Sengoku immediately realized the likely issue that could jeopardize the execution of their plan—the existence of Vivre Cards.
No doubt, Tsuru had already taken this into account.
Bringing it up now, regardless of whether it gained full approval, would inevitably prompt a round of revisions and discussions to refine the plan.
As Sengoku pondered the feasibility of the operation, he refrained from raising the issue of the Vivre Cards right away. Meanwhile, most of the other officers around the table considered the plan sound.
Every previous discussion centered around one objective—the elimination of the Maude Pirates.
"The Maude Pirates have risen faster than any crew I've ever seen in my naval career," one Vice Admiral with a brutish face said coldly.
"Not even the Red-Hair Pirates, who reached the rank of Emperor in six years, can compare. This crew is a danger we cannot afford to ignore."
"Now's our chance. Since Bacardi Maude is arrogant enough to declare war on both the Big Mom Pirates and the Beast Pirates simultaneously, let's make sure he pays for that arrogance."
"Exactly. Let the existence of Bullet, the successor of the Demon Heir, be the final straw that breaks the Maude Pirates!"
"As long as we Marines don't intervene directly, any opportunity to stir conflict between pirate crews is worth exploiting."
"Facing both Big Mom and Kaido, and now with Bullet in the mix? The Maude Pirates stand no chance."
Every one of the high-ranking officers present was keenly aware of the extraordinary threat Maude posed.
So long as there remained a chance to eliminate the Maude Pirates before Maude could truly ascend to emperor status in the New World, every officer here would raise both hands in favor.
Vice Admiral Tsuru quietly observed her colleagues, hands clasped under her chin as she spoke softly:
"Although most old pirates who've retired from the scene no longer carry Vivre Cards—or take the trouble to make new ones—we can't completely rule out the possibility. I trust I don't need to explain what that could mean for the operation?"
"Vivre Cards…"
At Tsuru's reminder, the room's previously rising enthusiasm for Maude's downfall suddenly faltered.
On the Grand Line, with its chaotic magnetic fields, climates, currents, and weather, determining one's position is difficult—let alone navigating it.
That's why devices like Log Poses and Vivre Cards came into use.
Log Poses are widespread, but Vivre Cards are a different story. Their materials and crafting methods are limited, making them rare.
And as Tsuru had pointed out, old pirates like Rayleigh, Sol, and Gaban likely didn't keep them on hand—but no one could say for sure.
"If the Maude Pirates have the Vivre Cards of Rayleigh and the others, then faking their deaths would be meaningless."
Just like that, Tsuru laid the plan's fatal flaw bare for all to see.
And the one who dropped the hammer was none other than Tsuru herself—who now turned once more toward Akainu, seated at the head of the table.
Her voice was as calm and flat as ever:
"But Bullet defeating Rayleigh, Sol, and Gaban is fact. And whether we declare them dead or not—that truth lies entirely in our hands.
"Whether to make it real or keep it fake…
"In the end, it's just a matter of choice."
"…Tsuru."
Sengoku's eyes snapped toward her profile.
Only now did he realize why Tsuru had waited to raise the issue until the very end.
"She's right. It's a question of choice.
"Rather than wait for some naive command from above demanding a hostage exchange… why not cut the root of the problem altogether?"
From the head of the table, Akainu's gaze grew icy cold. A chilling killing intent laced his voice.
Maude held the lives of three Celestial Dragons in his hands.
As long as that remained unresolved, the World Government would hesitate to act decisively, constrained by fear and risk.
Now, thanks to Bullet's intervention, the Navy had apprehended Rayleigh, Sol, and Gaban on Sabaody Archipelago without lifting a finger—three legendary pirates with close ties to Maude.
The Celestial Dragon-controlled World Government would almost certainly consider trading those three for the hostages Maude held.
But Akainu would never accept that.
Trade three aces for three useless cards?
What a joke.
"Two are already dead. What's three more?"
That was Akainu's stance on the lives of the three Celestial Dragons.
No matter what, he refused to squander any chance to strike at the pirates.
If that meant sacrificing potential bargaining chips, so be it—as long as it kept their more foolish allies from interfering.
A matter of choice?
That was Akainu's specialty.
In the name of his "Absolute Justice," there was nothing he wouldn't do.
...
Impel Down – The Undersea Prison.
A towering structure built beneath the sea, Impel Down imprisoned countless criminals.
Each floor of this hellish fortress had its own unique method of torture.
Nearly every day, new inmates were dragged inside—faced either with death by agony, or a slow demise through despair.
That, perhaps, was one of the prison's core purposes.
Clank… scree…
In the corridor of Level 6 – Eternal Hell, the dragging of heavy chains echoed off the stone floor.
That sound marked the arrival of new prisoners.
In the past, such a sound would instantly draw feral, malicious eyes from the dark depths of the cells.
But ever since Blackbeard caused chaos in Impel Down, the most affected floor—Level 6—had grown eerily quiet.
So now, when the chains scraped again, only a few eyes turned toward the corridor.
"Oi, am I seeing things?"
From one cell, a flicker of light sparked in a prisoner's eyes as he pressed his face against the bars, staring in astonishment.
"Rayleigh the Dark King? And… Gaban, Sol—ha! You old bastards finally ended up in here after all."
"And those wounds… Tch, I'd love to know who beat you three down like that."
The mocking voice echoed through the corridor, stirring other dim eyes to life.
More and more gazes turned toward the injured trio being dragged down the hallway—Rayleigh, Gaban, and Sol.
They ignored the stares as they were thrown into a cell by their escorts.
Chains wrapped around their battered bodies, securing them tightly to the cold, stone wall.
The jailers double-checked their restraints before turning to leave.
After all, these were legends—pirates of myth. No one could afford to be careless.
Clang!
The iron door slammed shut.
Their footsteps faded into the distance.
"Rayleigh… You guys… how did this…"
From the dim corner of the cell came a stunned voice—Jinbe, barely able to believe his eyes.
It seemed he had only just noticed them.
"Ah… Jinbe. Didn't expect to find you here."
Rayleigh looked weakly in his direction. In the faint light, he could barely make out the form of Jinbe, seated cross-legged against the wall.
"Those are my words, old man!"
Jinbe's voice was thick with shock.
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