Chapter 162: The Old Folks’ Club
The news of General Akainu’s failure spread across the sea like a hurricane. What started as a mission failure was processed several times intentionally or unintentionally during its spread, turning into a rumor that Akainu was defeated by the Revolutionary Army. Of course, such rumors only circulated widely among lower-level groups.
True big shots all have their own channels to receive firsthand intelligence closest to the truth.
Akainu’s failure is real.
However, the rumor that Akainu was beaten by the Revolutionary Army into fleeing in a wretched state like a dog is pure nonsense. The Revolutionary Army’s leader, the world’s most dangerous criminal, took action, and with the other cadres of the Revolutionary Army as well, it is not strange that Akainu lost the mission without reinforcements.
It is said that this also involved the leak of technology from the Navy Science Unit. The artificial dragon used by the Revolutionary Army is said to be technology developed by the Navy Science Unit, but somehow it became the Revolutionary Army’s, and was used in turn to beat the Navy black and blue.
It is rumored that General Akainu flew into a towering rage because of this.
This matter was one of the few truths among the many rumors.
Sakazuki, who returned to Marineford, did indeed unleash a burst of fury. The Revolutionary Army used artificial dragon technology to break through the restrictions of sea voyages, coming and going freely via the sky, and with the use of submarines as well, the Navy had actually fallen behind in conventional forces······ Each and every incident made Sakazuki hold a belly full of anger.
The person in charge related to the Science Unit was scolded bloody, and even Borsalino, who happened to return to Marineford, was caught by Sakazuki and sprayed fiercely.
The two generals damaged several training grounds in a fight.
It was only until Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp joined forces to suppress the two that this absurd farce came to an end. Although Fleet Admiral Sengoku issued a gag order at the fastest speed afterward, Marineford had too many people and eyes, and the news had already spread out.
Headquarters building, Fleet Admiral’s office.
Another small internal meeting of the old folks.
“This incident······ Sakazuki took quite a hit!”
“······ This is also his bad luck. Dragon, that kid······ Garp, can you beat Dragon?” Vice Admiral Tsuru looked at her old friend beside her who was gorging on doughnuts/
“Ten years ago, I beat that brat with one hand. Five years ago, I could make him know what filial piety means······ Now, I can’t beat him, I’m not sure either, but that kid’s specialty is not one-on-one, it’s group battles!” Garp pinched a doughnut and spoke boldly and casually, not at all like he was talking about his only son, but like he was talking about an unrelated person. “Moreover, that kid’s ability makes escaping very convenient. Ten years ago, I could beat him black and blue, but I already couldn’t catch Dragon that kid.”
“In that case, if we don’t restrict Dragon that kid’s means of escape, even victory wouldn’t mean much······ Sigh! Back then, no matter what, we never thought Dragon that kid would reach this point today.” Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed with emotion.
“Who says otherwise! Dragon······ I always firmly believed he could succeed Sengoku as the next Navy Fleet Admiral.”
Zephyr’s mechanical arm held a cup of hot tea, looking at the deep green tea water, and let out a wistful sigh.
Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, Tsuru······ All four were in the Fleet Admiral’s office. Calling it the old folks’ club was not wrong at all. As comrades from the same era, they were now truly the top brass of the Navy. In Marineford, there were no elders older or more senior than them.
“That bastard has been stubborn since he was young. No matter how much you beat him, he won’t change his mind about something he’s set on······ But I won’t fail a third time. Luffy, I will definitely mold him into a qualified Marine.” Garp clenched his fist and vowed confidently.
“Third time?”
Tsuru frowned.
A bit puzzled at how it was already the third time?
“The Revolutionary Army matter is not urgent now. Even if the Devil Child falls into the hands of the Revolutionary Army, it’s not something that can change the world in a short time. Compared to that, the Navy Science Unit matter······ Sengoku, how do you plan to handle it?”
“I just came back from Doctor Vegapunk. If you plan to severely punish the Science Unit for poor management, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask for some favors.” Zephyr casually explained at the end the reason he cared about this issue.
He had returned from Doctor Vegapunk just a few days ago.
Now, he was vastly different from before he set out. A brand-new mechanical arm filled the empty side. This mechanical arm, custom-made for him by Doctor Vegapunk, not only looked full of power and artistic beauty, but was also quite durable in fact.
It was not only equipped with Seastone to suppress Ability Users’ powers, but also had many wonderful functions. With this arm, Zephyr’s strength might still not compare to himself at his true peak, but he could now almost be said to have truly returned to the ranks of the world’s peak.
This was the judgment given by Sengoku, as an observer, after Garp and Zephyr privately sparred.
“What else can we do? Give them a knock on the head! The Science Unit may carry the Navy’s name, but you all know clearly that our jurisdiction over the Science Unit is limited. The reason it carries our Navy’s name is just to conveniently call on generals to protect Doctor Vegapunk······”
Sengoku rubbed his forehead and sighed.
The Fleet Admiral position is not as glamorous as it looks.
This seemingly prestigious seat is actually a frying pan of torment. Pressure from all sides piles up on him. Upward, he has to deal with the Celestial Dragons’ group of idiots and the World Government’s endlessly greedy high officials. Downward, he has to be responsible for the operations of millions of Navy personnel, safeguarding peace on the sea······
Burning the candle at both ends—that describes Sengoku’s situation.
At the most exhausted times, he could faintly feel his life burning fiercely at an unusually fast speed.
“We can’t punish the Science Unit, and the loss of artificial dragon technology doesn’t necessarily mean the Science Unit had an intelligence management problem. Don’t forget the Punk Hazard incident. M. Caesar Clown, this former senior researcher of the Science Unit, is still missing······ He might have fallen into the Revolutionary Army’s hands.”
“If we therefore suspect the Science Unit and launch a purge, it might be the Revolutionary Army’s goal. At this time, it’s better to stay still than act. My idea is to watch first, to see if the Science Unit has a serious problem, or if the Revolutionary Army’s infiltration has reached this level.”
At this point, Sengoku’s expression became serious.
He knew the Navy couldn’t avoid spies from external forces. No matter how much purging and striking, the number of planted spies wouldn’t decrease, and frequent internal purges would damage the morale and combat power of the Navy up and down······ But if these spies got too rampant.
Sengoku wouldn’t hesitate to ruthlessly purge a batch of them.
“You mean spies? Indeed, the Revolutionary Army knew Sakazuki’s whereabouts like the back of their hand this time. If the Revolutionary Army snatched the Devil Child before Sakazuki arrived in Alabasta, I would suspect if the Black Prince was colluding with the Revolutionary Army······” Halfway through her words, Tsuru suddenly fell silent.
Zephyr’s eyelid twitched lightly.
But he concealed his momentary palpitation very well. Sengoku and Garp, whose attention was on Tsuru, also didn’t notice Zephyr’s slight anomaly.
“Sengoku, could it be that the Black Prince provided intelligence to the Revolutionary Army? Otherwise, the Revolutionary Army grasped the timing too perfectly. Clearly, inside the Alabasta Kingdom borders was also a good ambush spot, much easier to launch a surprise attack than on the vast sea······ Yet they waited until they left Alabasta’s territorial waters to attack······”
“I’ve thought of that possibility too.”
Sengoku rubbed his brow, looking weary. From the moment he learned that the operation to bring back Devil Child Nico Robin had failed, he hadn’t slept well for many days. “The Revolutionary Army deliberately waited until Sakazuki left Alabasta to act, to clear the Black Prince of suspicion······ It’s not impossible.”
“However, if the Revolutionary Army did this to clear the Black Prince’s suspicion, with no evidence, just our guesses, we can’t do anything to the Black Prince. The Black Prince can completely say that the Revolutionary Army did this just to make us think that······ It’s like nested dolls, layer after layer endlessly, and in the end, it will just fizzle out.”
“After all, Eckmond Kingdom is different from other countries. Without concrete evidence, we can’t use hardline means.”
“That’s true.”
Tsuru sighed understandingly.
The World Government and Navy’s dominance is beyond doubt, but this dominance depends on the target. Back then, the Navy decisively destroyed Ohara with a Buster Call, not only because Ohara violated the forbidden, but also because Ohara was full of scholars. Without martial power support, they were lambs to be slaughtered.
In comparison, Eckmond Kingdom is a superpower with the Black Prince and a bunch of strong persons. Even the Navy doesn’t dare underestimate the Black Prince. Unless there is irrefutable proof that Eckmond Kingdom violated the forbidden, for ordinary small mistakes, the World Government and Navy would rather pretend not to see.
“However, what you’re worried about, Tsuru, is also what I’ve been concerned about lately. The Black Prince······ He doesn’t seem like a peaceful guy at all. The maritime transport network is expanding bigger and bigger, constantly befriending great powers and strong countries like Alabasta and Germa······ A single Seven Warlords title probably won’t satisfy him.”
Sengoku’s face showed a grave expression.
The man known as a brilliant general was top-notch in intelligence. Many things might have no reliable evidence, but from various clues, it was enough for such a person to infer a large amount of information. And once the seed of suspicion is planted, past seemingly normal behaviors would take on a strange hue.
“Keep an eye on the Black Prince. I know Eckmond Kingdom is in the New World, and our influence there is very weak, but······ Zephyr, I heard your Pirate Guerilla Squad has a good relationship with Eckmond Kingdom. Have you noticed anything off?” Tsuru narrowed her eyes, staring at Zephyr through the thin slits.
“Eckmond Kingdom’s laws are very strict. My subordinates have always been restricted in their actions in Eckmond Kingdom. I’ve dealt with the Black Prince more than once or twice, and haven’t found any problems······ However······”
At the word “however,” Zephyr changed his tone.
The others listened patiently. They knew what came before was all opening fluff like useless nonsense; the real substance was after the turn!
After catching his breath, Zephyr continued: “However, after dealing with the Black Prince’s subordinates a few times, I found that the Black Prince’s subordinates······ are all very young, and strong like monsters. If it was just one or two people, fine, but the strong persons under him are not just one or two. The Executioner, Earthshaker, Leopard Person······ These are just the famous ones. The others may not be famous, but their strength is equally not to be underestimated.”
“I suspect······ the Black Prince possesses some special means to enhance others’ strength.”
“This, how is that possible? Zephyr, when did you learn to joke?”
Sengoku frowned.
Means to enhance others’ strength······ Where in this world is there such a good thing? Strong persons without exception are all forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
“So I’m just suspecting. Whether it’s true or not, I have no evidence either. But Eckmond Kingdom definitely has secrets.” Zephyr revealed an ambiguous truth, without mixing in any lies. He knew Elus had miraculous power.
But he truly had no evidence to prove the existence of miracles. Unless seen with one’s own eyes or experienced personally, mere words couldn’t make people believe such an outlandish thing.
So when he said these words, he was full of confidence, not worried at all about being seen through as lying.
“And it’s in the New World······” Sengoku sighed silently.
No matter what secrets Eckmond Kingdom has, as long as there is no evidence proving that secret violates the World Government’s forbidden, the Navy can’t use force to investigate forcibly. What’s more, Eckmond Kingdom is in the New World, where the Navy’s power is weakest.
“Zephyr, have your Pirate Guerilla Squad keep an eye on the Black Prince.” Tsuru spoke up.
“My students are not good at intelligence gathering. Best to find a few experts in that area and send them to the New World.” Zephyr clearly didn’t plan to bring trouble to his students. “I’ll have Ain help provide assistance to these experts. What results can be investigated depends on the level of the experts you find.”
At that moment
“Sengoku, Tsuru, Zephyr, aren’t you straying too far? Weren’t we talking about the Science Unit?”
Garp, having eaten all the doughnuts, opened another pack of rice crackers that Sengoku had hidden. His words stunned the other three for a moment, then they all smiled bitterly.
“We are getting old after all.”
Tsuru touched her wrinkled face, her smile full of helplessness and self-mockery. She didn’t continue entangling with Zephyr on investigating the Black Prince.
“The Science Unit matter······”
Sengoku tugged at his braided beard. “Just make an example of a few managers to warn them. Those researchers can’t be touched, and Sakazuki······ This mission failure isn’t his fault, but no matter what, the fact of the mission failure can’t be changed. Not punishing a mistake isn’t good for maintaining discipline, and leaving him in Marineford might cause another conflict with Borsalino······ Send him out to strike pirates! He’s not allowed back in Marineford until he gathers twenty pirate flags.
