At the dock of Log Town.
Smoker was puffing on his cigar with a discontented look, because he saw Uehara Naraku in a Navy uniform, and knew that this guy had a higher rank than him.
Three years ago, Uehara Naraku was a criminal with Baroque Works; three years later, Uehara Naraku transformed into a Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.
Not to mention Smoker couldn't understand…
Even Sabo, the prisoner, couldn't understand.
How did Uehara Naraku do it?
Obviously, just three years ago, this guy was a nobody, trembling under Baroque Works, trying to be a good person. How did he become a Vice Admiral?
"Ha, I didn't expect this…"
Seeing Uehara Naraku, Sabo had a slight smile on his face: "We actually meet again under these circumstances, Mr. Uehara…"
"Indeed!"
Uehara Naraku held a glass of juice, shook his head, and sighed: "I never thought we would meet again under such circumstances…"
"..."
Aokiji's expression was subtle.
Uehara Naraku sounded like he was surprised… However, wasn't he the one who personally devised the plan to capture Sabo in Log Town?
"I'll go after Straw Hat Luffy."
Smoker exhaled a smoke circle with his cigar, speaking casually: "That brat Straw Hat Luffy is definitely a dangerous figure, absolutely cannot let him get away like that. You handle the escort of the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff!"
A Navy Captain actually dared to speak so recklessly to a Navy Admiral and Vice Admiral, Smoker's defiant nature was evident.
However, Smoker wasn't wrong.
Because Smoker saw with his own eyes that Monkey D. Luffy, even facing certain death, smiled calmly like Gol D. Roger, not caring about the life-and-death crisis, completely leaving his fate to the sea.
Future Straw Hat Luffy is definitely a dangerous figure.
Uehara Naraku slowly shook his head: "Colonel Smoker, it's better if you and Admiral Aokiji handle the escort of Mr. Sabo. I'll go after the Straw Hat Pirates…"
"Ha?"
Smoker furrowed his eyebrows, looking at Uehara Naraku with some displeasure: "Straw Hat Luffy fled from my jurisdiction, what does that have to do with you…"
"I'm a Vice Admiral."
Uehara Naraku took a sip of juice, glanced at Smoker: "You're just a Navy Captain stationed in Log Town…"
"Ha? A Vice Admiral who hides during battles?"
A sneer appeared on Smoker's face, he already knew that during the battle to capture Dragon and Sabo, Vice Admiral Uehara Naraku hid at Log Town's dock.
Smoker, ignoring Aokiji and Ain's expressions, continued coldly: "Why don't you ask those old men at Marinford when I've ever followed orders. Tashigi, get the ship ready to depart!"
"Ah… this?"
The young Navy Sword Master, standing next to Smoker, hesitated a bit.
Disobeying orders in front of a Vice Admiral, is it really okay?
But under Smoker's gaze, Tashigi could only nod cautiously and went to notify the base's Navy soldiers to prepare their ship for departure.
Honestly…
Tashigi was more afraid of Smoker.
Because Uehara Naraku seemed like a kind person.
"Ain…"
Uehara Naraku, sipping juice, turned to his beautiful adjutant: "Colonel Smoker and his subordinates at Log Town base…"
"Wait!"
Aokiji scratched his head, looked at Smoker, and spoke in a muffled voice: "Smoker, we'll handle escorting the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff. As for chasing Straw Hat Luffy, leave it to Vice Admiral Uehara Naraku."
"Hmm?"
Smoker looked at Aokiji with surprise.
Aokiji rubbed his brows, ordering sternly: "Compared to Straw Hat Luffy, who's just starting out, the identity of the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff is more important… Follow the order, or I can use my rank to subject you to military law!"
This statement was unprecedentedly severe.
Not at all like Aokiji's usual demeanor.
It was the first time Smoker heard Aokiji speak so harshly. After furrowing his brows, he finally let go of his argument with Uehara Naraku.
Uehara Naraku didn't pursue further, taking a deep look at Smoker, then led his men out of Log Town, leisurely pursuing the Straw Hat Pirates.
This behavior…
It seems more like they're out on a vacation.
Just as Uehara Naraku continued pursuing Luffy, the World Government also received news that Revolutionary Army Chief of Staff Sabo was captured, and Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon narrowly escaped.
On Enies Lobby.
Yakushi Kabuto sat in his office, holding a Radio Snail in his hand, with a sly smile at the corner of his mouth, speaking: "I just wanted to tentatively probe the whereabouts of the Revolutionary Army leader Dragon, didn't expect this time to be really successful..."
"Well done."
The voice of an old man emerged from the Radio Snail, praising him, then continued: "It's a pity that such a rare opportunity only managed to capture the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff..."
At this point, the voice in the Radio Snail showed a hint of displeasure: "If you could have informed the Navy in advance and coordinated enough personnel, perhaps this time you could have captured that dangerous Dragon..."
"Sir Five Elders, I have already informed."
Yakushi Kabuto calmly explained: "After predicting this information, I immediately informed Navy Admiral Sengoku and hoped he would dispatch the Three Great Admirals of the Navy Headquarters to ensure the capture of the Revolutionary Army's leader..."
When Yakushi Kabuto reached this point, his face showed a trace of regret: "But Marshal Sengoku felt deploying the Navy's highest combat power based on an elusive guess was really too wasteful for the Admirals' strength..."
"He is not wrong to say so..."
If the Five Elders knew this beforehand, they certainly wouldn't agree to dispatch the Three Great Admirals to Log Town just based on the guess of capturing Dragon.
Because that would be too absurd!
Yet Log Town indeed had the appearance of the Revolutionary Army, and even the top leaders, which truly made the Five Elders regret deeply!
If they knew such a thing would happen, they should have issued orders directly to Sengoku, requiring the entire Navy to unconditionally cooperate with the CP Department!
After all...
Once Dragon and Chief of Staff Sabo were captured, the existence of the Revolutionary Army would be fundamentally insignificant!
The old man in the Radio Snail couldn't help but sigh: "Never mind, Yakushi Kabuto, do not worry about these, if in the future there's a need to mobilize the Navy Admirals, you can apply to us, we will grant you authority to mobilize."
Now we will represent the World Government in promoting you to the Navy Headquarters Chief Inspector, granting you authority to oversee and command all Vice Admirals and lower-ranked officers!"
"Yes."
Yakushi Kabuto pushed his glasses and continued speaking to the Radio Snail: "I recently indeed have a plan... this plan has great potential to catch the Revolutionary Army in one fell swoop, demonstrating the majesty of the World Government to the whole sea!"
"Let's hear it..."
The old man in the Radio Snail was quite curious.
"Public execution."
Yakushi Kabuto smirked as he spoke slowly: "Announce to the world the World Government's public execution of all Revolutionary Army officers at the Marinford headquarters!
However, this matter is hard to guarantee it will lure out Dragon, based on my years of encounters with the Revolutionary Army, Dragon might sit by and watch his subordinates sacrifice..."
This is rather difficult.
Because the Revolutionary Army is least afraid of sacrifices.
The Revolutionary Army leader Dragon has been engaged in free revolution for many years, witnessing the sacrifice of numerous comrades, he might have already grown accustomed...
To lure out Dragon and the Revolutionary Army, merely relying on those Revolutionary Army officers captured by the CP Agents, is quite challenging.
"Even you aren't confident?"
The old man in the Radio Snail hesitated: "If Dragon can't be drawn out, is the purpose merely to warn people on the seas to behave?"
"No, executing Revolutionary Army officers is just part of the plan."
Yakushi Kabuto smirked and continued at a slow pace: "While executing the Revolutionary Army, we will also execute a significant member of another powerful force at sea, finding a way to force out another strong force at sea to try disrupting the execution..."
When Yakushi Kabuto reached this point, he chuckled as he continued: "If the Revolutionary Army believes they have an allied force to act together, the probability of drawing them out is not low..."
"The person you want to capture... is an important member of the Pirate Gang of the Four Emperors, right?"
The old man in the Radio Snail hesitated slightly, his voice serious: "In that case, the World Government and Navy will face a world-class war!"
"Yes..."
Yakushi Kabuto's voice turned sharply serious, explaining in a low voice: "Since the beginning of this year, new pirates have been emerging at sea continuously...
If we win, we can once again use the World Government's name to deter nations on the sea, demonstrating the World Government's military might, this plan is most advantageous for the World Government, and I reckon our chances of success are not low!"
"This plan..."
The old man in the Radio Snail was still hesitating.
After a while, there were sounds of several elders arguing in the phone, they are the most powerful individuals in this world, the pinnacle of the World Government.
These elders discussed for a while, finally issuing a command to Yakushi Kabuto: "Yakushi Kabuto, then start working according to your thoughts, begin slowly collecting intelligence, and find a suitable ally for the Revolutionary Army and Dragon!"
"Yes, I also have one more thing..."
When Yakushi Kabuto reached this point, he couldn't help but smile and said: "Marshal Sengoku privately promoted a Navy Captain to Navy Vice Admiral, yet this Navy Vice Admiral did not play any role in the battle at Log Town..."