Water Seven. South Coast.
A major battle had concluded, and the South Coast was left unrecognizable by Pain's Super Chibaku Tensei, with the land sinking several meters.
Pain ultimately did not deliver a killing blow, sparing Hawkeye.
Pain held a deep respect for powerful individuals, especially those who maintained their individuality, even if they refused his offer to join the Akatsuki Organization.
Hawkeye eventually chose to leave. His boat, unfortunately, was not spared by Pain's Chibaku Tensei, forcing Hawkeye to find a new vessel to return.
As Hawkeye departed, Pain extended an invitation, stating that Hawkeye was welcome to challenge him anytime he found a way to break through Pain's Chibaku Tensei.
The commotion from this battle was too great to escape the notice of the World Government, and the news reached Akainu.
World Government. Marineford.
Three people sat in Akainu's office: Akainu, Staff Officer Tsuru, and Garp.
Garp, ever carefree, continued to heartily munch on snacks and sip tea, completely oblivious to Akainu's furious glare.
Tsuru, sensing Akainu's displeasure, quickly intervened to change the subject.
"Fleet Admiral..."
"Is there movement from the Akatsuki Organization that required such an urgent summons?"
Akainu withdrew his angry gaze from Garp, turning his attention to Tsuru.
"Just a short while ago..."
"The Akatsuki Organization learned of Mihawk's existence and took the initiative to repel him."
"Mihawk has now left Seven Water Island and is sailing back."
"I have already ordered the Marine stationed near Kuraigana Island to destroy Hawkeye's residence, making Hawkeye pay the price for his premature departure."
"What?!..."
"You said destroy Hawkeye's residence?"
Tsuru asked Akainu, utterly shocked, unable to comprehend why Akainu would make such a foolish decision. "Has anger clouded his judgment?"
"Yes!..."
"Is there a problem with that?..."
"Hawkeye dared to disobey orders and leave without permission..."
"Should he not be punished?..."
Akainu saw no problem with his decision, questioning Tsuru with a face full of fury.
Facing the enraged and somewhat irrational Sakazuki, Staff Officer Tsuru was speechless. Garp, seeing his old friend choose silence, and knowing the core of the problem, answered Akainu's question on Tsuru's behalf.
"Sakazuki..."
"It seems becoming Fleet Admiral has made you overconfident, hasn't it?..."
"Hawkeye is a powerful individual, his personal strength is not inferior to the Four Emperors..."
"We can control Hawkeye entirely because the sanctuary in his eyes still exists..."
"Now you've ordered the destruction of Hawkeye's residence. Are you trying to create a formidable enemy for the World Government?..."
"You truly are incredibly foolish..."
"Hahahaha..."
After scolding Akainu, Garp ignored Akainu's grim expression and continued to focus on his snacks, completely disregarding Akainu.
Garp's reasons for responding to summons were always peculiar; it wasn't due to Akainu's authority, but rather the unlimited supply of coffee and desserts at Marineford, allowing Garp to eat to his heart's content.
Now, seeing his old friend Tsuru rendered speechless by Akainu, he finally spoke up to scold Akainu.
Akainu's face turned purple upon hearing Garp's mocking laughter. His fists clenched, veins bulging, appearing to be on the verge of a rampage.
"Garp!..."
"What did you say!?..."
"You dare call me foolish!?..."
"I am the Fleet Admiral!... Do you think I can't dismiss and imprison you right now?..."
Akainu roared furiously at Garp, as if unable to vent the anger in his heart otherwise.
Facing Akainu's roar, Garp, who was diligently eating, calmly looked up and retorted with a cold tone.
"Is that so?..."
"Then go on, try it!..."
"Hahahaha!..."
After speaking, Garp burst into hearty laughter again, as if no argument had just occurred, and continued to focus on his snacks.
Tsuru, seeing the intense tension between the two, had no choice but to once again play the peacemaker.
"Fleet Admiral..."
"Shouldn't our attention now be focused on how to deal with the Akatsuki Organization?"
Akainu's furious emotions were pulled back by Tsuru's words. He had no choice but to suppress his anger and return to the issue of dealing with the Akatsuki Organization.
"Now that Hawkeye is out of the picture prematurely, should our previous plan be adjusted?"
Akainu bypassed the topic of Hawkeye and directly addressed the current problem.
"Hawkeye's premature exit was indeed unexpected, but it also demonstrates the formidable strength of the Akatsuki Organization, which should not be underestimated..."
"Everyone knows Hawkeye's strength. What kind of power do you think it takes to repel Hawkeye and make him retreat, Fleet Admiral?..."
Based on Akainu's question, Tsuru brought up the most pressing concern.
"So what if the enemy is powerful?..."
"Does the World Government fear them?..."
Akainu seemed nonchalant about the enemy's strength, not believing such an organization could pose any threat to the World Government.
Akainu believed that if the World Government were to fully exert its power against any faction in this world, that targeted faction would have no chance of recovery.
The world currently maintained a so-called peace solely due to the mutual restraint of the Four Emperors. Once this balance was broken, it would trigger a world war.
And if the Four Emperors united, the World Government would undoubtedly face utter catastrophe.
"We certainly don't fear the strength of enemy forces, but shouldn't we face them with composure?"
Tsuru was reminding Akainu not to let anger cloud his judgment and speak without thinking, implicitly calling Akainu simple-minded.
"Currently, only Shichibukai Hancock remains on standby..."
"If we don't give her instructions, Hancock might also withdraw..."
"The Akatsuki Organization's headquarters are in the sky. If they don't show themselves, we can't do anything about them. Since controlling Materials can't lure them out..."
"Then let Hancock cooperate with CP0 to directly capture Iceberg and a few key foremen, forcing the Akatsuki Organization to act."
After careful consideration, Staff Officer Tsuru proposed this plan of cutting off the source and luring the snake out of its hole.
"What if the Akatsuki Organization remains indifferent?" Akainu questioned a flaw in the plan, asking.
"Only Iceberg and a few of his chief foremen can build the battleship Pluton. Once we bring them all back to Marineford..."
"Unless the Akatsuki Organization has the strength and confidence to conquer our Marineford, do you think they would allow us to take Iceberg, Fleet Admiral?"
Tsuru patiently explained Akainu's question while also posing a rhetorical question to Akainu.
Akainu realized this made sense. If the other party had the power to conquer the World Government's Marineford, why would they be so hesitant and secretive?
Thinking this, Akainu approved Tsuru's plan and picked up a Den Den Mushi to assign CP0 the task of apprehending Iceberg and the others.
Water Seven. West Coast.
After repelling Hawkeye, Pain appeared with Konan near the Kuja Pirates. This time, it wasn't for a surprise ambush, but for Konan to carry out a persuasion mission, as it's often easier for women to talk to each other.
After learning that Hawkeye and others were not willingly serving the World Government, Pain decided to prioritize persuading these coerced forces to withdraw. If that failed, he would resort to forceful expulsion.
Pain hoped to keep these individuals to serve as an asset, not an obstacle, in the future conquest of the World Government's Marineford.
Pain appeared openly with the Six Paths, but the Kuja Pirates reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, all pointing their weapons at Pain and his companions.
"Shichibukai Boa Hancock..."
"We are not here for war."
"We are the Akatsuki Organization..."
"I am Akatsuki's White Tiger, codenamed 'White'."
"To avoid unnecessary casualties, I wish to speak with you."
Konan stepped forward and spoke loudly to the Kuja Pirates members.
Hancock, hearing Konan's words, stepped out from the crowd, her gaze sweeping over Pain and his companions.
"The Akatsuki Organization?..."
"What business do you have with this concubine?"
Hancock, seeing no hostility from the other party, signaled her crew to lower their guard and questioned Konan.
"One of the Shichibukai, Hawkeye, has already been repelled by us and has returned to his homeland. Before he left, Hawkeye told us some information about you Shichibukai."
"We learned from Hawkeye that you are all coerced by the World Government, not acting of your own free will. Therefore, we hope you will return to your bases and not get involved in our war."
"Our organization's enemy is the World Government. We exist to overthrow the corrupt rule of the World Government."
"Our organization also does not wish to be your enemy and let the World Government reap the benefits."
"Hancock..."
"What do you think?"
Konan expressed Pain's intentions. Pain silently observed Hancock, this woman renowned as the world's most beautiful, indeed lived up to her reputation.
To be continued...