The news of two Admirals being dispatched wasn't kept secret from too many people; many factions were paying close attention to this matter.
That's why Fleet Admiral Sengoku was under so much pressure!
If the news of two Marine Admirals being defeated and captured were to spread, the Marine's prestige would suffer greatly. Pirates who were previously too afraid to venture out because of the Marines would regain their greed upon hearing this news and once again cause bloodshed on the seas.
Therefore, the news of two Marine Admirals being defeated and captured absolutely could not be allowed to spread.
At the same time, he was also very curious as to why Uchiha Tamahiko was so strong, and what exactly he was plotting.
Was another Rocks-like figure about to appear on this vast ocean?
Late at night, the Marine warship docked. Sengoku disembarked and led his team directly ashore. If the other party wanted to negotiate, then there was certainly room for discussion, and if Uchiha Tamahiko truly wanted to make a move against him, he wouldn't be able to stop him.
Rob Lucci was in charge of receiving them. During the daytime battle, he had been patrolling Dressrosa with CP9. He had also observed the start of the battle, and after seeing it, he had no more to say.
These people were truly ruthless.
Sengoku didn't speak the entire way, taking a secret passage directly to the Dressrosa Royal Palace.
Uchiha Tamahiko was in a house made of Wood Release nearby. Orochimaru's research institute preferred to dig its own holes, and the others also found their own places to rest.
Only the older ones, like Jiraiya and Tsunade, remained here.
"It's been a long time, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Uchiha Tamahiko repeated this sentence.
Sengoku's expression was cold, and he gritted his teeth as he spoke directly: "How are Kuzan and Sakazuki doing?"
He needed to confirm the situation of his subordinates before he could proceed with the next step of negotiations.
"Only you. Follow me."
Uchiha Tamahiko said.
Sengoku hesitated for a moment, then gestured to his subordinates behind him to remain at the entrance.
The Marines all looked tense, but they could only suppress their unease, especially Smoker and Yamakaji among the crowd.
In the distance, King Riku also looked on blankly, unsure what to say. Why would the Fleet Admiral personally meet with this wanted criminal?
He remembered that afternoon when Sengoku had called him on a Den Den Mushi, asking him to help search for the Marine Admirals in Dressrosa, saying they couldn't be contacted. But now, seeing the Fleet Admiral meet Uchiha Tamahiko, his face instantly showed a look of horror, feeling that his previous thoughts must have been a dream.
Uchiha Tamahiko quickly led Sengoku to the place where Sakazuki and Kuzan were being held. It was very simple, just a cage made of Wood Release.
Both of them were bound with chains, and also had five Sea Stone handcuffs: on both hands, both feet, and one around their necks, essentially giving them no chance to break free.
Both of them were also unconscious, restricted by Uchiha Tamahiko's jutsu to keep them in a coma by limiting blood flow.
"What are your conditions to release them?"
Sengoku clenched his fists, really wanting to make a move at that moment, to wake up the two Admirals and rescue them, forming a force of three Admirals against Uchiha Tamahiko.
But Smoker had informed him that day in Dressrosa that Big Mom's First Commander had been easily defeated by Uchiha's forces, which made him abandon that idea.
This faction had come prepared.
"Do you remember what I said when I fought you last time?"
"I want to overthrow the Celestial Dragons."
Uchiha Tamahiko looked at Sengoku and said directly.
"You want me to help you?"
"Impossible. Doing so would result in more losses than just two Admirals. I cannot accept!"
Sengoku was not foolish. If he were to do that, and the World Government eventually won, they would conduct a full-scale purge of the Marines.
The main reason was that the success rate was too low, and he hadn't even fully understood what the World Government's true backing was.
"Of course not now, but in the future. If I reach that step, and the Marines stand in my way, I want you to turn the Marines to my side."
"You don't even need the Marines to fight; just have them watch from the sidelines. How about it?"
Uchiha Tamahiko held a great grudge against the Gorosei.
Making a move against Uchiha was his taboo. If it was a defeat, he would at most retaliate, but being dissected was the greatest taboo for him, a transmigrator.
Moreover, the next stage of the mission might involve taking action against the World Government, so he was making arrangements in advance, which would save him a lot of trouble later.
"You!"
Sengoku's expression changed, but he still couldn't answer.
"This won't take long, ten years at most. You should still be alive then."
"If the Celestial Dragons continue like this, this world will only become a cycle, constantly restarting. Pirates will appear endlessly, and the fighting will never stop."
"Currently, the Marines can only do this much. Think about what the world will become if the Marine's power weakens and the pirates grow stronger in the future."
Uchiha Tamahiko continuously tempted him.
Recalling his years of fighting pirates, Sengoku gritted his teeth and finally decided to make a deal with this criminal.
"Alright!"
Sengoku felt deeply humiliated, but he still agreed.
"Then it's a promise. I believe that when the time comes, you will make the same judgment as I am saying now."
"As for the two Marine Admirals, I can only release one to preserve the Marine's reputation. The other will serve as my stepping stone to becoming a Four Emperors."
Uchiha Tamahiko continued.
"You!"
Sengoku was shocked and furious.
Hadn't they just agreed? Why the sudden change of heart?
"Becoming a Four Emperors requires some prestige. Defeating a Marine Admiral is a good start. I'm not planning to challenge the territories of other Four Emperors."
"Also, you need to give the Gorosei an explanation. Negotiate with them, demand recognition of my control over Dressrosa, and compensation of 10 billion Beri. However, the compensation can be given privately. If they don't agree, then the news of the two Admirals' defeat will be spread."
"At the same time, from now on, I will relentlessly hunt down Celestial Dragons across this vast ocean. I will not spare any Celestial Dragon who dares to leave Mary Geoise."
"This is just for the Celestial Dragons to see, after all, you need to clear your name in this matter, don't you?"
Uchiha Tamahiko explained to Sengoku why he was doing this.
Given the Gorosei's suspicious nature, how would they believe that the Marines had truly suffered a defeat without some cost?
"You are truly a terrifying person!"
For the first time, Sengoku felt such fear towards someone.
"You have until tomorrow at noon. You can contact the Gorosei now," Uchiha Tamahiko continued.
Sengoku couldn't help but ask, "What if they don't agree?"
"Then I will kill both Admirals and then begin hunting the Gorosei across the entire ocean, making them weigh whether they have the ability to stop me."
Uchiha Tamahiko showed a friendly smile.
Sengoku's right hand trembled, and in the end, he said nothing, leaving the Wood Release courtyard to contact the Gorosei overnight.
Hurrying back to the warship, Sengoku immediately took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed the Gorosei's special communication signal.
The Gorosei, of course, were aware of what had happened to the Marines. After all, too many people knew, making it impossible to hide from the Gorosei.
"Sakazuki and Kuzan failed?"
As soon as the Den Den Mushi connected, an inquiry came directly from the other end.
It seemed the Gorosei had no intention of sleeping, waiting for news all night.
"Yes."
Sengoku took a deep breath, then replied in a muffled tone.
"Useless!"
A voice full of anger came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi