G-4 Base.
Taro lingered outside the base commander's office for a long time before hesitantly knocking on the door.
"Come in!"
Hina snapped out of her contemplation. Seeing it was Taro at the door, she was taken aback for a moment, her expression turning strange.
"Taro, you are the G-4 Base Commander. Why are you knocking on the door to your own office?"
Taro studied Hina's face for a moment, thinking to himself: Isn't it because I'm feeling a bit timid?
However, why isn't Hina feeling a bit awkward like I am?
He cleared his throat and forced a dry laugh.
"Um, Hina, I heard from Vivi...!"
Only then did Hina's expression stiffen slightly. She lowered her gaze, quietly waiting for Taro to continue.
Taro paused. "I agree with Vivi's proposal!"
Hina's expression didn't change much, which surprised Taro. He pondered for a moment and then caught on.
Did those two little girls make some other agreement?
He recalled that Cobra was also involved in this matter. That old man is a king of a nation, and politicians have dark hearts. Could he have secretly set a trap for me?
"Hina, you're not hiding anything else from me, are you?" After thinking for a while, Taro tilted his head and looked at Hina suspiciously.
Hina tensed up. She was bad at lying. Hearing Taro's question, she immediately felt a flicker of panic and turned her back.
"Absolutely not!"
If there's nothing, why are you so nervous?
Taro's suspicion grew heavier, his face even more doubtful!
Hina felt annoyed inside. Hmph, so it's only okay for you to keep things from me... from us, but we can't keep things from you?
She glared at Taro and said with displeasure, "If Hina says no, then it's no!"
After saying that, she didn't give Taro a chance to speak at all and immediately continued,
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki has been looking for you for three days straight!"
Taro looked at Hina for a while longer, then shook his head.
"Red... Sakazuki, what does he want with me?"
"Hina doesn't know. Fleet Admiral Sakazuki seems to be in a bad mood, and he appears quite anxious!" Hina shook her head gently.
Taro frowned, pondering to himself. I just met Red Doggy a few days ago. Recently, I haven't done a damn thing. Does he want to pick a fight again?
"Has anything happened at Marineford recently?" After thinking for a moment, Taro asked.
Hina found this strange too. After all, Vice Admiral Tsuru's attitude was also odd.
"According to available intelligence, no! Even the pirates have been quiet lately! The only thing that might be related to you..."
Hina pondered for a while.
"Vice Admiral Garp's Disciple, that Marine named Koby, got promoted. Does that count?"
Taro was stunned. "Huh?"
Hina's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
"He's the Marine who tried to stop Fleet Admiral Sakal... Sakazuki during the Marineford War. I heard you two know each other? He's always looked up to you as an idol!"
Taro waved his hand. "I remember that kid Koby. What I'm puzzled about is, why is he getting promoted now?"
When Akainu first took over as Fleet Admiral, all Marines were promoted one rank. After the World Conscription ended, they were promoted another rank. Now Koby is getting promoted again? That's weird.
Could it be that Koby really has the 'Protagonist Halo' of the 'Marine King'?
Hina was actually quite puzzled by this too. During the Marineford War, Koby's actions had greatly angered Akainu.
At the time, Akainu had deemed Koby a Marine 'unworthy of upholding justice.' Now, he's being promoted faster than most Marines. It's just bizarre.
After a moment of silence, she said softly,
"This promotion is due to the Logue Port incident, for Koby's merit in saving a large number of civilians!"
That's nonsense!
Taro curled his lip. He knew about the Logue Port incident; it was caused by the current Shichibukai, Trafalgar Law.
That happened a while ago. If that was the reason, he could have been promoted long ago. Why wait until now?
He thought for a while longer but still had no clue. Hina pushed the den den mushi on the desk towards him.
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki ordered that you contact him immediately upon your return!"
Taro raised an eyebrow. "Oh, then let's call him."
The den den mushi connected quickly, but the Akainu on the other end didn't speak immediately. Taro remained silent too, creating an awkward atmosphere.
Hina glanced at Taro, feeling that this stalemate wasn't good, and spoke softly.
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Taro is here."
After a while, Akainu finally said,
"Hina, you may leave."
Hina was stunned for a moment. Seeing Taro nod slightly, she then left.
"Sakazuki, what do you want with me this time?"
Only after Hina left did Taro speak in a stiff tone.
"What do I want? You're asking me what I want?" Akainu roared in anger.
Taro sat back in his chair, leaning lazily against the backrest.
"Just say what you have to say. If you keep this up, I'm hanging up!"
Akainu's breathing suddenly became heavy. "You bastard...!"
After calming down for a good while, he finally let out a breath.
"Was Hannybal's insubordination on your orders?"
Hannybal's insubordination?
Taro was stunned. "What the hell?"
He was utterly confused. How did this involve Hannybal? He hadn't been in contact with Hannybal since the Impel Down prison break incident.
That guy became the Warden of Impel Down, achieved his life's goal. Why would he defy orders for no reason?
The den den mushi mimicked Taro's bewildered expression, which also stirred doubt in Akainu's mind. Could it really have nothing to do with Taro?
After a moment of silence, Akainu said,
"The World Government sent people to Impel Down to execute Spandam, but Hannybal stopped them!"
"He said that within Impel Down, only he, the Warden, has the authority to execute prisoners!"
"Do you know about this?"
Taro had deduced that Spandam would be made a scapegoat. However, he truly hadn't expected Hannybal to be so bold.
After thinking for a moment, Taro shook his head.
"I don't know! This matter has nothing to do with me!"
He paused, then let out a scornful chuckle.
"Those Gorosei fellows always like to complicate things. If they want Spandam dead, they could just give Hannybal the order directly. Why go to the extra trouble of sending their own people?"
Akainu snorted coldly upon hearing this. "Can't you really figure out why they sent their own people?"
Taro frowned. "What do you mean? I can figure out that...!"
At this point, he realized belatedly and tentatively analyzed,
"You mean, Spandam was originally a member of the CP Agency and might know some'secrets'..."
"Before, to give me, well... to give the Navy an explanation, the World Government handed him over to the Navy for punishment. However, at that time, Spandam wasn't facing a death sentence, so the Gorosei weren't worried he'd spill any secrets."
"Now that they intend to execute Spandam, the Gorosei are worried he might say something he shouldn't before he dies?"
Akainu on the other end of the den den mushi remained silent for a long time before sighing with admiration.
"Taro, I have to admit, with your intellect, you are the only one fit for the position of Navy Grand Staff Officer!"
After this exclamation, Akainu seemed even more emotional, his tone actually becoming somewhat subdued as he said softly,
"If you could wholeheartedly assist me, how could we be such a 'Makeshift Operation'!"
Having known Akainu for so long, this was the first time Taro had encountered Red Doggy showing such emotion.
This cold-blooded guy had always appeared tough, ruthless, and full of fighting spirit.
Now he seemed somewhat... dejected?
This was very un-Red Doggy-like and puzzled Taro greatly!
"Sakazuki, you...?"
Akainu was indeed as Taro sensed; he was feeling a bit weary!
Holding fast to his long-cherished wish of 'exterminating pirates and pacifying the four seas,' he had been in the Navy for over 30 years.
From the time of Fleet Admiral Kong's tenure, through Fleet Admiral Sengoku's era, to his own succession, Akainu believed his path was correct. He had fought pirates with all his might in every battle.
However, his wish had never seemed within reach. There were always various people holding him back: differing stances within the Navy, the remote control of the Gorosei, the increasingly rampant pirate forces, and so on.
Until Taro appeared. This young man was powerful and sharp-minded.
If he could focus on cooperating with me, wouldn't the eradication of pirates be assured?
But this bastard also had his own ideas, always pulling off things that caught this Fleet Admiral off guard.
It was so tiring. Why was it so difficult to achieve his dream?
When alone, Akainu would occasionally feel a wave of powerlessness!
The low mood lasted for a while before Akainu shook his head, anger welling up inside him—anger at himself for showing such emotion.
He snorted with great dissatisfaction, returning to his previous cold and stern tone.
"Consider what I just said unsaid!"
Taro curled his lip. You have the Magu Magu no Mi, not the Retract-Retract Fruit. Do you think saying it's unsaid makes it so?
I already heard it!
However, Akainu clearly didn't want to discuss this matter further with Taro and steered the conversation back.
"Spandam doesn't 'perhaps' know some'secrets'; he definitely does!"
Taro raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Red Doggy sounded so certain. Something's up!
Akainu's face darkened.
"Spandine and Spandam, father and son, have served the World Government for many years. Do you believe they don't know anything?"
He paused, then asked again,
"When you met Midorik, you must have also met a kid named Rob Lucci?"
Taro was taken aback. "Yeah, I did meet him!"
"The most outstanding Genius in CP9 history, before Lucci. You probably forgot; I was also there during the Buster Call on Enies Lobby!"
"But why are you bringing him up?"
Akainu's tone was somewhat inscrutable.
"Then do you know who held the title of 'Genius' before him?"
"Huh?" Taro was even more confused. What does this have to do with the current matter?
"Who's-Who! Have you heard that name?" Akainu's voice grew darker.
Taro frowned in thought.
"One of the Tobi Roppo, a Tobi Roppo under Kaido of the Beasts?"
Immediately after, he stood up in shock.
"Is that guy also a spy?"
Akainu raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled. "'Also'?"
He paused, then said,
"What spy? What are you talking about? He's a pirate now!"
Taro's mouth twitched.
Damn, Akainu's intelligence has increased since becoming Fleet Admiral! He almost caught my slip of the tongue!
"Uh, then why did you bring him up?"
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