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Crocodile held a Den Den Mushi in his hand and looked at Kojin, who appeared to be resting before him.
The latter slowly opened his eyes and nodded.
Then, the Den Den Mushi was placed before him.
"Hisashiburi dana (Long time no see), Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" Kojin said with a light chuckle.
"It has indeed been a long time. But what confuses and displeases me is that the very first thing you did after walking out of Impel Down was not returning to Marine Headquarters." Sengoku said in a deep voice.
"It's been more than ten years. A lot has changed in the world, and I have many matters that require my attention. I'm sure you can understand that." Kojin sighed.
"Hmph! The people who used to work under you were all troublesome special cases. So tell me, what exactly is Crocodile's true identity?" Sengoku asked coldly.
"Him? He is just an undercover agent. I simply never expected that an infiltrator sent into the pirate world would rise all the way to become one of the famous Seven Warlords of the Sea, and that surprised even me." Kojin replied with a smile.
"He'd better truly be a Marine undercover agent, just as you claim," Sengoku said sternly.
"Heh heh, please rest assured, Fleet Admiral Sengoku." Kojin smiled faintly and glanced at Crocodile, whose expression remained completely unchanged.
"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sir Crocodile, is actually an undercover Marine. If that news got out, it would shock countless people across the world. I'm curious. Other than him, just how many fishing lines did you cast into this world back then?" Sengoku suddenly changed the topic and asked with great interest.
"Back then, I did happen to cast a few lines unintentionally. But as for how many of those fish are still obedient today, I have no idea. I'll need time to verify them one by one." Kojin said with a sigh.
A figure flashed through his mind, causing his eyes to narrow slightly.
"Oh? Now you've really piqued my curiosity. And besides…"
At this point, Sengoku's tone became heavier.
"...We should get back to the main subject."
Kojin listened quietly.
He knew very well that the mighty Fleet Admiral of the Marines would not contact him merely to exchange pleasantries.
"I believe the current era must feel rather unfamiliar to you. The world-famous Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Four Emperors ruling the New World, and the unprecedented number of pirates flooding the seas. For the Marines, this is the most dangerous era and the period of greatest pressure."
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku's voice became solemn.
"Recently, after deliberation by Headquarters, we've decided to launch a major operation."
Kojin raised an eyebrow, a gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Oh? I'm listening."
"This is a terrifying plan aimed at the Four Emperors, one that could very well affect the entire world and shatter the current balance of power. In my vision, it will ignite a war unlike anything this era has ever seen."
"We… May need to gather elite forces from all over the world to participate in this war."
Sengoku's tone was serious and resolute. Even through the Den Den Mushi, one could hear the unprecedented killing intent in his voice.
"You're planning to move against a Yonko?" Kojin asked with a smile.
"It seems you've already familiarized yourself with the current state of the world." Sengoku nodded.
"That's right. The Marines have set their sights on the strongest and most influential of the Four Emperors… the Whitebeard Pirates."
"We will formulate a series of crucial battle plans targeting them."
After a brief pause, he continued:
"If the operation succeeds… The Whitebeard Pirates will completely vanish from this world, and the prestige of the Marines will reach an all-time high. It will create an unimaginably favorable situation for the successor to the next Marine Commander-in-Chief."
As he spoke, Sengoku's breathing became slightly hurried, his words filled with excitement and anticipation.
Clearly, the Marine Fleet Admiral was already envisioning the future.
"So you're planning to attack the Whitebeard Pirates?" Kojin said softly.
Neither his expression nor his tone changed in the slightest.
The others around him, however, who were silently listening to the conversation, were utterly shocked.
Crocodile's pupils contracted, his face filled with disbelief.
Fisher Tiger looked stunned.
Smoker and Buggy both trembled slightly.
Meanwhile, the members of Baroque Works, dressed in Marine trainee uniforms and undergoing training, were completely petrified.
'What had they just heard?'
A terrifying plan that could sweep across the entire world had just unfolded before their ears.
The Marines were going to move against the Whitebeard Pirates?!
"Yes. It is a bold plan! I still had doubts and hesitations before. But after you walked out of Impel Down… I became certain of it." Sengoku's voice rang with conviction.
"With you joining us, I believe our chances of overcoming the Whitebeard Pirates will rise immeasurably."
Hearing this, Kojin fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Then how do you intend to carry out this plan?"
"Or rather, how do you intend to ignite this war?"
"Where is the fuse?"
Sengoku took a deep breath.
"Our attention has already focused on Fire Fist Ace, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division. And we believe that, because of his identity and the background hidden behind it, there is a very high possibility of drawing Whitebeard himself into a trap we've carefully prepared."
"If that happens, we will possess an overwhelming geographical advantage."
Kojin's expression remained unchanged.
"Ace, huh?"
"Then are you aware of his relationship with Garp-sensei?"
Sengoku froze for a moment, but soon sighed.
"From the standpoint of the Marines, I believe he will understand."
"Then..."
The softly spoken words left Kojin's lips, but his tone suddenly became much heavier.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do you also know of his relationship with me?"
Sengoku was shaken. His pupils contracted instantly.
"What connection could Ace possibly have with you, brat?"
Kojin smiled lightly. After organizing his thoughts, he spoke softly: "Back then, I was the one who sent him to Garp-sensei. And not long ago, I officially took him under my command."
"Now… Ace's identity is that of a Marine recruit serving under me."
Hearing those words through the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku immediately clenched his fists and was left speechless.
Ace had actually been connected to Kojin all along.
Even more outrageous was the fact that this brat had taken him in as a subordinate.
The only bloodline left behind by the Pirate King… Was now a Marine recruit?
'Could something this absurd actually exist in the world?'
"Y-You brat!" Sengoku was at a loss for words and didn't know what to say.
"But I agree with your plan."
At that moment, a voice carrying a faint laugh came through the Den Den Mushi.
"This era has become far too chaotic. Certain pirates have grown increasingly arrogant, and that is not conducive to the existence of justice."
A chilling coldness seemed to sweep through the Den Den Mushi, causing Sengoku to tense up as he listened carefully.
"Even during the era of Roger and the Golden Lion, things weren't like this. The Marines' tolerance and concessions will never earn the understanding of pirates. And Whitebeard, just as Fleet Admiral Sengoku said, is the best breakthrough point for ending this chaotic age and shattering the current balance."
The words echoed in Sengoku's ears.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly asked in a deep voice: "Then what about Ace?"
Kojin's expression remained unchanged.
"The transformation of an era will not stop because of one person. When the tide of history is moving forward, an individual is nothing more than a speck of dust kicked up beneath the wheels of destiny."
Sengoku's voice grew heavy.
"You intend to use him to lure out Whitebeard?"
"Do you really think I'm that heartless?" Kojin shook his head with a smile.
"Then what do you mean?" Sengoku frowned in confusion.
"I've merely seen the fate that belongs to him." Kojin sighed softly.
At this point, both sides had reached a tacit understanding. One could say the conversation had achieved a satisfactory conclusion.
Sengoku felt excited.
The difficult part of this war was not Whitebeard's overwhelming strength, but persuading Kojin to participate.
After all, throughout the Marines, only Kojin had once fought the man known as the World's Strongest.
As time passed, Whitebeard had grown old. But Kojin remained healthy and stood at the peak of his power.
Because of that, the outcome of the coming war seemed almost predictable.
Meanwhile, after hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Kojin narrowed his eyes slightly.
There was no doubt that Sengoku, as Fleet Admiral of the Marines, was absolutely correct in his strategic thinking.
He had accurately identified the weakness of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Among the Four Emperors, whether it was Kaido, Big Mom, or the Red Hair Pirates, they were all relatively young and still in their prime.
Only Whitebeard, the man who had once been renowned throughout the world as the strongest, seemed to be gradually losing his brilliance as the years passed.
The lion had grown old.
When the World's Strongest Man grew old… Could he still remain the strongest in the world?
If the Marines were willing to pay a certain price, there was a very high chance they could bring down this Emperor crew.
Doing so would also greatly intimidate the pirate forces across the world that were eager to make their move.
On this point, even if Kojin himself were making the choice, he would have targeted Whitebeard first.
As for Ace and the emotional complications involved…
Just as he had said, when the tide of history was moving forward, personal gains and losses were nothing more than a grain of dust beneath the wheels of the age.
Kojin's gaze was fixed upon the entire world.
…
One Day Later - Mock Town
A peculiar little ship slowly approached the shore.
Moments later, a tall figure cloaked beneath a hood and cape stepped off the vessel and quickly disappeared into the streets.
Those who brushed past him only caught a fleeting glimpse of short golden hair and clown-like makeup beneath the hood.
The figure moved silently through the streets.
The pedestrians seemed completely unaware of his presence and heard no sound whatsoever from him.
A short while later, he stopped before the entrance of a courtyard.
"This should be the place." He muttered to himself.
Slowly raising his head, the man revealed a cold and sinister smile beneath the shadow of his hood.
"It really has been a long time… Doflamingo!!"
…
Meanwhile, on the sea not far from Mock Town…
"Zehahahahaha! If we catch that brat, our plan should get off to a perfect start! Monkey D. Luffy, with a bounty of 100 million berries!"
Standing at the front of a raft constructed from enormous logs, a rough-looking man laughed loudly.
Behind him, a sniper had already raised his rifle and was aiming ahead, trying to lock onto the straw-hatted boy in the distance as the waves rose and fell beneath them.
But at that moment…
A battleship suddenly entered their field of vision.
"Teach… A Marine warship has entered the area!"
(End of Chapter)