Aokiji wanted to hurry to Alabasta immediately.
That Desert Kingdom was very likely about to have some earth‑shattering major incident.
Fortunately, the trouble of Smoker's poisoning had also been solved by Doctor Kureha of Drum Kingdom, and he was going to lead the Navy under his command to Alabasta as well, to hunt down Straw Hat Luffy and Clown Buggy.
"Monkey D. Luffy went to Alabasta too?"
When Aokiji got this news, a strange feeling suddenly surfaced in his heart, as if the secrets of Alabasta really were about to blow up.
On the Pirate side:
Clown Buggy's crew.
Straw Hat Luffy's crew.
Sand Crocodile, Crocodile.
Son of the Demon, Nico Robin.
And the strongest crew, the Konoha Pirates.
On the Navy side:
Navy Headquarters Admiral Aokiji (double agent), and under his command, Navy Headquarters Lieutenant Akihara Kagura (spy), as well as Headquarters Squad Leader Karin (assistant spy).
Navy Headquarters Colonel Smoker, Navy Headquarters Squad Leader Tashigi, and a full standard warship unit of Navy soldiers under the Colonel.
"There's no way Alabasta will stay peaceful now."
"Speaking of which, the Konoha Pirates aren't weak at all…"
Akihara Kagura brought up the Pirate crew he secretly controlled and took the initiative to remind Aokiji: "Once they really find that eight‑hundred‑year‑old royal Underground Palace in Alabasta, the secrets of that Underground Palace will definitely be exposed by a bunch of Pirates…"
"Since Alabasta will probably have some uncontrollable major event because of the Konoha Pirates, relying only on our current Navy strength is inconvenient, and we definitely don't have enough power to stop all of this from happening. We're bound to be blamed in the future…"
"Admiral Aokiji, before you head to Alabasta, shouldn't you apply to the World Government for support in advance, to avoid any truly uncontrollable incidents?"
"…"
What kind of mess is this supposed to be?
Aokiji's gaze fell on Akihara Kagura, and for a moment he seemed at a loss for words. He could only let out a long sigh, looking somewhat helpless.
This guy…
Does he even listen to himself talk?
A spy sent by the Konoha Pirates, and he's trying to teach the Navy how to do its job?
However…
What Akihara Kagura was saying also made a lot of sense.
The Konoha Pirates held Marshal Sengoku's weakness in their hands; he couldn't stop the Konoha Pirates, so he could only rely on reinforcements sent by the World Government and the Navy…
If the World Government and the Navy didn't send reinforcements to Alabasta, then just Smoker alone, a Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, would definitely get casually strung up and beaten by the Konoha Pirates…
"You… exactly whose side are you on?"
Aokiji took a deep breath, his eyes gradually growing deeper as he tried to see through the real face Akihara Kagura was hiding: "Why would you want me to request reinforcements to besiege the Konoha Pirates? Aren't you… their spy?"
"Isn't it because I'm worried I'll be blamed by the Navy?"
Akihara Kagura raised his head to look at Aokiji, smiling as he went on, "If the World Government decides to ruthlessly kill all the witnesses because the secrets of Alabasta are leaked, wouldn't I be in trouble too? So we need someone to help shoulder some of the risk and responsibility. If we can gather big shots like the Five Elders, that would be even better…"
"…"
What kind of dream is this guy having!
The Five Elders are the supreme rulers of the world; how could those people lower themselves to go all the way to Alabasta to command this operation?
Looking at the smile on Akihara Kagura's face, Aokiji couldn't see his true thoughts at all, so he could only tentatively ask, "Aren't you afraid the Konoha Pirates will be wiped out by a Navy encirclement? Their strength is indeed very strong, but to go up against…"
"Admiral Aokiji…"
Akihara Kagura's eyes narrowed as he cut Aokiji off: "Aren't you curious which side is actually stronger—the Konoha Pirates, or the World Government and the Navy?"
"Just for the sake of seeing who's the strongest?"
Aokiji felt like this spy just wanted to sit back and watch the show.
"Of course it's not just that…"
The smile on Akihara Kagura's lips grew deeper as he drawled, "If the Konoha Pirates defeat the World Government and the Navy in Alabasta, then to guard against Great Pirate forces all over the world, the entire sea will fall into chaos and war. That means I'll have more chances to earn military merit, and getting promoted will be much easier. The World Government will definitely hold a massive recruitment, and once I get the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, I'll undoubtedly be one of the key talents the World Government and Navy focus on cultivating…"
"…"
Aokiji's cheek couldn't help but twitch as he subconsciously asked, "What if the Konoha Pirates lose to the World Government and the Navy?"
"…"
Akihara Kagura rubbed his chin and genuinely fell into thought. What if the Konoha Pirates lost to the World Government and the Navy?
This kind of thing…
Why even think about something like that?
A Pirate crew capable of destroying a country, where every member holds the power to wipe out a nation, and they even have a mascot who could unleash enough power to destroy the world…
"They won't lose."
Akihara Kagura had absolute faith in the power of the Konoha Pirates.
"You really do believe in them…"
Aokiji was still scrutinizing Akihara Kagura's expression, as if wanting to dig out more intel: "Looks like their strength really is a bit shocking, to the point you can't even imagine the possibility of them being defeated…"