The three warships finally docked at the shores of Ando.
Tap, tap, tap… thud!
The soldiers disembarking from the three warships were handpicked from Dressrosa’s army. A force of 1,200 troops ran off the ships, quickly forming orderly ranks on the shore.
“First, second, and third battalions! Seal off the entire coast!”
“Fourth to seventh battalions, take control of the four towns on the island!”
“Eighth to twelfth battalions, advance on the Ando gold mines!”
The 1,200 soldiers were divided into 12 battalions of 100 each, directed by Dressrosa’s army captain, Kyros.
The original plan involved all nine warships acting in unison, with over 3,600 troops sequentially occupying Ando, Moasi, and Ordo. However, with Nagato’s sudden change of plans to strike all three islands simultaneously, the forces were reduced to a third, necessitating adjustments in the deployment of each battalion.
These adjustments were minor since the entire Whitebeard Pirates had followed Whitebeard to Marineford, leaving only ordinary residents in Whitebeard’s territory. Even if there were thousands, they couldn’t withstand a hundred well-trained soldiers.
The battalion commanders of the first three battalions reported directly to Kyros and marched toward the main ports of the island according to the pre-planned operations.
Battalions four to seven were led by Captain Fukurou of the second ship, who unfolded a simple map and led 400 men inland.
Battalions eight to twelve, commanded by Kalifa, were tasked with the primary objective: the Ando gold mines. Following the terrain and paths, they moved toward their target.
Nagato, Kyros, and Viola remained on the first ship, watching the troops depart.
Kyros was the direct commander of the operation, including subsequent actions in Moasi and Ordo, directing through Den Den Mushi if he wasn’t present.
Viola served as Kyros’s assistant, monitoring a range of 4,000 miles, covering all of Whitebeard’s territory, and providing timely information on Moasi, Ordo, and the progress of the Black Blade Fleet outside Whitebeard’s domain. The maps used by Fukurou and Kalifa were drawn by her the day before.
Nagato had other plans. The reason he entrusted this operation to Kyros wasn’t just due to Kyros’s command skills but because Nagato needed to prepare for stronger enemies.
“BIG MOM” Charlotte Linlin,
“Kaido of the Beasts,”
and even “Red-Haired” Shanks.
The participation of the Whitebeard Pirates in the war meant that the so-called strongest man and his pirates were absent, leaving their territory unprotected. But the pirate emperors ruling the New World numbered four!
Nagato knew Whitebeard would die at Marineford and that Shanks would leave the New World today to end the war at Marineford, stripping all protective forces from Whitebeard’s territory. Thus, he chose this moment to act.
This was the best time.
But timing alone wasn’t enough to ensure success. Taking Whitebeard’s territory was the simplest step. Once news of Nagato’s success spread, the other emperors would undoubtedly bare their fangs.
After capturing Whitebeard’s territory, resisting the ensuing storm from the Four Emperors would be the real test.
Therefore, Nagato had delegated full operational command early in the Dressrosa planning phase.
Kyros was capable of this task, managing the occupation and stabilizing the territory. Meanwhile, Nagato had to face the emperors ruling the New World and the entire sea: Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks.
Whitebeard, as the legendary strongest of the previous era and the mightiest emperor, occupied the most extensive and prosperous territory. Securing his lands was a critical part of Nagato’s plan, a leap to prominence in the New World, capable of truly shaking the world.
The Four Emperors were the hurdle to this step, a trial Nagato had prepared for.
Power is forged through conflict; position is earned through struggle. To reach the top, one must engage in battle!
……
Ando, the island known as the Land of Gold, housed vast gold mines in the northwestern mountains and four towns in the southeastern hills, forming the island’s residential areas.
As the Land of Gold, the four towns were closely tied to gold. Three of the towns mainly dealt in gold ore gambling and trading, but the coastal town of Pug took advantage of its maritime access, handling mining logistics, transportation, and sea shipments. This created a massive gold market in Pug, making it a bustling city of a million people and a hub of wealth.
The people who spotted the fleet at the shore rushed back to report, covering the ten miles quickly. However, upon reaching Pug, they found only empty, wide streets.
“Mr. Marco isn’t here, and the First Division members have left.”
“The city is full of ordinary people. Even with firearms, who will organize them to fight?”
“That’s a Warlord of the Sea… damn it!”
“There’s no choice… tell everyone to hide indoors. We can only hope those who went to the mines can inform Lord Carden quickly!”
The fishermen, sailors, and residents who had gone to the shore exchanged glances, ultimately pinning their hopes on Lord Carden and scattering to shout through the streets.
“The Warlord of the Sea is here!”
“Hide indoors quickly!”
……
Strictly speaking, the residents of Pug and most people remaining on Ando didn’t need to fear because they weren’t pirates or criminals.
But these people, long protected by Whitebeard, bore his mark and mostly identified with the Whitebeard Pirates. Their allegiance was more emotional.
Especially now, at such a sensitive time, with the Whitebeard Pirates gone and the government-aligned Warlord suddenly arriving, could it be a mere visit?
Regardless of the approach, any incident could cost them their lives, explaining their panic and flight.
As news spread through word of mouth and Den Den Mushi, the arrival of the Warlord and nine warships in the area reached the other three towns, plunging Pug and the surrounding towns into chaos and panic!
In this situation, Fukurou and his men finally arrived at Pug.
“Yo~ please calm the people and maintain order here,” Fukurou said, turning to an officer and temporarily handing over command of the 400 men.
“Yes!” The Dressrosa officer saluted.
Fukurou, holding a large projection Den Den Mushi and microphone, took a few steps, then flew to the central tower of Pug using Moonwalk.
With Fukurou gone, the officer quickly organized the men into teams to stop the people’s escape and panic.
While maintaining order, they broke every Whitebeard pirate flag they found, burning the pirate insignia.
The well-disciplined Dressrosa soldiers began to restore some semblance of order in part of the city and gradually expanded their efforts.
However, 400 men were too few for Pug, a city of a million people covering tens of kilometers. No matter how swiftly and effectively they acted, they couldn’t control the entire city.
At this moment, a loud voice echoed from the central tower.
“Thud!” Fukurou’s staff struck the tower top as his long hair flowed like a lion’s mane. “People of Ando~ from today, this land belongs to King Nagato of Dressrosa!”
“Do not panic. We are the king’s army and will not harm good citizens. You will see in a day!”
In the stunned silence of countless people in Pug, the projection Den Den Mushi broadcasted Fukurou’s image and voice across the city.
Repeating the announcement several times, Fukurou then began to reassure the residents.
Meanwhile, in other districts of Pug and the three towns miles away, different Dressrosa soldiers’ voices echoed in the towns!
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