Early in the morning, Diarmuid opened his eyes. He didn't wake up naturally; he was roused by the noise outside. Someone was chanting slogans.
Unsurprisingly, it was likely the workers on the construction site.
"No wonder the World Nobles all ran away. I would, too," Diarmuid grumbled.
Stussy's residence in Mariejois was lucky enough not to be burned down, but it was located right on the edge of the construction area, an awkward spot.
As soon as Diarmuid woke up, Stussy also opened her eyes. She was lying on top of him, smiling playfully.
"What's so funny?" Diarmuid asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Waking up and seeing you as the first thing every day is worth celebrating," Stussy said with a raised eyebrow.
Diarmuid rolled his eyes. "Don't think your sweet talk will work on me."
"Oh? You asked for more of it last night," Stussy teased.
"Hahahaha..." Diarmuid laughed loudly and said nothing more.
Yesterday's meeting with the Gorosei was uneventful. Nothing important happened. Afterward, the Gorosei asked Diarmuid a few more questions, to which he gave correct but very vague and impractical answers.
At the end, he even emphasized that these were just things he could consider as a Marine. In reality, he felt they were too ambitious and abstract. He then offered to become the World Government's Administrative Director and promised that within ten years, he would completely wipe out Dragon and the others.
The Gorosei praised Diarmuid's loyalty and his willingness to work. However, they politely declined his request to be the Administrative Director, saying that being a Marine Admiral was already a tiring job and they couldn't put any more pressure on such a talented individual. They said they'd talk about it in the future.
A joke, right? How could they just let Diarmuid become the Administrative Director? Given Diarmuid's influence in the Marines, if they also made him the World Government's Administrative Director, forget about wiping out the Revolutionary Army in ten years; Diarmuid might just deal with the Gorosei themselves in that time.
Of course, Diarmuid knew the Gorosei wouldn't agree, which is why he said it. Naturally, if the Gorosei had agreed, Diarmuid wouldn't have refused. He would have immediately returned to Marine Headquarters, resigned his Admiral position, and given it to Gion, while he became the Administrative Director.
At that point, he would have Stussy on his left, Kong as Commander-in-Chief of the Entire Military on his right, the Marines under his command, and his good friend Dragon and the Warlord of the Sea organization on the outside. What a team!
In five years, he could have turned the World Government into his own and killed all the World Nobles...
But unfortunately, the Gorosei did not grant his request to "eliminate evil for the people" and thus failed his ardent loyalty.
After that, the Gorosei, fearing that Diarmuid would say any more outrageous things, politely sent him on his way. Diarmuid then went to Stussy's home, where they fought a battle that lasted late into the night.
"Don't you have anything to do?" Diarmuid asked, brushing his teeth while Stussy lounged in bed.
The Queen said casually, "Nothing important. My main job is to bring my people to Mariejois and fill some key positions. After that, I'll return to the New World."
"Is that so?" Diarmuid rinsed his mouth, his reply an offhand remark.
"What about you? Do you have anything important to do?" Stussy asked.
"Doesn't seem like it. There's no major business for the Marines right now," Diarmuid thought.
He recalled that nothing major happened in the year 1510 of the Marine calendar. The only thing was that the Sea Train technology matured, but he had already entrusted that to Smoker, so he didn't need to get involved. Soon, the Navy would be able to use the technology. The development efficiency of the Calm Belt would certainly increase then.
And indeed, based on the latest intelligence and documents from the Marines, there didn't seem to be anything big going on.
"Then why don't you stay and keep me company in Mariejois for a while? Or we could go to the New World together? I know a really fun island. During the day, it's a hot spring island, but at night, the temperature drops sharply and it becomes an ice rink. I've always wanted to go but never had the time or anyone to go with." Stussy's eyes sparkled. She was leaning against the bathroom door, looking at Diarmuid with a hopeful expression.
After washing his face, Diarmuid grabbed Stussy's towel to dry himself. He smiled as he looked at her cute expression. "Since you put it that way, I..."
Before he could finish, the Den Den Mushi in his coat pocket, which was hanging outside, started making its familiar Pere pere pere sound.
Diarmuid paused. Stussy, being very considerate, went to get the Den Den Mushi.
Without any hesitation, Diarmuid answered. "Chief of Staff? Is there something wrong?"
That's right, it was Chief of Staff Tsuru calling.
"Diarmuid, are you still in Mariejois?" Tsuru asked.
"I am. What's up?" Diarmuid replied.
"Something has happened in the New World. The Fleet Admiral is preparing to send you to handle it," Tsuru explained.
Diarmuid: ???
I was just about to agree to go on a trip with Stussy, you know?
Thinking this, Diarmuid looked at Stussy. Stussy wore an expression of resignation and mouthed, "Next time."
Diarmuid gave her an apologetic look, then asked, "What's the situation?"
For the Fleet Admiral to send an Admiral like him, it couldn't be a minor matter, right?
"We just got the intelligence. Three days ago, the Straw Hat Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates had a skirmish in the New World, and the Straw Hat Pirates came out on top..." Tsuru said with a somber tone.
Diarmuid: ???
What pirates?
The Straw Hat Pirates?!
Holy crap, Luffy set sail? The timing is all wrong! What kind of cheat is he on? He's able to defeat Big Mom? Wasn't he being pummeled by Nojiko at Headquarters? It's only been two days since I left Marineford! How can he be fighting Big Mom already?
"Wait, what is this 'Straw Hat Pirates'?" Diarmuid asked in a low voice.
"Oh, right, you don't know yet? It's the Red Hair Pirates, the ones who were in the East Blue. Didn't you name Shanks 'Straw Hat' Shanks? He changed his crew's name to the Straw Hat Pirates not long ago," Tsuru explained calmly.
Diarmuid was stunned.
He had only made a joke to mess with Shanks. Is Shanks really that outrageous? He found that he couldn't get the Marines to call him "Red Hair," so he just decisively embraced the "Straw Hat" name?
But Diarmuid quickly calmed down and asked, pretending to be unfazed, "Is that so? Shanks's crew beat the Big Mom Pirates? Are they that strong?"
"If you're talking about overall strength, they certainly can't beat the Big Mom Pirates. But this was a skirmish. Charlotte Linlin's ship ran into 'Straw Hat' Shanks's ship alone in the New World. A fight broke out after they got into a dispute, and in the end, Shanks won. It also exposed some problems. It seems there are a lot of strong guys on his ship, so we can't underestimate them just because their numbers are small," Tsuru said.
Diarmuid nodded in understanding. To put it simply, while Shanks and his crew were cruising around the New World, they ran into a lone Charlotte Linlin and beat her up...
But this wasn't that big of a deal. Disputes between pirates were common in a chaotic place like the New World.
Did it really require a Marine Admiral like him to go there?
What would he even do? The fight was already over.
"So, did Shanks capture Charlotte Linlin or something? What's my mission?" Diarmuid asked.
"No, Shanks didn't make things too difficult for Charlotte Linlin. But afterward, we intercepted a Den Den Mushi signal from Charlotte Linlin..." Tsuru said gravely.
Diarmuid realized this was the important part; the rest was just a prelude. "What did you hear?" he asked.
"Charlotte Linlin wants to ally with Kaido to eliminate Shanks's Straw Hat Pirates. But in reality, we believe..." Tsuru said softly.
"You believe this is just a front, and they might want to team up against Whitebeard?" Diarmuid said.
"Correct. There's a strong possibility," Tsuru said.
That makes sense. Shanks could still be considered a little brother now. He might not be able to beat Charlotte Linlin in a one-on-one fight. It was only because Charlotte Linlin was alone this time that Shanks and his crew were able to beat her.
But just because of that, Charlotte Linlin wants to ally with Kaido to take Shanks out? That doesn't seem right. Why would Shanks warrant such a grand scheme? Charlotte Linlin could just go back and get her crew, then block Shanks and beat him to a pulp. Did she really need Kaido's help?
The only tricky part was that Shanks only had one ship and no territory in the New World, so it would be hard to find him. But Charlotte Linlin's Big Mom Pirates were known for having the best intelligence in the pirate world, so they might have a way.
Regardless, it was impossible that she would ally with Kaido just to deal with a minor pirate like Shanks. Shanks hadn't reached the level of a Yonko yet.
So maybe it's to take on Whitebeard?
But then, Tsuru said, "Admiral Sengoku thinks it's also very possible that they're targeting our Marine forces in the New World. They might not be allying to fight Whitebeard, but to fight us."
Diarmuid frowned. "That's also a possibility..."
There's no need to say much about Kaido. His grudge with the Marines was huge. Before, all he was doing was smuggling weapons on Sky Island, and suddenly, the Marines came and beat him up, sending him from the sky to the ground. He was almost killed. Do you think he holds a grudge against the Marines?
As for Charlotte Linlin, Diarmuid first stole Dr. Vegapunk from her, and later, in a chaotic battle in the New World, he almost cut off her arm. There's no way there's no bad blood between them.
Besides, Charlotte Linlin is a very petty and spiteful old woman. When Luffy provoked her once, she chased him all the way to Wano and even turned on Kaido to try and kill him. Do you think she wouldn't hold a grudge?
"So what do the Fleet Admiral and Admiral Sengoku want to do? And shouldn't this be Akainu's responsibility?" Diarmuid asked.
"The Fleet Admiral's plan is to find a way to break up Kaido and Charlotte Linlin's alliance. That part is simple. If they are indeed targeting the Marines, your presence and reaction in the New World will make them realize their plan has been exposed, and they might not go through with the alliance. The second thing is to capture the Red Hair Pirates. As for Akainu, he'll likely be going as well," Tsuru said.
The fact that Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were allying at this point in time already made Diarmuid a bit confused.
But he could still understand it. After all, Kaido's strength was truly waning. Due to Diarmuid's interference, many things had changed. Kaido couldn't properly develop his power in Wano, so he couldn't shoulder the burden of a Yonko. Charlotte Linlin was better off, but she still couldn't beat Whitebeard. And now, Shanks had entered the New World. It was clear that the top pirate powers in the New World were about to be in chaos.
Although the timing was a bit off, Diarmuid felt this might be the war that would decide the Yonko of the New World. So, he could understand why Kaido and Charlotte Linlin would want to team up.
But what was the deal with them being in such a hurry to capture Shanks?
Is he that big of a threat? Did he do something recently that I don't know about?