The black submersible warship sailed silently through the deep sea, its massive hull unmoving under the immense pressure of the water.
Inside the bridge, the lighting was dim and steady, with only the faint glow from various indicator lights outlining the vigilant and efficient figures of the Maid Corps.
On the deck, the Beast Girls gathered in different corners, intensifying their training.
Even Otohime, who had recently joined, was arranged by Brian to train alongside Cow Girl Bei—a request Otohime had made herself, as she too wanted to improve.
Though these were just basic techniques for beginners, Otohime learned happily, feeling a sense of being needed throughout the process.
Otohime: This is great! I'm needed again!
Brian sat in the captain's seat on the bridge, a Den Den Mushi painted in the style of a pirate flag resting on the table before him. The Den Den Mushi lay dormant, waiting to be activated for the weighty conversation it would soon carry.
He himself felt that this journey had gone too smoothly. The time spent on the base island and Fish-Man Island wasn't much—most of it was taken up by travel—but altogether, it had taken less than two months.
There was still nearly a month left before the deadline Rocks had given, but Brian knew it was time to contact his captain. This communication wasn't just a mission report; it was also a crucial probe into Rocks' deployment for the God Valley Battle.
The God Valley Battle was fast approaching.
Though, to be honest, the true instigator of this great battle wasn't Rocks, the overlord of the seas, but the World Government itself—
Brrr brrr brrr~
Brrr brrr brrr~
Speak of the devil. In the blink of an eye, the Den Den Mushi opened its eyes and began ringing, catching Brian's attention.
Click~
Connected!
The Den Den Mushi's shell underwent a startling transformation: its eyes snapped open, pupils narrowing into vertical slits, and the folds of its shell swelled, revealing a wild, cold, and domineering male face.
The image and voice of Rocks D. Xebec, as if capable of piercing through everything, filled the entire bridge with an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Gyahahaha! Brian, you bastard, finally remembered you have a captain, huh? Rocks' voice was rough and thunderous, brimming with contempt for the world and its rules.
Unfazed by Rocks' imposing presence, Brian directly reported the key information to the Den Den Mushi: Captain, Fish-Man Island has been strategically occupied as planned, and I've arranged for a garrison. What's the next move?
Heh, well done. I've already seen the news on Hachinosu, Rocks' voice carried a tone of satisfied approval. Though I sent you to subdue Fish-Man Island, I never expected you'd do it so brilliantly, even planning all the contingencies.
"You've done well. The Navy's incompetents are now like headless flies, utterly unwilling to commit their main forces to the deep sea. You've cleared away my worries."
"Wahahaha! Just thinking about the faces of those World Government and Marine Headquarters bastards, I've been eating several extra pieces of meat these past few days."
Brian caught the contempt, extreme confidence, and clear approval in Rocks' words.
Rocks' expectations of him were growing higher, and his own status within the Rocks Pirates continued to rise.
"I've just received intelligence that the World Government decided months ago to mobilize forces into the New World, set for a year from now. Or rather, counting the time, it's only about half a year left."
Without delay, Brian relayed the information he had obtained from King Riku to Rocks.
Brian steered the conversation to the core issue. "I wonder what the captain plans? Are we prepared to face the full-scale counterattack from the World Government and the Navy?"
The Den Den Mushi's eyes narrowed slightly, emitting a cold, sinister light.
"Counterattack?" Rocks then burst into laughter, his voice filled with disdain for authority. "Brian, you're wrong! It's not them counterattacking—it's me launching a total assault on them!"
As the ruler of the seas, Rocks had long noticed the Navy's unusual movements over the past few months—they were too obvious.
Especially with Shakky, a master of intelligence under his command, he couldn't confirm the exact details but had long anticipated something.
For him, as the ruler of the seas, facing such maneuvers from the World Government and the Navy was nothing to fear. In fact, he looked forward to it.
"Do you think I sent you Four Emperor-level monsters out to conquer just to amass scattered wealth? My goal is that empty throne at the pinnacle of power! My plan has reached its final stage."
Rocks' voice suddenly grew low and magnetic, each word like a heavy hammer: "Besides you high-ranking executives, our pirate crew's mid-level forces have long been preparing to strike back at the World Government."
"The calm you see now is merely the dead silence before the storm."
Brian's heart stirred slightly. King Riku's intelligence aligned with the original plot's trajectory, allowing him to foresee the future course of events.
"From the current situation, the World Government should also be aware of our pirate crew's movements, right?" Brian asked.
Rocks scoffed dismissively. "Those old fools are so self-righteous. They're following my script, carrying out a laughable mobilization."
"I can share a secret with you, Brian." Rocks' tone was thick with conspiracy.
"The highest echelons of the World Government are planning a trap for me. They want to use bait to ensnare me, though I'm not entirely sure what kind of trap they intend to set."
"However, I'll turn their scheme to my advantage, making their trap a stepping stone for my conquest of the world! They think they control everything, but they don't realize that every move they make is within my expectations."
Rocks spoke with a smug confidence, his words carrying the air of one who held the World Government in the palm of his hand, which left Brian slightly shaken. This was precisely the terrifying aspect of Rocks—not only did he possess absolute power, but he also harbored the ambition and strategic vision of a conqueror.
"Is that so? That's truly wonderful. I hope everything turns out just as you say, Captain."
"However, Captain, you should also pay more attention to those around you. Don't let yourself fall into the very trap you mentioned."
Brian's words carried a subtle hint and an almost imperceptible warning. Rocks heard it but found it difficult to take to heart.
At this moment, he was already somewhat immersed in thoughts of attacking the World Government and, without realizing it, had grown somewhat negligent.
"What you need to do now is continue your conquest," Rocks finally issued a clear command, his voice once again regaining its domineering tone.
"There's still some time before I send out the signal for the full assembly. Use this period to expand the scale and strength of your Beast Girl Legion, pushing their power to the limit."
"Return to Hachinosu in one month and, together with the other officers, carry out the final targeted mission before the major operation."
"Understood," Brian replied succinctly and firmly.
Click~
The Den Den Mushi cut off the communication, and Rocks' wild visage vanished along with it, leaving the bridge in silence once more.
"Sigh~"
Brian slowly stood up and walked to the porthole, his emotions somewhat stirred. The God Valley Battle was finally approaching.
In other words, the true chaos of the New World—the era of rising heroes vying for supremacy—was also about to begin.
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