After discussing methods to break Dr. Indigo, William, along with Kuro and Jango, left the prison cell.
Just as they stepped into the corridor, an aide informed William that Captain Nezumi urgently needed to speak with him.
When William arrived at the study where Nezumi was waiting, he found the Marine captain pacing anxiously like a caged animal. The moment Nezumi spotted William, he rushed forward as if clutching at a final lifeline.
"William, you must save me this time!" Nezumi blurted out, his face ashen with fear. "Marine Headquarters is sending people!"
When William had leaked information to Laura Louise for her exposé, he hadn't concealed how he'd bribed and manipulated Nezumi and other Marine officers throughout the East Blue. Once the World Economy News published these revelations, Nezumi had been plunged into a state of constant dread.
Within the East Blue, William's influence was unparalleled. However, when measured against the might of Marine Headquarters or the World Government, his power remained relatively insignificant.
Of course, Nezumi had no idea that these damaging revelations had been deliberately orchestrated by William himself. Had he known, he would have cursed William as a treacherous backstabber. As it stood, Nezumi believed the newspaper had uncovered the corruption through independent investigation. He hadn't stopped complaining about Tony, who had been responsible for security and intelligence at the time, blaming Tony's inadequate countermeasures for his current predicament.
For weeks, Nezumi had lived in perpetual anxiety. He had considered fleeing but couldn't bring himself to abandon the power and status he'd enjoyed as the unchallenged authority within his Marine branch. When Headquarters initially remained silent—neither addressing William's actions nor pursuing Nezumi's corruption—the captain had begun to entertain the desperate hope that the higher-ups might dismiss the newspaper's "slander."
But now, Nezumi informed William that a message had just arrived from Headquarters. The Marine leadership had finally responded to the recent upheaval in the East Blue by dispatching two Vice Admirals with their fleets to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Golden Lion Shiki incident.
Nezumi felt as though his world was collapsing. He was convinced that these Vice Admirals were also coming to investigate his corruption.
Having spent considerable time with William, Nezumi had developed a grudging respect for the pirate's intellect and strategic acumen. Since his troubles stemmed directly from his association with William, he desperately sought advice on how to navigate this crisis.
William, however, focused on a different aspect of the information.
"Two Vice Admirals?" William frowned slightly, seeking confirmation. "Only two?"
When Nezumi nodded, William pressed further: "Is Garp among them?"
"It's Vice Admiral Strawberry and Vice Admiral Dalmatian," Nezumi replied, shaking his head vigorously. He elaborated, "Though Garp technically holds only the rank of Vice Admiral, his reputation and influence rival those of Admirals or even the Fleet Admiral himself. Like the Admirals who represent the Navy's ultimate fighting force, Garp is practically the face of the Marines."
Fearing that William might underestimate the threat after his victory over Shiki, Nezumi quickly added, "Strawberry and Dalmatian may be newly promoted Vice Admirals, but they're formidable opponents. Strawberry was responsible for the capture and subsequent death of the Fishman revolutionary Fisher Tiger, and Dalmatian is a powerful Zoan Devil Fruit user."
William remained silent, not out of carelessness but genuine puzzlement.
From the moment Golden Lion Shiki had first appeared before William, to the East Blue newspapers reporting his arrival, to William's eventual triumph over the legendary pirate, considerable time had elapsed. Yet Marine Headquarters' response had been remarkably delayed.
If their initial sluggishness could be attributed to the challenges posed by Shiki's Devil Fruit powers—his ability to control entire islands and maneuver them through the sky—then their equally tepid reaction to William, a rapidly rising force in the East Blue, seemed even more perplexing. The decision to send only two Vice Admirals was downright baffling.
William temporarily reassured Captain Nezumi, promising him substantial funds to facilitate his escape when necessary. However, he insisted that Nezumi remain at his post for the time being to continue providing valuable intelligence.
After Nezumi departed, William summoned Kuro, Sherlock, and Dampier. Once they arrived, he briefed them on the situation and shared his confusion regarding the Marines' response.
William was certain that his organization was viewed as a destabilizing element by the Marines. Saving the East Blue from Shiki wouldn't fundamentally alter that perception. His rise to power had largely involved activities that skirted the edges of legality, and in a relatively peaceful sea like the East Blue—where pirate bounties rarely exceeded a few tens of millions and Marine presence was comparatively weak—the sudden emergence of a mysterious, heavily armed faction capable of defeating someone of Shiki's caliber would inevitably trigger alarm bells.
If William were in the position of Marine leadership, he wouldn't simply ignore such a potential threat. He couldn't fathom why the Marines would effectively cede control of the East Blue—often touted as their "model of peace"—to his organization. And why send only two Vice Admirals to confront a force that had proven capable of defeating Golden Lion Shiki?
"Perhaps it's as you've previously suggested," Sherlock theorized. "The global situation is complex, and Marine Headquarters finds itself stretched thin. They might genuinely only have the resources to dispatch two Vice Admirals at present."
William had previously argued that a confrontation with the Marines was inevitable and had analyzed the global situation to bolster his crew's confidence, emphasizing that the current climate presented an opportune moment for a decisive engagement.
Sherlock, who generally trusted William's strategic assessments, didn't find the Marines' response particularly difficult to comprehend given William's earlier analysis of world affairs. He even suggested that the delay might reflect internal divisions within Headquarters regarding how to handle William—whether to eliminate or recruit him. The latter approach might now be gaining traction, especially with the precedent established by the Seven Warlords of the Sea system.
"If Headquarters truly intended to prosecute and capture us, they wouldn't telegraph their arrival so openly, especially not by informing Nezumi," Sherlock reasoned. "After reading the World Economy News, they must realize we have extensive intelligence networks throughout the East Blue and that Nezumi maintains close ties with us. We'd receive advance warning and prepare accordingly."
"They could be attempting to lull us into complacency," Kuro, who had remained silent until now, interjected while adjusting his glasses. "Or perhaps they're merely placating us temporarily, planning to deal with us more definitively once they've marshaled sufficient resources."
Sherlock frowned at this assessment. "We defeated Golden Lion Shiki. The Marines can't afford to underestimate us if they choose to become our adversaries."
"Shiki could elevate entire islands into the sky and transport them at will. Can we replicate that capability?" Kuro shook his head dismissively. Having spent time on Merveille Island, he was acutely aware that Shiki's mobility had been his most terrifying asset. Glancing at William, he continued, "William once emphasized the importance of being proactive rather than reactive. I believe that principle applies here. Regardless of the Marines' intentions, we should prepare for significant conflict to avoid being caught unprepared."
Sherlock countered, "I'm simply concerned that if the Marines initially intend to recruit us, but we continue preparing for war, it could lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary bloodshed—a conflict that might otherwise be avoided."
"Don't worry," William responded with a slight smile. "We won't fire the first shot."
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