~ Support & Read 42 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
❁❁❁❁
Shin and the Kuja Pirates left, taking their spoils of war, Akainu, with them.
Aokiji looked at the departing pirate ship, not knowing if he should pursue. In the end, Aokiji sighed. It was better to let the Fleet Admiral decide.
Taking out a Den Den Mushi, Aokiji immediately notified Marineford. As for the fleeing pirates, Aokiji couldn’t be bothered with them anymore.
————
“Aokiji, how did it go?”
Sengoku asked Aokiji. He had assumed Aokiji came bearing good news, but he was wrong…
“Fleet Admiral, there’s an important matter that must be decided by you.” Aokiji said to Sengoku with extreme seriousness.
“What is it??”
Sengoku already had a bad feeling. From Aokiji’s tone, Sengoku didn’t feel any happiness, but rather a sense of heaviness.
“Sakazuki’s been captured—by Shin Uzumaki. And he said if we want Akainu to live, we must prepare the Berries.”
Aokiji said to Sengoku with a heavy heart.
“…” Sengoku’s face darkened, a wave of anger on his face. Shin Uzumaki is going too far! Does he really think the Marines wouldn’t fight back?
“WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?” Sengoku asked Aokiji in a low voice.
“It was like this. At that time, when Shin Uzumaki was about to leave, Akainu attacked Shin Uzumaki, and then…”
Aokiji explained the matter once, which also angered Sengoku quite a bit. He remembered he had said not to bother Shin Uzumaki.
But Akainu had turned a deaf ear to his words.
If he had the power to take on Shin Uzumaki, Sengoku wouldn’t have cared—in fact, he’d have gladly let Akainu go after him. But the truth was, he wasn’t a match.
Put simply—Akainu was marching to his grave.
“Alright, I understand. Send someone to keep an eye on the Kuja Pirates. Remember not to get too close.”
After saying this to Aokiji, Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi.
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!!!
He slammed his palm on the table, and even the table was shattered by his palm. The Den Den Mushi next to it was also startled.
Sengoku’s face was uncertain. Akainu had been captured. Should they rescue him? If they rescued him, they would have to face Shin Uzumaki.
In the end, Sengoku decided to hold a meeting.
A Marine Admiral… Sengoku couldn’t easily give him up. This was the Marines’ highest combat power.
Besides Garp, who was in the East Blue, and the admirals on missions, the other Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals basically all came.
Kizaru also came to the meeting room.
————
“I’ve already told you the specific situation. What do you think should be done?” Sengoku asked them.
“Obviously we’re rescuing Admiral Akainu! Since when are the Marines afraid of a damn pirate?” An extremist immediately stood up, wanting to go rescue Akainu.
“Vice Admiral Doberman, please sit down first.”
Sengoku glanced at Doberman.
His style was hard-edged—much like Akainu’s. He’d always been part of Akainu’s faction, so his reaction wasn’t surprising.
“Vice Admiral Tsuru, what’s your opinion?” Sengoku asked Tsuru.
“Sengoku, don’t you already have an idea in mind? Why are you asking me?” Tsuru glanced at Sengoku and said calmly.
A hint of embarrassment appeared on Sengoku’s face, but it was indeed as Tsuru had said. He already had an idea in his heart.
In fact, this meeting was just a formality.
“I don’t think we should clash with the Kuja Pirates. Once they enter the New World, it’s only a matter of time before they run into other crews. We can just sit back and let the beasts tear each other apart.”
“Then, Fleet Admiral, do you mean we should compromise with Shin Uzumaki?” Doberman stood up again and asked Sengoku.
Sengoku looked at Doberman, a hint of displeasure on his face.
“This is to rescue Admiral Akainu. If we completely fall out with Shin Uzumaki, will Akainu still have a chance to live?”
Sengoku’s words made the tough Doberman sit down. Sengoku belonged to the Dove faction. Now that he was the Fleet Admiral, what he said went.
“You can leave first.”
Sengoku waved his hand, letting the other Vice Admirals leave, leaving Kizaru and Vice Admiral Tsuru.
————
“To save Sakazuki from Shin Uzumaki, what price do you think we should pay?” Sengoku asked the two of them.
Shin hadn’t said how many Berries he wanted, but the more it was like this, the more difficult Sengoku felt it was.
What if they lowballed him—only for Shin Uzumaki to kill Akainu in one strike?
“Aren’t you planning to let Aokiji negotiate with Shin Uzumaki?” Vice Admiral Tsuru asked Sengoku.
“It’s not that I don’t plan to let Aokiji negotiate, but Shin Uzumaki has no intention of negotiating at all,” Sengoku said with a wry smile.
“Then prepare 3 billion Berries first.” Vice Admiral Tsuru’s brow furrowed.
“HUH?”
Sengoku was shocked when he heard Tsuru ask him to prepare 3 billion Berries. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it, but for the Marines, it was already a lot.
“The more you can offer, the better. Isn’t Sakazuki worth the price? If Shin Uzumaki isn’t satisfied… have you even thought about what happens next?”
Faced with Tsuru’s question, Sengoku was silent. He had of course considered it.
He was just heartbroken. After all, the Marines themselves were a black hole—the money they had wasn’t enough.
“Alright. I’ll have Kizaru go personally.” Sengoku looked at the silent Kizaru at the side.
Kizaru’s sleazy face was starting to twist…
Seriously? Go face Shin Uzumaki? And actually negotiate with him?
Kizaru really didn’t want to do this kind of thankless job. Unfortunately, Sengoku didn’t leave Kizaru any room to refuse.
————
Time was of the essence.
Kizaru took 5 billion Berries and headed for the New World. Yes, another 2 billion Berries were added—to save Akainu’s life.
Of course, this was only if the 3 billion Berries couldn’t get the job done. Then the remaining 2 billion Berries would be added as a bargaining chip.
There was no need to go through Fish-Man Island.
The situation was urgent. After an emergency approval from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, he passed through the Holy Land of Mary Geoise to the New World.
After arriving in the New World, Kizaru immediately went to find Aokiji. He naturally pulled Aokiji along with him.
That way, he would be safer.
If things really went south, he could always throw his teammate under the bus—sell out Aokiji and make a run for it. That was the little thought Kizaru kept tucked away in the back of his mind.
————
Shin and his group were currently staying on a small island in the New World. This island was a deserted island.
In the New World, desolate islands like this were pretty common. Because the environment was harsh and brutal for people to live on. Most of these places were completely uninhabited, with even wildlife rarely seen.
“What are you looking at? LOOK AGAIN AND I’LL CUT YOU DOWN.” Hancock said arrogantly to Akainu.
“…” Right now, Akainu was tied to a tree, wearing Seastone handcuffs, his gloomy gaze fixed on Shin and the others.
❁❁❁❁
~ 42 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon
p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)