Squall's haggard face was etched with deep concern. "Are you sure you can take out Alucard in one shot?"
Two months ago, these government agents had come to him, claiming they were going to use this opportunity to eliminate Alucard.
The government had long since figured out that the countries under Alucard's control paid him a tribute of death-row inmates every six months in exchange for his flag and their survival.
The World Government saw an opportunity and formulated a detailed plan to get rid of him. What's more, this plan could also reignite the war between Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, who hadn't fought each other in two years.
The first step was to secretly enlist the cooperation of the nations under Alucard's control. Of course, they didn't dare refuse, because they were still nations and kings. Who would dare defy the World Government?
Kaido, Whitebeard, and Charlotte Linlin each had their own unique methods for managing the countries under their control.
Kaido and Whitebeard would station a portion of their crew on any island or country they took over, serving as monitors. This made it impossible to hide conspiracies between a king and the government.
As for Big Mom, there was even less need to say anything. As the user of the Soul-Soul Fruit, she had a hundred ways to deal with traitors, making such a plot useless against her.
But this very method, which was ineffective against the other three, was perfect for Alucard.
He never left any of his subordinates in charge of his vassal states. Not that he had any subordinates to begin with.
Besides, these kings didn't want anyone above them. Take Squall for example, a man who had been a king his entire life. Would he really be happy calling someone else "Mister" or "Lord"?
These kings were eager to get rid of Alucard, so when the government suggested a plan, they were more than willing to act on it.
Ultimately, the reason the government chose Alucard as the first of the "Three Monsters" to take down was simple: he was a loner.
"Rest assured," the agent said, standing rigidly. "This plan was devised after an extremely thorough analysis and preparation. We've even assembled the Marine Headquarters's top fighting forces. Not to mention Alucard, even the late Pirate King, Roger, couldn't escape this."
Squall clenched his hands, cold sweat dripping from his balding forehead. "I hope... you're a man of your word."
Squall knew what the consequences of his actions would be. If Alucard survived, he was dead. He and the other kings would face Alucard's most insane retaliation, and their nations would be wiped from existence.
....
At Marine Headquarters in Marineford, Tsuru, the Marine Chief of Staff, said to Kong, who was seated in the Fleet Admiral's chair, "Everything is ready, but the Marine conscription has just ended. Our new recruits are still developing, are you sure we should be so hasty to take on one of the 'Three Monsters'?"
"It's not that I'm hasty, it's that this has to be done," Kong said with a serious expression. "Alucard spoke of a 'Four-Way Power Balance' two years ago in Dressrosa. The more I think about it, the more I believe it's a real possibility. Once that happens, the New World will completely become a pirates' paradise, and the Marines will be forced to retreat!"
As he spoke, Kong slammed his fist on the desk. "To prevent that from happening, the best way is to take out one of the four first!"
Tsuru picked up a document and said with a grim look, "Twenty thousand... twenty thousand men... Just for one pirate. It's an excessive force. Roger never got this kind of treatment back in the day, did he?"
"It's not about the number of men. The crucial thing is that our current situation demands this."
Tsuru looked at the document for a while, then shook her head again. "No, I still think we should fully understand what Alucard's powers are before we act. No matter how many men we send against an enemy whose abilities are unknown, we're still at a disadvantage."
Kong stood up, walked to Tsuru's side, and patted her on the shoulder. He then walked to the door and, with his back to her, said, "You're too cautious, Tsuru. There's no such thing as a truly immortal being in this world. I will personally lead the fleet, along with Sengoku, Garp, and a group of Vice Admirals, plus twenty thousand Marines. I am confident we can take down even Roger."
After pulling open the shoji door, Kong delivered his final words. "While the fleet is out, I'm leaving the headquarters to you. You'll serve as interim Fleet Admiral. I'm going to Mariejois now; the next phase of the plan is about to begin."
Thump!
Kong shut the door, leaving Tsuru to sigh several times. She picked up Alucard's file again, her eyes fixed on the four glaring words under the "Abilities" section: [Abilities Unknown].
"...Why..." Tsuru sighed again. "A lack of manpower is one thing, and a missed opportunity can be waited on, but we can't afford to be ignorant of our enemy's intelligence!"
Tsuru knew that the current situation had backed Kong into a corner. Combined with the fact that the Marines had never gotten the better of Alucard, and the government had seen him as a major disgrace for years, all this pressure had caused them to make a rookie mistake.
"With so many top-tier fighters together, I'm sure everything will be fine..." Tsuru put down the file, trying to think on the bright side.
What Tsuru didn't know was that this kind of thinking was what's known as "setting a flag."
A week later, a piece of news spread through the New World at an incredible speed, even reaching the ears of the other two of the "Three Monsters," Kaido of the Beasts and Big Mom Charlotte Linlin.
The Marines were currently preparing to capture a former member of the Roger Pirates, Hidann Tribar.
He was a famous pirate from the last era. While it wasn't unusual for the Marines to hunt down Roger Pirates remnants, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin also heard something else.
One of the four Poneglyphs that recorded the location of the final island, Laugh Tale, was in Tribar's possession!
And another one was in Alucard's possession!
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