Before Wang Zhi could react, deafening explosions erupted from outside the castle, followed by a second and third blast.
BOOM!
KABOOM—
The entire castle shook violently from the massive explosions, dust raining down from the ceiling.
The hall fell deathly silent.
All pirates set down their drinks and roasted meat, rising to their feet in unison.
"What's going on?!"
A muscular man with a beast tattoo on his face frowned and asked.
He was Grog, renowned for his monstrous strength capable of tearing warships apart, with a bounty of 580 million berries.
"Isn't it obvious? The trainees led by the Fleet Admiral have come to Hachinosu Island for training!"
Beside him, a curvaceous female swordsman with a slender katana at her waist gazed grimly toward the castle gates.
She was Sylphie the Ghost Blade, a notorious pirate from the New World with a 630 million berry bounty, famous for her blindingly fast swordsmanship.
She had once challenged Mihawk and, though defeated, earned her reputation through that duel.
At Sylphie's words, many in the hall turned pale.
'We're doomed!'
'The Fleet Admiral is here!'
They had come to Hachinosu Island seeking Wang Zhi's protection precisely because the ruthless Fleet Admiral had entered the New World with his trainees.
They thought the island would be their final sanctuary, but before they could even settle in, the Fleet Admiral's trainees had stormed in!
While some were terrified, others grew excited.
"Hehehe..."
From a corner, a gaunt, repulsive-looking man reeking of decay chuckled eerily.
He was "Ghoul" Vargas, with a 550 million berry bounty, known for profiting from chaos.
Vargas glanced at Wang Zhi, then toward the gates, a smirk curling on his lips as a mad thought grew louder in his mind.
'Fight! The more chaotic the better! Perfect for me to locate where Wang Zhi has hidden his treasure trove. Yahahaha~'
Unlike the pirates with their ulterior motives, the royal family members of the Podovia Kingdom were plunged into utter despair.
"It's over!"
The finance minister collapsed to the floor, weeping uncontrollably.
"We never should have come to Hachinosu Island! If we'd gone to the Holy Land, at least we might have survived the purge! Now we're all going to die here!"
"This is your fault!" The king's brother pointed an accusing finger at the king while shouting.
"I told you not to trust pirates! But you wouldn't listen! Now we're trapped between a rock and a hard place—we're doomed!"
"Father!"
A clear, tearful voice rang out as the sixteen-year-old princess of Podovia stepped forward, her eyes brimming with tears as she stared at her father.
"Why did you betray the World Government? Why would you trust a pirate's promise?"
"Now Wang Zhi wants us dead, and the Fleet Admiral will never let us go! You've driven us all to a dead end!"
The king's face turned ashen, his lips trembling without uttering a single word.
He looked at his daughter's desperate face, then at the surrounding nobles and ministers who seemed ready to devour him alive, overwhelmed with regret.
Wang Zhi paid no attention to the chaos behind him.
Releasing the collar of the messenger pirate, he strode toward the castle gate with a grim expression.
When he reached the entrance, the scene outside made even this veteran pirate who had followed Rocks and witnessed countless grand battles gasp in shock.
The war had fully engulfed Hachinosu Island.
Towering flames raged like giant dragons, devouring building after building.
Crisscrossing sword slashes tore through the earth, sending countless pirates flying.
Terrifying shockwaves rippled outward one after another.
What shocked him most was the sky - dense figures were being blasted away like dumplings dropping into boiling water, then crashing heavily to the ground.
Screams, wails, and explosions came from all directions, creating a truly fearsome spectacle.
"Damn it!"
Wang Zhi clenched his fist violently, the huge wine barrel in his hand shattering instantly.
Wine mixed with wood splinters trickled through his fingers.
"Weren't they just a bunch of kids?"
He took a step forward, his voice deep.
"How many of them actually came?!"
The reporting subordinate scrambled to catch up, trembling as he spoke.
"So far, only the trainees from the training ship have landed on the island!"
"But their strength is terrifying! That Fire Fist kid called Ace is not only a Flame-Flame Fruit user but has also awakened Conqueror's Haki! With just one attack, he wiped out our entire hundred-man pirate crew!"
"And there's another youth called Sabo, also a Conqueror's Haki user! The moment he landed, he knocked out hundreds of our brothers!"
"And that Straw Hat kid Luffy, grandson of the Marine hero Garp, has a rubber-like body that simply won't stay down!"
"Then there are the four modified humans from the North Blue's Vinsmoke family of assassins, wearing combat suits - our firearms are useless against them!"
The subordinate grew more agitated, nearly crying.
"And that three-sword style swordsman, that cook who can kick flames, that doctor who can cut people into pieces..."
"Enough!" Wang Zhi roared, cutting him off in frustration. "No matter how strong they are, they're just a bunch of kids! There are nearly 200,000 people on Hachinosu Island - what are you all afraid of?!"
"But... but..."
The subordinate spoke fearfully, "Besides these trainees, there's a warship heading full speed toward Rocky Port! The leader... the leader is..."
"It's the world's greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eye Mihawk!"
"Rumor has it he's following the Fleet Admiral's orders, leading the warship to search for the Road Poneglyph! On board are also the 'Devil Child' Nico Robin, former Four Emperor Kaido's daughter Yamato, Wano samurai Denjiro, and the two kings of Zou's Mokomo Dukedom - Nekomamushi and Inuarashi!"
Hiss—
Even Wang Zhi couldn't help but draw a sharp breath upon hearing this long list of names.
Hawk-Eyes, Devil Child Nico Robin, Yamato, Denjiro, the leader of Zou...
With such a luxurious lineup, plus the Fleet Admiral who had suppressed all forces across the Grand Line to the point of suffocation, let alone two hundred thousand Pirates, even if that number were doubled, it would likely be nothing more than a string of digits that could be wiped out at any moment in the face of these monsters.
Inside the hall, the expressions of Grog and Sylvia, who had just been clinging to a sliver of hope, completely changed.
If it were only the interns led by Orion, they might still stand a fighting chance, relying on their numbers and Wang Zhi's presence.
But now—
"So what!"
Just as everyone's spirits were shaken and morale hit rock bottom, Wang Zhi abruptly raised his head, his small eyes flashing with madness and ferocity.
"The World Government has an agreement with me! No matter how overbearing Orion is, he can't possibly wipe me out! Otherwise, he'd be disrespecting the World Government!"
Pausing slightly, Wang Zhi scanned the room, his body standing ramrod straight as he exuded the aura of a formidable leader and coldly stating.
"Everyone, pull yourselves together! Today, I will lead you to face this legendary Marine Fleet Admiral my self!"