Chapter 192: The Raging Great Sea
The Rocks Pirates' operation was considered a failure.
However, it wouldn't end so easily; this was just the beginning.
They directly shifted targets, or targeted passing Islands.
The Pirate Fleet plundered as they went.
The mad Rocks Pirates made people realize what true fear was.
Today, one small Island was massacred; tomorrow, that Town was plundered.
The red marks on the nautical chart continuously spread; these were all Sea Areas they had invaded.
Pirate warships scattered, simultaneously targeting several objectives for plunder.
If the terror of the Rocks Pirates was once just a rumor, now it was truly brought to the entire World.
What could the World Government do? They could only try their best to resist.
For a time, the Four Seas and the First Half of the Grand Line were thrown into chaos.
However, all of this was within the World Government's tolerance.
The Member Nations were the priority.
The plundered Member Nations were not annihilated; even if the Royal Family was massacred, some people survived outside.
At that time, they just needed to support someone to take the throne.
As for the rest, the impact wasn't that significant; it didn't harm the World Government's foundation.
Once the Rocks Pirates left, sending some supplies to appease them would suffice.
The slaughter brought by the Rocks Pirates would also provide the Marines with countless young individuals willing to join.
"What a terrible situation. Those people up there are actually quite satisfied?"
Garp complained slightly.
Before his eyes was a scene of devastation: blood and corpses were everywhere.
What could possibly be left in places ravaged by the Rocks Pirates?
Tsuru, standing nearby, sighed.
"To them, as long as the Member Nations are fine, these are minor matters. A large part of our strength is focused on protecting the Member Nations, making it difficult to spare energy to resist the Rocks Pirates."
"To prevent us from taking targeted action, the Rocks Pirates' Pirate Legion in each Sea Area have united."
"Both Marine Headquarters and the Red Line need to be guarded."
"If we're not careful, the Rocks Pirates will attack."
"During the previous great battle, the Rocks Pirates' Affiliated Force and Affiliated Pirate Group attacked the G-1 Fortress. If not for Army General Storm Dragon, the G-1 Fortress might have already fallen."
"We are simply too passive."
The Rocks Pirates had gone completely mad, slaughtering and plundering.
Numerous Affiliated Pirate Groups also went completely mad.
Influenced by the Rocks Pirates, pirate ships underwent coating and passed through Fish-Man Island to enter the First Half of the Grand Line.
Even the entire Pirate community became frenzied.
Rampaging Pirates!
A chaotic World!
The Great Sea seemed to have turned into a pot of burning hot oil, boiling intensely.
Endless chaos, and collapsing order.
"What in the world is happening to this era?"
Countless people felt as if the sky was about to fall.
Chaos was everywhere; where could one hide safely?
This situation lasted for two full months.
Sea trade was affected, and the economy of the entire World was in decline.
Nearly all Factions were affected.
The fear of Rocks seemed to have penetrated deep into their bones.
The war between the World Government and the Rocks Pirates was constant.
Every time the Rocks Pirates targeted a Member Nation, the World Government had to send people to resist.
However, sometimes they couldn't be stopped, just like Shiki "The Golden Lion"'s Flying Fleet.
Even if the CP0 Director-General could stop Shiki, what about the Pirates under Shiki's command?
How could the speed of an Admiral traveling by warship compare to Shiki's flying speed?
Charlotte Linlin, inspired by Shiki, went directly to a Sky Island 10,000 meters up and used floating clouds combined with her ability to create cloud Homies, also gaining her own Air Force.
Several more Member Nations were plundered and massacred, yet the World Government was helpless.
Rocks even targeted Marine Headquarters.
Ultimately, the Marines repelled the Force led by Rocks with all their might, but suffered heavy losses, and Marine Headquarters was also more than half destroyed.
Besides the Pirates, the Underworld Forces began to stir.
Those Gangs started causing trouble and seizing territory, taking advantage of the situation.
This was a reshuffling of Factions initiated by the Rocks Pirates.
With such an impact, even some Member Nations who were previously sitting back and watching couldn't stay put.
Kingdoms were forced to cut off contact with the outside world.
This might be fine for a short period, but over time, the Kingdom's operations would be affected, as sea trade was the economic source for some Kingdoms.
While putting pressure on the World Government and the Marines, they further armed their Kingdom Army, purchasing large amounts of munitions.
Without weapons, it was difficult to protect oneself.
During this period of extreme chaos, guns and ammunition flowed into the Great Sea in large quantities, spread throughout the World by Merchants.
Even an ordinary Civilian, if they had spare money, would equip themselves with a flintlock gun for self-defense.
The evil in human nature began to erupt during such times.
For survival, some people would do anything.
Sometimes, even the friends around you couldn't be trusted.
Previously, if the Rocks Pirates were merely attacking the World Government and the Marines, weakening their strength, reputation, and affecting the stability of the World.
This time, it was more direct and more intense.
No one could have imagined that the Rocks Pirates could go to such lengths.
Two months later, the Rocks Pirates also felt somewhat fatigued.
They had acquired more than enough.
The warehouse of every pirate ship was filled with all sorts of treasure and Beli; they could be said to have returned fully loaded.
The World Government did not stop them.
In order to protect the Member Nations and prepare for the upcoming World Conference, they had dispersed most of their combatant strength.
Only a small portion could be sent to rescue the various Islands in the Great Sea.
In most cases, it was merely "justice delayed."
This was unavoidable.
The Marines lacked money and personnel.
To recover and grow stronger, they would have to wait until after the World Conference.
Regardless of what the Marines and the World Government were doing now, it was all in preparation for the upcoming World Conference.
The raging Great Sea, stirred up by the mad Rocks Pirates, had completely shaken the Great Sea and intimidated these Member Nations.
On the surface, the Marines and the World Government had completely fallen into a disadvantageous situation.
It could be foreseen that the Member Nations would have to support the World Government and the Marines going forward, and they would do so with all their might.
The fear brought by the Rocks Pirates was something most Member Nations did not want to experience a second time.
The invaded Member Nations still existed, but they would undergo a period of political turmoil and the rebuilding of their Kingdoms.
The mess left behind was destined to require someone to handle it, and the losses would also take time to recover.
The actual destruction suffered was beyond imagination.
Every time the Rocks Pirates left, many other Pirates would seize the opportunity to come and "drink the soup" (profit from the aftermath).
Most of the Kingdom's Military had been wiped out.
How much strength was left to resist these Pirates?
Furthermore, these Pirates were very cunning; they would plunder quickly and flee, not daring to linger.
And the chaos of the Great Sea would not end just because the Rocks Pirates left.
Once it began, it was difficult to stop.
This was what the Marines needed to work towards next, without a moment's rest.
(end of chapter)