Chapter 201: Jaguar D. Saul, the Giant Vice-Admiral Recruit

"Boss El, Sally has sent word—the World Government has made its move!"

That afternoon—

As El, Linlin, the Blood Demon Irene, and Beast Oka returned to Cake Island, Griffin Moss hurried over to deliver the news.

"Have we confirmed the specifics of their forces?" El's expression grew serious as he immediately inquired.

If the World Government was indeed mobilizing, their strongest forces could likely arrive in Totto Land's waters and launch an assault on Cake Island, the capital of the Totto Land Kingdom, as early as the following midday. To anticipate their movements, El had deployed Sally and Lillian to their secret base hidden in the Sabaody Archipelago to closely monitor Navy headquarters and activities along the Red Line.

"According to Sally's intelligence," Moss reported gravely, "after Fleet Admiral Hammons William returned to Navy Headquarters from Mary Geoise, he immediately convened a large group of Vice Admirals. These include himself as Fleet Admiral, Steel Bone Kong as the active Admiral, and even the rising stars Buddha Sengoku and Iron Fist Garp—all of whom have vanished from Navy Headquarters. It's highly likely they've already mobilized."

Moss continued, "It's suspected that Vice Admiral 'Earth Dragon' Freed Neil, a Logia-type Swamp-Swamp Fruit user, has used his swamp space ability to secretly contain them. From there, the flying-capable 'Blood Mane' Bays is likely transporting Neil and the hidden forces to Mary Geoise. As for the retired Admiral Ross, whose strength has diminished with age, he appears to be staying back to hold the fort at Navy Headquarters. Half of the Holy Knights are expected to deploy, and there are likely about ten elite agents from CP0 participating as well."

Moss relayed the entirety of Sally's covertly transmitted intelligence in one breath. The crew had developed a specialized batch of Homie-imbued Den Den Mushi, stationed in the Mirror World to ensure secure communication. Each operative carried a small, reinforced, nearly indestructible mirror marked by Barry's Mirror-Mirror Fruit ability. Inside the Mirror World, Homie Den Den Mushi stationed near these mirrors could instantly relay messages without risk of interception.

This system ensured that signals stayed confined to the Mirror World, preventing eavesdropping by the Navy or CP and mitigating the risk of leaks.

"Mamamama," Linlin's sinister laughter filled the room. "If they plan to annihilate us entirely—especially to take you down, El Oniichan—I wouldn't be surprised if Saint Mars, the flight-capable Five Elder, leads the charge himself. If they find our forces too overwhelming, Saint Mars might even call for the rest of the Five Elders to join him!"

"Let them come," El said coldly. "We'll be ready."

El let out a sharp laugh. This time, he had prepared thoroughly.

With the Five Elders' nearly unkillable "mechanical cheat" nature, it was unrealistic to expect a complete wipeout of the World Government's forces. But if they refused to compromise and if Totto Land fell, El was prepared for mutual destruction.

If his kingdom was destroyed, he would turn Navy Headquarters, the Fortress of Justice, and Mary Geoise—the World Government's central seat of power—into rubble. He was confident that he could lead the Fallen Angel Pirates to retreat unscathed, even if it meant sacrificing some Homie forces and delaying their plans by a few years. After all, he never expected to topple the centuries-old World Government in just three to five years. Patience was key.

"Has everyone been evacuated?" El asked as he walked into the grand hall.

"Following your orders, Boss El, all non-combatants have been secretly evacuated," Moss replied. "Ten thousand Angel Troops and ten thousand Sky Knights are standing by across nearby islands. The moment the battle begins, they'll swarm in and encircle the World Government's forces."

The larger Homie army wasn't necessary for this operation. Only the airborne troops, like the Fallen Angel Homies, Pterodactyl Knights, and Pegasus Knights, were suited to harass and support El in combat against the World Government's elite. Other Homie troops, while durable and resilient, could easily be neutralized by specific Conqueror's Haki techniques or specialized Devil Fruit abilities.

Given the Fallen Angel Pirates' dual-layered contingency plans, they would not risk all their resources on a single fight.

"Mamamama, then let's wait for them to come knocking!" Linlin grinned, baring her teeth. "Tonight, let Saul use his Paramecia Stone-Stone Fruit ability to transfer the entire palace to Atlantis."

The battle was bound to reduce Cake Island to ruins, but the grand palace—two and a half years in the making, requiring vast resources and manpower—was too valuable to leave behind.

"Saul, huh?" Moss chuckled with admiration. "Every time I see his abilities, I can't help but marvel at how ridiculous they are."

Recently, the Fallen Angel Pirates had been proactively recruiting from Elbaf and giant clans across the globe. Thanks to El's speech during the Totto Land Kingdom's founding, which had earned him goodwill among giants, and his mixed heritage—being half-giant—he had built strong ties with the race. Combined with the allure of Devil Fruits, their efforts had yielded significant results.

They had even recruited several giant Vice Admirals who had resigned from the Navy after the Elder Giants exposed the World Government's deception, which had enraged their people. Jaguar D. Saul was one such warrior.

El had granted him the Paramecia Stone-Stone Fruit ability, taken from an Impel Down inmate. This power allowed Saul to assimilate any rock he touched, taking on its properties, including its hardness and texture, as his own strength. For a giant like Saul, this ability was amplified to an extraordinary degree.

It was nothing short of spectacular.

~~~

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