Chapter 988: Aeridar’s Treasures

Chapter 988: Chapter 988: Aeridar’s Treasures

Gulp... Gulp... Gulp...

Kaido sat cross-legged in the shadows of a cavern, clutching a massive, crimson sake gourd. He poured the liquor down his throat in great gulps, the crystal-clear alcohol spilling past the corners of his mouth, rich with aroma.

Around him, a dozen pirates stood flanking the cavern walls, watching their captain with bated breath, too terrified to utter a single sound.

"Kaido-sama! Kaido-sama!"

Suddenly, a pirate burst into the cavern, shouting as he rushed to a halt before Kaido. His expression was grave as he delivered his report in a low, urgent voice: "Kaido-sama! We have confirmed it! The Big Mom Pirates launched a massive raid on Unzan Port last night. Charlotte Linlin took action personally, clashing with the Chris Pirates in a battle that raged through the entire night!"

Hearing this, the surrounding pirates paled in shock, exchanging stunned glances.

"Hmm..."

Kaido paused mid-drink, slowly lowering the sake gourd.

The next second, his lips pulled back into a feral, ecstatic grin, and he roared with laughter. "Hahaha! They actually threw down!"

"How thrilling! That old hag Linlin actually went to war with that brat Golden Ring! Hahahaha—"

His deep, thunderous laughter boomed through the cavern like rolling thunder, generating a violent soundwave. The surrounding pirates winced in pain, instinctively clamping their hands over their ears.

"K-Kaido-sama!"

"He’s in a great mood drinking today. Fantastic!"

Seeing Kaido burst into laughter rather than rage, the pirates on both sides breathed a quiet sigh of relief, covertly wiping the cold sweat from their brows.

It took a while for Kaido’s laughter to subside, and as the echoes faded from the cavern, he raised his gourd once more, guzzling the liquor down. Gulp, gulp.

Seeing that Kaido had settled back into his drinking, the reporting pirate continued, "Kaido-sama, the Big Mom Pirates are still stationed at Unzan Port. They haven’t broken through the Chris Pirates’ defensive line, but they haven’t been pushed back either. Both sides are currently locked in a stalemate!"

Kaido paused again. Lowering his head, his face contorted into a menacing, sadistic grin. "Splendid. A war of that caliber... I’d love to throw my own weight into it!"

...

Holy Land Mariejois. Pangea Castle.

With the Reverie drawing near, kings and high-ranking officials from all over the globe were continuously gathering, making the Holy Land far more bustling and raucous than usual.

Squads of armored knights patrolled the streets while black-suited Cipher Pol agents stood at every corner, keeping the city under lockdown.

Even the high-ranking officers of the Navy were a common sight. Notable figures like Vice Admiral Momousagi Gion, Vice Admiral Chaton Tokikake, Vice Admiral Yamakaji, Rear Admiral "Black Cage" Hina, "Slayer of a Thousand Man" Yukimura, "Ship Cutter" T-Bone, and Marine Supernova Grant were all present. Nearly every officer deployed was a renowned name within the ranks.

Because of the Reverie, the Navy had to mobilize massive forces to safeguard the summit. More importantly, the outbreak of war between the Yonko Big Mom Pirates and the Chris Pirates forced the World Government and the Navy to remain on high alert. They had to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos in the New World to cause disruptions during the Reverie.

Naturally, it wasn’t just the Marines on guard; the World Government’s Cipher Pol agencies were operating heavily in the shadows, and even CP0, who answered directly to the Celestial Dragons, had largely consolidated their forces here.

Inside a magnificent, golden palace...

"To think that even an old hag like Big Mom couldn’t gain a single advantage... That man’s strength has grown truly formidable."

Saint Gustav sat upon the high throne of the grand hall, scanning a document in his hand with keen interest. It contained a detailed breakdown of the events that had unfolded at Unzan Port the previous night.

Below the dais, Malha sat cross-legged on the floor, clad in a black trench coat. His expression was cold as he reached down, picked up a cup of coffee from the floor, and took a measured sip.

Compared to two years ago, he looked considerably leaner. His right arm, which had been severed at the shoulder by Aeridar, had been replaced with a sleek, black metallic prosthetic.

"What do you think?" Saint Gustav asked, casting a casual glance down at Malha.

"What do I think?" Malha’s lips curled into a mocking sneer. He replied coldly, "If I told you it was an opportunity, what would you do? Deploy CP0, or step onto the field yourself?"

Ever since the battle in the Bivins Kingdom, he had been hiding in the shadows. This trip to the Holy Land Mariejois marked his first public movement in two years.

"Are you... actually terrified of that man now?" Saint Gustav stared deeply at Malha.

"A cheap provocation?" Malha swept a contemptuous gaze over Saint Gustav, speaking dismissively. "A monster capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Yonko is not an opponent a cripple like me can face. I’m better off staying a rat in the dark."

After his defeat in the Bivins Kingdom, he had been rescued by the Marines. However, he never expected the World Government to turn on him, deeming him to have outlived his usefulness. If he hadn’t still controlled a portion of the Underworld’s forces and networks, assets the World Government desperately desired, he would have been executed by a Marine Admiral long ago.

And his Celestial Dragon counterpart before him had stayed silent during the ordeal, maintaining an ambiguous stance, seemingly content to watch the World Government dispose of him.

Fortunately, Malha had reacted quickly. Activating the moles he had planted deep within the World Government years prior, he slipped away quietly just before the CP0 agents could put him to the question. The cost, however, was devastating; nearly ninety percent of the spy network he had painstakingly built within the World Government was wiped out overnight.

Later, fearing that Malha would outright rebel, the World Government placated him and ceased their pursuit. Yet, this left an irreversible rift between him, the World Government, and Saint Gustav. Their alliance was no longer as seamless as it once was.

"Drop the bitter act, I know you’re still angry," Saint Gustav said, his brow twitching slightly. "But your arrival here proves you haven’t abandoned your desire for vengeance."

Without giving Malha a chance to interrupt, Saint Gustav pressed on, "I have already established contact with the Blackbeard Pirates and sent infiltrators into the Clifford Kingdom. Although our men were compromised, Big Mom’s sudden raid has pulled the Chris Pirates’ focus away, easing the pressure on that front."

Malha’s eyes narrowed into a thoughtful slit, but he remained silent, processing the information.

"I don’t mind telling you, the city of Nakor is empty, and the location of the royal treasury has been fully mapped out. Even if we cannot eliminate Golden Ring Aeridar, I doubt you would turn down the chance to seize a fortune that defies imagination." Saint Gustav tilted his head back proudly, a smug grin appearing on his face.

As one of the wealthiest men alive, Aeridar’s treasury was a constant subject of global speculation. It was rumored to hold mountains of gold and silver, priceless antiques, and legendary artwork. Some ambitious figures who knew the secrets of the Poneglyphs even suspected that Aeridar, given his severe obsession with collecting, had gathered several of them. They rumored that three Poneglyphs, including the missing Road Poneglyphs, were hidden within that very vault.

Unfortunately, no one outside the core executives of the Chris Pirates knew the vault’s location. Countless thieves who had tried to find it had perished like moths to a flame, and not a single soul had ever successfully broken in.

Malha’s breath hitched, a sudden flash of heat igniting in his eyes. "The treasure of Aeridar’s royal vault?!"

Under the relentless suppression of the Chris Pirates, Malha’s syndicate had shrunk drastically, and his financial lifelines were on the verge of snapping. If he could secure an astronomical fortune to replenish his coffers, he could easily restore his faction to its former glory and break free from his current predicament.