For three days straight, the Marines had been searching everywhere. People in Dressrosa couldn't help but notice something strange was going on.
"Seal off the port!" a Marine shouted.
"No ships are allowed to leave!" another voice boomed.
The coast of Dressrosa was now surrounded by warships, like giant, looming mushrooms in the sea. With the port blocked, every ship needed the Marines' okay to either come in or go out. A feeling of worry began to creep into the hearts of the people.
---
In a vast Flower Field, sunflowers stretched as far as the eye could see, like a golden ocean shimmering in the sun. Hidden beneath this sea of gold was the secret base of the Riku Doldo Army, the rebel force fighting for their nation.
Riku Doldo, the Toy Soldier Cyrus, and some of the small but mighty Tontatta tribe were gathered together, holding a war council.
"It's confirmed," Riku Doldo said, his voice grave. "The Marines are going after Doflamingo!"
Thanks to the Tontatta's skill at gathering information, the Riku Doldo Army knew almost everything about what the Donquixote Family was doing.
Over the past few days, the Marines had clashed with Doflamingo's men several times. Now that the Marines had blocked off the port, the fighting was getting worse and war could break out any moment.
This is our chance, Riku Doldo thought. They knew they weren't strong enough to beat Doflamingo on their own.
Their only worry was that the Marines' actions might be a trick by Doflamingo. If they trusted the Marines, they could be wiped out. They had to find out if the Marines could be trusted.
"I'll go!" Riku Doldo declared, pulling on his helmet.
Ever since Doflamingo took over the country, Riku Doldo had been hiding as a gladiator named "Ricky."
Recently, that Black Hair Rear Admiral's people had been in the Corrida Colosseum and had won the tournament three days in a row. I can use my identity as "Ricky" to talk to that girl in the Arena.
Cyrus, still in his toy soldier form, didn't try to stop Riku Doldo. Maybe this is the only chance we'll ever get. We're all ready to give up everything.
"Then let's get moving!" Riku Doldo said with newfound resolve. They couldn't just sit around. They needed to find Sugar as quickly as possible. They weren't strong enough to fight Sugar on their own, but with the Marines' help, their chances would be much better.
We have to get ready for the final battle!
---
Back at the Port, a warship from the World Government arrived. Three figures in white suits and masks stepped onto the docks. Before the Marines could even ask who they were, the three figures vanished into the crowd.
---
Meanwhile, at the Marine Camp, inside the biggest tent, Roya sat on a bench. Next to him was a Den Den Mushi, a snail-like device used for communication. On the other end of the line was Marshal Sengoku.
Sengoku's head was pounding. Three days ago, the World Government had ordered him to tell Roya to back down. But that kid had completely ignored them.
Now things had gotten so bad that Dressrosa was cut off from the rest of the world.
This is more than just a simple problem, Sengoku thought grimly.
If Roya couldn't find proof of Doflamingo's crimes, other countries would use this as an excuse to attack and criticize the Marines.
The other Warlords of the Sea wouldn't let this go either. If the Marines could attack Doflamingo without a good reason, would they be next? Their own interests are at stake, Sengoku realized, how could they stand for that? The worst thing that could happen is the balance of the Three Great Powers could fall apart!
Even I can't take responsibility for that!
"Roya, do you even understand what could happen because of your recklessness?!" Sengoku thundered.
"Marshal Sengoku, let's not talk about all that," Roya replied calmly.
Ever since I came to Dressrosa, Roya thought grimly, I haven't even thought about losing. If I fail, it won't just be about getting punished.
It will be about death!
Even if he couldn't find proof against Doflamingo, he was trapped. If he couldn't do things the right way, he'd just have to do them first and ask for forgiveness later. Thinking too much will get you nowhere.
"Marshal Sengoku," Roya said, his voice steady, "I'm going to kill Doflamingo, and I'm going to find the proof!"
"..."
Sengoku took a sharp breath. All his anger turned into a single sentence.
"Don't die!"
Click!
The Den Den Mushi went silent. Roya looked up, his eyes filled with a cold anger as he stared at the three CP0 agents standing before him.
"Since when did CP0 become the lapdogs of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"Black Hair, watch your tongue!" CP0 Captain Guernika said coldly. "Your actions have gone too far. It's not too late to leave with your men now."
"What we Marines do is none of your concern," Roya replied, slowly drawing his sword. "Don't push your luck, CP0!"
"That's a shame," Guernika said, raising a finger.
Their orders were to protect Doflamingo's position. If Doflamingo was removed, the World Government would lose an important source of weapons. Then they might have to deal with Kaido and pay him even more for weapons.
That's something we can't allow, Guernika thought. If necessary, they could remove anything that stood in their way, including Black Hair.
"Shave!"
In an instant, all four of them vanished!
---
Outside the tent, a large group of Marines stood ready. Guns were aimed at the tent. Smoker, Hina, Peacock, and other commanders were all there, but none of them would dare to enter the tent without Roya's order. They could only wait.
"CP0!" Smoker growled, his anger rising.
He couldn't believe that CP0 would actually try to kill Roya. Before, when Roya had said that the World Government might send assassins, he hadn't believed it. It wasn't that he trusted Roya, he just didn't think the higher-ups in the World Government would fall so low, working with pirates and attacking their own people.
If this gets out, it could cause chaos in the Marines!
Wait a minute, Smoker thought, do the Marine executives know about this?
What was happening forced Smoker to question the "Justice" of the Marines and the World Government.
"Hina!"
"I understand, you don't need to explain," Hina replied, taking a drag of her cigarette, a sigh escaping her lips.
I understand how Smoker feels, she thought. I felt the same way once.
Spending so much time at Marine Headquarters, seeing how the Celestial Dragons act, you slowly understand how this world works.
When you're in a high position, you don't just see the beautiful things, you also see the ugly truth. And you have to accept it.
And that's when your faith might break.
I can't change anything, I'm not strong enough.
But maybe following that "crazy" Rear Admiral Roya will show me something different, she mused. At least, during my time at G-5, I didn't feel that rotten feeling. I wonder if Roya can change the Marines.
"Let's wait patiently," she said. "Rear Admiral Roya won't let us down!"
---
In the Royal Palace Highlands, in the Flower Pattern Hall, Executive Viola put her hand to her eye like a pair of glasses and tried to see what was happening at the Marine Camp.
"Viola, what's going on?"
"I... I don't know, I can't see anything!" Viola replied, sweat pouring down her face.
She couldn't see anything at all. If she hadn't seen Black Hair and CP0 earlier, and the drops of blood on the ground, she would have thought the room was empty.
They're too fast!
"Wait, someone fell!"
"It's CP0!"
*
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[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter 322 (+145 Chapters Ahead!)
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 520 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
Here are the novels I'm currently translating:
-> Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise
-> One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!
-> Young Master, Please Become Hokage!
Want to support my work and get early access to chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇
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]