Sentomaru stared at Taro's 'friendly' smile, his expression stiff and his gaze evasive.
"I told you before, Dr. Vegapunk is very busy recently and won't see you!"
Taro fixed his gaze on Sentomaru, his Aura oppressive.
"Busy? He can see the new Admiral Aramaki, but not me?"
Taro's aggressive stare made Sentomaru even more reluctant to meet his eyes. His lips twitched several times in distress.
"Just be patient and wait. It won't be more than a month before the Doctor naturally agrees to see you!"
Taro raised an eyebrow, his face full of suspicion.
"Sentomaru, you seem to know a lot!"
Aramaki had told Taro it would be soon, and now Sentomaru gave a timeline of less than a month... Damn, how does this guy know!
Seeing Taro's expression, Sentomaru looked troubled and wary.
"I'm not telling you that the Old Man said it!"
Taro was stunned for a moment. How does Kizaru know Vegapunk will see me?
After thinking for a while, he realized he had misunderstood.
"You mean, Admiral Borsalino told you that Dr. Vegapunk's research will be completed within a month?"
Sentomaru had inadvertently sold out Kizaru. His face looked constipated, and it took him a long moment to speak.
"That metal box you gave me last time... I took it for the Old Man to see...!"
That nested box containing the 'Internal Energy' type Devil Fruit?
"Oh? What did Old Man Kizaru say?" Taro stared intently at Sentomaru. Seeing his hesitation, he added, "Sentomaru, if you only tell me half the story, should I go ask the Old Man myself?"
Sentomaru had heard rumors about Taro's personality—that he liked to pester people with questions. He quickly waved his hands.
"You better not go find the Old Man. He's been very busy lately too!"
The man known for having the tightest lips in the world had once again leaked information about Kizaru, puzzling Taro.
Kizaru, with his lazy nature, busy?
I find that very hard to believe!
Is that old drama king preparing to put on another big show?
Sentomaru seemed to realize he had slipped up. He pressed his lips tightly together, looking nervous.
Taro slapped his belly and laughed heartily.
"Alright, don't be so tense! I won't press about what Old Man Kizaru is doing lately. You just need to tell me what he said when you gave him that box. That should be fine, right?"
Sentomaru looked at Taro suspiciously. "Really?"
Taro nodded. "As true as gold!"
Sentomaru examined Taro with deep suspicion, hesitated for a while, and finally spoke.
"You know, the Old Man has always led the Marine Science Unit. He's also been involved in some of the Doctor's research, like those pacifists...!"
Taro knew this. The laser beams were Kizaru's ability, after all.
"I know that. Get to the point!"
Sentomaru fell silent for a moment, then said gravely,
"The point is, Dr. Vegapunk wasn't very satisfied with the pacifists' performance before. But when the Old Man saw that box, he said the Doctor's research would be completed very soon!"
Taro's eyes flickered. "Then why did you say 'at most a month'?"
Sentomaru bit his lip tightly, not intending to answer that question.
Taro pondered for a while, then suddenly understood.
"Oh, you mean the thing Old Man Kizaru is busy with lately is related to Dr. Vegapunk's research?"
Sentomaru's face changed drastically. He shook his head frantically. "I never said that!"
With that, he actually took large strides and fled in panic!
Taro narrowed his eyes, watching Sentomaru's retreating back, thinking to himself,
No wonder I haven't seen Kizaru for a while, haven't even heard any news about him!
Dr. Vegapunk actually roped in another Admiral. Tsk tsk, he's planning something big!
However, judging from Aokiji's and Aramaki's reactions, they probably don't know each other's specific roles in Vegapunk's plan.
From this, it seems Kizaru likely doesn't know either... Add to that the 'help' Vegapunk wants from me!
Two Admirals, one Navy Grand Staff Officer, one former Admiral—all 'designed' into Vegapunk's scheme.
This pinnacle of the scientific world is playing a high-stakes game!
Lost in thought, Taro made his way toward Grove 27.
Mike and George saw Taro and quickly approached, saluting.
"Vice Admiral Taro!"
Taro gave a faint nod and a grunt of acknowledgment.
Then, snapping out of his contemplation, he grabbed Mike by the collar and scolded angrily,
"You old rascal, Mike! You actually colluded with Sentomaru to deceive me!"
Caught off guard, Mike was lifted up by Taro, his face ashen.
"It's not true, Vice Admiral Taro! Vice Admiral Sentomaru said he was your close friend, that it would definitely be fine, and told me... us to listen to him!"
As he spoke, he cast a pleading glance at George beside him.
George straightened his face, saluted again, and reported,
"Reporting, Vice Admiral Taro! According to your orders, if anything happened on the island, we could request support from Vice Admiral Sentomaru. So...!"
Taro glared at this rigid, traditional Marine, George, and said irritably,
"I also told you to ask Admiral Fujitora for help! Why didn't you go find Issho?"
"V-Vice Admiral, Admiral Issho was transferred to serve as the base commander of G-5 Fortress!" Mike stammered in response.
"Three days after you left!"
Fujitora went to G-5 Base?
An Admiral taking on the additional role of a fortress base commander? That's just absurd!
Taro was momentarily stunned, temporarily forgetting to hold Mike accountable. He released his collar, frowning.
"Wasn't Vice Admiral Tsuru serving as the G-5 base commander before?"
Mike and George exchanged a glance, leaned in closer, and spoke in low tones.
"We heard Admiral Issho volunteered for it this time!"
Seeing their sneaky demeanor, Taro knew these two must have used their 'abilities' again to gather information.
Damn it! Originally, it was just these two guys liking to snoop around for no reason. Now, many Marines think this habit of theirs was influenced by me.
What the hell!
He raised an eyebrow, giving the two a look of utter disdain for a good while before asking,
"Alright, out with it. What did you two find out?"
Mike, who understood Taro's temperament quite well, knew his Vice Admiral was a bit of a 'tsundere'.
No matter how much he complained on the surface, as long as the intel was genuinely useful, his Vice Admiral would definitely'show leniency' and forgive many of his subordinates' minor mistakes!
Thinking this, Mike immediately put on a sycophantic expression, smiling obsequiously.
"Vice Admiral, we heard that in the waters under G-5's jurisdiction, many of the Warlord of the Sea Donquixote Doflamingo's subordinates have been moving around, seemingly looking for something..."
Taro raised an eyebrow, listening as Mike added,
"It's said their movements seem to have attracted some formidable pirate! Fleet Admiral Sakazuki is very concerned about this, so he approved Admiral Issho's application!"
George beside him also leaned closer, giving Taro's head a strange look, his tone odd.
"Before Admiral Issho went to take up his post at G-5, he went to see your woman!"
What the hell is that look and tone about?
My woman?
Is he talking about... Monet?
Taro thought for a moment and finally understood George's look. His eyebrow twitched violently.
Immediately, he slapped George on the shoulder, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Bastard! I'll teach you to talk nonsense..."
Still not satisfied, he followed up with several more slaps.
Mike was dumbfounded. He weakly said,
"Vice Admiral, we're telling the truth...!"
Before he could finish, Taro slapped Mike to the ground as well.
Then, he followed up with several more punches, hammering them repeatedly.
"I'll teach you to tell the truth..."
"I'll teach you to snoop around for no reason..." I'll teach you to wreck the house...!"
"Vice Admiral, we didn't wreck the house!" Mike cried out, clutching his head in protest.
"Thump!"
Taro punched Mike again. "Still talking back? If you didn't wreck the house, then what happened to Grove 27?"
Finally, Mike and George behaved themselves, obediently clutching their heads and lying on the ground without another word.
Taro gave them a few more punches before finally snorting angrily and stopping.
Finally found a chance to give these two backstabbing experts a good beating.
Feels good!
Although these two guys are incredibly unreliable and make him grind his teeth in frustration, the intel they gathered this time was indeed very useful!
Doflamingo's subordinates are moving around everywhere. Are they still looking for that Mythical Zoan: Vampire-form fruit?
Then, the 'formidable' pirate attracted there should be 'the solitary red,' Patrick Redfield.
No wonder Fujitora suddenly decided to head to G-5 waters.
But how did Fujitora know about Monet's connection to Doflamingo?
Before he left, he specifically went to see Ara...
Pah, Ara what!
He specifically went to see Monet, clearly knowing her identity!
Tsk tsk, this 'Smiling Tiger' usually acts like a gentle, easygoing uncle, but secretly he's been investigating a lot of things!
Taro frowned deeply, his eyes distant, lost in thought for a long time. Finally, he glared at Mike and George irritably.
"What are you still lying there for? Is the ground cooler?"
Mike and George sprang to their feet like carp leaping from water. Mike could tell there wasn't much anger left in Taro's tone.
He put on that sycophantic expression again, grinning foolishly.
"Heh, hehehe!"
Taro glared at Mike again. "Anything else?"
Mike wore an ingratiating smile.
"Vice Admiral, Commodore Tashigi seems quite anxious! She's called several times a day recently, asking if you've returned!"
Taro frowned.
"I know. I'll head to G4 Base tomorrow. Now, report on the recent work situation in Sabaody!"
Then, as he inspected the destruction at Grove 27, he listened to their reports.
"I'll write the reconstruction plan and long-term planning tonight. After I leave, go get it yourselves."
After the inspection tour, Taro felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his temples.
"That's enough for now!"
"For the progress of the new movie and the travel agency's operations, bring me the documents when we get back."
Mike and George could also see Taro looked tired, so naturally, they didn't say anything more. They saluted respectfully.
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
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