Although the Radio Snail had already hung up, its expression hadn't fully returned to normal. From its just-closed eyes, it was clear its expression matched John sitting in the chair exactly.
In terms of attire, this Radio Snail had a mask-like patterned accessory on its shell. This was a personalized attachment given by its owner to distinguish it.
A Radio Snail generally resembles its owner in appearance, but its expression during calls mimics the person on the other end.
The Radio Snail on the table had some differences in attire compared to Captain John, yet there were also similarities.
Taking a bottle of wine from the table, he uncorked it and drank directly from the bottle, showing an expression of enjoyment.
"The Base Leader's collection, these Navy folks sure know how to live well."
Saying this, he walked to the window and gazed through it at the parade ground that originally belonged to the Navy. However, there were no longer any training Navy personnel, replaced instead by a chaotic group of pirates.
Fighting, brawling, gambling, doing all sorts of things without any order, each group demarcated by different pirate crews, ready to erupt in mass turmoil at any moment.
"Captain John, another pirate crew has come to join us. Now, we have over seventy ships and more than six thousand pirates. John's Grand Fleet is almost assembled! There are seven with bounties of over ten million. When are we going to search for that legendary treasure?"
John's expression didn't change; whether it was over seventy ships, more than six thousand pirates, or those pirates with bounties exceeding ten million, none could pique his interest.
The pirate ships were naturally outgunned compared to the Navy's warships. Among those seventy-plus ships were many that could only carry about a few dozen people, incomparable to the garrison's original warships.
Their main firepower was now reliant on two captured warships and the stockpile of arms on Kachira Island.
These were the supplies that the Navy hadn't yet distributed some time ago, now all taken by this group of pirates.
"Don't rush. This is the world's greatest treasure, enough for everyone to share. Only by gathering more can we secure it faster."
"But Captain John, more and more people are coming, and the supplies in the base are only enough for three days."
"Then go rob. Do I have to teach you something like this?"
"We've already taken everything... Kachira Island was never a commercial island, it doesn't have many supplies, and our numbers keep growing..."
The Navy stationed at the 277th branch numbered no more than a thousand, just one large warship and then some additional forces, but for the Four Seas, a thousand strong at a branch was already fairly substantial.
Originally, the supplies stored here were enough for this branch for two months, but with the massive influx of pirates and their prodigious waste, the food was depleting rapidly.
And the upheaval here had cut off all merchant ships; it had been a long time since fresh fruits and vegetables were seen, one of the reasons why these pirates frequently fought to vent their emotions.
"Captain John, perhaps you should go reassure everyone. The newcomers feel uneasy not seeing you."
These temporarily gathered pirates had no real cohesion, having come only for John's notorious reputation. Waiting endlessly after arriving was wearing down their patience.
At this time, it was necessary for John to go out and placate them.
"Such a hassle. Tell them we'll set out in seven days; anyone unwilling to wait can leave, and I'll go out soon."
Meanwhile, a brawl was happening on the parade ground originally belonging to the Navy. No one knew how it started. The crowd egged it on, eager to see the fight to the death.
"Captain, do we still have to wait? That Captain John has been lingering here way too long. What's he waiting for? For the Navy to encircle us?"
Not everyone was a fool. Attacking a Navy Base was bound to attract a Navy crackdown. They originally expected John to recruit some forces quickly and then head into the Grand Line, but they didn't anticipate him lingering here.
"We've waited this long, it'd be a waste to leave now. Besides, he's a pirate too; no way he could make any deal with the Navy. You all saw that day; he beheaded that Colonel, no possibility of reconciliation."
In a secluded corner, a nondescript pirate picked up a Radio Snail and made a call.
"John still hasn't acted, seems to be waiting for something. It's still uncertain if the treasure he mentioned is Rocks' treasure."
He said this quickly, pocketing the Radio Snail and leaving before the response came. He was a spy from CP7, dispatched by superiors for proximity to this area.
After the Rocks Pirates were eradicated, the World Government hadn't found Rocks' treasure. That massive wealth was tempting even for the World Government, who naturally kept an eye on the situation here.
If John acted early, he was responsible for passing the intel above. If John attempted to leave alone, he was to send out information so the government could formulate a new strategy.
Meanwhile, John also left his room, using a Navy loudspeaker to paint a vision for the pirates below. His words seemed to resonate; each time he spoke, there was a cheer from the pirates.
The sun's scorching heat did nothing to diminish their excitement. Treasure had a huge allure for them; it was the reason most pirates took to sea.
A gust of wind brought clouds that cast a shadow over the parade ground, providing some comfort, but many didn't notice the clouds were a bit lower.
Moreover, the cloud formation wasn't quite right. Arceus and his group had arrived at Kachira Island, observing from Kaidou's flame clouds above.
They too saw John in the center giving a speech.
"The sound and tone are both John-like, but what he's saying isn't at all something John would say. What a peculiar guy," Kaidou remarked from above.
Though they were high up, a distance rendering normal voices inaudible, the enhanced Observation Haki allowed him to hear John's words clearly; John's prior speech fell word-for-word into his ears.
Compared to Armament Haki, Observation Haki's abilities are more varied. Depending on the user, it has different functionalities, and some special individuals innately possess unique Observation Haki.