Saying this, Beckman retrieved a map from behind him and respectfully handed it to Alucard.
Alucard unfolded it and saw a map of the first half of the Grand Line. It had seven magnetic compass routes marked, but it was incomplete, with many noticeable gaps. This was correct; so far, no complete map of even the first half of the Grand Line, let alone a world map, had been fully drawn.
But that wasn't the important part. The key lay in the small red dots Beckman had marked on the map, and the connected routes branching off toward the four seas. Anyone else would have been utterly confused by the scribbled lines.
"This is the Revolutionary Army's route map of all their operations to date," Beckman explained. "Of course, this information was gathered from news reports. The World Government may be concealing some details."
Hiding and tampering with the truth were the World Government's favorite tricks. With Beckman's intelligence, he didn't believe the Government would release all the information they had on the Revolutionary Army to the world.
Alucard had already imprinted the map's contents into his mind. "So, what is your conclusion?"
"The Government is definitely concealing information. If not, I could try to deduce their pattern of action from all the Revolutionary Army's routes, but there are precisely gaps in the middle."
"What if that fellow Dragon is acting randomly?" Alucard asked with a light laugh, counter-questioning.
"That's impossible," Beckman immediately refuted. "You saw how flawless his plan to incite rebellion against you was. If you hadn't returned suddenly, the internal chaos plan would have succeeded. How could a person who plans like that act without a plan?"
That's because you haven't met his son, Luffy... Alucard thought to himself.
Indeed, compared to the cautious and cunning Dragon, his son Luffy was reckless and acted without regard for the consequences. Dragon could sacrifice others without hesitation for the greater good, while Luffy was a busybody who loved to interfere. One could only conclude that this was a genetic throwback to Garp.
"So, you want the information the Government is hiding, then?" Alucard interlocked his hands, twirling his two thumbs.
"The missing clues are essential," Beckman stated.
"Fine," Alucard's lips curled slightly. "Then your Golden Hair Pirates will go."
"Just us?"
Beckman frowned. He had already learned the current situation of the Golden Hair Pirates from Ivalis. Their original number of over two hundred had been reduced to barely over a hundred. As the first to take up arms and resist the rebels, the Golden Hair Pirates suffered the most damage among the Immortal Pirates' affiliates.
"Do you think the Government will object to someone helping them eliminate their most serious threat?"
Hearing Alucard's words, Beckman was silent for a long time before accepting the command and leaving.
He was right. Alucard wanted to eliminate Dragon, which the Government should be delighted about. This time, he wouldn't be attacked upon arrival; in fact, he might even be given a "warm welcome" by the Government.
Poot. Poot. Poot. Poot~
The sound of comical footsteps, like a circus clown walking with an exaggerated outward-turned gait, announced the arrival of Dr. Indigo. Compared to before, he was wearing a new white lab coat over his clothes. In front of Alucard, the man didn't dare to use mime tricks and went straight to the point. "I've finished with Exdeath."
"The effect?" Alucard rested his hand on the side of his face.
"It's perfect. This way, Beckman won't dare to betray us either."
"Betrayal is fine; wouldn't that be interesting?" Alucard grinned wickedly.
Recalling the losses suffered by the Immortal Pirates this time, Dr. Indigo paused, then laughed nervously with fear. "Ah... I think it's better not to have a second time."
Two days later, the female pirate Elzeia rushed in, her face flustered, not even having time to tidy her disheveled hair. She said to Alucard, "C-Captain, Z and the Trash Disposal Unit are back!"
Alucard looked up at Elzeia, who was reporting, a look of pleasant surprise flashing across his face. He waved his hand lightly, signaling Elzeia to withdraw.
"Captain, you're letting them in?" Elzeia asked, shocked.
In her eyes, and the eyes of the vast majority of the Immortal Pirates alliance, Zephyr was a traitor just like Exdeath. He had been missing for a month before the rebellion, and only returned half a month after the rebellion was resolved. Zephyr usually returned once a month to have Dr. Indigo check his physical condition, but this time he had been gone for nearly two months. He could definitely be defined as a traitor.
Alucard stared at Elzeia for a moment, then waved his hand in agreement again.
Helplessly, Elzeia bowed and withdrew.
The castle hall was once again empty save for Alucard. At this moment, Alucard rubbed his forehead with one hand and muttered, "Zephyr... is it? That's somewhat ironic."
Outside the sea, a hundred nautical miles from Arderay, the Groseade, which Zephyr's group had seized from the World Pirates, was surrounded by over a dozen Immortal Pirates battleships. Cannon muzzles were aimed at the Groseade, treating the Trash Disposal Unit entirely as enemies.
Leading the Immortal Pirates were Urdaha and Keith Fallon. They couldn't help but marvel when they saw the ship Zephyr was on. Was that a ship? It was practically a mobile island.
"Hmph," Fallon sneered, clenching his fist. "Once the Captain gives the order to deal with this traitor, we'll just seize the ship. It's a shame to let that bastard Z get away with it for so long."
Pere pere pere pere…
The Den Den Mushi placed on the ship's railing rang. Fallon quickly answered and asked, "Is that Elzeia? Did the Captain issue the attack order?"
Elzeia was silent on the other end for a moment, then spoke. "The Captain's orders are to clear a path and allow the Trash Disposal Unit to land."
Everyone on the pirate ship was stunned by this. Fallon thought he'd misheard and asked again, "What did you say? Say it again."
"The Captain's orders: clear a path, and let Z and them come ashore," Elzeia repeated.
"But..."
Fallon felt something stuck in his throat, unable to spit it out or swallow it down.
"Make way."
In the end, it was Urdaha who gave the command, ordering the dozen ships surrounding the Groseade to disperse.
Seeing the opposing formation pull apart, Zephyr, Ain, and the others were also surprised, having expected a battle.
Two hours later, the Groseade docked at Arderay, again causing many of the guards to gasp. When they saw Zephyr and his group disembarking, their eyes were filled with hostility. Many even placed their hands on their weapons.
Ivalis and Beckman, who had just received Alucard's command and were preparing to set sail for Mariejois, also paused when they saw Zephyr.
"What? Are you interested?" Beckman asked as he walked beside Ivalis.
"Yes," Ivalis nodded. "He and I both transitioned from being opponents to pledging allegiance. I want to see what choice he makes."