Chapter 119: Worries From Major Forces

"This isn't good news, Pops," Marco said gravely after reading the newspaper on the Moby Dick. "He didn't attack Katakuri and even followed him back to Whole Cake Island. By any measure, that shows goodwill towards the Big Mom Pirates!"

"If Luo Ning throws his weight behind Big Mom, it'll have a huge impact on us!"

Marco's concern was valid. Luo Ning was known for his neutrality, neither favoring Marines nor pirates. He acted purely on his own interests, with an unknown moral compass. Now, his actions defied their previous understanding.

"It is intriguing," Whitebeard rumbled, his voice raspy. "We don't have the full picture yet. Prepare everyone, just in case."

Whitebeard preferred defense these days. His aging body couldn't handle another major conflict.

"Understood, Pops," Marco replied. "I'll inform our men stationed near Big Mom's territory to stand down and avoid any misunderstandings."

***

Across the New World, Shanks held a copy of the same newspaper.

"What do you think, Shanks?" a crewmate, Yasopp, asked with a sneer. "Is that guy really going to fall for Big Mom's crazy daughter? He already has a bunch of beauties with him, maybe he's just being a womanizer!"

Yasopp still held a grudge against Luo Ning for being scolded. Even the news articles couldn't escape his biased interpretation.

"Don't let emotions cloud your judgment," Shanks said, glancing at the newspaper before tossing it aside. "That man wouldn't do something like that, would he, Beckmann?"

"Indeed," Beckmann, Shanks' right-hand man and strategist, agreed. "Such a move wouldn't be in his character. But regardless of his next move, the New World's power dynamic is bound to shift."

Yasopp remained unconvinced, his dislike for Luo Ning coloring his perception. The rest of the crew, aware of his bias, held their tongues.

***

Meanwhile, chaos reigned on Kaido's side. Their Boss had vanished again, leaving his subordinates clueless and the Three Disasters hesitant to make any moves. Their only option was to wait and see.

***

On the Marine front, things were no less turbulent. Sengoku's retirement had propelled Akainu to Fleet Admiral, but the vacant Admiral position remained unfilled. A global recruitment drive was out of the question; the recent events had severely tarnished the Marines' reputation. Gion and Kizaru, acting as temporary replacements, lacked the necessary strength for the permanent role.

"Is he truly considering an alliance with Big Mom's crew? Is he some kind of womanizer?" Akainu scowled at the latest intel. The only connection he could fathom between Luo Ning and the Big Mom Pirates was some infatuation with one of her daughters.

"A womanizer?" a nearby Marine officer scoffed. "Those news rumors are just that - rumors. If he were truly driven by women, Gion wouldn't have been able to return, and Boa Hancock wouldn't have even gotten past the gates!"

Their undercover agent stationed at Impel Down had already relayed the news of Hancock's failed advances. While Luo Ning did have a few women around him, they weren't the kind of conquests sensationalized by the news.

Otherwise, even Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress renowned as the most beautiful woman on the seas, wouldn't have been denied entry at Impel Down's gate.

"Alright, then what's the play here? Based on everything we know, he shouldn't be going soft on Big Mom's crew, right? How could he just let Katakuri, one of their commander, walk free?"

Kizaru furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Think, Kizaru. Notice how Morgans hasn't made a move on this story?"

Tsuru rubbed her temples, missing Sengoku's strategic mind. With him, she wouldn't have had to explain things so thoroughly. These new guys required double the brainpower.

"That's right! Morgans, as Luo Ning's unofficial mouthpiece, usually breaks news first, leaving everyone else scrambling for scraps," Aokiji chimed in. "But this time, on such a juicy story, he's silent. There's something fishy going on."

Kizaru's eyes widened in realization.

"Regardless of his motives, the Marines need to be prepared. If the New World descends into chaos, it presents an opportunity for us!" Akainu, the embodiment of the Marines' aggressive stance, now held the highest office. Here was a chance to expand their presence in the New World.

Previously, though the Marines had stationed troops there, they remained on the defensive. Expansion was out of the question. The watchful eyes of the Four Emperors demanded an Admiral-level presence simply to maintain their foothold.

Akainu had spent most of his career in the New World branch, guarding against pirate attacks. The current power dynamic remained stagnant, and without a significant boost in Marine combat strength, a full-scale incursion was simply out of the question. Now, Akainu sensed an opportunity.

Luo Ning's actions, whatever they might be, were bound to create a ripple effect. There were two main possibilities. First, he might form an alliance with Big Mom. This was unlikely, but it would undoubtedly lead Big Mom to territorial expansion, triggering conflict with the other Emperors.

Second, Luo Ning might attack Big Mom. The fall of an Emperor would draw the remaining three into a land grab for the vacant territory, plunging the New World into chaos.

Either way, it was good news for the Marines. They could exploit the ensuing turmoil.

"It might be prudent to avoid impulsive actions," Tsuru cautioned. "Luo Ning's unpredictable. No one knows his next move. Rashness will only bring him trouble."

Tsuru offered her advice, but the final decision rested with Akainu.

"No," Akainu countered. "His actions, regardless of their nature, will benefit us. The matter is settled. Kizaru, you're going!"

Akainu, as Fleet Admiral, couldn't move as freely as before. Aokiji was still recovering his full power. That left Kizaru, with his unmatched mobility, as the logical choice.

Kizaru sighed helplessly. "Here we go again. My salary just doesn't seem to cover the workload."

Despite his self-proclaimed status as a "salted fish" (someone who avoids work), the ever-increasing workload was taking its toll. While the pay remained the same, he was now drowning in tasks – Aokiji's previous responsibilities piled on top of Akainu's old ones. His dreams of a leisurely life were fading fast.