"Hmph!"
Unlike Tsuru's relieved expression, Sakazuki at the side looked somewhat gloomy. "The Kingdom of Dressrosa! As an affiliated country, it's surrounded by pirates, yet instead of coming to Marine Headquarters for help, it runs off to seek protection from a bunch of criminals. What do they take Marine Headquarters for?"
As soon as these words fell, everyone fell silent.
Kuzan and Borsalino at the side raised their eyelids slightly, but still minded their own business, sleeping when it was time to sleep, lazing when it was time to laze.
As for Garp... That old guy had looked completely unconcerned from the beginning, smiling as he ate snacks.
As for Sengoku and Tsuru... Facing Sakazuki's words, the two who remained silent also looked rather gloomy.
An affiliated country encountering pirates doesn't come to the Marines, but instead goes to criminals wanted by the World Government. This was simply slapping the Marines in the face!
Even though they knew some of the reasons and understood that the Donquixote Family incident had caused the Kingdom of Dressrosa to somewhat distrust the Marines.
After all, back then, the Kingdom of Dressrosa had indeed sought help from the Marines, but due to various reasons, Marine Headquarters had not dispatched forces to provide support.
In the end, by the time the incident was over, the Donquixote Family had already successfully taken control of the Kingdom of Dressrosa, and the reputation of Dressrosa's original royal family had become as foul as a stinking gutter.
In addition, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit user within the Donquixote Family, as well as the deal Doflamingo made with the World Government, led the World Government to acknowledge the Donquixote Family's right to rule the Kingdom of Dressrosa. Ultimately, the matter was left unresolved.
If it were not for the Donquixote Family later provoking the Umbrella Corporation... No, at that time, Umbrella Corporation had not yet been established, but because of that, the Donquixote Family was defeated, and the truth of the incident was revealed.
And it even allowed Sengoku to learn the truth of what had happened back then.
Speaking of which, in this matter... Sengoku even had to thank Ian!
But no matter what, the way the Kingdom of Dressrosa handled this matter this time was indeed extremely screwed up!
At Sabaody Archipelago, they said nothing when they saw Sakazuki and Garp, yet they turned around and ran off to seek protection from the Umbrella Corporation.
Did the Marines have no face at all?
But after a moment of silence, Sengoku still said, "The Donquixote Family incident was indeed something Marine Headquarters did inadequately. Later, I will express an apology to the Kingdom of Dressrosa and strengthen patrols in the surrounding seas. I believe the Kingdom of Dressrosa will understand."
As he spoke, he glanced again at the people before him. "Right now, let's discuss what exactly the Umbrella Corporation, the Beast Pirates, and the Whitebeard Pirates are trying to do!"
"The Whitebeard Pirates have just arrived. According to the intelligence agents within the Kingdom of Dressrosa, only the captains of the Beasts Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates have gone ashore; the other crew members are still waiting on their respective ships."
Tsuru repeated the information they had obtained, then frowned. "In addition, time is extremely tight. They have not yet been able to ascertain the purpose of the three parties, and with their strength alone, obtaining information under the noses of those three is simply too difficult."
At this point, as if she recalled something, she looked again at Sengoku. "Oh, right, they also investigated another piece of information... The Beasts Pirates went to the Kingdom of Dressrosa in order to capture criminals who escaped from Wano Country."
"Wano Country?"
Sengoku's brows furrowed as well. Although he did not know the specific situation within Wano, he could roughly guess what the Beasts Pirates had been doing there.
At this time, criminals from Wano Country actually escaped, and were chased by the Beasts Pirates all the way to the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
What was this about?
A group of pirates chasing criminals?
Don't joke.
"That's right, it is Wano Country. As for exactly who the Beast Pirates are trying to capture, that side is still investigating."
Tsuru nodded and continued. "But from this, we can also infer that Kaido was not someone who had arranged things with Ian long in advance. He should have rushed to the Kingdom of Dressrosa only after receiving news from his own crew that the Umbrella Corporation had gone there. Even Whitebeard is the same; it was not premeditated."
Sengoku: "..."
Hearing Tsuru's analysis, Sengoku felt his heart relax slightly.
It seemed that after receiving the news that the Umbrella Corporation had entered the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates and the Beasts Pirates had gone there.
But Sengoku still frowned and fell into thought once more.
"No matter what, Marine Headquarters must make preparations in advance."
Tsuru spoke again at this moment. "And we must prepare for the possibility of the three forces joining hands. After all, we cannot be certain... Whether they will form an alliance!"
"Especially the Whitebeard Pirates... After Marshall D. Teach was captured, those guys didn't show any reaction at all. I absolutely don't believe that Whitebeard would honestly accept this result and then quietly spend his days accompanying his other sons!"
As soon as the words fell, upon hearing Tsuru's remarks, everyone fell silent.
They all understood what Tsuru meant: For the Whitebeard Pirates to suddenly become this quiet, there must be a reason. Perhaps they were preparing to pull off something big.
Especially now that the Whitebeard Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, and the Umbrella Corporation had suddenly met up…
"I will have the Marines over in the New World keep an eye on things."
Sengoku nodded seriously, then sighed and rubbed his forehead with a troubled expression. "As for the three parties joining forces..."
To be honest, if these three sides really did join forces, it would be extremely troublesome for Marine Headquarters.
Any one of these three forces alone required Marine Headquarters to treat them with extreme caution, let alone all three joining together.
If they truly joined forces, it would be nothing short of a disaster for Marine Headquarters, unless the World Government... stepped in to help.
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