Chapter 350: Aokiji's Second Deployment
Ian's question truly stumped Sengoku and the others.
Yes, if the Seven Warlords had enemies, could the Marines send personnel to help?
According to the original agreement, the Seven Warlords were actually allies on the same front as the Marines and the World Government. The World Government provided privileges to the Seven Warlords, while the Seven Warlords provided military support to the Marines under their command. This was clearly stated.
However, it seemed no one had ever considered whether the Seven Warlords could use Marine forces to strike their enemies.
This sounded unbelievable, but it was the truth. Before this, no one had really thought of it. Besides involving pride, it was also because every Seven Warlord was a great pirate who shook the seas, an existence of immense strength. Such pirates generally had no troubles they couldn't solve. If they had enemies, they could rely on their own power to handle them, never needing Marine assistance.
Thus, over time, even the Marines formed a habit: when they had problems, they asked the Seven Warlords for help, but when the Seven Warlords had problems, they never thought to ask the Marines.
From a moral standpoint, since both sides were allies, they had an obligation to help each other solve troubles. But because there had never been such a precedent, when Ian suddenly raised this question, even Sengoku didn't know how to answer.
However, Sengoku was, after all, a man of exceptional intelligence. Since it was hard to answer, he simply threw the question back at Ian and said, "If they can help, so what? If they can't, so what?"
Ian smiled and said, "If they can't help, then I'll have to find someone else. The Marines can't say no."
Sengoku glanced thoughtfully at Crocodile, who had been silently puffing on his cigar...
"As for if they can help..." Ian paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "If they can help, that would be even better. I'd like to ask you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, to send the three Marine Admirals to give me a hand!"
When he said this, Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, Aokiji, and even Crocodile—everyone present—spat out in disbelief!
"You... you... what did you just say!?" Sengoku's glasses were askew as he stared at Ian in disbelief. "You want me to send three Marine Admirals to help you!? What are you planning to do!?"
"Beat someone up!" Ian said with a straight face. "Someone's pissed me off, and I'm planning to take people and beat the crap out of them!"
You... are you joking!? Bringing three Marine Admirals to help you beat someone up!? That's beyond just beating the crap out of them!
What a terrible idea! What kind of rotten plan is this!?
"No! Absolutely impossible!" Sengoku immediately said. "Ian, although you're young, please don't make such jokes!"
Ian looked troubled and said, "If three won't work, then two will do!"
"Two won't work either!" Sengoku refused flatly.
"Then I'll take a loss and settle for one!" Ian said with a pained expression. "Let Admiral Aokiji come along!"
"One..." Sengoku was about to say something, but then he snapped back to reality and roared, "I've already told you, it's not about the number! The Marine Admirals cannot step in to help you deal with your enemies!"
Ian heard this and immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, saying, "Oh, I see..."
Seeing his expression, Sengoku felt a bit satisfied and snorted, thinking you finally know your place.
But at that moment, Ian suddenly smiled again and said, "Since the Marines won't help, that means if I find someone else, the Marines won't interfere, right?"
"Of course!" Sengoku nodded. He just thought, as long as you don't involve the Marines, do whatever you want.
But as soon as he said this, Sengoku caught a glint of cunning in Ian's eyes and immediately became wary, pressing further, "Who do you plan to ask for help?"
Ian turned his head, nodded toward Crocodile beside him, and said, "Well, he's a Seven Warlord!"
At Ian's words, Crocodile suddenly became the center of attention, which made him snort coldly and roll his eyes at Ian.
Sengoku looked at Crocodile's reluctant expression and guessed that Crocodile probably had some leverage in Ian's hands, forcing him to help. This made Sengoku breathe a sigh of relief, and he said, "That's up to you. Who you ask for help is your business."
Hearing this, Ian mentally clicked his fingers in triumph. Done!
It had to be said, the method Robin told him was really useful. After meeting Sengoku, Ian went straight for the big ask, demanding three Marine Admirals. But what were the three Marine Admirals? They were the Marines' national treasures. Unless a major incident occurred, when had all three ever been deployed together?
Even a fool could guess that Sengoku would refuse, but this had unknowingly raised the Marines' psychological expectations.
So after Sengoku rejected Ian's request, when Ian smoothly brought up Crocodile, another Seven Warlord, Sengoku had no reason to object.
Moreover, he didn't know that Ian wasn't just looking for one Seven Warlord but also wanted to recruit others. So when Ian actually brought in Jinbe and Boa Hancock later, Sengoku couldn't say anything, because Ian had essentially reported to him in advance, just slightly concealing the number of people...
Ian had never really expected to get Marine Admirals to help. With this report, even if the Marines were wary of alliances among the Seven Warlords, they probably couldn't make an issue of it.
Even better, with Crocodile present, Sengoku might mistakenly think that other Seven Warlords, like Crocodile, had some leverage in Ian's hands, which was why they would help him.
Some might say, what's the point of Ian doing all this? Aren't the Seven Warlords all unruly types? If they want to ally, why care about the Marines' attitude?
Actually, it wasn't that simple. Those who accepted amnesty to become Seven Warlords always had something to gain from the Marines or the World Government. If they truly angered the Marines and had their Seven Warlord status revoked, that would be troublesome.
This was why the so-called mandatory conscription worked on the Seven Warlords. Ian could disregard the Marines' attitude toward him, but other Seven Warlords, like Jinbe, had to consider the Marines' stance. Ian's visit to Marine Headquarters at Marineford to report was to eliminate this hidden risk. After all, you couldn't have someone help you and then end up screwing them over, right?
Having smoothly achieved his goal, Ian was satisfied. He took off his bear-ear hat, bowed to Sengoku and the others, and said, "Then, we'll take our leave!"
Turning around, Ian and Crocodile walked out of the conference room side by side.
Sengoku and the group of high-ranking Marine officers watched them leave, and the conference room fell into silence.
After a long while, Garp scratched his gray hair and said doubtfully, "Why do I feel like things aren't that simple?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed and said, "I think so too."
Sengoku thought for a moment and asked, "Who exactly is Ian's enemy? Is he going to war with the Four Emperors? That he wanted to borrow the power of the three Admirals?"
Aokiji, with his hands behind his head, said, "Maybe it's a problem with his territory. Our intelligence in the New World is too weak. We still have no information at all, not even who he's up against."
"..."
Sengoku was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Kuzan, if possible, I'd like you to make a trip. Follow behind them and see what's going on, but don't show yourself. I feel like that kid Ian is still hiding something."
"Alright," Aokiji stood up, looking even taller. He picked up his coat from the chair, slung it over his shoulder, and slowly walked out of the conference room...