Chapter 286

Sengoku increasingly failed to understand the situation in the New World; Xia Luote Lingling had broken into Onigashima alone and fought Kaido for three days and three nights.

There must be a reason, right?

Could it be that they just started fighting for no reason!

And why did Whitebeard head to Beehive Island?

One must know that Beehive Island was currently occupied by the Emperor Golden Lion and served as the base of the Flying Pirates.

Two Emperors of the Sea duel on Onigashima, and two Emperors of the Sea meet on Beehive Island; could it be that the four Emperors have formed a dual alliance to attack the remaining four Emperors?!

"Hiss~" Sengoku sucked in a cold breath.

If this were truly the case, the Navy could take this opportunity to establish more branches in the New World.

After all, apart from the New Marineford, the Navy currently had only the G5 branch located near Dressrosa in the New World seas.

A single G5 branch was simply insufficient to support the Navy in controlling the New World.

The massive World Conscription had fully replenished the Navy's manpower, with both basic soldiers and high-end combat power surpassing the past.

The doubled military funding granted by the World Government had further allowed the Navy to build countless new warships.

In short, the current Navy was even stronger than the Navy before the Battle of Marineford.

Precisely because of this.

Sengoku agreed to Akainu's proposal to relocate the Navy Headquarters to the New World to better deal with the four Emperors of the Sea established in the New World.

As long as the New World was taken... the Navy would surely face suppression from the World Government.

The World Government would never sit idly by and allow the Navy to dominate alone; maintaining the status quo was actually the best choice.

However, the World Government would definitely not allow the Navy to maintain the status quo; so much military funding could not be given in vain, and the Navy had to at least establish a foothold in the New World.

Sengoku immediately felt a throbbing headache.

The Navy and the Emperors must fight.

But the Navy and the Emperors starting a war was also not acceptable.

The best... the best would be to go through the motions, letting the World Government know the consequences of rashly starting a war.

While maintaining the status quo, the Navy would slowly establish more branches in the New World, and only consider eliminating the Emperors after establishing a firm foothold.

But would the Emperors cooperate with the Navy?

Cooperate with the Navy to put on a play for the World Government?

While Sengoku was deeply troubled, the Den Den Mushi on his desk suddenly buzzed incessantly.

"Hello, this is Sengoku."

"Sengoku-san, we have captured Blackbeard."

Upon hearing Aokiji's report, Sengoku's tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed; finally, he had heard some good news.

"First, bring Blackbeard back to Headquarters."

"Be careful on the way; absolutely do not let Blackbeard escape again."

If Blackbeard escaped again, Sengoku could already imagine how Saint Saturn would mock the Navy's inaction.

The three Admirals cannot catch a single Blackbeard?

Go home and sell sweet potatoes.

"Understood." Aokiji hung up the Den Den Mushi.

North Blue, Flevance waters.

On the deck of the Navy warship, Aokiji handed the Den Den Mushi to the acting adjutant Smoker.

"Why aren't you training with Master Zephyr?"

Smoker, with a cigar in his mouth, flashed a hint of disappointment in his eyes: "You should know that Master Zephyr only has Enel in his eyes."

"There's no need to mention us deadweights."

Mentioning Enel, Aokiji felt inexplicably uneasy in his heart.

Enel was a talent he discovered at the G8 branch, yet in the end, he didn't even have the qualification to fight for a seat at the table; who else but Zephyr and Garp being his teachers?

"What are they doing on Jiayadao?"

"It is said that a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit has appeared on Jiayadao, so the Master took Enel there."

Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits are even rarer than Natural-type Devil Fruits... (｡ò∀ó｡)

"However." Smoker pouted.

"I think going there is in vain."

"Jiayadao is Gecko Moria's territory; even if a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit truly appears, it will most likely be snatched by Moria first."

Having spoken, Smoker sighed again.

"The Master is really going all out for Enel..."

Aokiji nodded in agreement.

If it were the old Zephyr, he certainly would not have personally accompanied Enel to search for a Devil Fruit; after becoming the leader of the New Navy within the Navy, Zephyr's changes were indeed quite significant.

Zephyr is betting the entire future of the New Navy on Enel.

Thinking of the numerous factions currently existing within the Navy, Aokiji felt a headache.

The Hawk Faction, the Dove Faction, the Slacking Faction.

The New Faction, the Old Faction, the Middle Faction.

"Actually, I am more interested in that guy."

Smoker's scrutinizing gaze fell upon Blackbeard, who was wrapped entirely in Seastone chains.

"I heard,"

"this guy escaped successively from Admiral Sakazuki and Admiral Borsalino,"

"If you hadn't frozen all the surrounding seas, this guy might have escaped again."

Escaping from two Marine Admirals in succession is an achievement that alone puts Blackbeard ahead of 99% of pirates on the Grand Line.

For the vast majority of pirates, a Marine Admiral is practically equivalent to a ticket to Impel Down and a death warrant.

Hearing Smoker's assessment of him, Blackbeard grinned and laughed wildly.

"Mwahahahaha!"

"Marine rookie, can you tell this great man why the Marines would deploy three Admirals just to arrest me?"

Blackbeard was truly on the verge of despair.

If he had known Admiral Aokiji was waiting in the North Blue, he would have gone to the East Blue to recruit instead.

Although the pirates of the East Blue are almost all狂热 fans of Little Bai Mao, going there would at least mean he wouldn't be a prisoner of the Marines like he is now.

Smoker ignored Blackbeard; instead, Aokiji's answer cleared Blackbeard's confusion.

"Because you are Rock's son."

The answer was within Blackbeard's expectations; aside from his identity being exposed, Blackbeard could think of no other reason for the Marines to make such a grand display.

But... how could his identity have been exposed?

He had hidden his true strength in the Whitebeard Pirates for years; even Whitebeard the Old Man probably didn't know his true identity.

So how exactly was it exposed?

Blackbeard believed he had hidden himself well and had never revealed his identity to anyone; it couldn't possibly be because of this face, could it?

"Mwahahahaha!"

Blackbeard's laughter died out as he looked down at the Seastone chains on his body, and when he clearly saw the small characters carved on the chains: "Made in Inazuma"

Blackbeard felt terrible all over.

It's connected to Little Bai Mao again!

"Hey, Marine Admiral."

"Where is that child on my ship?"

After all, Wapol was the Blackbeard Pirates' only intern, and as captain, Blackbeard wanted to plead for Wapol.

"He ran away with his luggage."

Having said that, Aokiji pulled down the eyepatch on his forehead and lay on a lounge chair, leisurely basking in the sun.

Hearing that Wapol had left with his luggage, Blackbeard didn't know whether to feel relieved or sad.

This year since setting sail.

Aside from the Arlong brothers, Blackbeard hadn't met a single crew member who treated him sincerely; Lafitte was a traitor, and Wapol ran away with his luggage.

Is there something wrong with the way I recruit?

Should I be Heavy on Emotion like Little Bai Mao?

What kind of joke is that? I'm a pirate; besides profit, what loyalty is there to speak of between pirates?