"Didn't expect Straw Hat to fall into his hands..."
Smoker was already aware of the battle report. His gaze shifted to Akihara Kagura, who stood next to Aokiji. The last time they met, the kid was just a lieutenant, and in such a short time, Kagura had already become a Vice Admiral with a Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability stronger than his Smoke-Smoke Fruit!
"Admiral Kagura?"
Tashigi quickly adjusted her glasses, softly explaining, "Admiral Kagura has long been aware of the danger posed by Straw Hat Luffy, and has always wanted to capture the Straw Hat Pirates..."
Back then...
Tashigi and Akihara Kagura had talked about Straw Hat Luffy on Drum Island, but the topic felt sensitive and intimidating, and Tashigi couldn't bear to think deeply about it.
"The promotion speed is really fast..."
Smoker could only shake his head in admiration. He had recently received a rank but only as a Brigadier General.
"The Headquarters has been discussing you guys a lot lately..."
A somewhat flirtatious voice reached Smoker and Tashigi's ears.
Brigadier General Tina of the Navy Headquarters was also newly promoted, with a thin, long cigarette at her mouth and light pink parted long hair draped over her shoulders, exuding a seductive aura that caused two navy soldiers, Zangao and Heppoko behind her, to gaze at her with hearts in their eyes.
"What are they discussing about us?"
Smoker, with a cigar in his mouth, blew out a long smoke ring and coldly chuckled, "Discussing me for not following those official orders?"
"No..."
Tina shook her head, her gaze fell on Akihara Kagura, "They are discussing you and Admiral Kagura. Both of you are Logia-type Fruit users, each having a beautiful adjutant by your side, and both of you come from the East Sea, so it's natural to be compared..."
"Hmph, what's there to discuss? I don't care about such things..."
Smoker seemed indifferent, his gaze fell on Karin beside Kagura, then turned towards Tashigi, asking, "I remember that guy's adjutant is called Karin, right? Always in full armor, but as far as I remember, she's never shown any real ability. Can she really be compared to Tashigi?"
"You..."
Tina could see through his thoughts right away.
Smoker's words suggested indifference, but in his heart, he obviously cared about being compared, even comparing their respective adjutants...
"Don't underestimate that girl named Karin..."
Tina's eyes gradually turned serious, solemnly stating, "I heard she single-handedly captured the Straw Hat Pirates on Enies Lobby, defeating the whole crew without relying on anyone else..."
"!!!"
Tashigi's eyes widened in amazement.
She couldn't even handle Roronoa Zoro! She didn't expect the opponent to capture the entire Straw Hat Pirates by herself, the very ones Smoker and she couldn't deal with!
"..."
Smoker also expressed a hint of surprise.
Although he could defeat the Straw Hat Pirates, he knew Straw Hat Luffy's strength; even a Navy Headquarters Colonel might not be able to take him down!
"This time..."
"It's also a test for the new generation of the Navy..."
Tina's gaze fell on the group of Vice Admirals, quietly explaining, "Didn't you notice? Besides Admiral Aokiji and Vice Admiral Garp, the other three Vice Admirals have all been rapidly promoted recently..."
Akihara Kagura, Fujitora, and Ryokugyu.
Although nothing conclusive yet, one of these three is sure to become an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters in the future...
"Why is CP0 here?"
Smoker wasn't concerned about such matters. He spotted a group of masked individuals and noticed their superior, Spandine, which made him frown.
"Overseers sent by the World Government..."
Tina casually tossed her head, expressing her displeasure at such matters: "After all, we're dealing with the Revolutionary Army, not pirates..."
The Revolutionary Army merely aims to overthrow the World Government and the Heavenly Celestial Dragons, not harm ordinary people. They fight for the common populace, and it's hard to say how zealous the entire navy would be.
The combat strength at Enies Lobby isn't weak; besides CP0 and the mentioned naval forces, Vice Admiral Garp, the veteran, remained at Enies Lobby after visiting his grandson Luffy, choosing to stay and participate in the battle.
"I heard the CP9 unit was taken care of by Admiral Kagura."
Tina mentioned the news from a while ago, continuing, "Now it seems there's an issue with the CP Department's intelligence; the intel brought by CP0 is rather bleak. They supposedly didn't discover the Revolutionary Army converging on Enies Lobby, which is good news for us..."
If the war doesn't break out...
That's indeed good news for them.
On the other side.
Aokiji, Akihara Kagura, and others were also having a discussion here.
Aokiji received news that the Revolutionary Army hadn't made any major moves, which seemed to put him in a good mood: "If the Revolutionary Army hasn't gathered, the plan for the Enies Lobby operation should have failed, right?"
"It's not execution day yet..."
Spandine grudgingly glanced at Aokiji, followed by a resentful look at Akihara Kagura: "If the Revolutionary Army doesn't show up, this massive force is wasted here for nothing, then the person who proposed the Enies Lobby operation should pay with death..."
"He's already paid."
Akihara Kagura shrugged, continuing, "I heard it was proposed by the former highest authority of Enies Lobby, Spandam. I've already executed the guy behind such an unreliable plan..."
"You!"
Spandine was furious, his voice filled with hatred: "No need to say more, Sengoku personally vouched in front of Saint Saturn that you proposed the plan. My unfortunate son only contributed a little..."
"Alright."
"The Revolutionary Army should come."
Akihara Kagura met Spandine's eyes, lazily remarking, "If the Revolutionary Army doesn't come, it must be because someone who dislikes them leaked the World Government's internal operation plan to them..."
"Hmm?"
Spandine was taken aback.
What does that mean?
Someone leaked the internal operation plan?
Spandine's eyes lit up upon figuring a justification. He even wished the Revolutionary Army would remain inactive so he could pin the blame on Akihara Kagura, claiming Kagura was the Revolutionary Army's mole, collaborating with them!
No matter what reason, it didn't matter...
As long as he could kill Akihara Kagura to avenge his son!
"..."
Akihara Kagura simply smiled at Spandine's expression, his fingers gently tapping on his arm as if pondering something amusing.
New World.
Revolutionary Army Headquarters at Baldego.
Monkey D. Dragon also saw the World Government's notice.
The World Government announced that in a week at Enies Lobby, they would execute the bloodline of the infamous criminal, Dragon's son, Monkey D. Luffy.
Dragon's son.
This was the new title the World Government gave to Luffy.
With this label, the World Government could legitimately link the Revolutionary Army to Monkey D. Luffy, accusing him of the Revolutionary Army's crimes.
"Mr. Dragon..."
A Revolutionary Army officer stood before Dragon, hesitantly looking at his face: "Sabo has left. He chose to go to Enies Lobby to save them. Are we really not going to intervene?"
"No need to interfere."
Monkey D. Dragon waved his hand, forcibly maintaining his composure: "While their forces gather at Enies Lobby, we're preparing to launch uprisings in other affiliated countries..."
"Mr. Dragon!"
A Revolutionary Army officer interrupted Dragon, his face full of seriousness: "Someone brought us secret intelligence, there's news about Captain Ivankov of the Great Line Army, Ivankov hasn't gone missing, he's still in Impel Down!"