One Piece Devouring Fruit - Chapter 9
Brrrrrrr, brrrrrr, brrrrrr~
The Den Den Mushi stuck out its tongue a few times before the connection was successful.
“Hello, Corazon, what’s the matter?”
At this time, Sengoku had been confirmed to succeed as the Fleet Admiral, though he hadn’t officially taken the position yet.
So, Kong started grooming Sengoku to ensure a smooth transition, and Sengoku began handling various affairs in the Fleet Admiral’s office.
Of course, Kong could also have been lazy, using the pretext of “training.”
“Admiral Sengoku, Doflamingo somehow learned about the World Government’s plan to establish the Shichibukai. He’s planning to raid the ‘Heavenly Tribute’ when the countries offer it to achieve his goals, but there’s no precise information on which country or when.”
As Sengoku listened to the message, his face gradually darkened.
After hanging up, Sengoku’s face was ashen as he roared, “Damn it, who leaked the Shichibukai plan that hasn’t even been implemented yet!?
“Doflamingo plans to use the ‘Heavenly Tribute’ as a threat to secure a position as one of the Shichibukai.”
Sengoku, enraged, slammed his fist on the table, causing it to crack.
“Hahaha, don’t be so angry, Sengoku. Since it’s already happened, think about the next steps,” Garp said nonchalantly.
Faced with Sengoku’s fury, only Garp, his carefree contemporary, could casually offer his thoughts.
After reflection, the young Tsuru said, “The Shichibukai plan was just approved. If we didn’t leak it, it must be someone within the World Government.
“Even after losing his status as a Celestial Dragon and becoming a pirate, there are still connections between them.”
“The World Government, fearing his Celestial Dragon heritage, can’t punish him but also can’t stop the tribute from the countries. They’ve likely tacitly approved his position as a Shichibukai.”
“Even if he became a pirate, his Celestial Dragon bloodline is undeniable.”
Tsuru’s concise analysis made the situation clear. As the Navy’s chief strategist, Tsuru quickly dissected the issue.
Of course, Sengoku had thought of this, too, but his anger clouded his judgment.
A dangerous person like Doflamingo becoming a Shichibukai would be a ticking time bomb, unpredictable in his madness.
Such a crazy person was too dangerous with official protection; who knew what trouble he’d cause?
Shichibukai was otherwise not interfered with except when summoned by the World Government.
As a “Royal Shichibukai,” their bounties would be frozen, and the World Government wouldn’t pursue their past crimes.
They’d essentially be unrestrained pirates, free to pillage unless they directly challenged the government or Navy.
This privateering was tacitly allowed, with only a portion of the loot needing to be surrendered.
More crucially, to maintain their “cooperation” with the Shichibukai, the World Government would grant them specific “special requests.”
Sengoku’s fury stemmed from these “special requests,” uncertain what dangerous demands Doflamingo might make or what he’d do in secret.
His Celestial Dragon identity was his inherent shield.
If Doflamingo became a Shichibukai, his future actions, whether successful or not, would be a headache.
Success would inevitably be bad news, and failure would be cushioned by his identity, with the Gorosei likely stepping in to clean up his mess.
Thus, the Navy was at a disadvantage from the start, something Sengoku couldn’t accept.
“I’m going to the Gorosei for an explanation!!” Sengoku’s face was dark as he slammed his fist on the desk again.
After ending the call with the Gorosei, Sengoku’s face remained grim, even worse than before.
“Those Gorosei bastards! They dismissed my concerns as nonsense. They must’ve known all along and were just waiting for Doflamingo to act to justify his Shichibukai position,” Sengoku fumed.
Sengoku called to protest but found that the Gorosei had already decided.
“Calm down. If you want, I’ll go beat that kid up to vent your anger,” Garp said, biting into his favorite donut.
Garp’s casual remark brightened Sengoku’s eyes, “Garp, you actually said something useful for once.”
“Hmm??” Garp mumbled, confused, with his mouth full of donuts.
Though Garp didn’t understand, Tsuru did. “You’re thinking of sending someone to warn him when appointing him as Shichibukai? If he plans to raid the Heavenly Tribute, giving him a lesson would be good.”
“Before he raids the Heavenly Tribute, I’ll pursue him. Even if he’s slated to be Shichibukai, I won’t make it easy for him. If I can delay him for a few years, it’s even better.”
Tsuru, ever the strategist, quickly formulated a plan to handle the situation.
Sengoku’s eyes lit up, “I’ll leave it to you, Tsuru. Make sure to give him a hard time and delay as much as possible.”
After a moment of contemplation, Sengoku added, “Aokiji, if we must appoint him as Shichibukai, you’ll go and notify him, and give him a lesson.”
“Ah, what a bother,” Aokiji yawned lazily from his chair, but Sengoku didn’t seem to care.
Sengoku’s arrangement was purposeful. Kizaru, being nonchalant, would likely turn a Navy warning into a personal one.
Kizaru’s attitude was perceived as “nasty,” as if someone mocked you while casually reprimanding you.
As for Akainu, his hatred for evil meant he’d likely kill Doflamingo rather than appoint him, causing further issues.
Akainu wouldn’t be deterred by Doflamingo’s Celestial Dragon status, necessitating cleanup after any incident.
Thus, Aokiji was the best choice for the task.
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