"Lord Ian, a message has come from the West Blue. I wonder if you'll find it interesting?"
"Stussy, is that you?"
Ian chuckled softly. "Come to think of it, I haven't congratulated you on your promotion yet."
By now, this woman had truly risen to the upper echelons of CP0.
It couldn't be helped. During the previous great battle, the ones Ian had eliminated from CP0 weren't just the Supreme Commander.
Several high-level officers, who hadn't even had the chance to fight Ian directly, had been reduced to ashes by his explosive rock.
After that battle, CP0's high-level agents were practically wiped out.
In such a situation, Stussy, as a mid-level officer, naturally received a promotion.
By now, she had become a full-fledged high-level officer of CP0, with her authority greatly expanded.
However, as a spy planted deep within the Beasts Pirates' territory, she still remained on Hive Island.
The World Government probably thought she could be of use at any moment.
"You flatter me too much, Lord Ian,"
Stussy said with a playful smile. "All of this is thanks to you."
"So, what happened in the West Blue?"
Ian asked, getting to the point. "Did NEO Navy and the Cross Guild clash?"
He was, of course, aware that both the Cross Guild and NEO Navy had rushed to the West Blue to carve out territory.
Honestly, he was more than happy to see it.
Whether it was the North Blue or the West Blue, the monsters he had driven out of the New World causing trouble in those seas was no concern of his.
But the Four Blues were the World Government's stronghold. Chaos there meant bleeding directly from the government itself.
"Unfortunately, that's not the case. The Cross Guild and NEO Navy have been developing quite harmoniously. They haven't even come into contact before, let alone started a war," Stussy explained.
Ian immediately noticed the key phrase in her words. "You said before?"
"Yes, Lord Ian. Because of a certain woman, the West Blue is now in turmoil," Stussy said. "Her name is Nico Robin, a descendant of Ohara! She was discovered by the Navy while on a ship heading to the Grand Line."
"The Navy is currently pursuing her."
"Oh?"
Ian raised an eyebrow.
"For most people at sea, Ohara was destroyed by the government for attempting to resurrect the Ancient Weapons. But for those in the know, their research on the Void Century is no secret."
Stussy said, "Perhaps Nico Robin is the only person in the world today who can decipher ancient scripts. Neither the Cross Guild nor the NEO Navy will sit idly by."
"Lord Ian, I think this news could be useful to you."
Useful?
A faint smile curled at Ian's lips.
That statement was… quite mistaken.
To someone like him who could already read ancient scripts, Nico Robin was somewhat useful, but not significantly so.
Still, he could feel the full weight of Stussy's loyalty—she didn't even know that he could read ancient script.
"Have the Cross Guild and the NEO Navy already received the news?"
Ian asked.
"The Navy has made a big move," Stussy replied, "They absolutely don't want that woman to fall into your hands, so they want to capture her immediately. Even if Crocodile and Zephyr haven't received the news yet, it should be very soon."
"Is that so?"
Ian thought for a moment. "Then we might as well join the fray."
Though Nico Robin held little significance to the current Beasts Pirates, it wouldn't be good if she ended up in someone else's hands.
People capable of reading ancient scripts are rare.
Besides, it would also be a favor returned to that fellow Jaguar D. Saul.
After all, he had given him the technological research collected from Ohara without asking for anything in return.
"I understand," Stussy said. "I'll report any movements of the Navy to you immediately."
The call with Stussy ended.
Ian fell into thought.
Who should he send?
On the Navy's side, to prevent interference from the Cross Guild and the NEO Navy, they would likely dispatch someone at the admiral level.
To ensure nothing goes wrong, he would have to be careful.
Yes, it was decided.
Later, on Onigashima, a massive, drunken blue dragon suddenly shot up into the sky.
As it rose, the wind tore apart some faint sounds in the air.
"Damn brat… really knows how to boss people around."
The Marine Headquarters at Marineford was bustling.
"With such a grand display, the Cross Guild and the NEO Marines won't miss this. I'm leaving this matter to you, Borsalino!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's expression was serious. "Nico Robin is extremely important. Even if it means killing her, we cannot let her fall into the hands of the pirates, especially not into the hands of Ian!"
With the ability to read ancient scripts, combined with the current strength of the Beasts Pirates, the new Pirate King could appear in an instant.
And they might be far stronger than Roger's crew ever was.
"What a pain," Kizaru muttered, sighing. "Feels like we're going to run into some really troublesome people again. Sengoku, why don't we send the rookies over instead?"
"Whether it's Issho or Aramaki, they're monsters of immense strength."
Sengoku replied.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Besides you, who else could reach the West Blue so quickly?"
The Fleet Admiral scolded mercilessly. "Besides, they haven't even been officially announced yet—they're not true Admirals."
"Ah," Kizaru said, feigning a sigh. "Times really are different. New recruits rise to the top of the Marines immediately, standing shoulder to shoulder with me. If I had known, I wouldn't have rushed to join the Marines myself."
It was truly unfair. To climb to the rank of Admiral, he had spent a full twenty years.
"Enough talk. Extreme times call for extreme measures!" Sengoku said. "Now, go, Borsalino!"
"Yes," came the weak, reluctant reply.
Almost at the same moment, somewhere in the West Blue, aboard a terrifying three-masted ship…
"We have to capture that woman!" Crocodile clenched his fist. "If you want to become Pirate King, the ability to read ancient scripts is absolutely indispensable!"
"That's right!" Moria nodded in agreement. "Let's move. We must catch her before the Marines do!"
"In that case," Shiryu warned, "we can't avoid clashing with the Marines. And if we make too much noise, the Beasts Pirates might get drawn here too."
"Then let's see who can act faster!"
Crocodile clenched his fists.
To become the Pirate King, he couldn't do it without that woman's help!
"Red, this time, I'll need your help!"
The Cross Guild had already sprung into action the moment they received the news.
But the NEO Navy remained silent on the matter.
Zephyr seemed completely unaware of what was happening.
Because…
A gust of wind was already rushing directly toward that part of the sea.
"Nico Robin, the Light of the Revolution!"
A voice carried on the wind, "You've finally appeared!"
**********
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