Investigating Inazuma's mainland's internal situation was actually the mission of this operation.
The fact that even the two of them had been dispatched was unavoidable. The fully opened Hakura and Suzuran were easier to investigate—previously, the Marines and World Government had already sent many people to roughly understand these two provinces.
They had later visited Himi and Onigashima. It was precisely because they investigated Onigashima that they confirmed Kaido, once thought to have the potential to become a great pirate like Whitebeard, had actually fallen silently within Wano Country.
Because of this, the World Government and Marines became even more wary of the power the Raiden Shogun possessed.
Now Ren's bounty had been pushed past 5 billion by those old foxes—specifically 5.3 billion. Even Whitebeard couldn't compare to him; the Pirate King was nothing more than this.
But aside from this, they hadn't discovered any more valuable information. The only thing they knew was that this nation's technological level was high, and it was very wealthy.
But they didn't need investigation to know this. Every year, the Marines and World Government spent enormous sums on Ruin-series weapons—did they think Inazuma wouldn't be wealthy?
Unable to uncover secrets, these people inevitably turned their attention to other blocked regions, especially the Flower Capital, which could be considered the capital.
However, the security of Flower Capital, Kuri, and Udon was unimaginably strict.
Ordinary agents couldn't possibly infiltrate them.
Actually, Ren had specific reasons for stricter control over these three regions.
Flower Capital was Inazuma's current economic and cultural center, home to the Grand Narukami Shrine and Tenshukaku, as well as his residence. Outsiders trying to enter would naturally find it extremely difficult.
He didn't want some petty thieves jumping around the city's eaves in the middle of the night, disturbing his peace while he was resting well.
Kuri was now ruled by Shutendouji, which wasn't particularly special, but it was the "closest" place to Enkanomiya. Many of Enkanomiya's gates opened in Kuri.
Udon's most special feature was the quarry prison, where many criminals were held—naturally not suitable for outside visitors.
Udon originally had many mineral veins, but most major veins had long been transferred to Enkanomiya by Ren using the Door-Door Fruit's ability. Udon's hollow underground was now converted into an amusement park.
In other words, though these three provinces were currently blocked, no secrets existed there. All of Inazuma's secrets were in Enkanomiya, and though Enkanomiya was "closest" to Kuri, it was actually in an underwater alternate space, impossible to discover.
Therefore, Garp and the others' operation was destined to yield no results.
But they didn't know these relationships, assuming the blocked areas concealed special intelligence. To uncover Inazuma's mysteries, they had actually dispatched the Marine Fleet Admiral and Hero directly.
"Udon Port is to the right. Charging straight up the waterfall won't work," Sengoku said.
"Wait, Sengoku. Are we entering Inazuma just like this?" Garp suddenly stopped him.
Even he knew that as infiltrators, they should at least disguise themselves a bit. Walking in so brazenly under the Marine flag and coats, with completely undisguised faces to cause trouble—wasn't this practically telling the other party they had arrived?
Who knew how many pairs of eyes would be watching them then.
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten," Sengoku said, promptly removing his coat and changing into a very Hawaiian-style outfit.
"I thought so—how could we go straight in?" Garp sighed in relief. He had just thought Sengoku had gone senile. "How should we disguise? Would switching to a dog-head hat work?"
"Just dress casually. You don't really think we're here to gather intelligence, do you?" Sengoku, seeing his conflicted expression, said, "Actually, I just want to travel on the company's dime."
Garp: ???
Was this something Sengoku would say?
Garp was stunned. Traveling on the company's dime—wasn't that something only he did? How come even Sengoku was being slippery today? This character was wrong!
"Just treat it as a Marine team-building activity. Relax properly. Kuzan and Borsalino will be coming later, and so will Tsuru," Sengoku said casually.
Garp now seriously wanted to feed Sengoku a mouthful of snot.
Divine™ Marine team-building—did you really have the nerve to say that?
You brought a Fleet Admiral, two Admirals, and yourself, this Marine Hero, to team-build at the pirates' hometown. Does the Raiden Shogun know about this?
"What's wrong? Does the World Government not want to play anymore? Planning an all-out attack on Inazuma?" Garp thought for a moment and still felt this guess was more reliable.
"If we're really going to fight Inazuma all-out, and we set the battlefield at their headquarters, is this force enough? We didn't bring many Marines! And why isn't Sakazuki coming?"
Garp fired off several questions in a row. Though he was usually carefree, that didn't mean he was stupid!
He was just too lazy to think that much.
"Never mind that. At this stage, how could the World Government go to war with Inazuma?" Sengoku cut him off directly. "Just treat it as an ordinary company-funded trip. You've been annoyed by your family's brat lately, haven't you?"
Sengoku changed the subject.
Sure enough, Garp fell for it immediately.
"That's true. Luffy keeps clamoring to be a pirate, and I'm quite headaches," Garp talked about Luffy while actually thinking about Dragon.
Sengoku glanced at him, not mentioning Dragon's meeting with the Raiden Shogun.
The Marines actually knew about that. Outside Inazuma's waters, there was 24-hour surveillance. Who approached Inazuma's waters, or any major moves Inazuma made—basically everything was under their noses.
But that was only what Sengoku believed.
"Your grandson—you'd better watch him closely. If he really sets sail as a pirate, he'll be your enemy," Sengoku said while watching him.
Actually, he hadn't wanted to say these things—he'd just wanted to change the subject.
Garp was loose-lipped. If he knew the real plan, it would be harmful to implementation.
Actually, the two of them, including Kuzan and the others who would appear later, were all just bait. Their purpose was to attract Inazuma's military attention, drawing all eyes onto themselves.
Only then could the real agents investigate without worry.
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