Chapter 149: The Tricky Devil Child
“Zephyr has changed a lot.”
“He’s different from before.”
“To be honest, Zephyr actually proposed a candidate to supplement the Seven Warlords, and it’s a pirate······ I still feel like I’m dreaming.” Fleet Admiral Sengoku stroked his long beard, his face showing undisguised confusion. “Tsuru, has something happened to Zephyr recently?”
“The Pirate Guerilla Squad was single-handedly established by Zephyr, so I have no way of knowing what happened to him.”
Vice Admiral Tsuru looked composed. She glanced at Fleet Admiral Sengoku and said straightforwardly, “Zephyr’s changes don’t seem like a bad thing for now. Before any ominous signs appear, just keep an eye on him more in daily life. There’s no need to invest too much attention on Zephyr.”
“You’re right!” Fleet Admiral Sengoku nodded lightly.
Regardless of what situation Zephyr encountered that caused such a big change in him, from the current interactions, the changes in Zephyr are not a bad thing. A Zephyr who has rallied himself is clearly better than his previous gloomy appearance, whether from a public or private perspective.
“So, that White Horse······ Tsuru, do you have any news on him?”
“Just what was said at the meeting. More detailed information will take some time to investigate, but from the existing intelligence, this White Horse is indeed a good candidate. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you can first confirm this White Horse’s specific location now. Once you’ve made up your mind, you can directly send someone to contact him······ I think you know how to handle the specifics. I’m heading this way.”
“Thanks for the trouble, Tsuru.”
At the stairwell,
Vice Admiral Tsuru turned right into the corridor. Fleet Admiral Sengoku watched Vice Admiral Tsuru’s back as she entered the office, then turned left and hurried back to his own Fleet Admiral’s office. He plopped down into his leather chair, and the goat he raised bleated and came over begging for food.
He casually took a discarded document from the table and fed it to the goat.
Watching the goat chew the paper, he pondered for a moment. When the goat had almost finished eating one document, he picked up the Den Den Mushi and contacted the G5 branch in the New World.
“Hello, is that Vergo?”
————
After the meeting ended,
After leaving the conference room, Zephyr did not return to his Chief Instructor’s office. He walked out of the headquarters building and strolled to the nearest training ground. He went up to the stands and looked down at the instructors training this group of freshly recruited new recruits.
He really liked this vibrant scene.
It reminded him of his own youthful, high-spirited days.
He watched here for quite a while before turning and walking down from the stands. He strolled slowly along the edge of the training ground alone, unhurriedly taking out his personal Den Den Mushi from his pocket. He dialed the number of someone in the New World. After it rang twice, “Hello, Mister Zephyr, looks like there’s already a result.”
“I’ve already nominated White Horse as you said. As long as the intelligence department reviews and confirms that White Horse has no ties to the Four Emperors, Revolutionary Army, or other organizations, there’s a high chance he’ll become a new Seven Warlord.” Zephyr’s lips moved, and his very soft but clear voice was transmitted through the Den Den Mushi to Prince Elus in the New World.
“Cavendish has no ties to the Four Emperors or the Revolutionary Army······ Looks like I can celebrate for Cavendish in advance.”
Winter Island, Skathi.
The research institute was hidden behind a thick curtain of wind and snow. Prince Elus sat by the window side, admiring the snowy scenery outside while talking to Zephyr. Next to his Den Den Mushi, a pure white Den Den Mushi was tightly attached.
This was a White Den Den Mushi, which could prevent eavesdropping.
“It’s only possible. Before the result is truly settled, I’m not sure if there will be any changes.” Zephyr did not speak definitively. This was not Zephyr giving Prince Elus a heads-up; he was not lacking the courage to bear the failure of the plan.
He was just telling the truth.
Navy, Seven Warlords, Four Emperors—these were considered by countless people to be the three major forces balancing each other on the sea today. Strictly speaking, the relationship between the Navy and the Seven Warlords was only cooperation, not superior-subordinate. Fleet Admiral Sengoku could not command this group of arrogant generals. Previously, only Jinbe, the good guy, would be at Sengoku’s beck and call.
After Jinbe left the Seven Warlords, Fleet Admiral Sengoku completely lost control over the Seven Warlords. The current members all had stubborn personalities that disobeyed orders······ If there were really no other way to bring Jinbe back, Fleet Admiral Sengoku would very much want this reliable honest man to return.
In any case,
Given the delicate relationship between the Navy and the Seven Warlords, although the Five Elders handed the selection of new Seven Warlord members to the Navy, they could also take back that power at any time. If the Five Elders were dissatisfied with the Navy’s choice, no matter how hard Zephyr tried, it would be doomed to be useless.
“As long as there’s hope, it’s fine. Man proposes, heaven disposes—this saying has reason. We’re not omniscient gods; we just do our best to plan, implement the plan······ and then patiently wait for the result.”
Prince Elus was very open-minded.
This plan was prepared hastily from the start. He hadn’t thought too much at first, just wanting to do a favor for Alabasta and incidentally give his grandfather more face in front of his friends in the Holy Land······ until Prince Elus suddenly realized that Crocodile’s defeat would leave a vacant Seven Warlord seat.
He got ideas right then.
Then,
He contacted White Horse, who was still roaming the New World. This narcissistic guy had been saved by Prince Elus from Zephyr’s hands. Even though he soon left Eckmond Kingdom afterward, their contact never actually stopped. Cavendish and Kurosel had always maintained regular communication.
When the maritime transport network was expanding, Cavendish also lent a hand conveniently. At the same time, he occasionally borrowed the maritime transport network or Eckmond Kingdom’s power to avoid dangers in the New World. The longer he roamed the New World, the more profoundly he understood its perils.
In this subtle way, Cavendish finally surrendered.
The White Horse, who was infinitely glamorous in the newspapers and captivated countless women, joined Prince Elus’s command. Of course, this was not publicly announced. White Horse—Cavendish—in people’s eyes, he was still a free man and had not joined any faction’s influence.
Prince Elus initially just wanted to use Cavendish’s pirate identity to facilitate some things. But before he could put him to specific use, the Alabasta Kingdom incident happened. After discussing with Cavendish, he immediately contacted Zephyr and proposed this fresh, hot plan.
To push Cavendish onto a Seven Warlord position.
Although Prince Elus himself was also a Seven Warlord, such good things were never too many. It was perfect to send Cavendish to Paradise to help guard the maritime transport network there, which could split off the increasingly large maritime transport network and avoid strikes from the World Government and Navy.
The Navy might prefer striking pirates over curbing the expansion of Prince Elus’s forces, but if it was the World Government’s order, the Navy would have to act regardless of willingness. To avoid such an unpleasant future, Prince Elus was preparing ahead of time.
“By the way, where is that White Horse now?”
Zephyr suddenly asked.
“Dressrosa.”
“······Heavenly Yaksha’s territory? Are you avoiding suspicion?”
“Just a coincidence! I’m planning to have Cavendish leave the New World and operate in Paradise from now on. He happened to pass by Dressrosa and is staying there now, waiting for the invitation from the World Government or Navy!”
“Alright! Anyway, the one who ends up issuing the invitation will definitely have nothing to do with my Pirate Guerilla Squad. The most likely is the G5 branch commander, that guy named······ Vergo? Vice Admiral Vergo. Yeah, it’s most probably him.”
“Vice Admiral Vergo?”
Prince Elus smiled silently,
In that case, staying in Dressrosa became a clever choice. Perhaps he could seize evidence of Doflamingo and Vergo meeting, coerce the Heavenly Yaksha to join his forces······ He thought about it and decided to drop it.
Doflamingo was very strong.
In the New World, aside from the Four Emperors’ crews’ experts, probably only a handful like Hawk Eyes and Black Prince could surpass the Heavenly Yaksha. Such combat power was absolutely precious.
But Doflamingo, this arrogant guy, would never loyally submit to anyone. He might submit under threat of martial power, but using such a guy was really unreliable. He just thought about it in his mind and decisively passed on this option.
“Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up?”
“One more thing. Baroque Works, those people······ the ability users, where did you take them?”
“They were Dillon’s hunted prey and are now my trophies. The Navy shouldn’t have designs on them. I’m not handing them over to the Navy. Why? Is someone in the Navy interested in them?”
“Devil Child······ that’s a hot potato.” Zephyr stopped walking and stood in an unoccupied corner of the training ground, holding the Den Den Mushi with lowered voice. “Right now, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the others’ attention is drawn to Crocodile and the vacant Seven Warlord seat, but soon, believe me, soon they’ll turn their attention to the Devil Child.”
“They didn’t know before that Crocodile was hiding the Devil Child. Now that her whereabouts are exposed, it’s impossible to hide her identity with a secret organization like Crocodile did. And it’s not just the Navy; CP’s people will target you too.”
“Hmm!”
Prince Elus pinched his chin.
This matter was indeed troublesome.
Devil Child, Devil of Ohara······ Robin was different from ordinary pirates. Her identity and ability made the World Government deeply wary. Over these years, they never gave up hunting her. If not for a certain General secretly helping, Robin would have been captured by the World Government long ago.
Now Robin had openly fallen into Prince Elus’s hands. It was imaginable that soon someone from the World Government would come to demand this lady with a bounty of 79 million Beli.
Prince Elus had some interest in Robin’s ability or knowledge to interpret ancient texts, but not to the point of making an enemy of the World Government. As for handing Robin over to the World Government······ he didn’t want to choose that path either.
Anything that caused trouble for the World Government, Prince Elus was happy to see. Without exposing himself, he was even interested in getting involved.
“······ Got it!”
A flash of inspiration struck Prince Elus’s mind, and he immediately had an idea.
“Leave Nico Robin’s matter to me! I won’t let the World Government gain any advantage, nor will I shift the responsibility onto myself.”
“Best if you have an idea.”
Zephyr did not ask what Prince Elus’s idea was.
Anyway, he was at Navy Headquarters now and did not plan to get involved in this matter. Warning Prince Elus ahead of time was already his limit. Since Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru could see his changes, he himself knew he was very much in the spotlight now. It was not suitable to personally do anything shady at this time.
After hanging up, Zephyr walked two laps around the training ground, observed the recruits’ training up close, and even pointed out a few promising seedlings who performed well, nearly exciting these rookies to faint.
Leaving aside Zephyr training recruits in Marineford, after ending the call with Zephyr, Prince Elus held the microphone and pondered for a moment. After double-checking and confirming his idea had no major issues, he dialed a new number.
“Prince Elus?”
The low, husky voice carried the speaker’s fatigue.
“Mister Dragon, how long has it been since you rested? You don’t sound too good.” Prince Elus greeted.
“These past few days have been quite busy.”
New World, White Earth Island·Baldo.
The Revolutionary Army’s main base.
In the office belonging to the leader, Dragon, this middle-aged man of immeasurable strength had deep dark circles under his eyes. He leaned back in his chair in the most comfortable position, holding the microphone while talking to Prince Elus. “Never mind that. Do you have something for me?”
“Let me ask you a question. Are you interested in that Devil Child?”
“Hmm······ Hmm?” Dragon, whose mind was a bit foggy, suddenly jumped up. He stood on the ground, pinched his thigh hard, using the pain to stimulate his brain and dispel the drowsiness. “Devil Child? You mean Nico Robin? The survivor from Ohara?”
“That’s right.”
“Nico Robin is now my subordinate’s trophy, but unfortunately due to some irresistible factors, the World Government and Navy probably also know Nico Robin is in my subordinate’s hands. I don’t want to hand her over to the World Government, but I’m not planning to confront them right now either. If you’re interested······”
“Time, place. I’ll handle it personally.” Dragon said straightforwardly.
“Not decided yet, but you can head to Paradise first. We’ll discuss the specific plan slowly. There’s still enough time for us to prepare now.”
