"Shouldn't we make a move to test the waters?" Vice Admiral Tsuru suggested.
Hearing this, Akainu immediately said, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, let me go this time. I'll definitely bring that guy back!"
Kizaru and Aokiji glanced at Akainu upon hearing this. Clearly, Akainu was mocking them for failing in their previous attempts to capture the target. But he conveniently forgot to mention his own failed assault on Skypiea.
Of course, at this point, arguing with Akainu would be pointless, so neither of them said anything.
Everyone turned to Sengoku, waiting for his decision.
After a moment of contemplation, Sengoku shook his head. "No."
If he could confirm the location of all the enemies, he'd immediately dispatch the full force of the Marines to launch a comprehensive siege. But right now, he hesitated.
In truth, he had been tracking Lin Xuan's group for some time. However, due to their overwhelming strength, it was impossible to get a clear read on their movements. Now that Lin Xuan had appeared, there was still no sign of Uchiha Madara and the others.
Sengoku worried that if he sent forces to surround Lin Xuan, the rest of the enemy group might exploit the distraction to carry out unimaginable acts, which could have catastrophic consequences for the Marines.
Madara had already defeated Kizaru on the Sabaody Archipelago, and the intel Aokiji brought back from Skypiea confirmed that Lin Xuan's group was anything but ordinary. In fact, there might be forces among them that the Marines knew absolutely nothing about.
That was precisely why Sengoku vetoed the idea of attacking Lin Xuan.
After thinking for a while longer, Sengoku finally issued a new order:
"Notify all nearby Marine units. Do not engage Lin Xuan. Clear any obstacles in his path and ensure he reaches the Sabaody Archipelago safely."
Everyone present was stunned.
Not only were they told not to attack Lin Xuan, but they were also ordered to help him?
If it wasn't for their deep trust in Sengoku, they might've thought he had been compromised!
But after a moment of thought, someone in the room realized what Sengoku intended.
Clearly, instead of launching a risky interception without understanding the enemy's full intentions, it was better to let Lin Xuan come openly. The Marines would lay a trap on the Sabaody Archipelago and capture him in one swift, decisive move.
This way, they avoided falling into an ambush and could strike from a fortified position, demonstrating the Marines' true strength.
After all, they firmly believed that no matter who Lin Xuan and his allies were, if they dared step foot on the Sabaody Archipelago — now filled with elite Marine forces — they would never leave alive.
That was the pride of the Marines.
As Sengoku's order spread, the Marine units quickly began mobilizing.
However, when the Marine Rear Admiral tasked with monitoring Lin Xuan received the order, his expression darkened.
"What kind of ridiculous command is this?!"
He had been itching to strike for a while. Although he'd heard rumors about Lin Xuan's strength — that even Admirals like Kizaru and Aokiji had been defeated — he didn't quite believe it.
Looking at the young man on the distant ship, who appeared even younger than himself, the Rear Admiral scoffed. He doubted someone like that could possibly defeat an Admiral.
As one of the younger Marine Rear Admirals, he had confidence in his strength and was convinced he could take Lin Xuan down himself.
Yet now, the order from headquarters forbade him from making a move. Worse still, he was ordered to clear the path ahead for Lin Xuan?
In other words, he was to act like a bodyguard for a pirate?
The idea was infuriating and confusing.
But no matter how upset he was, he didn't dare disobey orders from the top.
Soon after, the Rear Admiral found himself in increasingly ridiculous situations.
Somehow, Lin Xuan's ship kept heading toward dangerous zones — places swarming with Sea Kings or infested with notorious pirates.
To carry out his orders, the Rear Admiral had to send his troops to eliminate all these threats in advance. Several times, their warships were nearly destroyed, and the cost in manpower and resources was enormous.
As time went on, they grew closer and closer to the Sabaody Archipelago.
On board the ship, Lin Xuan wore a calm expression. "Things have been pretty smooth so far. Not bad at all."
Of course, he had noticed the Marines escorting him from a distance.
At first, he didn't understand why. But soon he realized they were testing him. With only two women accompanying him, the Marines likely suspected he was plotting something and used this method to observe and probe.
Since he was being protected for free, Lin Xuan had no reason to object and pretended not to notice.
Felix, unaware of the bigger picture, was surprised. "It's strange… We haven't encountered any threats. It's like all the Sea Kings and pirates just disappeared."
But soon, they noticed more and more Marine warships appearing around them, and the air grew thick with tension.
It felt like they had walked straight into Marine Headquarters. The sheer number of ships surrounding them turned Felix and the others pale with fear.
Seeing their terrified expressions, Lin Xuan said calmly, "From here on out, you're not involved. If anyone wants to leave, I'll allow it. You can find a nearby island to disembark. Otherwise, you might not get another chance."
Hearing this, Felix and the others exchanged glances, uncertainty written on their faces.
They already knew Lin Xuan had publicly challenged the Marines. It was clear he was headed to the Sabaody Archipelago to settle the score.
And once they arrived, a massive battle between Lin Xuan and the Marines would be inevitable.
If they stayed, they might get caught in the crossfire and die.
But if they left now, maybe they could escape unscathed.
Lin Xuan didn't try to convince them. He simply waited.
After struggling internally for a while, Felix clenched his fists and said, "This might really be dangerous… Going against the full might of the Marines is no joke. But I believe in Boss Lin Xuan's strength. If anyone wants to leave, go ahead. I'll stay and fight by his side. I've had enough of the Marines anyway!"
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T/N:
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