Chapter 172: Let Sakazuki Go

Sabaody Archipelago, Island 60.

Temporary Marine Headquarters.

In the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku, wearing a seagull hat that completely covered his full head of white hair, handed the latest intelligence report to Kuzan.

"Kuzan, the Headquarters and all branch Marines have officially begun the Great World Conscription."

"Whether member nations or non-member nations, all are within the scope of this conscription."

"Borsalino is to protect Vegapunk, and Garp has gone to pursue Lei Li; the conscription patrol mission can only be entrusted to you and Tsuru."

Sengoku looked significantly older.

"Remember, the Donghai Dihuang has not yet returned to Hive Island; if you encounter the Morning Star Pirates, you absolutely must not engage them in conflict again."

"The Currently Heaviest task for the Marines—"

"is the Great World Conscription."

"We have only five years; after five years, Marine funding will return to its previous scale."

Kuzan nodded.

"I understand, Fleet Admiral."

The destruction of the Marine Headquarters during the Battle of Marineford made the wavering Kuzan become passionate again.

Even Sakazuki, with whom he had not gotten along well before, Kuzan now believed that Sakazuki's previous persistence had some merit.

Most pirates must die.

Especially the Morning Star Pirates.

Among the sacrificed Marine soldiers and officers, there were many of Kuzan's friends and contemporaries; this alone made Kuzan's conviction unshakable—

To vow in this life to destroy the Morning Star Pirates.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen must be imprisoned in Impel Down.

"You go first to patrol the various branches in the Grand Line; Tsuru is responsible for the North Blue branches; the East Blue... wait until Garp finishes his business, and he will go to patrol the East Blue."

Just as Sengoku was assigning tasks, the Den Den Mushi on the desk buzzed and vibrated incessantly.

"Hello, I am Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

The Den Den Mushi quickly said: "Fleet Admiral, the Donghai Dihuang descended from the sky and arrived at Punk Hazard; it is suspected to be targeting Admiral Sakazuki."

Sengoku slammed a heavy fist onto the table, gritting his teeth with red eyes, roaring like a wild beast.

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen is too much."

"Too much!!!"

"Where is Borsalino?"

The Den Den Mushi: "The Admiral is confronting Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, my lord, we..."

The Den Den Mushi's voice was cut off, immediately switching to the voice of Kizaru.

"Sengoku-san, no need to worry."

"The Donghai Dihuang is just passing through."

"I am here; please rest assured."

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Kizaru first ordered the Marine soldiers responsible for the alert to withdraw, then looked at Saint Saint Saiwen with eyes filled with intense killing intent.

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, you should leave."

"Sigh." Saint Saint Saiwen spread his hands.

"Old brother, you must know that the war was started by you Marines; before this, I have always kept the promise between you and me."

"Do not show the posture of a victim."

"If I had failed, I might already be locked up in the underwater Great Prison by now."

Kizaru offered no rebuttal to this.

Despite the words, the destruction of Marineford, with fifty thousand soldiers leaving no bones behind and hundreds of officers sacrificed, all came from Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's hand.

As one of the three Admirals of the Marines, how could he pretend nothing happened?

"You have already won,

let Sakazuki go."

Kizaru understood that relying solely on himself, he could not resist Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen; if the other party wanted to cut the grass and remove the roots, Sakazuki would hardly survive today.

Although he is currently a vegetable, at least he is still alive, isn't he? As long as he can breathe, there is a chance to wake up.

"Huh?" Saint Saint Saiwen was greatly surprised.

"Is Red Dog here too?"

On this journey leaping over the Red Line and returning to the New World, the Donghai Dihuang happened to pass by Punk Hazard on the way; Saint Saint Saiwen came down only to trade with Vegapunk.

Exchanging some secrets for the Pink Dragon Fruit.

Never expected that Akainu would actually be here too.

Seeing this, Kizaru's drooping face showed an expression that was hard to describe, full of conflict, regret, and confusion.

I'm sorry, old friend.

It was me who carelessly leaked your whereabouts.

Kizaru: *******

"Rest assured." Saint Saint Saiwen waved his hand with a smile.

"I wouldn't go so far as to attack a vegetable; I just passed by this place to specially come see you, old brother."

"See you later, Kizaru old brother."

Not long after Saint Saint Saiwen left, Vegapunk, with his large head, arrived by Kizaru's side; seeing Kizaru standing stunned in place, Vegapunk muttered.

"Don't be deceived by that guy."

"He came to trade with me, not specifically to see you."

"Trade?" Huang Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Vegapunk with ill intent.

"Doctor."

"You are trading privately with the World Government and Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen behind their backs; do you not fear I will execute you on the spot?"

"You won't, Borsalino."

Vegapunk was full of confidence, stating he would not misjudge a person.

"You and Dragon are both people with justice in your hearts; you will not lay a hand on an old man like me. Besides, Sakazuki cannot wake up without me."

Huang Yuan sighed.

"What is the probability of Sakazuki waking up?"

The Battle of Marineford had not yet ended when Huang Yuan picked up his old friend Akainu and rushed all the way to Vegapunk's laboratory on Punk Hazard.

If not for this, Akainu would have already breathed his last.

It was just that Huang Yuan did not expect that shortly after he left Marineford, the entire Marineford was annihilated in one strike by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

If he had not left, he could surely have saved more unconscious Navy soldiers by relying on his speed advantage.

But in that case...

Sakazuki would absolutely not have survived.

Because of this matter, Huang Yuan had fallen into internal conflict these past days, often waking up startled by Navy soldiers screaming for help in his nightmares.

"Less than a one percent chance of waking up."

Vegapunk's expression became Serious.

"Saint Saturn privately hinted to me, asking me to use Sakazuki's body as a template to mass-produce Pacifistas, even to modify Sakazuki..."

Seeing Huang Yuan about to enter a state of rage, Vegapunk hurriedly added.

"I refused part of it."

"Just part of it? Vegapunk?"

"Listen to my explanation," Vegapunk muttered.

"Sakazuki has lost both eyes; if he is to see the light again... the difficulty is too great. We definitely Must Be Heavy in modifying a new pair of eyeballs to help him restore his vision."

"Secondly, Sakazuki's brain tissue is damaged; recovery is quite troublesome."

"With my current technical level, it will be very difficult for Sakazuki to wake up without ten or eight years."

"Unless..." Vegapunk hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

"Unless what?" Huang Yuan asked in a deep voice.

"Unless you go find Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen for help, Borsalino. Do not forget, the broken legs of Shiki the Golden Lion are now as good as new."

"Even Master Tenghu has opened his eyes."

Vegapunk stuck out his tongue: "Do you know whose hand all this comes from?"

"Who else could it be but Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen?"

While Huang Yuan fell into deep thought, Vegapunk once again spoke words that shocked everyone.

"Saint Saturn privately asked me."

"If I were to grant Sakazuki immortality, could he wake up, or even grow new eyeballs? I fobbed him off by saying I needed to conduct experiments."

"Borsalino, if it were you."

"Do you think Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen is more reliable, or the World Government?"

Huang Yuan's face drooped, looking wretched.

In this world where there is no worst, only worse.

Compared to the World Government, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen is undoubtedly more reliable. Rumors on the Grand Line say Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen keeps his promises; Huang Yuan has experienced this deeply.

Because of the agreement on Skypiea four years ago.

Even though Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen experienced two Buster Calls, the Navy only lost fewer than ten unlucky souls.

However, the Navy publicly executed Roger's son, causing the Navy and the Morning Star Pirates to erupt into the Battle of Marineford, pushing both sides to a situation of life or death.

Going to beg Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen now.

Would undoubtedly require paying a higher price.

Huang Yuan really did not want to go, but the years of friendship with his old friend Akainu were right there?!

"Borsalino."

"I can still drag things out for you for a year or a year and a half. If this time passes and the World Government loses patience, they will definitely modify Sakazuki directly."

"To go or not to go, you decide."