One Piece: Impel Down's Guard - Chapter 43
In the Fleet Admiral’s office at Marine Headquarters, Ohka was focused, staring intently at the Den Den Mushi on his desk, waiting for a call.
According to the scheduled sailing time, the fleet executing the Buster Call should have already arrived at Witch Island. What was happening now? What was Doug planning to do? What was Figo planning to do?
Buru Buru Buru.
Finally, the Den Den Mushi rang, and Ohka immediately answered, “This is Ohka.”
“Fleet Admiral Ohka, there’s trouble.”
The voice on the other end wasn’t Figo or Doug’s, and it took Ohka a moment to recognize it as Admiral Gandorou, who had been monitoring the Hell Pirates in the New World.
“What’s going on, Gandorou? Is the Hell Pirates making a move?” Ohka asked sternly.
“I lost track of them. Zebruth quietly left his Hell Garden, along with his top officers. Only some small fry are left. Should we seize the opportunity to clean them up?”
“What?!” Ohka frowned.
What is that bastard Zebruth planning?
Thinking quickly, his face suddenly went pale, and he asked urgently, “Gandorou, can you determine when Zebruth disappeared?”
“Ah, well, sorry, I can only confirm he was still there three days ago.”
Ohka abruptly hung up the Den Den Mushi and quickly dialed another number.
“What is it, Ohka?” The voice of Five Elder Mendesbin Saint came through.
“Lord Mendesbin Saint! Is the Hell Pirates’ action related to the Revolutionary Army?!”
“Watch your tone, Ohka.” Mendesbin Saint’s voice was calm. “The Hell Pirates? How would I know that? Handling pirate crews is the navy’s responsibility. But finding the Revolutionary Army’s headquarters? That information came from CP0 through the Hell Pirates. Zebruth has always wanted to defeat Voracious to become the sole king among pirates, so he very much wants to recruit the Blind Witch into his crew. You knew this, didn’t you, Ohka?”
Ohka had already understood the underlying meaning of Mendesbin Saint’s words and, filled with a mix of anger and shock, he shouted, “Are you insane?! Mendesbin Saint!”
“No, you’re insane, Ohka! Get ready to step down as Fleet Admiral!”
The Den Den Mushi was abruptly hung up.
Ohka sat there in shock for two seconds before hurriedly picking up the Den Den Mushi to dial another number.
…
His expression indifferent in Mary Geoise, Mendesbin Saint tossed the Den Den Mushi aside.
In the Four Seas and the Grand Line, the World Government’s intelligence agencies held an absolute advantage, but in the New World, dominated by the strongest pirate crews, the locals had the upper hand.
While CP0 couldn’t immediately locate a remote island in the New World, they had no such difficulty with the Hell Pirates.
Where there is existence, there are traces.
More than half a year ago, Zebruth, actively seeking the Revolutionary Army, found a clue when a Revolutionary Army member secretly bought enough food to feed 200 people for one or two months.
A large purchase without the presence of a large pirate crew? Suspicious, isn’t it?
He had intended to act on it then, but the navy reacted swiftly, sending an admiral to monitor his movements without knowing why.
This had delayed him until today.
CP0 had pinpointed the Revolutionary Army’s general location from the Hell Pirates, which inevitably meant Zebruth learned some World Government and navy movements. Given his nature, Zebruth was sure to take action!
Sending marines to their deaths?
No, it was not that. Mendesbin Saint had long guessed and known about Ohka’s and Figo’s communications. Figo would definitely join the mission to eliminate the Revolutionary Army, regardless of whether Mendesbin Saint approved!
Coupled with the Buster Call, the Hell Pirates could be fought, though both sides would suffer heavy casualties.
A war that would eliminate some pirates and kill a group of rebellious marines. If the disobedient Figo could be defeated by Zebruth, the Hell Boy, it would be perfect.
Not just to maintain his own authority.
Over the past half year, the more Mendesbin Saint learned, the more serious the situation seemed.
Figo alone wasn’t much of a threat. No matter how strong his individual power, he couldn’t truly affect the World Government’s rule. But if he influenced Doug, it would be a major problem.
Doug’s status in the navy was too special.
The creator of the Navy Six Styles, he was a mentor to countless marines. His Inspire Fruit had motivated many young marines in times of confusion.
If such a group were led by someone like Figo, it would pose a significant threat to the World Government’s control over the navy!
So, it was best if a batch died in battle.
As he contemplated this, the Den Den Mushi he had set aside began to ring again.
“Five Elder, Five Elder! Something terrible has happened! Figo, Figo is missing!” came Ladue’s terrified voice from the other end.
Unsurprising. Mendesbin Saint sighed, “The last time you saw him was yesterday morning, correct?”
“Eh? You knew?”
Yes, I knew. You only just found out? Mendesbin Saint’s eyes narrowed.
Ladue was in trouble again!
…
Meanwhile, the ten warships forced the Revolutionary Army’s large ship back to shore. One by one, the Revolutionary Army members were chained and escorted onto the warships.
“Saintess! How could this happen?!”
“Did you betray the Revolutionary Army?!”
There was resistance, but Figo easily subdued those who fought. Sapphire, the only one who could challenge Figo, was instead helping him subdue the resisting members.
Betrayal? That’s an interesting accusation.
Figo couldn’t help but laugh. Soon, only a group of children and the four Revolutionary Army members selected by Sapphire remained.
The prison files welcomed a bounty, flipping through hundreds of blank pages. Most captures had participation rates between 60% and 80%, with crime indices below 3 for four people, around 4 to 10 for about twenty others, and the rest all above 10.
The highest was an astonishing 80 points. What had they done before?
Given that he let four go, there were four innocent people among the Revolutionary Army. Figo was willing to trust Sapphire’s choices.
He signaled Sapphire to give her final instructions to the four and the children. Instead, Sapphire asked him in surprise, “Besides your team, has the Navy Headquarters dispatched an admiral and a ship of elite forces?”
“Hmm?” Figo was puzzled but quickly realized, looking out to the sea.
A massive black ship, larger than the giant warships, gradually rose from the horizon. The mast bore a high-hanging skull with a dog’s face!
It was clearly a pirate ship!
“That is…”
“Could it be?!”
Marines who saw the pirate ship were shocked. Then, they shouted, “Everyone, be on guard!”
“That’s the mark of the Hell Pirates, one of the New World’s twin poles!”
“What are they doing here?!”
Hell Pirates? Doug clenched his fists tightly. Suddenly, his Den Den Mushi rang. When he answered, Fleet Admiral Ohka’s voice said, “Doug, be careful…”
“I can see him already!” Doug roared and hung up the Den Den Mushi.
On the distant pirate ship, a figure over six meters tall and extremely muscular appeared at the front of the deck, laughing maniacally. His laughter echoed across the sea, bringing a sense of oppression. Conqueror’s Haki was released without restraint!
“What a grand occasion, marines! I was delayed by some minor troubles. Have you captured the Blind Witch already? Hahaha, how about a trade? I like the Blind Witch’s character very much. Join my pirate crew!”
Trade hostages? Figo’s expression grew serious.
“Is that… Vice Admiral Mia?!”
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