Pirate: I'm about to do something big!

Chapter 69 Night Talk

After Alyosha accepted the compromise proposed by Akainu Sakazuki, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had no choice but to negotiate this compromise with the World Government.

Soon, the World Economic News Agency also obtained firsthand information from the world government and sent out another report.

Hanafuda, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was stripped of his title for colluding with the Three Disasters to attack the Navy's G-1 branch near the entrance to the New World. He will soon be sent to Impel Down's sixth underground prison for life imprisonment.

Alyosha Yozuru, who defeated the Three Disasters and captured Hanafuda, a Shichibukai, was not promoted but transferred from headquarters to serve as the base chief of the G-1 branch.

The news caused an uproar among the marines at headquarters.

They couldn't understand why Alyosha's heroic actions at G-1 branch, such as fighting the Three Disasters and capturing Hanafuda, a Shichibukai, which boosted the morale of the Navy, would result in him being transferred away from headquarters, simply because the World Government was afraid of going to war with Kaido.

That night, at Alyosha's lodging in Marineford.

Smoker and Tina, both of their comrades-in-arms, were speaking out in support of Alyosha.

"Are you kidding me! Does Kaido really have the guts to go to war with the World Government and our Navy?!"

"The point isn't what you think, Smoker, it's what the World Government thinks."

Alyosha looked at Smoker, who was indignant, but he himself felt no anger at all, as if he wasn't the one being punished.

"What does Nasakazuki mean by transferring you from headquarters to become the commander of the G-1 branch base, and forbidding you from returning to headquarters without orders? Is he that afraid of you competing with him for the position of Marshal?!"

When it came to Akainu, the newly appointed admiral, Smoker didn't show much respect in his words.

The navy was never a harmonious place; everyone had their own sense of justice, and they were all unhappy with each other's sense of justice.

Akainu's extreme sense of justice, which dictates that anything he deems evil must be eradicated, is supported by some members of the Navy, including the World Government, but is strongly disapproved of by some Marines, including Smoker.

"Smoker, this is Marineford. Watch your voice. Tina doesn't want to bring you food from solitary confinement."

Hearing Smoker's angry words, Tina, who was sitting next to him, also spoke up to remind him.

Smoker was indignant, but he could only keep quiet.

Alyosha looked at his two friends who cared about his future and smiled freely.

"Alright, I'm fine, I haven't been demoted, and I can still serve as the base commander of the G-1 branch, directly fighting pirates in the New World. I think it's great. What? You really want me to become the Fleet Admiral? Let me make this clear first, even if I become the Fleet Admiral, Smoker, if your strength isn't up to par, I won't let you become an Admiral."

"Yes, Smoker's Haki training is indeed inadequate. Tina doesn't think Smoker is fit to be an admiral."

"Hey! You two!"

Listening to his confidante and Alyosha mocking him in unison, Smoker became even more furious.

Before he could finish venting his anger, Alyosha poured wine for Smoker and Tina, calming Smoker down.

"Both of your applications have been approved, right?"

"Yeah, I'm going to Loguetown. Tina's been transferred to work for Mr. Garp. And you, from now on, I'll have to go to Branch G-1 to see you. Tsk."

"It's all about fighting pirates, no difference. The G-1 branch isn't far from headquarters, so you don't need to worry about being harassed by pirates along the way. When are you leaving? I'll see you off."

"I'll take you there. Sakazuki is really eager for you to get to the G-1 branch."

Smoker clinked glasses with Alyosha, slightly annoyed, but seeing Alyosha's indifferent expression, he couldn't be bothered to get angry for him anymore.

Having known Alyosha for so many years, he still found it difficult to discern much from Alyosha's face. He always wore that kind, indifferent smile, except when dealing with powerful and wicked pirates.

After the three finished their farewell drinks, Alyosha prepared to see Smoker and Tina off. Just as he reached the door, he saw Aokiji and Zephyr waiting for them outside.

"Zeff, Kuzan?"

"Use honorifics with me, Smoker."

"I can't bring myself to say that to a lazy guy like you."

Smoker and Kuzan exchanged a few words before Smoker reluctantly left with Tina.

Alyosha watched Smoker and Tina leave before inviting Kuzan and Zephyr into the house.

Zepha, who had originally intended to say something to Alyosha, saw Alyosha's attitude and knew that he didn't take the incident of being tricked by Sakazuki during the day to heart. He sighed and gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Ran, it seems I really am getting old. If only I could have fought alongside you back then..."

Zephyr sighed. In the world of One Piece, one of the essential factors for becoming a strong person is mindset. Once the mindset is flawed, strength will regress instead of improve.

Gecko Moria and Crocodile are prime examples among the Seven Warlords of the Sea. In his youth, the former dared to fight Kaido, but he lost and his entire army was wiped out, leaving him the sole survivor. After that, he went to the Fog Sea to claim territory and become king.

The latter went even further, setting up a Baroque Works in the Paradise Sea, the first half of the Grand Line, to build up his influence and even blast fish in fishponds.

Having played too much of the "fish-blasting game," they even stopped training their Haki and regressed, resulting in both of them falling victim to Luffy.

Zephyr was in a similar situation; the killing of his wife and children had a significant impact on his mental state, otherwise he wouldn't have stepped down to become the chief instructor of the Naval Academy.

Zephyr's current strength is enough to fight Hanafuda, but he would have a hard time winning against any of the Three Disasters. During the battle between Alyosha and the Three Disasters at the G-1 branch, he could only watch from the outside.

"Zeff-sensei, I chose to join the Navy because of you."

Alyosha's words made Zephyr feel much better, and he looked at Aokiji, who had come with him to find Alyosha.

"You're still as good at comforting people as ever, but this time I came with Kuzan. He has something to say to you."

Alyosha glanced at Aokiji, who had a serious expression, and waited for him to speak.

"Why did we accept Sakazuki's proposal?"

"Mr. Kuzan, I don't understand."

"You understand perfectly well, Ran. Sengoku-sensei doesn't want to see you leave headquarters, but you yourself want to leave. Have you wavered in your belief in the justice upheld by the Navy, Ran?"

Aokiji stared intently into Alyosha's eyes, trying to find the answer within them.

Alyosha understood why Aokiji acted this way. The Ohara annihilation operation, ordered by the World Government and carried out by the Navy, made Admiral Aokiji waver in his commitment to the Navy's cause of justice.

This wavering caused some problems with his mentality, turning him from a passionate young man like Garp in his youth into a so-called lazy righteous man now.

This change in mindset also made Aokiji less enthusiastic in the later competition for Fleet Admiral. He lost the battle with Akainu that lasted ten days and ten nights and paid the price of losing a leg.

It can be said that if Aokiji wanted the position of Fleet Admiral, even if Akainu made a deal with the Five Elders of the World Government, he still wouldn't get it, because everyone in the Marine Headquarters, from Sengoku down to the privates, supported Aokiji becoming the Fleet Admiral.

Even after Aokiji left the Navy and Akainu became Fleet Admiral and moved the Navy Headquarters to the New World, this support did not disappear. A bunch of his subordinates were outwardly obedient but inwardly defiant of Fleet Admiral Akainu's orders.

Now, Aokiji also saw his own reflection in the plan that Alyosha had agreed to Akainu during the day, which is why he came to him.

Alyosha did not avoid Aokiji's gaze and calmly said, "Mr. Kuzan, my belief in the Navy's justice has never wavered. The Navy's justice is to maintain peace and tranquility at sea and to fight pirates, Mr. Kuzan."

That's the truth. At least Alyosha has been doing this all these years since he joined the Navy. As for how Kuzan interprets it, that's his problem.

At least for now, Kuzan couldn't see any wavering in Alyosha's eyes regarding the justice upheld by the Navy.

Not getting the answer he wanted, Kuzan got up to leave, but Alyosha called him back.

"Mr. Kuzan, if you feel uncomfortable staying at headquarters, feel free to come visit G-1 branch whenever you have time. Anyway, Marineford isn't far from G-1 branch, it's just a matter of riding your bicycle."

Kuzan paused for a moment, which was taken as an agreement.

Seeing Aokiji Kuzan leave, Zephyr didn't linger. He had only come to see how Alyosha was feeling, but it seemed that nothing was wrong, and he was the one being comforted.

After thinking for a moment, Zefa said, "Ran, I am very happy to have a student like you. I also believe in the justice you uphold. Therefore, as your teacher, I also have a gift to give you."

"Where?"

"You'll find out when you're all packed up and ready to go to Branch G-1."

Zefa, like Alyosha, kept everyone in suspense before laughing and leaving.

After seeing the two off and making sure no one else came to visit, Alyosha returned to his residence, closed the door, and began packing his luggage.

It's basically a collection of Alyosha's experiences and observations from every member state he's encountered while sailing to fight pirates over the years. It fills an entire bookshelf and is all the stuff he plans to take to the G-1 branch. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be staying at the G-1 branch for a long time.

This tidying up took until midnight.

Alyosha was sorting and packing his observations when he heard a noise coming from the balcony.

He wasn't surprised at all, and without turning his head, he said, "Miss Monet, thank you very much this time."

"It's quite a strange experience to hear a brigadier general from headquarters say thank you to me."

A beautiful woman stepped out from the balcony.

Tall and slender with a graceful figure, she had long, emerald-green hair that reached her waist. Her pale golden eyes looked at Alyosha, who was tidying up his notes of what he had seen and heard in the house with his back to her. She also took out a spy Den Den Mushi from her pocket and placed it on the table.

"You helped me, so it's only right that I say thank you."

"Don't get me wrong, it was you who said you had a way to restore Sugar to her original form that I sent a message to Doflamingo. But you really believe me."

"I just know Doflamingo quite well, and I believe in my own abilities. But Ms. Monet is truly a very caring older sister. I will keep my promise to you."

Alyosha beckoned and caught the spy Den Den Mushi that Monet had placed on the table in his palm.

"A young naval commander capable of defeating the Three Disasters has chosen to leave headquarters and become the base commander of G-1 branch. Alyosha Ran, what exactly do you want?"

Monet looked at the spy Den Den Mushi held in Alyosha's hand. As the oldest member of the Donquixote Family who had been abducted from Doflamingo by Alyosha, she was not as easily fooled as those youngsters.

He isn't very loyal to Doflamingo, but he won't just jump on Alyosha's bandwagon so easily. He also has a Den Den Mushi (spy phone) that allows him to communicate directly with Doflamingo.

Alyosha was well aware of this, so the day before Zephyr led the new recruits out to sea for training, he directly confronted Monet, offering to help Monet's sister Sugar overcome the side effects of eating the Hobby-Hobby Fruit as leverage, so that Monet could send a message to Doflamingo, informing him that Alyosha would be taking the family members he had taken from Doflamingo with him on Zephyr's new recruits' ship.

This would be a good opportunity if they wanted to win back their family members.

Knowing he was no match for Alyosha, Doflamingo immediately used his underground network to get in touch with Kaido in Wano Country. He paid a heavy price to get Kaido to send out all three calamities to ambush Zephyr's new troop ship on its route.

It just so happens that Hanafuda, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, interfered, and this guy was just unlucky to have come along.

However, Monet did not expect Alyosha to be so powerful, kicking Hanafuda, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, to death as if he were a nobody, and defeating the Three Disasters, leaving them wounded and forced to flee.

Alyosha's entire scheme ultimately resulted in him only wanting the position of base commander of the G-1 branch.

She didn't understand why, given Alyosha's strength and status at the Navy Headquarters, becoming the base commander of G-1 Branch would be a simple matter of a word, so why go to all this trouble?

"The New Era".

"What?"

"As I said, Miss Monet, what I want is a new era, a new era that I envision. So I need a suitable and reasonable reason, plus a helper, to get me out of the Marine Headquarters. It's that simple."

"That's a very straightforward idea. So, what should I do next?"

Alyosha turned around and slowly walked towards Monet.

Monet also subconsciously took a few steps back, her expression tense. She knew that Alyosha could easily kill her with his strength.

Alyosha simply placed the spy Den Den Mushi, which allowed him to contact Doflamingo directly, on the table, reached into his pocket, pulled out a pair of round-framed glasses from the lining, and put them on Monet's face.

With his glasses on, Monet's face, which already possessed a somewhat aloof air, gained a touch of intellectual charm.

Alyosha sized her up for a few seconds before nodding in satisfaction and saying, "Hmm, with glasses on, Miss Monet looks exactly like the secretary to the commander of the Navy's G-1 branch base. It suits her very well."

"You want me to be your secretary?"

"That's right, let's share this good news with Doflamingo. We have to make him happy."

On the other side, on a small island in the New World Sea.

Shanks, who had left the East Blue, was confronting an uninvited guest with his core crew. The uninvited guest was a man wearing a burgundy patterned shirt, a black trench coat, white trousers, black ankle boots, and a black top hat adorned with white fur.

The man's name was Dracule Mihawk, but pirates and marines on the high seas usually referred to him by his nickname and his given name together.

Hawkeye Mihawk!

One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the world's greatest swordsman.

The sword hanging on his back is one of the twelve supreme grade swords of this world, the black sword Yoru!

His purpose in being there was only one: Mihawk was holding a World Economic News newspaper and looking at Shanks sitting in the center surrounded by his crew.

The newspaper featured a striking photo of Alyosha.

"Shanks, is he the man who cut off your arm in the East Blue?"

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