This novel is finished, and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
On the vast blue sea, a battleship sliced through the waves, moving at a speed no ordinary ship could hope to match. The rushing vessel tore through the water violently, leaving a long trail of white froth in its wake that took time to settle.
It was Koby's first time seeing the Qilin sprint at such speed. Swallowing the sour lump in his throat, he stepped onto the deck.
"Ma…Master, the line's connected."
"Hand it over!"
Rowen glanced at the clumsy Koby, shaking his head silently, then picked up the Den Den Mushi and spoke.
"Vice Admiral Chaton, this is Rowen."
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)?!" On the other end, Chaton froze mid-motion with his smoking pipe, then visibly relaxed. As a candidate for Admiral, he clearly knew that the "Rowen" currently stationed on the front line was an imposter.
"So, since you called back, I assume you're already en route?"
"Correct! It'll take at most three to five days to get there…"
Rowen inhaled deeply and asked, "Where are the Fleet Admirals? I tried calling, but no one answered."
"Oh, I see!"
Chaton's expression brightened. "The Gorōsei discovered Poseidon's hideout and ordered the Fleet Admirals to intervene. To prevent leaks, few in our ranks know the details, let alone have access to a Den Den Mushi."
"How long since they set off?"
"Ten days, give or take." Chaton added, "If you need to contact him, I can give you an emergency line."
"That won't be necessary. Just knowing he's not at headquarters is enough."
Out of Chaton's view, Rowen furrowed his brow. The Gorōsei had actually found Poseidon?
He continued: "What's the current situation?"
"For now, it's still optimistic. After we halted the Sea King-class assault, we've been plugging the gaps in our defenses bit by bit. Now, it's nearly impossible for them to ram through and dig under Red Line. As for other areas…"
Chaton asked cautiously: "How much truth is there to the rumors that Kaido disbanded his pirate crew?"
The first half of Kaido's pirates were still attacking aggressively, showing no sign of receiving the news. Over time, even the Marines began to underestimate them.
If Kaido had truly disbanded his crew, they wouldn't be maintaining such discipline.
Those are pirates!
Rowen exhaled in relief.
Fortunately, the news had both good and bad sides.
The Marines' ability to fill the defensive gaps meant the Sea King didn't have full control over those Sea King-class creatures. Akainu and his squad's interception mission had been partially successful.
The bad news…
"Is true."
Rowen's voice was slow and deliberate as Chaton listened in surprise. "The New World's Hundred Beasts pirate crew has indeed been disbanded. I've already ordered the Assassination Force to pursue them to prevent chaos."
"And Kaido?!"
Chaton knew the consequences this news could bring, but his priority was the movement of the monster known as Hundred Beasts Kaido.
"Unfortunately, there's no word yet."
The Assassination Force wasn't meant for large-scale interference; they were a small squad sent while Rowen was being held, tasked with searching the entire New World, an impossible feat.
Relying on ordinary spies would be futile. Kaido would sense them from afar.
That was the bad news.
Akainu and the others had successfully intercepted the Sea King, and it was safe to assume that the two CP0 "Two Mountains" operatives had also been deployed, perhaps with the support of Pluton's special forces.
Meanwhile, Rowen was far away, and Aokiji was still severely wounded.
Now was the weakest point in Holy Land's defenses.
Yet at the same time, Kaido had disappeared, and Orrick was nowhere to be found. Rowen knew without thinking that these two wouldn't remain idle.
"Prepare for the worst-case scenario. You're close, notify the Gorōsei immediately!"
Chaton's eyes widened in disbelief. He wanted to protest that Holy Land couldn't possibly be in danger, but Rowen's words made sense. The potential consequences were terrifying if this were to come true…
"Understood. I'm on it!"
After hanging up, Rowen rubbed his brow.
"Kaido… I underestimated that brute."
"Master, you mean Kaido went straight for Red Line to strike Holy Land?"Koby asked curiously. Though he knew he couldn't match Rowen's strategic brilliance, it didn't stop him from being intrigued.
"That's right. He won't waste any time on nonsense this time, but I still need to phrase it carefully."
Rowen raised an eyebrow and turned back.
"Kaido will definitely go straight for Red Line to strike Holy Land. That is why he disbanded his pirate crew. Remember, he only did this after the Fleet Admirals had left headquarters."
'Does that matter?'
Koby was about to ask, then suddenly grasped the key point. He drew a sharp breath.
"I see now!"
Everyone has reasons for their actions.
Kaido was no different. Disbanding his crew seemed reckless, but it would inevitably plunge the world into chaos. As Marines, they had to contain these leaderless pirates, or risk reigniting the age of Pirates entirely.
With Akainu absent and Holy Land's defenses already weak, dividing their attention further… Kaido's intentions were clear.
"We cannot let this information spread! At least, not yet!" Koby clenched his fists, flames coiling along his body.
"No need for you to say it!" Rowen snorted coldly, snuffed out the flames clinging to him, and shook his head.
"Hopefully, we'll make it in time…"
When someone has a goal worth sacrificing everything for, no matter how foolish or clumsy, they become exceptionally sharp and resourceful.
…
Grand Line, Sabaody Archipelago, Scientific Force Base.
"Bring me the latest batch of Electromagnetic Cannon data immediately! A bunch of idiots, how can you keep dropping the ball at a time like this?!"
Vegapunk, uncharacteristically irate, shouted, making the oblivious researchers tremble in fear. Though he was usually kind and gentle, when an honest man lost his temper, it was surprisingly formidable.
Before anyone could question him, a researcher shouted back.
"Yes! We'll get it ready right away! Once it's ready, bring it to my office immediately. Move fast!"
With that, Vegapunk slammed the office door shut. In the next instant, his expression shifted.
"Orrick… I told you before, you weren't supposed to show up until I gave notice, right?"
The calm, bone-chilling words echoed in the office. A tall, masked figure, who had quietly entered, turned to face him and said lightly, "If I hadn't come, you would be dead already."
"What do you mean?" Vegapunk asked coldly.
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) struck Wano Country, killed Kurozumi Orochi, and wiped out our main base." Orrick spoke as if describing a trivial event rather than his crushing defeat: "You should know what that implies."
"Fools can never achieve greatness!" Vegapunk sneered. "You three combined, yet Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) still wiped you out… His strategy is never deep, he simply seizes opportunities at the right moment."
"Kaido left, you left, and by exposing such a flaw to him, this outcome was inevitable."
"So you foresaw Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) killing Ryokugyu, escaping without retreating, diving deep into enemy territory, and then using the Poseidon's assault to create an opportunity to force me out, eventually destroying Wano Country?"
Orrick's calm retort left Vegapunk momentarily speechless.
Indeed, anyone foreseeing all of this would never expose themselves to Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon).
Whether friend or foe, respect for the legendary Marine Thunder God of the sea is never lacking. On the other hand, Kaido disbanding his pirate crew bought them a last shred of time.
"Timing is fate."
Orrick drew out a Vivre Card from his chest and slowly moved it across the desk.
"Sugar's Vivre Card began moving, but she's unharmed. In the worst-case scenario, even without surrendering, the secret chamber's location is now exposed."
"You tricked me?!" Vegapunk's eyes widened, disbelief written across his face.
He had no visible leverage over Orrick… except for one thing, their correspondence!
At first, the two of them, working together, avoided detection entirely. Not even a Den Den Mushi was used. Only a single letter mixed in with the documents and its reply provided Vegapunk a handle.
With Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)'s sharp perception, he couldn't fail to notice it.
A chill ran down Vegapunk's spine, but more than fear, it was anger.
"Why?"
Orrick showed no hint of shame as he spoke. "All I've done is for Lirisk. I can bear the blame and die, but he must live openly and honorably. And you… are the best leverage."
"Hmph. I heard he disappeared, or perhaps… already allied with Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)." Vegapunk sneered.
"No. He will never betray me, just as I will never betray him." Orrick ignored Vegapunk's ridicule and looked at him seriously.
"At this point, Vegapunk, neither of us has a way out. With the dangerous discoveries you've made, the Gorōsei would never tolerate you!"
A cold dread surged through Vegapunk's chest. His face turned pale as he said in a chilling tone,
"No… I still have another choice."
"Not by chance… the Sea Crystal borrowed from Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)?"
Orrick tilted his head and said something that made Vegapunk's heart stop.
"Don't forget, I wiped out Fish-Man Island with my own hands. Neptune knows exactly where that thing went."
Seeing Vegapunk tense up, Orrick shook his head. "You're still just a scientist, Vegapunk… scheming isn't your strength."
"Prepare yourself. Tonight, Holy Land will pay its blood debt in full."
Just then, a subordinate rushed in with reports, flustered and anxious. Orrick had already been gone for some time, and Vegapunk awoke from his daze with a bitter smile.
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)… if I had known this day would come, I should have chosen you instead."
"Hm? Vegapunk, what are you saying?"
"Nothing…"
Vegapunk turned, drew a handgun, and aimed it. "Goodbye, everyone."
Bang!
(End of chapter)