On the Primeval Island, Little Garden.
Two colossal figures were battling around a spewing volcano. They wielded worn-out battle axes and cleavers, wildly unleashing their strength. These figures were none other than the former captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, who had vanished from the world nearly a hundred years ago: Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy.
Over a century ago, their individual bounties were 100 million Berries. While that might not seem impressive in the current era, it was due to inflation. Berries were worth much less now, especially pirate bounties, which changed year by year. Any ordinary ruffian could cause a commotion, act viciously, and earn a 100 million Berry bounty. However, over a hundred years ago, 100 million Berries was absolutely the mark of a true Great Pirate.
For nearly a century, Dorry and Brogy had been fighting each other, arguing over whose catch was bigger, and who was stronger... a contest that sounded incredibly tedious. But there was no doubt that after over a hundred years of fighting, the strength of Brogy and Dorry was far greater than it had been a century ago.
On the bank of a small river, away from the giants' battleground, Diarmuid was leisurely sitting on a folding stool, holding a fishing rod and idly fishing.
On a nearby slope, a Triceratops lay on the ground, pierced by several black iron spikes—Hina's ability. Hina was standing on the Triceratops's head, watching the two giant figures furiously fighting near the volcano.
"They're much stronger than our Headquarters Giant Squad. Perhaps Saul could fight them, but even he doesn't look as powerful as they are," Hina commented while watching the battle.
Vergo, meanwhile, used a small dagger to bleed the Triceratops's abdomen. Once the blood drained, the unfortunate Triceratops would be their dinner.
Hearing Hina's assessment, Vergo smiled: "The Giant Warrior Pirates ruled the seas a hundred years ago. Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy were big figures from that time. Saul was only in his forties a hundred years ago. By Giant standards, he wouldn't even have qualified to join the Giant Warrior Pirates. Of course, he can't compare."
Clearly, this trip had dissolved the small rift between Vergo and Hina. Moreover, without the burden of their former roles, both Vergo and Hina had less pretense and fewer constraints, and more genuine friendship, now that they were friends again.
"That's true," Hina nodded, then turned to Diarmuid, who was still fishing, and shouted: "Admiral, do we really not need to capture them? Technically, they are criminals."
"That was over a hundred years ago. The Fleet Admiral has changed seven or eight times since then. Why should I meddle? I came to Little Garden just to see if I could catch some ancient fish to enrich my deep-sea fishing collection. I have no intention of causing trouble with these two giants. Just treat them like actors on a stage, putting on a performance for us!" Diarmuid said carelessly.
"Then why don't you turn around and look?" Hina glanced at Diarmuid, who was facing away from the volcano, and grumbled.
"Don't interrupt my fishing," Diarmuid said without turning his head.
Diarmuid truly had no intention of capturing Dorry and Brogy. There was absolutely no need. These two would probably fight here until the end of time, so he figured he should just let them fight. Why interfere? Furthermore, the Giant Warrior Pirates were already gone in all but name. If things went as they did in the original story, the crew would be reformed by a giant under the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, but now, that seemed unlikely.
"Speaking of giants, Saul was just reappointed as Vice Admiral by Sensei a while ago," Hina suddenly mentioned.
"Yes, and I reassigned him to serve as the Commander of the Giant Squad. After more than a decade of effort, the guy has finally been restored to his former position," Diarmuid said with a smile.
Of course, there were some changes. For instance, Saul was now considered a member of Diarmuid's faction. And the Marines' Giant Squad naturally followed Diarmuid's lead.
Looking at the current Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku remained aloof and transcendent. After him, Diarmuid's influence was the greatest, though his approach was the most accommodating.
At the same time, the only one at Headquarters who could truly rival Diarmuid was Sakazuki's hawkish Marines. Even Borsalino's neutral faction could no longer compare to Diarmuid's faction. As for the dovish Marines, they were already gone in all but name.
The reason the hawkish Marines could still contend with Diarmuid's faction was not due to their numbers, but because each member was incredibly resolute in pursuing the hawkish path. But fundamentally, there were no major contradictions or conflicts between the two sides, and the relationship between the faction leaders, Diarmuid and Sakazuki, was quite good. Therefore, Marine Headquarters had not experienced intense factional struggles for many years.
Currently, the only point of contention between Sakazuki and Diarmuid was the position of the next Fleet Admiral. But both sides were men of principle, and this struggle was a fair contest within the rules. It would not escalate into an unmanageable situation, let alone lead to a conflict between the doves and hawks that cost an Admiral his leg, as in the original story.
Didn't the current situation show that even though Diarmuid held an absolute advantage, Sakazuki was merely refusing to give up, without resorting to any sneaky, underhanded tactics?
Pere pere pere...
Just as Diarmuid was concentrating on his fishing, the Den Den Mushi at his feet rang. Diarmuid turned to look at it, his expression somewhat surprised, as this was someone he hadn't contacted in years.
Diarmuid smiled and picked up the Den Den Mushi: "Hello?"
There was a period of silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, and then a cautious voice asked: "Admiral?"
"Let me hear that familiar yet unfamiliar voice... Ah, I remember now! Isn't this Nico Robin-san, our rebellious, ambitious Marine Intelligence Division agent who is currently on a secret mission?" Diarmuid teased with a smile.
That's right, the call was from Robin.
Hearing Diarmuid's teasing on the other end, Robin said sheepishly: "I apologize for not discussing it with you first, Admiral."
"Hahaha..." Diarmuid laughed, then said very calmly: "It's nothing. Everyone has their own choices. You are just my subordinate, not my slave. How have things been? Are you doing well in Alabasta?"
"I've gotten a lot more tanned," Robin said with a chuckle.
Diarmuid was surprised for a moment, then also laughed. In the original story, Robin emerged from Alabasta looking like a dark beauty. But in this world, Robin had spent her childhood and youth in the Marines, so Diarmuid remembered her skin as being very fair. Now hearing Robin joke about herself like this, he found it amusing.
Before Diarmuid could speak, Robin said with a touch of boastfulness: "I can now be considered Crocodile's second-in-command, his most trusted right-hand. "
"Crocodile won't trust anyone ever again," Diarmuid countered.
Robin was silent for a moment on the Den Den Mushi, then said: "Admiral, are you always so accurate about people?"
"I am Diarmuid," Diarmuid said with a cheerful smile.
"Fine, you're right. While I'm clearly the most trusted among his other subordinates, I can also feel Crocodile's wariness towards me. He's unwilling to entrust many confidential matters to me," Robin complained.
"Then you certainly have a difficult job," Diarmuid casually remarked, then asked curiously: "I hear things are strange in Alabasta lately? Has that guy Crocodile stirred up a lot of trouble?"
Diarmuid wasn't at Marine Headquarters; he was on vacation. Thus, he didn't know much about Alabasta, having only heard a few passing comments during his occasional calls with Gion.
"It's very strange, and it's not just Crocodile. The Revolutionary Army has already entered the fray. According to our intelligence, Monkey D. Dragon is currently in Alabasta, most likely in the capital, Alubarna," Robin said softly.
This was confidential information that most people shouldn't ask about, but Diarmuid, being an Admiral, didn't have to worry.
"Dragon?" Diarmuid murmured, then said: "That guy is targeting Alabasta after all."
A few years ago, Marine Headquarters had predicted that the Revolutionary Army was likely to cause trouble in Alabasta. At that time, Crocodile had just started establishing himself in Alabasta. Back then, the Marines were unwilling to let Alabasta fall into the hands of the Revolutionary Army. This was because Alabasta possessed strong resources and military power, and if it fell to the Revolutionary Army, it would undoubtedly cause great trouble and make it harder for the Marines to control the Revolutionary Army's influence.
So, if Dragon had made a move back then, Diarmuid and other Marine members would have certainly found a way to thwart him. But now, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was preparing to break away and establish an independent force in three to five years, and the Marines would no longer need to worry about anyone or anything.
Even if Dragon took over Alabasta now, it would still take him three to five years to straighten out the order in Alabasta, which was a superpower. By the time Dragon sorted out Alabasta, the threat he posed would no longer be enough to shake the Marines.
So, after hearing this news, Diarmuid still wasn't particularly moved.
"Are Crocodile and the Revolutionary Army heading for a showdown?" Diarmuid asked.
"Judging by the situation, that seems to be the direction, but I just received some news that it seems the CP agencies are also getting involved..." Robin said with a hint of helplessness. The more 'insiders' involved, the less credit she would get.
"Hahahaha, well, CP probably wasn't aware of the Marines' operation. It's perfectly normal for those people to show up when Dragon's Revolutionary Army is causing a stir in Alabasta," Diarmuid laughed heartily.
After his laugh subsided, he asked into the Den Den Mushi: "So Robin, you didn't call me just to catch up, did you?"
There was a silence on the other end, and then Robin said: "Alabasta is no longer safe, and there's a possibility of Crocodile's defeat. If I'm alone... I'm afraid my strength won't be enough to handle the ensuing situation."
"So you want me to give you some support?" Diarmuid asked with a smile.
"Yes, it doesn't have to be anything too powerful. Just enough to help me hold the fort will suffice," Robin said with some embarrassment.
Diarmuid smiled, was silent for a moment, then said: "I'll think about it."
"It's a huge accomplishment!" Robin added.
"Huge my ass. You're the only one who always has her eyes set on the credits," Diarmuid grumbled, and then, without waiting for Robin to speak, he hung up the Den Den Mushi.