The following morning, Navy Admiral Ohka met with Mendesbin Saint, one of the Five Elders, at Mary Geoise.
Admiral Ohka was 69 years old, mostly white hair, and a relatively short stature at 1.6 meters. Despite lacking the physical presence of a Grand Admiral, his stern face radiated authority. He did not bow to the highest authority of the World Government.
“Mendesbin Saint, why has the World Government been collaborating with the notorious human trafficker, the Mountain Witch, without my knowledge as the Navy Admiral?!” he asked bluntly.
“Are you questioning me?” Mendesbin Saint responded with displeasure. “Gaston Figo disrupted the World Government’s plan to ally with the Giants, and I haven’t held you accountable. Why did you allow him to board that warship?”
“That was an alliance with the Giants? It was a deceitful scheme! A ticking time bomb!” Ohka retorted.
Mendesbin Saint frowned, staring at him.
Ohka stared back, his neck stiff.
After a long silence, Mendesbin Saint said, “Enough, the plan has failed, and I won’t waste words on a failure. Ohka, I called you here to inform you of two things.”
“The Mountain Witch’s Soul-Soul Fruit is extremely useful, but I will give you face this time and allow her to be imprisoned in Impel Down.”
Ohka’s expression softened slightly.
“But the seven Giants cannot be imprisoned. We cannot risk angering the entire Giant race and reuniting the Giant Pirate Fleet. I will have them brought to Mary Geoise for a different arrangement.”
Ohka frowned again. However, this matter was within his tolerance range. Mendesbin Saint had given him some leeway, so he had to reciprocate. As a Navy Admiral facing the Five Elders, he was still in a weaker position.
He bargained, “One of the seven Giants, Kevin, has a personal vendetta against the Heart-Controlling Demon Gildachack, who Figo captured this time. Kevin joined the Giant Pirate Fleet later and does not have the blood of Marines on his hands. I want to keep him and persuade him to become a Marine officer!”
Mendesbin Saint considered for a few seconds.
“Agreed.”
“The second matter: The World Government has decided to separate Impel Down from the Navy headquarters, strengthening its power. A new director position will be established, making Impel Down the third institution directly under the government, alongside the Navy headquarters and Enies Lobby.”
Admiral Ohka was stunned, “No!”
He wasn’t worried about weakening the Navy but asked, “Is this move to provide the Celestial Dragons with better and stronger slaves?”
“This is an announcement, not a discussion, Ohka,” Mendesbin Saint said. “You should have heard about yesterday’s attack on Cassiria Saint at Sabaody.”
“As world nobles, the safety of the Celestial Dragons must be better ensured. It is only natural. Impel Down’s current strength is insufficient to handle the increasing number of pirates within. The pirate who attacked Cassiria Saint was captured but couldn’t be transferred to Impel Down due to the prison’s lack of power. Isn’t this a joke?”
Indeed, it was. Ohka remained silent.
“In any case, that’s the end of this matter. Ohka, you can recommend candidates for the Impel Down director. If there are no suitable ones, the World Government will appoint someone.” Mendesbin Saint instructed directly.
“…I understand.” Ohka knew arguing further was futile.
Not all Celestial Dragons were useless. All Celestial Dragon children underwent selection and training. A small number with talent received different education from the mainstream useless ones, guided by top teachers in various fields. Upon reaching adulthood, they occupied important positions in the World Government.
The Five Elders were the highest-ranking Celestial Dragons, each generation’s five most outstanding individuals. Naturally, they sought to reinforce the Celestial Dragons’ status.
The Celestial Dragons’ supremacy was an unbreakable rule, distinct from matters involving the Mountain Witch or the Giants, allowing no room for negotiation.
Every time a Celestial Dragon faced a daring attack, it caused a stir. If not for the early detection of the Laughing Pirates, yesterday’s incident wouldn’t have passed so easily.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the conference room door. After Mendesbin Saint permitted entry, a CP0 intelligence officer wearing a peculiar mask entered, kneeling on one knee.
“Five Elders, Cassiria Saint’s party, expected to return to Mary Geoise this morning, has not arrived. The gold Den Den Mushi that communicates with Cassiria Saint’s silver Den Den Mushi has also lost its signal,” he reported.
“What?!”
Mendesbin Saint stood up, frowning.
Admiral Ohka’s expression also changed. Cassiria Saint was in trouble again? If the gold Den Den Mushi was inactive, then likely…
“Forgive our negligence. We discovered the signal loss at 4 a.m. and determined the signal went out between midnight and 4 a.m. We immediately dispatched CP1 armed forces to search but found no trace of Cassiria Saint’s ship. We can confirm that Cassiria Saint’s party has likely been killed!”
Mendesbin Saint’s face darkened. “Any leads?”
CP0 lowered his head. “None. We contacted the garrison at Sabaody and nearby islands but found no suspicious ships on Cassiria Saint’s route. His exact location shouldn’t have been found.
“We can only suspect that a Fish-Man might have followed Cassiria Saint’s ship from Sabaody, a pirate with a flying Devil Fruit, or an uprising by the ship’s slaves causing self-destruction!”
“Slave uprising? After being attacked by pirates during the day? Why wouldn’t they revolt then?” Mendesbin Saint dismissed one possibility. “Keep investigating! Ohka, return to the headquarters immediately and have the Navy fully cooperate with CP0’s investigation!”
Ohka didn’t want to waste Navy time for a Celestial Dragon but couldn’t refuse.
“Understood.”
“Also,” Mendesbin Saint paused, “Ohka, check if any Navy ships left without permission last night. Also, list all Marines with flying or similar Devil Fruit abilities and their activities last night.”
Ohka’s eyes widened. “Mendesbin Saint, what are you implying?!”
Mendesbin Saint looked at him coldly before sitting back down. “If you still want to be Admiral, follow orders!”
…
As the World Government was shaken by the mysterious death of a Celestial Dragon, the culprit, Figo, had a good night’s sleep and energetically knocked on Vice Admiral Doug’s door.
“Haha, Figo, you’re here! Come in,” Doug greeted with a hearty laugh, showing no signs of yesterday’s anger.
“Teacher, I’m Figo.”
“Ah, yes, yes, sorry,” Doug apologized quickly. “Figo, I was out of line yesterday. I didn’t have time to ask about your future plans. After being promoted to Vice Admiral, you can choose to stay at the headquarters, leading a massive warship patrolling the Grand Line. You can also choose to oversee one of the Four Seas as the highest-ranking Marine officer there. Or you could go directly to the New World, guarding a branch, fighting the major pirates, and capturing those villains!
“Each option has its pros and cons. But with your talent, you will undoubtedly grow quickly in any role! In ten years, maybe even sooner, you’ll be a candidate for Admiral, then an Admiral, leaving your mark on Navy history!
“I, Doug, believe in you!”
The power of the Inspiration Fruit activated.
Figo smiled. “Teacher, you got me all fired up.”
“So, which will you choose?”
“I’m going back to Impel Down.”
Doug was stunned, “Uh… what?”
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