Marinford.
Inside the Navy Admiral's office.
Sengoku the Buddha forcefully put down the Radio Snail in his hand, his expression unusually grim, even appearing somewhat angry, which made those around him feel a bit alarmed.
As the Navy Admiral, Sengoku rarely lost his temper at Marinford, unless it was his old friend Garp who had provoked him into a rage.
"What happened?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's face showed a hint of concern.
"It's nothing."
Sengoku adjusted his glasses and snorted: "That brat Yakushi Kabuto made a report to those old guys, the Five Elders. Such childish tactics..."
However, these childish tactics proved to be very effective.
In the Radio Snail call just now, the Five Elders decisively demanded that Sengoku the Buddha and the Navy must unconditionally cooperate with Yakushi Kabuto's CP Department actions, and also criticized Sengoku for recklessly promoting Uehara Naraku, a person with no real strength, wasting his authority.
Sengoku clasped his hands together, looking troubled: "Starting tomorrow, Yakushi Kabuto will be relieved of his position as Navy Staff Officer and appointed as Navy Headquarters Chief Inspector.
This new Chief Inspector will have the power to mobilize all officers of Vice Admiral rank and below, and can even launch a Buster Call on any country or small island in the world..."
This power...
Can already challenge even his own authority as Navy Admiral!
Vice Admiral Tsuru couldn't help but furrow her brows: "If that's the case, who will those young ones listen to in the future?"
"The Navy has long had different voices."
Sengoku shook his head and sighed: "Little Tsuru, in these past few years, many have chosen to support him. We once thought he was the Navy's future and failed to see through this ambitious little brat..."
Yakushi Kabuto uses any means necessary to gain power.
This is what pains Sengoku the most.
The fall of a new generation of wise generals means the Navy's future may head in an uncertain direction. The most troublesome part is that Yakushi Kabuto is very likely to become the superior of the entire Navy...
Yakushi Kabuto's strength is not significant, but his mind is very sharp, making him the most useful pawn in the hands of the Five Elders.
Because once Yakushi Kabuto shows any rebellious tendency, the Five Elders can easily remove him. This kind of person, who can bring great benefits to the World Government but is also very easy to control, is exactly what the Five Elders need.
Especially this time, Yakushi Kabuto's plan...
Although due to the Navy's lack of cooperation, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon, escaped capture, it also caused this top criminal wanted by the World Government to suffer a great loss, even leaving the Revolutionary Army's number two to flee embarrassingly.
Now it's come to this...
The Navy is being held accountable, yet Yakushi Kabuto got promoted.
"Actually, it's not quite like that..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed deeply, soothing her old friend's emotions: "Little Kabuto's nature isn't all that bad. At least he hasn't gone against justice in what he's done... And he's really worked hard for the Navy these past few years!"
"..."
Sengoku found himself at a loss for words for a moment.
Indeed.
Yakushi Kabuto's actions in recent years have left no room for criticism, which is why it leaves Sengoku feeling particularly helpless as he cannot pinpoint Yakushi Kabuto's shortcomings.
Clearly, everyone knows Yakushi Kabuto has changed...
But when it comes to actually criticizing Yakushi Kabuto, there's nothing to blame him for, not even a small mistake to cling to.
Every time Sengoku clashed with Yakushi Kabuto, it always seemed as if he was targeting political rivals to promote himself to Grand Marshal...
When clearly, he was doing it for the Navy's future!
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore."
Sengoku picked up a document from the table and fed it to the little goat at his side, sighing: "Tomorrow Yakushi Kabuto will come to Marinford. We need to have a secret meeting among a few of us.
The Five Elders hope we cooperate with the CP to actively initiate a world war against the Four Emperors' Pirate Gangs and the Revolutionary Army..."
"Actively initiate a world war with the Four Emperors' Pirate Gangs?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru furrowed her brows: "Those five old guys must be crazy. The current sea barely maintains balance..."
"Little Tsuru..."
Sengoku shook his head as his expression gradually turned grave: "This kind of balance has never been what the Navy wanted. Our goal has always been only one: to end the Great Pirate Era started by Gol D. Roger and let justice reign supreme over the world..."
While the two elderly figures at Marinford discussed the Five Elders' orders with heavy hearts, it was truly exhausting for them, and the one who proposed to start a world war, Yakushi Kabuto, was leisurely sipping afternoon tea at Enies Lobby.
Enies Lobby.
In the Chief's Office.
Yakushi Kabuto and Nico Robin were playing chess.
Over the past few years, Nico Robin had been staying at Enies Lobby, assisting Yakushi Kabuto in gradually clearing out all non-aligned agents from the CP Department, slowly planting Wano Country's Anbu Ninja in their place.
Cuckoo occupying the magpie's nest.
The members of Akatsuki seem to excel at this move.
"Miss Robin, you've lost."
Yakushi Kabuto placed down his chess piece calmly and adjusted his glasses: "What a pity. From now on, we won't be able to leisurely play chess like this anymore..."
"Yes..."
Nico Robin slowly nodded and whispered, "Tomorrow, I'll be heading to the sea at the entrance of the Grand Line..."
Yakushi Kabuto looked up at Nico Robin: "I heard that Lord Naraku issued an order to you, asking you to go to the sea at the entrance of the Grand Line and find a way to join the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"That's right."
Nico Robin nodded slowly and said in a soft voice, "According to Mr. Uehara's orders, I need to guide them step by step to oppose the world, until Straw Hat Luffy, that pirate, qualifies for public execution by the Navy..."
"Is that so?"
Yakushi Kabuto pushed his glasses up and smiled: "I could give you some good suggestions; a world war will soon be unleashed by us, it's best to be quick so he doesn't miss the feast..."
"Hmm?"
Nico Robin's eyes showed some doubt.
Yakushi Kabuto opened his palm, chuckled and continued, "Based on my upcoming plan, the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff Sabo will be on the list for public execution.
During this time, Portgas D. Ace, the Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Squad, has already entered the First Half of the Grand Line. According to my calculations, he has also become a pawn in our trap."
Yakushi Kabuto picked up a piece from the chessboard, slowly held it in his hand, with a somewhat eerie smile: "I heard Straw Hat Luffy is their sworn brother. I want their three brothers to reunite at Impel Down and on the execution platform, thus preserving their brotherly bond... What do you think, Miss Robin?"
"..."
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Nico Robin's forehead.
Such talk is utterly ruthless, isn't it?
How could brothers reunite on the execution platform!
To be honest, as Nico Robin spends more time with Yakushi Kabuto, she has gradually realized just how terrifying Uehara Naraku's top henchman can be. Even Nico Robin occasionally feels some fear about Yakushi Kabuto's methods.
"I'll try my best."
Nico Robin nodded slowly.
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Nico Robin and smiled, "If you need anything, the CP Department is all ours, you can ask them to cooperate anytime; among them, the agents of CP9 are your old subordinates, always following your direction."
"Hmm."
Nico Robin nodded and said in a soft voice, "I understand, once I meet Straw Hat Luffy, I will have them cooperate with me..."
"Actually, it's not that complicated..."
Yakushi Kabuto leisurely opened his palm and placed the chess piece back on the board: "Have Straw Hat Luffy kill a Heavenly Celestial Dragon, that charge should be more than sufficient..."
"..."
Nico Robin's expression was subtle.
To Yakushi Kabuto, talking about killing a Heavenly Celestial Dragon seemed akin to discussing the slaughter of livestock, completely disregarding the identity of the Heavenly Celestial Dragon!
Even Nico Robin, at present, dares not ignore those World Nobles!
Yakushi Kabuto observed Nico Robin's expression, pushed his glasses with a smile and whispered, "What's there to be surprised about in this matter?"
"But they are the World Nobles..."
Nico Robin frowned and said, "Even if they just encounter a normal attack or fright, Admirals from Navy Headquarters will come to assist..."
Uh, maybe there's nothing to be surprised about...
Because the Admirals from Navy Headquarters are all members of Akatsuki!
"The lives of the Heavenly Celestial Dragons are indeed important to the World Government."
Yakushi Kabuto shook his head and continued with a smile, "Because the only use for this bunch of Heavenly Celestial Dragons is to employ their lives to utilize the Divine Artifact in Holy Land Mary Geoise... Fortunately, Akatsuki does not need the Divine Artifact from Mary Geoise."
Yakushi Kabuto's eyes gradually revealed a gleam: "The world is on the brink of a transformation, and after this world changes, it will become the new world that Akatsuki desires..."
At this point, Yakushi Kabuto's gaze became dark again: "Before the new world appears, everything of the old will be swept away. Before this group of Heavenly Celestial Dragons is executed by Lord Naraku, Miss Robin might as well utilize their lives as worthless assets!"
"..."
Nico Robin remained with her brows furrowed. She slowly shook her head and softly said, "I'll wait until I meet the members of the Straw Hat Pirates. I don't really like this..."
Surely one can't control the fate of others from afar...
At the very least, one should first see what kind of people Straw Hat Luffy and his companions are, lest there be innocents among them like those in Ohara.
"Don't like doing it this way?"
Yakushi Kabuto touched his chin and laughed, "True, perhaps they might be a group of agreeable partners to Miss Robin as well!"
Afterward, Yakushi Kabuto laughed and continued, "Oh, by the way, there's one more thing I might need to remind you, understand your role, and don't immerse yourself so deeply like Sasuke-kun that you can't distinguish between truth and lies..."
Uchiha Sasuke is a typical example of a failed undercover agent.
He was supposed to be infiltrating the Whitebeard Pirates perfectly as a spy, but this guy ended up integrating perfectly with the Whitebeard Pirates, sometimes forgetting his own identity.
Originally, Uchiha Sasuke's position was high...
This guy chose to dive into the mud all by himself.
"Never mind, perhaps I'm speaking too much."
Yakushi Kabuto lightly tapped his fingers on the chessboard and smiled: "Miss Robin is a chess player, so she probably wouldn't jump into the chessboard and become a pawn..."