There was nothing to hesitate about, nothing to consider.
No one in the current Navy was stronger than Sakazuki.
Nor was anyone’s prestige higher than Sakazuki’s, and after this incident, the prestige Sakazuki held in the hearts of the lower-ranking marines was unimaginable.
As for recommending Borsalino and Kuzan, Sengoku didn't even need to think about it.
Borsalino was indecisive, his allegiances unclear.
Kuzan was even worse. Compared to Borsalino, he was practically a rookie, and as for strength… Enel had just finished fighting him…
Kong nodded:
“Good.”
He had only asked as a formality; no one but Sakazuki was capable of taking on the role.
Especially since, due to the Revolutionary Army incident, the Five Elders already harbored dissatisfaction with Sengoku. After this detailed report of the events…
How could they possibly look favorably upon Sengoku, who had allowed Garp to facilitate the leaks?
After all, the government had already executed many people while searching for the mole…
Kong turned and left:
“I’ll return to Mary Geoise first.”
“You clean up the mess here.”
Sengoku said nothing, merely standing on the fortress, gazing into the distance.
--------
New World, Punk Hazard.
In the underground research laboratory.
Carole teleported with Barrette to this location.
They would directly use nutrient solution to repair the physical damage.
This was also why Sakazuki had set sail directly; they didn’t need to hide at sea and could come straight here.
After all, with enough nutrient solution, recovery could be achieved in just a few days.
It was just a bit expensive; the cost of side-effect-free treatment was substantial.
Barrette had regained his sanity. Immersed in the nutrient solution, he moved:
“Hiss—”
He gasped:
“Old man, he’s really tough to beat.”
When Barrette entered his ‘oni-ki’ mode, his physique was both soft and hard, capable of deflecting force and withstanding blows.
As for Garp, he had trained his Armament Haki to the bone; his defining characteristic was simply hardness.
Carole chuckled:
“He was active in the Rocks era, after all.”
“You two are more than 30 years apart in age.”
Barrette’s mouth twitched:
“That much?”
“I couldn’t tell.”
“Such an old man, and still so troublesome.”
Barrette couldn’t help but click his tongue… A seventy-something-year-old man, still so strong.
Carole smiled:
“How many actual deathmatches would it take?”
Barrette’s brow furrowed:
“Fifty-fifty, I’d say.”
“In a desperate situation, it would be a mutual kill.”
“That old man’s Haki is ingrained in his bones.”
“Too hard.”
“Nobody can one-shot him.”
“If you can’t one-shot him, with that old man’s physique, he could shake mountains and overturn seas for three days and three nights.”
“Devil Fruit users stand no chance.”
“However, if I dragged him from thousands of meters in the sky and slammed him down at a hundred times gravity…”
“He would die… and so would I.”
Earlier at Marineford, Barrette had grabbed him and dropped him from a thousand meters as a test, and the result was clear; that old man hadn’t had an easy time of it either…
Carole shook his head:
“There’s no need.”
“How to deal with these renowned strong individuals on the sea.”
“Admiral Sakazuki has already planned it all out.”
“It’s just a matter of time and setup.”
Barrette chuckled:
“Is that so?”
“Then I won’t worry about it.”
Carole smiled:
“Focus on healing.”
“I’ll go gather information about the New World.”
*Swish—*
He vanished.
At this moment.
Half of Punk Hazard’s inhabitants had already been evacuated.
Only some of the remaining soldiers and scientists packing up equipment were left.
Because of the Caesar incident, Vegapunk had transferred to Egghead Island in the New World, and Punk Hazard was gradually becoming a thing of the past…
--------
Mary Geoise, the Holy Land.
In the white palace hall, five figures gathered.
The burly Gorosei snorted:
“Utterly laughable.”
“The Fleet Admiral of the Marines is in league with the leader of the Revolutionary Army.”
The curly-haired Gorosei narrowed his eyes:
“So, that means…”
“The leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon.”
“Is Garp’s son, with the true name likely being Monkey… D. Dragon, right?”
“Could he be… that flame?”
The katana-wielding Gorosei rubbed his temples:
“That’s still too far off.”
“First, we need to find a way to minimize the impact of this incident.”
“I’m afraid it has already spread throughout the world.”
“Have Sengoku prepare for the handover process immediately.”
“Once the New World stabilizes a bit, have Sakazuki return to take over.”
The others nodded in agreement. It was unavoidable; even if they knew about the Sengoku-Garp issue, they couldn't deal with it.
The pressure from the Revolutionary Army in the Four Seas was significant, and with the emergence of the fourth Emperor in the New World, it was a time of revelry for pirates.
The Navy was on the brink of schism. The immediate priority was to stabilize the situation…
--------
On Sakazuki’s warship, which had just crossed the Red Line.
Sakazuki looked at the distribution map of New World forces hanging on the wall, deep in thought.
*Creak—*
The sound of a doorknob turning echoed.
Enel walked in:
“What is it, Uncle Sakazuki?”
Sakazuki tossed him a Den Den Mushi:
“Go on a mission for me.”
After giving a rough outline of the task, Enel’s lips curled slightly:
“Interesting.”
“I’ll bring someone along.”
Sakazuki said:
“Can you trust them?”
Enel chuckled:
“That kid Law.”
Sakazuki nodded:
“Go ahead.”
Enel thought of something and gave a mischievous grin:
“Understood.”
*Zzzzzzt—*
He vanished in a flash of electricity.
Sakazuki’s gaze drifted toward the New World map, and he let out a soft sigh…
--------
New World, Wano Country, Onigashima.
Above the monstrous, giant skull, dark clouds roiled, constantly flashing with lightning.
Inside the skull.
Kaido, drunk, lay asleep amidst scattered empty sake barrels.
Beside him lay a newspaper, the one reporting on the Navy’s internal schism, which had made Kaido drink even more than usual.
Meanwhile, King and Queen seemed to have sensed something.
One transforming into a Pteranodon, the other like a bouncing ball, they rushed out.
*Boom—*
Lightning struck one of the skull’s horns.
Enel sat with one leg crossed and the other dangling, his right hand propping up his chin as he watched the two rushing out:
“Yo, isn’t that Queen?”
Without a hint of self-awareness, he greeted them.
Law, who had used his Devil Fruit ability to teleport to the other horn, stood facing him, a cold sweat beading on his forehead…
Damn it… How could this be happening…
This was too damn stimulating again!!!