Chapter 212: The Marines Aren't Following the Script
In the deathly silent corridor, heavy and rhythmic footsteps echoed.
Under the cold-toned lights, which had been specially modified by a certain person, Louis walked at an unhurried pace. As he walked, his eyes casually swept over the dark cells on either side, taking in the current state of the prisoners he had captured.
Louis's arrival naturally also attracted the attention of the prisoners in the cells on both sides.
CLANG—
With the sound of a chain being pulled taut, a thin figure was abruptly pulled back, crashing heavily against the wall.
A man in a women's kimono, with a delicate face, looking like a young woman, struggled fiercely. With a ferocious expression, he let out a roar filled with endless rage at Louis.
"You bastard—!!"
"I'll kill you!!"
Louis paid no mind to their shouts and walked straight toward the deeper part of the dungeon.
On the other side, a tall man, clad in light armor and tightly bound by Seastone, lay weakly on the cold floor. His gaze was fixed on the departing figure, flickering with a sharp killing intent.
Even after Louis left, the 16th Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates did not stop struggling and roaring.
Just then, from a cell on the other side, a laugh was heard. "Stop wasting your energy, Izo. Those things that look like people will only make sure you don't starve to death. If you waste your stamina, you won't be able to last long!"
"What are you gloating about, Gamenio? Brother Squard gave his life to save you, and the Whitebeard Pirates' forces have nearly fallen apart. Are you that happy? Just because Pops expelled you from the crew?" Diamond Jozu, his limbs and neck all shackled with Seastone as he lay spread-eagled on the ground, said coldly.
To this, the man named Gamenio replied meaningfully, "I'm not gloating. I'm just kindly reminding Izo!"
The gradually calming Izo and the immobile Diamond Jozu heard this, and a subtle light flickered in their eyes. They ignored Gamenio's words.
...
"Change these lights immediately."
In a room shrouded in dark red light, Louis looked at Charlotte Oven, who was fitted with a breathing apparatus and stuffed into a glass tube, and said with a dark face.
Asmodai, who had changed into a priest's attire, heard him and subconsciously pouted. But in the end, she went over to a toolbox on the other side, found an ordinary incandescent bulb, and unhurriedly changed it.
As Asmodai stood on her tiptoes to change the bulb, she asked with a puzzled face, "What are you doing here? A filthy place like this is no place for an angel!"
Louis stood with his arms crossed, sizing up the various wounds on Oven's body. "The plan can almost be executed," he said again. "Go and drop Perospero and Oven at a Marine branch."
Just then, the red light in the interrogation room disappeared, plunging the entire room into darkness. The next moment, the soft light of the incandescent bulb lit up, illuminating the neatly arranged interrogation room, making the various torture instruments glint with a cold light.
Asmodai nodded and replied thoughtfully, "Is that so? Then I'll take them and find a ship near a Marine branch and send them over."
"Do as you please. Just make sure they're delivered." After a brief stay, Louis turned and left to begin his preparations.
In the depths of the New World, near the sea of Totto Land.
Atop a tsunami-like wave, on the deck of a pirate ship flying the Big Mom Pirates' flag, Charlotte Cracker stared dumbfounded at the battle in the distance, frozen on the deck.
In the distant deserted island, several figures in special black military uniforms and various postures were engaged in a fierce battle with another group of pirates. Deeper in the island, an extremely powerful Conqueror's Haki was raging, and the island was roaring unceasingly.
A massive, ferocious, three-headed giant dog, as large as a small mountain, pounced, and a terrifying howl spread across the entire sea.
"Are those the Red Hair Pirates?!" Beside Cracker, a man who looked like an Abnormal Titan held a pair of binoculars and let out a series of gasps.
Cracker heard him, and his expression instantly became unnatural. "Are they really the Red Hair Pirates? Who are they fighting?"
However, the next second, the Abnormal Titan shook his head at Cracker and said with a frown, "They're all people I've never seen before. But they're all wearing what looks like military uniforms, and there's more than one Zoan user."
"Zoan and military uniforms?" Cracker's eyes flashed with confusion as he subconsciously repeated the words. "Since when did such a group appear in the New World! That Red-Hair is no easy person to deal with!"
As one of the well-known powerhouses in the New World, Cracker naturally knew of Red-Hair's fame. He was undoubtedly one of the few people closest to the top-tier powerhouses. If it weren't for the Archangel bursting onto the scene and stealing all the limelight, Red-Hair would have been the most watched person in the New World. But now, a force capable of fighting them had suddenly appeared, which made Cracker feel puzzled.
But soon, Cracker shook his head again. "Report this to Mama!" he said. Cracker felt that his small frame would not even make a splash if he were to crash into that battlefield, so he simply decided to leave the matter to Mama to decide.
After a detailed report via Den Den Mushi, the pirate ship under Cracker's command set sail again, heading in the direction of Totto Land.
The piercing alarm rang throughout the G-1 branch. Immediately after, one after another, searchlights pierced the thick fog, landing on a sailing ship that was slowly approaching in the distance.
"Ship ahead, halt immediately!"
"This is a restricted Marine area! No ships are to approach!"
A stern, loud voice rang out, spreading across the entire sea under the amplification of a special megaphone. However, the dilapidated ship gave no response.
Atop the wall of the G-1 branch, a command came down. "Fire a three-shot warning volley!"
Soon, the cannon turrets erected on the side of the wall turned and fired without hesitation.
BOOM!
A dull, thunderous roar sounded as the black cannonballs scraped against the air, landing precisely on the sea surface beside the ship with a piercing whistle. The cannonballs exploded on the sea, creating churning waves that continuously slapped against the side of the ship, making it toss back and forth.
At the same time, several patrol and interceptor warships from the naval port slowly approached. Giant searchlights shone on the deck, and one warning after another was sounded.
A moment later, the three warships had directly surrounded and flanked the sailing ship. One by one, Marine soldiers, led by a colonel, boarded the ship and headed deep into the cabin. One empty room after another was quickly searched. Apart from obvious signs of life, there was nothing else to be found.
A few minutes later, the small team, led by the Marine captain, arrived directly in front of the last room of the ship.
CREAK—
The cabin door slowly opened, and everything inside came into the captain's view, making him freeze on the spot. "This is—"
After a brief daze, the captain stopped the soldiers from opening fire, took out his Den Den Mushi, and braced himself to call his superior.
Soon, this discovery was reported up layer by layer, reaching Marine Headquarters.
Marine HQ High-Level Conference Room.
One by one, flag officers in Justice capes and various suits sat upright, quietly contemplating the report from the G-1 branch.
After a long while, Marine HQ Staff Officer Tsuru crossed her hands on the table and said in a calm tone, "This is a trap. Or rather, a conspiracy by Archangel Louis. He wants to use the power of the Marines to eliminate Big Mom, and he also wants to use Big Mom's power to heavily damage the Marines."
As Tsuru's words fell, the other Vice Admirals heard her and nodded one after another, clearly in full agreement with her view. Everyone knew that the Archangel Pirates had defeated the Big Mom Pirates and had captured many, including Big Mom herself. And at this time, Charlotte Oven and Perospero, who had not been released, had actually appeared at a Marine branch. Even a child could easily see the Archangel's intentions in this move.
At the head of the table, Sengoku's gaze shifted slightly, taking in the reactions of the various flag officers, but a slightly grave expression appeared on his face. "The Archangel has placed two of the Big Mom Pirates' executives at the G-1 branch. Although we have seen through his intentions, it has ultimately interfered with our surprise attack plan."
Vice Admiral Tsuru heard him and became thoughtful. Ryokugyu, with his short, dark green hair and a large area of tattoos on his body, looked at Sengoku with a puzzled face and subconsciously asked, "Since we've already seen through his intentions, how can we be interfered with?"
To this, Fujitora, who was on the other side, his eyes blind and wearing a purple kimono, explained with a blank expression, "Because Big Mom's executives are in our hands, she will definitely not ignore it. Even if we imprison or secretly execute them, she will not let it go. If we want our plan to be unaffected, there is only one way."
At this point, Fujitora's voice trailed off. But everyone understood what he had left unsaid.
Release Perospero and Oven completely. That way, Big Mom would not bother with the Marines, but would instead turn around and fight the Archangel. The Marines could also continue to carry out their original plan.
However, the vast majority of the flag officers frowned, their faces filled with conflict.
"Are we really going to release the two of them?" Vice Admiral Tsuru's gaze fell on Sengoku.
The other flag officers saw this and did the same. To be honest, as Marines, to release pirates in their hands for any reason was a very shameful act. Therefore, they were all waiting for Sengoku's decision.
To this, Sengoku did not hesitate for long and quickly made a decision. "In that case—"
However, the next moment, the door to the conference room was pushed open. Sengoku's adjutant, without any regard for the occasion, rushed straight to Sengoku with a newspaper. "Fleet Admiral, the situation has changed!"
Seeing this, Sengoku's brow furrowed slightly. He quickly opened the newspaper his adjutant had handed him. On it was written in bold letters:
[Marine G-1 Branch Officially Captures Two Important Executives of the Big Mom Pirates! A Public Execution May Be Forthcoming!]
Sengoku: "..."
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