Chapter 157: Hoping Everything Goes Smoothly
The Revolutionary Army’s plan is not complicated at all; it can even be said to be extremely simple: plant personnel on Navy ships to monitor Navy trends, then seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack······ There’s no technical content at all! It’s filled with a strong sense of simplicity from start to finish.
However, against an opponent like Sakazuki, in the face of that rock-solid willpower as unshakeable as Reverse Mountain, complicated tricks are completely useless. For a guy like Sakazuki, the simpler the plan, the more practical it is. Without ironclad strength, it’s best not to think about playing tricks in front of Sakazuki.
Sabo is indeed a clever one.
When the quartermaster on the warship took a team ashore to Port City Rapeseed Flower to procure supplies, he hid among the large amount of supplies they procured, boarded the flagship without incident, and took advantage of Sakazuki not returning during this time to steal a Navy uniform. He familiarized himself with the flagship’s routes as much as possible.
There were experts on the ship; Sakazuki had left a rear admiral to guard the fleet. However, this rear admiral had long been seen through by Dragon’s Observation Haki regarding his action habits. With the “strategy guide” that Dragon told him, Sabo, dressed as Navy, smoothly avoided the rear admiral’s patrols.
Watching Sabo board the ship, the Revolutionary Army members quietly returned to the submarine.
“Dragon, what about that guy?”
“You mean Vice Admiral Gumile of the G2 branch?”
Back on the submarine, the Revolutionary Army’s North Army Commander, the big baldy (Crow) Carrot, brought up another matter.
Vice Admiral Gumile, who had received orders from Navy Headquarters, led the fleet away from the G2 branch, sweeping through all suspicious forces near the Alabasta Kingdom. Under his swift and decisive strikes, the Revolutionary Army truly lost quite a few informants and subordinate forces.
Of course, such losses aren’t significant.
The problem is that with Vice Admiral Gumile lingering nearby, if they end up getting pincered by him and Sakazuki during the operation, it won’t be a good thing.
“Vice Admiral Gumile······ He’s a good man!”
Dragon pondered for a moment and gave an answer that made Carrot roll his eyes.
“I didn’t ask what kind of person Vice Admiral Gumile is. What I’m saying is, should we eliminate this hidden danger in advance?”
“That would tip them off.”
Dragon shook his head. “If we deal with Vice Admiral Gumile in advance, it’s equivalent to telling Navy Headquarters our whereabouts······ Moreover, Vice Admiral Gumile isn’t our enemy. Hurting a person like him would keep me from sleeping at night.”
“Is it okay to just leave him be?”
Belo Betty spoke up and asked.
“Catch a few pirates, spread some fake news, and lure Vice Admiral Gumile over there.” Dragon said as such.
“······”
Carrot didn’t say a word.
Instead, Koala, who was standing by serving tea and water, couldn’t help but ask: “Will such a simple plan work?”
“No problem, don’t worry! Vice Admiral Gumile cares a lot about the safety of the populace.”
Dragon said confidently.
The orders were passed down. Although they felt it was a bit unreliable, everyone trusted Dragon’s wisdom.
In this way,
Everything was ready; they just needed Sakazuki to bring Nico Robin over.
······
Arubana, Royal Palace.
“Navy Admiral [Akainu]······” Nico Robin, with heavy Seastone shackles on her hands, saw Sakazuki walk in the door, and her heart sank into the abyss. Unlike those ignorant fools, although she hadn’t been to the New World, she understood what a monstrous existence a Navy Admiral was.
If it were in Dillon’s hands, perhaps she could still think of struggling a bit.
But facing Sakazuki, Robin felt her courage to resist completely crushed. It was already······ hopeless!
“Admiral Sakazuki, Nico Robin is right in front of you. Where’s what Your Highness wants?”
Dillon straightened his back, staring warily at this guy exuding a dangerous aura.
“This is what Prince Elus wants.”
Sakazuki beckoned, and the CP0 agent outside the door carried in two metal boxes. The surrounding idlers had been cleared out; maids and servants were all dispersed far away. Even King Cobra didn’t enter the door to get involved in the matter.
In the room, besides Dillon and Robin and other captives, there was only Sakazuki’s group who had just entered.
“These are Devil Fruits.”
The male CP0 agent opened the metal box in his hand for Dillon to see. Five Devil Fruits of various colors and shapes were sealed and preserved in the box. No need for careful inspection; as a fellow Ability User, Dillon could vaguely sense the “devil power” lurking within the fruits.
These were genuine articles, not fakes.
“This is the blueprint.”
The other female agent then opened her box, which contained over a dozen kraft paper bags. “Inside here is the technology for manufacturing Devil Fruit Weapons. You can inspect it. If there’s no problem, we’ll take Nico Robin.”
Though she said that, this female agent didn’t think Dillon had the ability to verify the blueprints’ authenticity.
Of course, the blueprints themselves were real, but unlike Devil Fruits, verifying blueprints isn’t something that can be done just by having a big fist.
“Your Highness said he believes you won’t deceive us on this matter. If you dare to fool us, Your Highness will naturally have ways to return the favor.” Dillon responded coldly. He didn’t even open the kraft paper bags, signaling the two agents to lock the boxes again before taking them.
Carrying the two heavy metal boxes, a bit of a smile appeared on Dillon’s face.
“Alright, Nico Robin is yours now. You can take her anytime. Of course, you can also verify the goods, see if it’s really Nico Robin.” He pointed his index finger at the woman sitting blankly on the sofa.
Verifying the goods was naturally unnecessary.
As early as when they entered, whether Sakazuki or the two agents, they had already focused half their attention on Nico Robin. Through their respective observations, they confirmed it was undoubtedly Nico Robin herself. They didn’t doubt their own eyesight on this point.
Moreover, they didn’t think Prince Elus had any need to deceive them.
Playing tricks in this matter would only anger the World Government and Navy, with no benefit to Prince Elus.
“If you don’t want to suffer, come obediently with us. Otherwise, I don’t mind breaking your legs and having you dragged away.” The female agent came before Nico Robin, her cold, ruthless gaze like that of a bloodthirsty devil falling on Robin’s face, a piercing chill suddenly surging from her back to the nape of her neck.
This executioner trained by the World Government could do anything.
Heart like dead ashes, Robin stood up. Having lost the will to resist, she wasn’t the type to ask for trouble either. It was the tough life of these many years that had honed her strong willpower. Even knowing the chance of escaping alive was less than 0.01 percent, she still didn’t choose to end herself.
If it were someone with weaker willpower, they probably would have despaired and committed suicide long ago.
After all,
Falling into a spy organization like CP0, what kind of horrific future was imaginable.
“By the way, once we leave this door, our deal is done. Whether Nico Robin lives or dies has nothing to do with me anymore.” Watching Nico Robin who had already reached the door, Dillon emphasized the end of the transaction.
“As long as you don’t get caught by me.”
Sakazuki glanced back at Dillon, tossed out that line, then escorted Nico Robin away with the two CP0 agents and over a dozen of his senior officers. Yes, he planned to leave under cover of night.
Sakazuki feared no dangers lurking in the darkness.
No matter how many small fry came, they were still small fry. In comparison, Dillon was far more dangerous than those small fry. His intuition told Sakazuki that this deal with Prince Elus wouldn’t end so easily; the real storm was still brewing.
The longer they stayed in Arubana, the greater the risk.
Moreover, he didn’t want to shift the danger onto the heads of Arubana’s millions of residents. These were true innocents and shouldn’t be dragged into such unrelated risks.
Sakazuki made a request to King Cobra and borrowed the Super Giant Duck Force. Princess Vivi felt a bit heartbroken for the Karoo who had already traveled far, but Cobra still agreed to Sakazuki’s request, lending the Super Giant Duck Force to Sakazuki to command, and would contact oases along the way to prepare food and water.
The Karoo, with the reputation of “Land Duck,” were indeed impressive. After a brief rest, they once again carried Sakazuki and the others, moving quickly in the completely opposite direction from which they came. Soon, outside Arubana’s city gates, only a long trail of smoke and dust could be seen.
“Mister Dillon, is this okay?”
Cobra came to Dillon’s room.
“Your Majesty Cobra, thank you for your help.” Dillon bowed his head in thanks.
“No need! I didn’t do much. Even without Prince Elus’s request, I wouldn’t refuse Admiral Sakazuki.” Prince Elus had asked Cobra to provide as much convenience as possible to Sakazuki. Though he didn’t understand why, Cobra had no reason to refuse such a small matter.
After receiving such a huge favor from Prince Elus, under the premise of not violating principles, he wanted to repay it as much as possible.
“No, this is enough. What comes next······ is no longer our responsibility.” Dillon looked at the darkening sky outside the window; the moon had at some point revealed half its face at the horizon’s end, secretly peeking at the land below.
Hearing the word “responsibility,” Cobra narrowed his eyes.
As expected!
The reason for providing as much convenience as possible to Sakazuki was to clear suspicion and shake off responsibility······ In other words, this matter wasn’t over. However, if something unexpected really happened, could responsibility be shaken off so easily?
Being too enthusiastic might instead arouse suspicion.
No,
Was Dillon saying this to drag him into the water?
“Your Majesty Cobra, you don’t need to worry. What happens next has nothing to do with Your Highness or with Alabasta. Those people won’t make a move on Alabasta’s soil, and······ the World Government and Navy handle things with evidence. Well, at least in front of Your Highness, that CP nonsense won’t work.”
As if seeing through Cobra’s concerns, Dillon spoke to reassure him.
Cobra’s face twitched. What did he mean by handling things with evidence? That was basically saying “I’m the mastermind”······ But he had to admit the other party had a point. The World Government, as a symbol of justice, no matter how corrupt it seemed in people’s eyes, couldn’t destroy a country without “evidence.”
What’s more, the Eckmond Kingdom wasn’t some small nation that slightly larger pirates could casually destroy.
With Prince Elus there, the World Government would have to think twice before acting.
Moreover, this was the worst-case scenario; things might not develop to that extent······ Besides, aside from spectating and waiting, there was nothing else Cobra could do.
Right, there was also the path of informing the World Government.
Not to mention whether it would work, his morals and wisdom wouldn’t allow him to do such a thing. The consequences would only bring irreparable harm to the Nefertari Family and Alabasta’s people. Unless it harmed the country, he wouldn’t do something so immoral.
“I hope everything goes smoothly.”
Cobra sighed lightly.
As for exactly what he hoped would go smoothly······ he couldn’t say clearly himself.
————
“The real show is about to begin!”
New World, Skadi Island.
Prince Elus smiled happily after putting down the microphone. The clash between Navy and Revolutionary Army, the confrontation between Sakazuki and Dragon······ This was an annual blockbuster worthy of the finale. The only pity was that he couldn’t personally watch this rare spectacle.
“I can only hear it retold afterward. What a shame!”
Prince Elus clicked his tongue.
This was unavoidable; transportation in this world was just that inconvenient. Even with miraculous abilities like Devil Fruits, they were mainly used for fighting rather than development. Rushing from the New World to Paradise was a quite lengthy journey.
He didn’t know if the Door-Door Fruit developed to its extreme could achieve instant teleportation. Such an interesting fruit falling into the hands of a CP9 agent was truly a waste. Unfortunately, he hadn’t figured out the secret of Devil Fruit regeneration yet; otherwise, he would have secretly taken this Devil Fruit long ago.
“Nico Robin······ Let me see where your destiny leads, whether you’ll become a prisoner of the World Government or a guest of the Revolutionary Army······”
However,
Even becoming a prisoner of the World Government might not be a dead end.
A place like Impel Down had been turned into an underground Level 5.5 by a Revolutionary Army Officer, the fantasyland Newkama Land······
