"Here’s the situation…"

  "The Navy froze the tsunami e created."

  In the Pirate Isnd, Haosu, within the massive structure built from shipwrecks, the Golden Lion had just returned and eaking with a mix of frustration and resignation.

  "Damn it, they really came prepared…"

  Sitting with arms crossed, exuding fidend overwhelming dominance, Rocks let out a cold ugh:

  "Hahaha, it’s a good thing we’ve made some preparations of our own!"

  "Why is it so quiet here?"

  Whitebeard looked around, notig that several promi figures were missing. His expression turned puzzled:

  "Where are Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and John?"

  "I’ve already sent someoo call them."

  Rocks frowned but remained seated.

  Before he could say anything further, a pirate captain, drenched i, rushed into the room, his face pale with ay.

  "Captain Rocks! Just befolden Lion ae returned, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and Joh Haosu with their crews. They said they were preparing to ter the ining Navy fleet…"

  "But right now, we ’t reach them!"

  "What? They didn’t say anything to me!"

  Rocks’ brow furrowed even deeper.

  Golden Lion and Whitebeard exged knowing gheir faces darkening as they seemed to piece things together.

  "Heh, those ungrateful bastards…"

  Golden Lion sneered, his eyes narrowing:

  "Could it be that they’ve decided to cut and run?"

  Whitebeard let out a low growl of distent, his usual jovial demeanor repced by irritation.

  Rocks’ face grew even darker as he ground his teeth:

  "Those traitorous cowards! They’re always the first to jump into a when there’s treasure or spoils to be cimed, ag all high and mighty."

  "But when it’s time to actually put in the work, they’re the first to run!"

  Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and John were not just ordinary members of the Rocks Pirates; they were high-ranking officers anding powerful crews. Their suddeure left the group critically shorthanded, especially when faced with the might of the Navy.

  "Boss Rocks, I just got some information…"

  A subordinate rushed in, his expression grave:

  "Someone saw John’s crew loading a rge number of crates onto their ships te st night. It looks like they were preparing to flee at any moment."

  "Those bastards!"

  At this point, Rocks, Golden Lion, and Whitebeard all uood what had happened.

  John and the others had clearly made tingens.

  The moment they realized how formidable the Navy's forces were—plete with three Admirals, two Admiral didates, four Warlords of the Sea, numerous Vice Admirals, and over 50,000 elite troops supported by 120 ships—they decided to cut their losses and flee.

  They hadn’t even waited to see the full oute of the battle. Upon hearing that the Navy mao freeze the tsunami created by Whitebeard’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit, they determihe situation was hopeless and chose to abandon the fight entirely.

  "Bang!"

  ……

  At the same time, in the middle of the New World, within Totto Land Kingdom’s Cake Isnd, in a vast office...

  Having just emerged from a private resting chamber after an intense sessiohe ruler of Totto Land, listeo Baka’s report with a mix of surprise and amusement.

  “What?”

  “Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and John ran away?”

  “Yes…”

  Baka’s face was slightly flushed as she maintained her professional demeanor, despite fully uanding what had transpired between El and Sally moments before.

  She tio report calmly:

  “Acc to our spies pnted in the Rocks Pirates, those three had already prepared an escape pn. Ohey heard that evesunami created by Whitebeard had been frozen by the Navy, they immediately fled Haosu, taking their share of the treasure with them.”

  “A scattered, disjointed bunch… as expected, they’re utterly useless.”

  El shook his head with a hint of disdain, clearly unimpressed.

  “I thought there might at least be some iing drama to watch. With Whitebeard and Golden Lion leading the charge, I assumed Rocks’ crew could advance or retreat as needed. Worst case, they could fall back gracefully if things went south.”

  “But instead, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and John turail at the first sign of trouble. Pathetic.”

  El sneered.

  “ing or selfish, it doesn’t matter. Fleeing without a word, abandoning their allies at such a critical moment—what an embarrassing dispy.”

  Sally emerged gracefully from the chamber, her hair slightly damp and her demeanor radiating fidence.

  “Actually,” she began, red-cheeked and smug, “our mole ihe CP reyed some relevant information earlier…”

  “It turns out the Wover had already attempted to sow discord within the Rocks Pirates. They secretly extended Shichibukai invitations to those three, but received no responses.”

  “Given their premeditated escape, it’s clear they were preparing for this oute. They likely accepted the risk of angering Rocks, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion, knowing they had a fallback option.”

  Baka was left speechless. Her wide eyes darted between Sally’s casual boldness and El’s unbothered demeanor.

  “As expected.”

  El nodded, brushing his haly along Sally’s form as she perched on his p.

  “Those three know that by betraying Rocks in this way, they’ve burheir bridges. Even if they escape the immediate sequehere’s no way they stay in the Rocks Pirates.”

  When Sally leaned in mischievously, El sighed, catg her hand as it waoo far.

  “Haven’t you had enough?” he scolded, shooting her a pyful gre.

  “Of course not!” Sally replied with a cheeky grin, showing no signs of restraint.

  “Sally… M-minister Sally…”

  Baka stammered, her face turning crimson. She began to edge toward the door, clearly flustered.

  “Why are you just standing there?”

  Sally smirked, her voice dripping with mischief.

  “Join us already! Don’t pretend you’re not tempted—you’ve been eyeing this opportunity fes, haven’t you?”

  “W-what? But…”

  Baka froze, her face burning with embarrassment.

  It wasirely untrue—she deeply admired El.

  Once a lowly dancer who nearly became a sve, Baka had been rescued by the Fallen Angels Pirates and given a Devil Fruit power. With Sally’s guidance, she had risen to promihielligence department.

  This newfound life was already a dream e true; she never dared hope for more.

  “It’s fiay.”

  El smiled indulgently, gesturing for her to approach.

  “Let me see your serpentine form. Show me the true beauty of the Bck Mamba.”

  Baka’s surprise quickly gave way to excitement.

  “Yes, El-sama!”

  Her voice trembled with a mix of nervousness and joy.

  Without hesitation, Baka ed a Rumble Ball she had prepared, triggeriransformation.

  “Special form: Bck Mamba!”

  Her body underwent a rapid transformation, her movements being smooth and hypnotic as she slithered closer.

  Blushing deeply, she coiled herself around El with grad elegance.

  “El-sama, please guide me!”

  Bleam