Chapter 128: The True Test
The momentary feeling of weakness terrified Doll. He's serious! He's really going to do it!
"Jock Ian!!" she screamed. "That's enough! Stop right there...!"
Doll forced herself forward to attack, but the speed gap between them was like heaven and earth. Her punch sailed through empty air as Ian effortlessly sidestepped.
THUD!
Cough...!
An even heavier blow slammed into Doll's abdomen. Excruciating pain radiated through her chest and body, and a spray of scarlet blood erupted from her mouth.
Pfft!
Unable to withstand Ian's power, Doll collapsed to her knees. She turned with difficulty, watching as Ian, cloaked in the mantle of "Justice," slowly advanced toward the children. The glaring word "JUSTICE" seemed so bitterly ironic now.
She looked up at her so-called companions, only to find no one attempting to dissuade him, no one preparing to help her. Is this the cruel reality of Marine Headquarters? If so...
"You bastard... stop!" she rasped, her voice raw. "Jock Ian!"
Doll's right hand flared with Armament Haki, her tenacious will shattering through the lingering effects of Ian's sensory deprivation. Tears welling in her eyes, she charged at Ian with more determination than she had ever mustered. There are some things that, even if you know you'll die, even if you know you can't succeed... you simply cannot stand by and watch. If you do nothing, a miracle will never happen!
BOOM!
Her desperate punch was caught effortlessly in Ian's palm. The shockwave from the impact swept through the room, causing minor explosions among the lab equipment.
"Haha, congratulations, Commodore Doll," Ian said, a genuine smile spreading across his face as he held her fist. "Your probationary period is over. You're officially a full member of the team."
Doll blinked, her mind reeling. "You... you mean... I passed?"
Her companions then gathered around, pulling a confused Doll away from Ian.
Peacock: "Little Doll, you're so gullible! You didn't trust Little Ian, and you didn't trust us either?"
Skylark: "From the moment Vice Admiral Ian opened his mouth, I knew what he was really doing."
Nami: "Hehe, Commodore Doll is really something. She actually had the courage to challenge Lieutenant General Ian."
T-Bone: "I've long since understood Lieutenant General Ian's character. I knew he must have a deeper purpose. Welcome aboard, Commodore Doll."
Speed: "So it was a test! I was so scared! I thought I was about to witness a massacre of children from the heavens!"
Their words came one after another, making Doll realize she had been completely fooled by Ian! Could she be blamed? She had no prior experience with him, and his acting had been utterly convincing! And the attack... it had been so ruthless!
"Damn it, what kind of boring test is this?!" Doll clutched her stomach with one hand, shaking her other fist. "Cough... You went too far, Ian... Lieutenant General!!"
"Sorry, sorry," Ian replied, not sounding sorry at all. "But if I didn't hit you hard, how could I prove your determination? I allow weak people in my team, but I don't allow the inhumane to sneak in."
If your strength was lacking, you could improve through training. But if you lacked conviction in your heart, if you would stand by and watch evil unfold within your own ranks, you could never earn Ian's complete trust. This was something worth praising. Fleet Admiral Sengoku's judgment of character was truly vicious! These team members selected for Ian might very well be the future pillars of Marine Headquarters in his mind...
…
After the battle, Ian led his subordinates and the supply-laden dragon outside the research institute. The innocent children were gathered together and transported to the warships in batches by Peacock and the dragon. Once the last group of children was safely aboard, everyone gathered in the clearing outside the institute for a secret debriefing before departing the island.
"Meeting begins, let's get straight to the point!" Ian declared, raising a finger. "I've decided to temporarily postpone reporting to the G-7 branch. We're changing course to a closer destination... Dressrosa!"
All Cadres: "!!!"
Everyone had speculated about Ian's next move. Return to the G-7 branch first to assume his post; head to the G-5 branch to expose Vergo's undercover identity and clean up the mess; contact Egghead Island to find a way to treat the children; report the situation truthfully to Headquarters and request further instructions... All of these were within the realm of reason.
Only a direct assault on Dressrosa exceeded everyone's expectations! It once again proved that Ian's plans were always unpredictable.
Peacock, sitting on a large boulder, was the first to voice the question on everyone's mind: "Little Ian, I know you really want to take down Doflamingo. But that guy's identity is far too complicated. If we want to attack him... He's an Underworld Emperor, a Warlord of the Sea, and the King of Dressrosa! He's a pirate crew recognized by the World Government, and he has another identity that makes our attack even more difficult... Doflamingo, he is a former Celestial Dragon!"
The secret Peacock revealed was unknown to most of the cadres present. Even as a former Celestial Dragon, his identity and status were still protected by the World Government. Completely different from the previous target, 'Drought' Jack, Doflamingo's complicated identity would make any action against him exponentially more difficult.
"A former Celestial Dragon... that makes it even harder to deal with," Doll added, her expression grim. "Lieutenant General Ian, I think Peacock is right. We should report the details of Doflamingo and Caesar's dealings, as well as the undercover operations involving high-ranking Marines, to Headquarters. Fleet Admiral Sengoku might be able to devise a more detailed battle plan." She understood just how difficult this battle would be.
"Lieutenant General Ian, I also agree with the two Commodores," T-Bone stated, having weighed the pros and cons. "We are not facing a public enemy of the Marines, but rather a 'cooperative partner' of the World Government."
Only Nami kept her attention fixed on Ian's expression. Judging by his reaction, it was obvious he was fully aware of the difficulties involved in taking down Doflamingo. When he had first encountered a Warlord's ship in the East Blue, he had dared to fight alone. Now, having attained the rank of Headquarters Vice Admiral and gathered a group of powerful partners, his resolve was undoubtedly stronger.
"I suspect Lieutenant General Ian already knows the pros and cons," Nami interjected thoughtfully. "He probably thinks that if we report this to Headquarters, the opportunity will be lost. With his multiple identities, Doflamingo might receive special protection. But... he is the source of so much real evil! Giant experiments, killing weapons, the underground arms trade... As Marines, shouldn't we cut out this cancer?"
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