immediately understood.
It was clear that Sakazuki had been seriously injured in his battle against Kaido.
The reason he chose to stay on the prison ship was twofold: first, to prevent anyone from rescuing Kaido and second, to avoid letting Big Mom discover the extent of his injuries.
"Hina!"
Understanding Sakazuki intentions, Tokikake didn't show any outward reaction.
He called out to Hina, who was standing by the iron cage and then jumped off the warship first.
Before he could catch up to Gion, Sakazuki voice suddenly came from behind.
"Let Kuzan land on the island!"
"This is Marshal Orion order!"
Hearing this, Tokikake pupils slightly contracted.
Landing on the island at this moment meant engaging in battle with Big Mom.
Although Kuzan 'Aokiji' Army had suffered no losses, the 'Akainu' Army and the 'Momousagi' Army were all exhausted from their fierce battle with the Beast Pirates.
Moreover, they were already fatigued from rushing non-stop to rendezvous with Kuzan.
At this moment, Whole Cake Island was packed with at least fifty to sixty thousand people.
Setting aside the affiliated forces of the Big Mom Pirates, the Charlotte family alone was a formidable force.
If they were to engage in battle with the Big Mom Pirates immediately, the casualties of the 'Akainu' Army and the 'Momousagi' Army would undoubtedly multiply.
Before Tokikake could react, Gion who had already jumped off the warship and was heading toward Kuzan, suddenly turned back.
"Tokikake, let's go!"
Without waiting for a response, Gion quickened his pace toward Kuzan.
Seeing this, Tokikake cast aside his doubts and hurried to follow.
As Gion led Tokikake, Hina, and two other vice admirals to Kuzan, a massive, sky-piercing pressure suddenly erupted from the direction of Whole Cake Island.
In the next second, a figure flashed like lightning across the frozen port, catching Kuzan and the others off guard as it headed straight for the prison ship.
"Big Mom!"
"Charlotte Linlin!"
Almost simultaneously, Strawbery and Bastille, standing behind Kuzan, turned around in shock.
Bastille and Strawberry immediately assumed combat stances, exclaiming in unison.
"Damn it, her target is the prison ship!"
Soaring from the port at an astonishing speed, heading straight for the prison ship, was none other than Charlotte Linlin.
She had been lying low, waiting for this very opportunity.
The reason was simple: not only were two veteran Admirals gathered at Whole Cake Island, but there was also the newly appointed Admiral, Gion, along with eight or nine Vice Admirals.
Facing such an unprecedentedly powerful lineup, even she, with all her confidence, didn't have full certainty of victory.
Unless, she could catch them off guard and swiftly rescue Kaido from the prison ship to fight alongside her.
"Akainu, hand over Kaido!"
With incredible speed, Charlotte Linlin appeared above the prison ship, surrounded by rolling flames and lightning.
Without a moment pause, the long sword she held high above her head suddenly extended and the flames engulfed the blade.
"IKOKU!"
With a cold shout, the flaming sword came crashing down toward Sakazuki, who was stationed on the prison ship.
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