"But we also can't allow the Marines to suffer too much. One mistake could repeat the same error that happened during Roger's era." The long white-haired Gorosei stroked his mustache. "Now... there's still one more. Can they go out together?"
Hearing this, the other four were shocked. The blond Gorosei frowned endlessly. "Deploying just one is a rare occurrence that hasn't happened in decades. Deploying two at once... this..."
"But the current situation is also a once-in-a-few-decades, or even a once-in-a-century occurrence," the long white-haired Gorosei said with resolve. "This concerns the safety of the Government and the Celestial Dragons. I believe they won't sit idly by. Besides, the visual Den Den Mushi has been cut off. Nobody knows about any of this, so there's no need for them to object."
After a deathly silence in the office, the other four Gorosei slowly began to voice their opinions.
"I agree."
"I agree."
"I agree."
"I agree."
The long white-haired Gorosei nodded. "Good, I will inform them."
....
Meanwhile, Tsuru, who had finally arrived in the vicinity of Mariejois on the Red Line, leading elite Marines like Momousagi, Chaton, and Shirokitsune, suddenly received a call. It was a direct order from the Gorosei.
They were to stand by at the entrance.
The Government had already deployed their secret top-tier fighters to deal with Alucard, and the Marines only needed to make sure he couldn't escape.
After the Den Den Mushi was hung up, the entire area was filled with a deathly silence. Momousagi frowned. "The Government's... top-tier fighters?"
Tsuru put away the Den Den Mushi and said with a solemn expression, "We don't have the authority to meet these people, nor are we allowed to see them fight, so the Gorosei gave this order."
The Government had always seen the Marines as their subordinates. The top-tier fighters, who had been hidden for decades, were one of their biggest secrets. It was naturally impossible for them to let the Marines see them.
"What a disgusting bunch of people." The younger Shirokitsune, whose real name was Alessia, couldn't help but say in anger.
She had a history with Alucard and was now a Commodore in the Marine Headquarters. Although she still despised the Government, she had become a respectable Marine. "Are we just supposed to stand here with our twenty thousand men? There are countless people waiting for rescue at Marineford, facing Shiki's relentless attacks!"
Tsuru remained silent, thinking. Chaton, however, spoke up, "Are they so confident they can take down Alucard? He's a man who has repeatedly fought Whitebeard and remained undefeated."
"The top-tier fighters who have been hidden for decades are not a joke." Tsuru replied, finally making a decision. "I, Shirokitsune, and Chaton will lead ten thousand men and stay here. Momousagi, you take the rest back to Marineford."
Momousagi was shocked. "Tsuru-san! Aren't you defying the Gorosei's orders?"
What was the consequence of defying the Gorosei's orders?
No one knew, because no one had ever done it.
Even Marine Hero Garp had repeatedly refused promotion to Admiral because he didn't want to follow the Gorosei's orders or protect the Celestial Dragons.
If a Marine Hero was like that, what about Tsuru, a Chief of Staff?
Tsuru's brows furrowed. She glanced at Momousagi, her eyes slightly wide. "I will bear all the consequences. Momousagi, you lead the rest back to Headquarters."
"..." Momousagi and Tsuru were close friends despite their age difference. Hearing this, Momousagi didn't know what to do for a moment.
Suddenly, with a deafening bang, an aftershock as powerful as one of Whitebeard's quake attacks erupted and rushed toward them. The destructive blast kicked up countless chunks of Red Line soil and rock, sending them flying at the Marines.
Everyone's face changed. Shirokitsune, Momousagi, and Chaton bravely rushed forward, their weapons coated in Armament Haki. With a heavy strike, they deflected the powerful force into the sky. In an instant, the clouds above were blown away, followed by another series of rumbling sounds.
Shirokitsune shook her numb arm. Her strength was inferior to Momousagi and Chaton. The aftershock she had just deflected had far less impact than the attacks of the other two.
"As expected... of a battle between the Government's top-tier fighter and one of the Three Monsters."
Momousagi shook her sword and put it back in its sheath. Tsuru spoke again. "Momousagi, hurry and take half the men back to Headquarters as reinforcement."
"Tsuru-san..." Momousagi said with worry.
"Don't say another word!" Tsuru shouted, startling everyone present. Her face turned grim. "The Government doesn't care about the Marines. If we follow all their orders, the Marines will be in an unimaginable state after this war. Someone has to step up..."
Momousagi finally gritted her teeth and stretched out her arm. "Half the men, follow me back to Marineford!"
....
On the Red Line, a dozen miles outside Mariejois, the ground beneath Alucard and the silver-haired old man was covered in cracks like a spiderweb.
In the next instant after shooting at his opponent, Alucard put his gun away and attacked with his giant sword instead. The old man's eyes narrowed, and he aimed at the rock shards behind Alucard.
"Trying to use your Devil Fruit ability again?" Alucard sneered, and a shadow surged from behind him, summoning the Black Dog, Baskerville. As the old man completed his transfer, the Black Dog leaped at him, opening its maw to bite the old man's shoulder.
Wincing in pain, the old man glared at the Black Dog with his shining silver eyes, then kicked it away. After rolling a few times on the ground, the Black Dog retreated into the blood pool and reappeared through the blood pool at the old man's feet. But this time, the opponent was prepared. With a single kick, he shattered Baskerville's face.
"Wild dog..." The old man coldly spat out the two words. Just as he was about to look toward Alucard, the Black Dog, with its shattered face, suddenly let out Alucard's mocking voice. "Wild dogs can kill dragons."
The old man looked down with a surprised expression. The mouth of the dead wild dog was open, and Alucard, who had taken a few injuries, rapidly emerged from it with his gun pressed against the old man's throat.
"Checkmate."
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my patreon ——— patreon(.)com/JuanFiction [remove the parentheses ( )]
There are over 100 advance chapters available for you!