Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Admiral's Office.
Setting down the latest issue of the newspaper, Akainu's expression was difficult to read, seeming to hold three parts regret, three parts approval, and four parts solemnity.
Akainu hadn't expected it.
After Beelzebul led the Morning Star Pirates, appearing and disappearing for so many days, he took Hachinosu Island by force in less than half a day.
Furthermore, he slaughtered every single pirate on the island, including Ochoku, leaving none alive.
Akainu deeply approved of such ruthless methods used against pirates—
All pirates must die!
However, after occupying Hachinosu Island, the Morning Star Pirates were bound to attract countless defectors and would inevitably become the Marine's greatest future threat.
Although Beelzebul had previously breached the Buster Call twice, and the sacrificed Marines totaled less than double digits, Beelzebul was still a pirate.
Once a pirate, always a pirate.
All pirates must die!
A highly absurd thought suddenly arose in Akainu's mind: How wonderful it would have been if Beelzebul had joined the Marine back then.
With Beelzebul alone, the new generation of the Marine would completely suppress the so-called Great Pirate Era.
Crushing it utterly!
What a beautiful thing that would be!
Realizing this, Akainu let out a rare laugh. Beelzebul might be a different kind of pirate, but all pirates must die.
Beelzebul would be no exception.
The change of ownership of Hachinosu Island further proved the high mobility of the Morning Star Pirates.
The Paw-Paw Fruit user, the Gate-Gate Fruit user, the Float-Float Fruit user, and Beelzebul, who consumed the suspected Mythical Zoan type of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—
All are known for their mobility.
Moreover, aside from the aging Golden Lion, most of the other members have not yet reached their peak.
Once they mature, they will likely be even more troublesome.
Borsalino mentioned that among the ransom paid by the World Government to redeem Saint Elaine, there was also a Paramecia-type Teleportation Fruit.
Thinking of this, Akainu grew angry, wishing he could run to Pangu City and question them face-to-face—
Are you five idiots the clowns Beelzebul planted inside the World Government?
To hand the Teleportation Fruit over to the enemy?!
Were you afraid the enemy didn't have enough mobility?
Or have you been too peaceful for too long, and are looking for excitement?
How could people be this stupid? Allowing a pirate crew's mobility to reach the extreme?
What exactly are you trying to do?!
Akainu knew without thinking.
From now on, whether in The Four Seas, the entire Grand Line, or the Holy Land Mary Geoise, Beelzebul and his crew would be free to come and go.
This even included Marineford, Enies Lobby, and Impel Down, where numerous prisoners are held.
"This is truly too foolish!"
However, Akainu understood that he could only complain in his office. The Gorosei didn't even care about the Fleet Admiral's dignity, let alone his, an Admiral.
The only piece of good news worth celebrating,
was that the Mi Gyo and Xiao Xianbei plans initiated by Fleet Admiral Sengoku were proceeding smoothly, and the Marine was about to grasp the movements of the Morning Star Pirates.
Future Marine operations would have an extra layer of security, preventing them from being completely blind as before.
When they didn't even know where the enemy was.
Akainu sometimes subconsciously ignored Beelzebul's age, but when he stared at the seventeen years old written on the file, it inexplicably felt jarring.
"Years flash by... I'm 33 now."
Akainu believed that he and Beelzebul were... barely opponents of the same era. As long as he remained a Marine, he would personally kill him in his remaining years.
Marineford Port, an inconspicuous corner.
With departure imminent, Sengoku suddenly felt reluctant, and a faint sense of unease rose in his heart, worried that his beloved son, once gone, might never return.
Especially since Beelzebul had just displayed his cruel and bloodthirsty side, slaughtering every single pirate on Hachinosu Island—
This made Sengoku even more worried, causing him to wonder if the previous plan was too risky.
"Have you decided?"
Rosinante nodded.
"Dad, I can return to North Blue anytime, but if I go to Hachinosu Island too late, there's a high chance I won't be able to enter the core layer of the Morning Star Pirates."
"The difference in secrets that a trainee crew member and an officer can control is too great."
"A slow start means being slow every step of the way."
Sengoku understood all these principles, but understanding them and being able to act on them were two completely different matters.
Just like some people who understand many great truths but still live miserable lives.
Sengoku admitted that he wasn't great enough to send his son to the battlefield without any burden,
but living in this Great Pirate Era, some things should, and must, be done by someone.
Compared to infiltrating the Beasts Pirates or the BIG MOM Pirates... the Morning Star Pirates were relatively the safest, and offered the greatest potential for promotion later on.
"Borsalino will secretly escort you to the New World. You must be careful."
Rosinante suddenly hugged Sengoku.
"Dad, take care."
Releasing the embrace, Rosinante turned and departed.
Sengoku, looking dazed, called out, stopping his beloved son's departing steps: "Why don't you go to your brother's side instead? He is your brother, and it would be safer..."
Rosinante smiled brightly.
"Dad, compared to Donquixote Doflamingo's petty skirmishes in the North Blue, the Marine needs to grasp Beelzebul's movements more urgently. Other colleagues can infiltrate, so why can't I go to the Morning Star Pirates?
Please don't tarnish the glorious image I have of you, Dad."
Rosinante's silhouette gradually blurred until it completely vanished from Sengoku's sight.
Sengoku realized once again how frustrating it was to be the Fleet Admiral; he might as well be an ordinary Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral like his old partner Garp.
Ignoring the commands of the Celestial Dragons.
Ignoring the mandates of the World Government.
Spending the first half of his life focused on capturing Roger, and the second half wholeheartedly dedicated to arresting Beelzebul.
"That bastard Garp!?"
"How dare you live more freely than your brother? I must add some burdens to that old man of yours."
To quickly forget the pain of separation, Sengoku prepared to cause trouble for his old partner.
The Marine currently only has two branches in the New World, G-1 and G-5. Akainu volunteered to head to the G-5 Branch for a period. Since Garp keeps clamoring about arresting Beelzebul, he should go take charge of the G1 Branch.
After seeing off his beloved son.
Sengoku went to another warship to meet the other link in the Undercover Plan: Xiao Xianbei.
"Vergo, are you ready?"
The Marine called Vergo immediately stood at attention and performed a salute, the movements flowing like water.
"Fleet Admiral, for justice!"
"Vergo is always ready!!"
Although outwardly an enthusiastic young man, Vergo was cursing relentlessly in his mind.
Great! He was sent by his Young Master to infiltrate the Marine, but because he performed too well, he was valued by Sengoku, who then decided to send him, an existing mole, to infiltrate the Morning Star Pirates again.
What kind of situation was this?
A pirate pretending to be a Marine, heading under the command of the Emperor of the Sea, Beelzebul, to continue being a pirate?
And he couldn't refuse the promise Fleet Admiral Sengoku offered: promotion straight to Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral once the undercover mission was over!
Furthermore, due to Sengoku's intense focus on him, Vergo didn't even have time to report back to his Young Master.
Getting three salaries was certainly nice.
But once his identity was exposed, whether it was the fury of the Marine trying to save face, or the wrath of the Emperor of the Sea Beelzebul... his small frame was about to bear a weight too heavy for life itself.
"Very good." Sengoku nodded in satisfaction.
Why insist on sending two undercover agents?
If Rosinante were ever at risk of exposure in the future, Vergo's role would become apparent.
"The future belongs to you, Vergo."