Chapter 500

The next second, the gazes of Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru met in the air, and they concluded in unison:

"His direct target was Jaya Island, or rather, the legendary City of Gold, Shandora!"

They were not surprised that Zhang Jie, a country bumpkin who grew up in the Totto Land territory of the Big Mom Pirates,

knew about the legend of the City of Gold.

The story of "The Liar Noland" spread too widely in the North Yelu Yelu Bulu,

so much so that pirates, merchants, and Marines leaving the North Yelu Yelu Bulu could all talk about it eloquently;

in this way, it was logical for this story to flow into Totto Land—

—that Big Mom was committed to incorporating all races of the sea into her Totto Land.

Vice Admiral Tsuru's expression was somewhat heavy: "His first goal was the City of Gold, Shandora,

or rather, the wealth hidden in the City of Gold. Sengoku, you should be very clear about what this means."

"Of course I know what this means."

Sengoku nodded, the expression on his face no longer relaxed.

Money and power alone are nothing, at least not until they are enough to buy everything or oppose a nation single-handedly.

But when money and power are combined, it is too terrifying.

The reason why they, the Marines, are quite dissatisfied with the World Government but still have to obey the World Government's orders,

and even have to send Marine Admirals to protect those disgusting Celestial Dragons,

isn't it because their funding is not independent and they must rely on the World Government to allocate it?

With enough wealth, Zhang Jie could recruit troops on a large scale and expand his forces.

Zhang Jie possessing the strength of a top-tier powerhouse of the sea only proves that he has the qualifications to become a chess player,

but if he were to recruit a great fleet that matches his strength,

the situation of the entire sea would likely change because of it.

"Strengthen the surveillance of Lord Lord Heixing; I want to know what he is doing every day!"

Sengoku ordered in a deep voice.

At this moment, his wariness of Zhang Jie in his heart went up another level.

Before, Zhang Jie was just a talented up-and-comer in his mind,

but now he was not sure if this up-and-comer was an ambitious mastermind.

Zhang Jie helplessly spread his hands: I said my goal is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, not the wealth in the City of Gold; do you believe me?

"By the way, send another order to Borsalino, tell him to be on standby at all times!"

Sengoku added.

"I understand."

Vice Admiral Tsuru acknowledged the order knowingly.

Borsalino might not be the strongest in terms of frontal combat power among the three Marine Admirals,

but in terms of mobility and entanglement, he is definitely the strongest one.

As a light-human who ate the Glint-Glint Fruit, he can cross the Grand Line in a very short time,

reaching all sea areas including the Four Blues; he can also entangle every powerhouse of the sea,

including the "World's Strongest Man," Edward Newgate, the Whitebeard.

On an island not on the sea charts, Kizaru...

Kizaru Borsalino was leisurely lying on a beach chair, enjoying the bright sunshine.

"Na na, what a formidable brat~"

His gaze from under his sunglasses took in the news in the newspaper in his hand,

and Borsalino's mouth curled slightly as he sighed.

Although this island involved secrets like the Marine Science Unit

and was not marked on the sea charts, it did not mean it was isolated from the world;

every day, ships belonging to the Marines transported various living, combat, and experimental supplies here.

After all, relying solely on the resources and output of the island he was on would be far from enough to support an army,

especially a high-tech army known as a "money-swallowing beast."

When the fleet came, they would also bring newspapers, magazines, and other items

to relieve the boredom of the soldiers on the island and let them understand what was happening in the outside world, so they wouldn't be ignorant of the world situation.

And as the supreme commander of this science unit, Borsalino naturally enjoyed the highest treatment.

"Buru, buru."

A Den Den Mushi that looked like a snail rang.

"Who's looking for me?"

Borsalino was a bit puzzled, but he still picked up the Den Den Mushi and pressed the answer button on it.

Beep, beep.

The next second, Vice Admiral Tsuru's figure was vividly simulated by the Den Den Mushi,

and even the wrinkles on her face representing the traces of time were perfectly replicated one-to-one.

"Staff Officer Tsuru."

Seeing it was Vice Admiral Tsuru, Borsalino, who had been half-lying on the beach chair, straightened his back quite a bit.

Vice Admiral Tsuru's reputation in the Marines was not low; she was a veteran figure in the Marines,

and even he, an Admiral, had to maintain sufficient respect.

However, the expression on his face remained that lazy, listless look.

Vice Admiral Tsuru was not surprised by Borsalino's expression;

having been in the Marines for decades and being Kizaru's senior,

and also in charge of the intelligence and staff department, she had long known what kind of person Kizaru was.

"Borsalino, there is an important mission to entrust to you..."

Vice Admiral Tsuru told him about her and Sengoku's speculation about Zhang Jie and the mission assigned to Kizaru.

"Monitor a Warlord of the Sea who retreated unscathed from the hands of a Yonko?"

Kizaru immediately slumped on the beach chair like a salted fish that had lost its dreams.

Such a job was obviously not simple, and he might be forced to fight a big battle again, or even several.

After all, even ordinary people don't want someone monitoring

their every move at all times, let alone top-tier powerhouses who are even more self-centered.

"Why not ask Aokiji? I remember Lord Lord Heixing was recruited by him on behalf of the World Government;

they even got to know each other through fighting, and their relationship is quite good."

Borsalino, who just wanted to slack off peacefully, subconsciously wanted to shirk the responsibility and pull Aokiji out as a shield.

Vice Admiral Tsuru, who was familiar with Borsalino's nature of never standing if he could sit,

and never sitting if he could lie down, had no change in her expression:

"The Beast and Big Mom Pirates are both a bit unstable, and Sakazuki alone cannot suppress them;

Aokiji has already gone to support. Are you willing to go to the New World and swap Aokiji back?"

"This... let's forget about it."

Borsalino struggled for a while but still rejected the proposal.

Compared to that fighting maniac Kaido of the Beasts and that crazy woman Xia Luote Linlin who went mad from time to time,

Zhang Jie, who was emotionally stable and theoretically an ally of their Marines, was much easier to deal with as a Warlord of the Sea.

He didn't want to go to the New World for several battles that were destined to have no results

—whether it was Kaido's vitality that couldn't be killed even after several executions,

or Xia Luote Linlin's indestructible "Steel Balloon" body, both were too disgusting.