Chapter 762: Ian Says He Doesn't Want to Talk to You and Throws a Queen the Plague at You
It wasn't until over ten minutes later that the Marine Captain realized Edward Weevil was missing.
Upon discovering this, cold sweat immediately poured down the Marine Captain's back!
Where had that big idiot gone? Did he run off on his own, or was he lured away?
If it was the former, that was fine—just find him quickly. But if it was the latter... that would be a huge problem!
Thinking this, the Marine Captain didn't hesitate and immediately roared at his Marine soldiers: "Find him! Find him right now! We must bring that fool back!"
"Th-then, Captain, what about these guys?" A Marine Lieutenant pointed at the people who had been arrested for starting the two brawls.
The Marine Captain pondered for a moment. He wasn't stupid. Those two groups hadn't fought earlier or later—they'd started fighting right when the Marines showed up. The Captain had reason to suspect they were trying to cause chaos, and they were definitely connected to Edward Weevil's sudden disappearance!
So, gritting his teeth, the Marine Captain said: "Take them all back—"
Before he could finish speaking, several homemade smoke bombs were suddenly thrown from the crowd, landing in front of the Marine soldiers. Thick, choking smoke immediately spread out.
"N-not good!" The Marine Captain realized something was wrong, but before he could give any orders, the smoke made him cough and his nose run, tears streaming down his face. The smoke bombs were filled with who-knows-what, instantly causing the Marine soldiers to cough violently and their eyes to water. Taking advantage of this, the two groups of brawlers shook off the Marines and, prepared in advance, used the smoke as cover to help each other escape the scene.
The Ian Family's crowd actors had completed their mission successfully...
When the smoke cleared, a group of disoriented Marine soldiers remained. Though the leading Marine Captain's eyes were red, he couldn't afford to care for his men's well-being, knowing his troubles were far from over. This was definitely premeditated!
"Investigate! Contact Marine Headquarters immediately and have them send people to identify these guys!" the Marine Captain roared. "The rest of you, spread out immediately and search the island for Edward Weevil's trail!"
The Marines' efficiency was quite good. Soon, Marine Headquarters received the news, and Vice Admiral Momonga immediately brought more men from Headquarters to Sabaody Archipelago.
However, just as Momonga arrived on Sabaody with a fierce determination to launch a massive search, he received a shocking piece of news: Edward Weevil had been found! And he'd come back on his own!
This was baffling, but it was true. And most unexpectedly, Edward Weevil hadn't just returned—he'd brought back a pirate he'd captured.
"What did you say?" Vice Admiral Momonga asked the Marine Lieutenant who came to report, with a puzzled look. "Are you trying to tell me that this whole commotion was actually a misunderstanding? Edward Weevil wasn't tricked away—he went off to catch a pirate on his own!?"
"N-no, Vice Admiral Momonga!" The Marine Lieutenant was sweating profusely, extremely nervous. "You'll understand when you come with us!"
Filled with doubt, Momonga followed the Marine Lieutenant to the island and found Edward Weevil. Only then did he understand why the Marine soldiers were so tense and on high alert.
Because Edward Weevil had not only brought back that pirate but was also loudly shouting the pirate's name: "I caught Queen the Plague! I caught Queen the Plague!"
Hearing that name and seeing the person Edward Weevil was holding, Vice Admiral Momonga's cold sweat also poured down...
Damn it, we've been set up again!
Momonga wasn't stupid. The whole thing reeked of suspicious circumstances. How could Queen the Plague, one of the Beast Pirates' Three Calamities, suddenly appear on Sabaody? How could Edward Weevil, that fool, disappear for a while and then come back having captured the infamous Queen? This was way too coincidental!
So, Momonga's first reaction was that the Marines had been tricked again.
Somehow, the Marines had developed this instinctive reflex for dealing with such suspicious situations...
"What the hell is going on!?" Momonga strode up to Edward Weevil and demanded, "Where did you go earlier!? Who gave you this woman!? Speak!"
But Edward Weevil was a blockhead. He widened his eyes and asked Momonga, "Who are you!? Why should I tell you!?"
"I am Vice Admiral Momonga of Marine Headquarters!" Momonga roared, veins bulging on his forehead. "I'm asking you, so you must answer me!"
Edward Weevil bit his finger, recalling what the person before had told him, and shook his head vigorously. "I found her on the island and caught her! I know she's a big pirate who can get me lots and lots of good food!"
Under the repeated emphasis of the Ian Family's silver-tongued members, Edward Weevil hadn't remembered much else, but he had firmly remembered that he must insist he caught Queen the Plague himself. Otherwise, the happiness of 'ten years' worth of barbecue' would be ruined...
Yes, Edward Weevil didn't even know who Queen the Plague was, but he knew this pirate could get him plenty of food.
So, as he spoke to Momonga, he instinctively pulled Queen behind him, as if afraid someone would take her away...
As for Queen the Plague, who was wearing Seastone Handcuffs, she had already resigned herself to her fate, but she still looked utterly defeated. She never imagined Ian would hand her over to such a big fool... One of the Three Calamities, and she felt she had lost all her dignity...
Seeing Edward Weevil acting like a dog guarding its food, Momonga felt a massive headache. The Marine Captain who had been leading the team cautiously approached and asked, "Vice Admiral Momonga, what do we do now?"
"Have you identified the identities of the troublemakers?" Momonga asked.
"Not yet," the Marine Captain hesitated. "The scene was too chaotic, and many faces weren't remembered, so we have no leads for now. But I've sent people to investigate the island's underground organizations. They might know something."
"Mm, right. Such a premeditated act couldn't have been done by scattered individuals," Momonga nodded. "As for Edward Weevil capturing Queen the Plague, I need to report this to the higher-ups..."
Although in the public eye, few had seen Queen the Plague, one of the Beast Pirates' Three Calamities, as a Marine Vice Admiral, Momonga naturally knew who she was. So, the moment he saw the person in Edward Weevil's hands, he knew it was the real deal. But precisely because of this, Momonga felt a chill. The number of people in the world capable of capturing Queen the Plague could be counted on one hand.
And as for who would use such a method to hand Queen over to the Marines, Momonga guessed it had to be Ian, no doubt about it!
But guessing was one thing; handling it was another. If Ian himself had delivered Queen, Momonga would have reported it immediately, had Marine Headquarters mobilize a large force to fight Ian first, and then claim afterward that it was Four Emperor Ian's plot to start a war between the Beast Pirates and the Marines.
But... Ian hadn't shown up at all. He'd used this method, passing Queen the Plague to the Marines through Edward Weevil.
With Edward Weevil, a Warlord of the Sea appointed by the World Government and the Marines, acting as the intermediary, the whole situation changed. It was like handing the credit for capturing Queen the Plague directly to the Marines.
When Kizaru and the others were competing for the Soul Fruit, the Beast Pirates had played a dirty trick on them, causing massive headaches for Marine Headquarters. Now, both the World Government and the member nations were questioning the Marines' capabilities.
Under these circumstances, Momonga vaguely sensed that this matter needed to be reported to the higher-ups; it wasn't something he could decide on his own.
Sure enough, when Momonga reported the situation, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's orders soon arrived: "Bring them back."
Who to bring back? That went without saying...
Momonga sighed, suppressing his deep concerns, and waved his hand, ordering everyone back to Marine Headquarters.
As the warship docked at Marineford Port, and Momonga led Edward Weevil and the 'captured' Queen the Plague off the ship, they were immediately surrounded by a swarm of news reporters!