Chapter 633: Akainu's Calculation
Marine Headquarters Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, the seat once occupied by Sengoku was now taken by Akainu Sakazuki. Draped in his fleet admiral coat, he sat with his legs crossed in that signature reverse style, quietly smoking a cigar.
To his side, Kizaru Borsalino was carefully examining a transfer order. After a moment, he set down the document and spoke in a tone reminiscent of a comedian: "Hey hey, what's the deal with this transfer order? The newly appointed Admiral Arest hasn't even reported to Marineford yet, and he's already been reassigned by the Five Elders. They didn't even bother asking the Marines for their opinion. Do they still have any respect for you as Fleet Admiral?"
"Hmph!" Akainu snorted, stubbing out his cigar directly on the glove of his right hand. He then said to Kizaru, "Your knack for sarcasm has improved lately!"
"Ohoh, isn't it true?" Kizaru chuckled, spreading his hands. "They've already moved him, and only sent us a post-transfer notice to inform us. Isn't that a bit overstepping?"
Akainu glanced at him and said, "The Marines are, after all, the face of the World Government. When a Celestial Dragon is in danger at Gran Tesoro, it's only fitting that a Marine Admiral steps in. That's an agreement the World Government made with them long ago..."
Though he offered a few words of defense for the World Government, Akainu was inwardly somewhat displeased.
Because of his struggle with Aokiji for the position of Fleet Admiral, Akainu had indeed relied on the influence of the Five Elders. This had created a delicate relationship between him and the World Government after he took office.
This time, the Five Elders bypassed him entirely, directly ordering the newly conscripted Admiral, White Wolf Arest, to change course and head for Gran Tesoro. Akainu hadn't been informed in the first place.
Here was a subordinate under his command, yet the order didn't come from him. In this matter, Akainu saw the World Government's attitude.
They seemed to be expecting something in return for their favor... Did they really think that by helping him rise to power, they could treat him like a complete puppet?
And of all people, Kizaru had to rub it in. This guy had always been stirring up trouble between Akainu and Aokiji, though he did it subtly. How could Akainu not be aware?
Even though Kizaru hadn't stepped forward to compete for the Fleet Admiral's seat this time, who knew what he was really thinking?
The Fleet Admiral's position wasn't easy. Akainu didn't have the overwhelming prestige that Sengoku had in the Marines. In fact, his struggle with Aokiji for the top spot had caused his previously accumulated prestige to plummet. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been Marine officers following Aokiji when he left.
Still, anyone who reached Akainu's level was unwavering in their convictions. Just as Aokiji would never become a pirate, so too was Akainu. Even if many people thought his belief in "Absolute Justice" wasn't a good philosophy, Akainu firmly believed he was right!
He had his own ambitions. He hadn't fought for the Fleet Admiral's seat to become a puppet of the World Government, but to put his own beliefs into practice.
The World Government's meddling this time stirred up Akainu's rebellious streak. Though he was aligned with the World Government, that didn't mean he wouldn't push back.
I am the Fleet Admiral of the Marines. The authority I deserve must be mine, and you won't take it away!
So, as he spoke, Akainu had already made a decision. He planned to have a good "talk" with the Five Elders later.
"Ohohoho!" Kizaru, hearing Akainu's words, put on a kindly uncle-like smile again and said, "The worry is that even if the World Government gives orders over your head, it might still be useless! I don't know Arest's exact location, but I imagine he's quite far from Gran Tesoro. By the time he gets there, the place might already be empty..."
Kizaru paused, crossing his legs as well, and said to Akainu with a meaningful tone, "Don't forget, that kid Ian is also in Gran Tesoro. With his hatred for Celestial Dragons, if that World Noble unfortunately runs into him and something happens, who do you think the Celestial Dragons will blame?"
The moment Kizaru mentioned Ian's name, the muscles on Akainu's face involuntarily twitched, and he felt a dull ache in his wrists.
If there was one person Akainu hated most in this world, it was Ian. Ever since Ian had severed both his wrists, even though Akainu had used Vegapunk's cyborg technology to get a pair of mechanical prosthetics, these wrists only allowed him to function like a normal person. They offered no help in combat!
Akainu's situation was completely different from Zephyr's. Akainu himself was a Devil Fruit user, so he couldn't possibly have wrists made of Seastone. And since Akainu was a Magma-Magma Fruit user, those fragile mechanical wrists would melt from his own magma the moment he fought!
Magma was fluid, so with recent training, Akainu could still simulate his original fists when in his elemental form. But once he reverted to his normal body, he remained a cripple...
As time passed, the inconvenience of losing his arms became deeply apparent to Akainu, and his hatred for Ian only grew stronger.
Though Kizaru's words stoked the fire in his heart, Akainu also knew that Kizaru was right. Arest had been sent by the World Government, but it was wishful thinking on their part. They were probably praying that Ian wouldn't run into the Celestial Dragon. If that happened, Arest might still be able to escort the Celestial Dragon back safely.
But how high were the odds? No one knew. In Akainu's view, it was far more likely that the arrogant, hate-mongering Celestial Dragon would be discovered by Ian, and Arest would have made a wasted trip.
Ever since Ian had killed a Celestial Dragon at Mary Geoise for the first time, Blackbeard Teach had followed suit, slaughtering three more Celestial Dragons at Mary Geoise. The entire World Noble faction was already furious about this. If another of their kind was lost at this juncture, they would definitely take it out on the Marines!
They wouldn't attack the World Government, but they would target him, the newly appointed Fleet Admiral!
He certainly didn't want to take the blame, but Celestial Dragons were a hurdle the Marines could never face or overcome. Not just Sengoku in the past, but now Akainu was experiencing it too.
After thinking it over, Akainu made a decision. He tapped the table and said, "In that case, send an order to Arest. Tell him that if the Celestial Dragon meets with an accident, he is to pursue Ian indefinitely. He's not to return until I say so!"
"Will that work?" Kizaru asked, a bit puzzled.
"It has to!" Akainu said firmly. "The Celestial Dragons want an explanation, don't they? Then I'll give them one. A newly appointed Admiral, who hasn't even reported to headquarters, is being sent to chase down the culprit. That's the biggest concession the Marines can make. If they're not satisfied, they can ask the World Government for more military funding. Then I'll immediately expand the forces in the New World!"
"That's one way to handle it," Kizaru said with a smile. "But does Arest have the ability to pursue Ian? Don't forget, Ian's Pay-to-Win Fruit ability is very strange. Now that he's fallen into the big treasure trove of Gran Tesoro, by the time he comes out, he'll probably have officially stepped into the ranks of the Four Emperors... Tsk, an Emperor younger than Red-Haired Shanks. Just thinking about it is a headache. Even dealing with an old-timer like Whitebeard required all three Marine Admirals. Can Arest handle Ian alone?"
"Don't underestimate Arest," Akainu said, lighting another cigar and putting it in his mouth as he leaned back in the Fleet Admiral's chair. "That man may be a devout believer in daily life, but once he fights, he's an opponent many would rather avoid. The nickname 'White Wolf' isn't given lightly. In battle, Arest is nothing less than a wolf—a dangerous lone wolf. Unlike you or me, he's an assassin. His fights are rarely head-on. To be blunt, Borsalino, when it comes to killing, he's far better than you! He might not be able to take down that kid Ian, but he can definitely cause him huge trouble!"
"Oh, really?!" Kizaru put on a look of feigned surprise. "But a wolf-like believer? Doesn't that sound like a huge contradiction? Is he some kind of split personality? Why would the World Government conscript someone like that as an Admiral?"
"Who knows..." Akainu blew out a puff of smoke. "I don't care what kind of person he is, as long as he fills the gap in the Marine Admirals. Momousagi and Chat Don have also been promoted to Admiral, but their strength is still lacking. Arest's appearance can make up for that."
"Ah, then I can rest easy!" Kizaru said, lounging comfortably in his chair like a lazy cat. "Then I can just coast along in my Admiral position until I retire!"
But at Kizaru's words, Akainu couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
Hmph, coast until retirement? As if I'd believe that!