Chapter 258: A New Admiral, an Emperor's Crew Assembles!
"Yes, that's him," Sengoku said, pushing a file across the desk to Akainu. "I'm not in favor of it, but CP insisted. Weevil's strength is undeniable, but his intelligence... seems to be lacking."
"Then he's perfect," Akainu said, his face a grim mask. "We just need his strength. If he's a simpleton with no ambition, he'll be easier to control."
"That's not my concern," Sengoku said. "You may not be aware, but this man... is the one who took Z's arm."
Akainu paused. "Pirates are all scum," he growled. "But in these turbulent times, it's better to use a man like that than to let him run free. He can die for a cause. At least his death will be useful." The Seven Warlords were just cannon fodder now, a way to keep the pirates fighting among themselves. Better for a pirate to die than a Marine.
Seeing Sengoku's hesitation, he sneered. "Indecision is a fatal flaw in a leader. If I were Fleet Admiral, I would not hesitate."
"...The position of Fleet Admiral is not an easy one to hold, Sakazuki..."
Akainu just scoffed.
Just then, a frantic knock came at the door. "Fleet Admiral! An urgent report from G-1 and G-5! We've detected a massive fleet mobilization in the New World!"
"Whose fleet?" Akainu snapped.
"The... the Curtain Call crew!" the aide stammered. "Based on their trajectory, their target is... Whole Cake Island!"
"What?!" Sengoku shot to his feet. "That Shane brat... is going to war with Big Mom?!" But... they're on friendly terms. Why?! And so soon... his mole, Drake... he was supposed to be laying low for the first few weeks...
"It doesn't matter who he chooses," Akainu growled, lighting another cigar. "As long as that old hag is alive, the Charlotte family will be united. After Sabaody, that little punk thinks he's invincible. Shall I go myself?" The Marines had been humiliated too many times. It was time for him to restore their honor.
"No, Sakazuki," Sengoku said. "There is a better choice. Do you remember that policeman from the South Blue who came to us this morning?"
"The green-haired one?" Akainu frowned. "Said his best friend was killed by the Curtain Call crew on Sabaody and he wanted to join the Marines to get revenge..."
"That's him," Sengoku nodded. "His name is Aramaki. He's the user of the Forest-Forest Fruit. We tested his strength this morning. He is... at the level of an Admiral."
Akainu's eyes widened in surprise.
"He wants to join us, and he hates the Curtain Call crew. Let him go," Sengoku said, his eyes glinting with a cold, strategic light. "It will be a test of his true strength. And... his enlistment is not yet public. If he goes alone, no one will notice." If he won, the Curtain Call crew would be crippled. If he lost... it would be a personal matter, not a failure of the Marines.
"What position have you given him?" Akainu asked.
"Chaton's old spot is open, isn't it?" Sengoku said, looking out the window. "If he proves his loyalty, he can have the position of Admiral candidate. As for his codename... with the Forest-Forest Fruit... we'll call him 'Greenbull'."
Aboard The Curtain Call, the fleet sailed on. It was a massive armada, over four thousand strong, all flying the flag of the Curtain Call Combat Corps.
In the ship's main conference room, the officers were gathered for a war council.
"Alright, everyone," Shane said, his voice ringing with authority as he took his seat at the head of the table. "Let's begin."
Smoker stood and unrolled a large sea chart, a detailed map of Totto Land that Nami had drawn on their last visit. "Excluding their external territories, Big Mom's home base consists of thirty-five islands," he began, his voice grim. "With the home-field advantage, she can muster an army of over thirty thousand. In terms of numbers, they far surpass us."
"But not in terms of quality!" he said, his eyes sweeping over the room. "The Charlotte family's strength is based on blood ties. They have four Sweet Commanders, and a handful of other strong officers. But their average strength... is no match for ours!"
"Damn right!" Bartolomeo slammed his fist on the table. "With Lord Shane and all our seniors here, those so-called 'Sweet Commanders' are nothing but trash!"
"Sit down, Barto," Shane said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Let Smoker finish. We can despise our enemy strategically, but we must respect them tactically."
"Yes, my lord!"
Smoker laid out five wanted posters. "These are their top five threats. The ones we need to plan for."
"'Sweet Commander' Charlotte Snack, bounty 600 million!"
"Charlotte Perospero, the eldest son, a man of immense power and influence, bounty 700 million!"
"'Sweet Commander' Charlotte Cracker, bounty 860 million!"
"'Sweet Commander' Charlotte Smoothie, bounty 932 million!"
"And the head of the Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Katakuri, bounty... 1,057,000,000 Belly!"
A few of the new recruits gasped. Over a billion... But they had three of their own on their side, not even counting Fujitora, who had stayed behind to guard their territory.
"In that case," Jack laughed, pointing a thumb at himself, "the toughest one, Katakuri, is mine! I've been wanting to fight that pretty boy since Raijin Island!"
"He's not yours, Jack," Kuina said, her voice cold. "He's mine."
"Huh?" Jack's face fell. "Come on, Big Sis! You took on the Admiral last time! Let me have this one!" He had a billion-Belly bounty too, now! He was on the same level!
"And you think you can win?" she asked, her eyes like ice.
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