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Ikki could even summon Astolfo directly from a distance to his side using Command Spells. However, this approach made it impossible to take Gion with them, so Ikki didn't reveal that part of the plan.
"Speaking of which, shouldn't we inform Sadi-chan?" Nami asked. "If Blackbeard really goes there, she'd want to prepare in advance too."
"Only if we can get in touch with her. She's in Impel Down, so it's inconvenient for her to talk to us." Ikki shook his head. "Besides, I think the Marines will notify Impel Down's forces directly, which means Sadi-chan will find out anyway. We don't need to send word ourselves."
"Alright, that's settled then. Sadi-chan is no longer a simple person. She's not weak now that she's fully mastered her Noble Phantasm, and if she wanted to run, no one could stop her. We just need to relax and deal with things as they come."
As Ikki spoke, he looked toward the square. People were coming and going, and a large number of Marine personnel were gathering there.
"Let's go too, or we'll be late for the execution ground. Those Marines will think Gion is incompetent, and I don't want to reflect badly on her."
Ikki waved his hand and strode toward the square, with Nami and Nojiko following close behind.
"What? Ikki sent Astolfo to work with you?" Sengoku held the Den Den Mushi's receiver to his ear, his voice full of surprise as he spoke to Gion on the other end of the line.
"Yes. After I said goodbye to him, he told me to take Astolfo along," Gion said. She stood at the bow of the warship, watching Astolfo play with the sea pigeons not far away.
"Shouldn't he have left Astolfo behind to deal with Whitebeard?" Sengoku's brow furrowed deeply.
Ever since he'd realized that Astolfo's spear could affect even Admiral Aokiji, Sengoku had begun to imagine using the same tactic against Whitebeard when the moment came. The spear was remarkable. When Astolfo struck with it, the attack didn't appear dangerous at all, so Whitebeard would likely not set up many defenses against it.
That gave the plan a high chance of success. By the time Whitebeard noticed anything was wrong, his body would already be affected, and he'd temporarily lose the use of his leg from the spear's influence.
At that moment, a Marine Admiral with powerful offensive strength could launch a sudden attack, one severe enough to injure Whitebeard instantly. If they were lucky, they might even kill him outright.
Sengoku had already pictured this future in his mind. But as it turned out, Ikki had sent Astolfo to sea with Gion instead. It was meant as help, certainly, but it wasn't the help Sengoku had been counting on.
"Ikki said the original plan was for him, Nami, and Nojiko to remain at Marine Headquarters," Gion explained. "Astolfo was extra strength, so it made sense to bring him along with me."
Hearing this, Sengoku felt troubled. Ikki's words made it clear there was no room for further discussion. Even if Sengoku called Astolfo back now, Ikki would never agree to it, not unless the Marines ordered Gion herself back to headquarters as well.
But how could that happen? Gion was a powerful force, easily the best choice for the mission. Marine Headquarters still needed combat power to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates, certainly, but even without her, Headquarters still had its three Admirals, and the Fleet Admiral himself.
Weighed against that, having someone strong keeping watch over the Red-Haired Pirates and the Beasts Pirates, especially now that the Blackbeard Pirates had vanished, gave Sengoku some peace of mind.
"Fine. If Ikki wants Astolfo to follow you, then let him follow you. With him there, if you run into anything unexpected, it'll be easier to handle. Astolfo wasn't part of Ikki's combat strength to begin with anyway."
Sengoku shook his head, ultimately choosing not to press the matter further. Gion wasn't surprised by this.
"There's one more thing, Fleet Admiral," Gion said. "Ikki guessed that Blackbeard might cause trouble in Impel Down. He suggested I go there instead." She relayed Ikki's earlier speculation to Sengoku.
Sengoku listened over the phone, his expression turning serious, his brows knitting together.
"Blackbeard, going to Impel Down? That guy never meant to stay a Shichibukai for long in the first place. Does that brute really have that kind of foresight?" he murmured.
Even so, Ikki's suggestion left him uneasy. Impel Down had only recently survived a prison break. If not for young Sadi's exceptional performance, many criminals might have escaped, including the most heinous pirates held on the sixth floor.
Thinking of the damage Bullet, the Red Earl, and others like them could do if they reached open sea again only made Sengoku more anxious.
"Gion, why don't you go take a look at Impel Down yourself? It's not far from Marine Headquarters, after all. Once you've confirmed everything's fine there, go keep watch over the Red-Haired Pirates and the Beasts Pirates," Sengoku said.
He was still worried for Impel Down's safety, even if Ikki's suspicion was only a guess. After weighing it, Sengoku decided it was possible enough to act on. To ease his own mind, he could only send someone as powerful as Gion to check on it.
He also planned to notify Magellan at once, so Impel Down could prepare properly, just in case Blackbeard truly brought men there.
"Understood, Fleet Admiral. Don't worry, I won't let Impel Down come to harm," Gion said earnestly.
"I believe in you, Gion."
Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi and immediately dialed Magellan's number.
Magellan was naturally startled by the news. He soon brought Sadi in and told her everything, since she was now a high-ranking fighter in Impel Down. Even though her official rank wasn't very high yet, Magellan still made a habit of discussing matters with her before deciding anything.
"What? Blackbeard might be coming? Vice Admiral Gion is bringing Astolfo with her?" Sadi's eyes went wide with surprise.
Whether it was Blackbeard's approach or the news about Astolfo, she found herself eager to welcome either.
'Has Lord Ikki already summoned Astolfo?' she thought. 'Hiss, just as I suspected, when Astolfo appeared before me in the middle of my fight with Bullet. I just didn't expect him to arrive so soon. And Blackbeard, since Ikki mentioned it, he's bound to show up here too, isn't he?'
If anyone else had told her this, even Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself claiming Blackbeard meant to break someone out of prison, Sadi wouldn't have believed it. But coming from Ikki, everything was different. Sadi trusted him completely now. It was no exaggeration to say she could entrust everything to him. Under those circumstances, how could she not believe him?
"Sadi-chan, are you even listening to me?" Magellan's voice pulled her back from her thoughts.
"Yes, I'm listening. It's just that Blackbeard might come here, isn't it?" Sadi patted his shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry, Magellan. If that guy really shows up, I'll use everything I've learned to teach him a lesson."