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Chapter 80: I Will Lead The North Blue Fleet To Fight
Three days passed quickly.
"Admiral Sengoku, everything is ready," announced an officer.
"Three hours later, the target Byrnndi Valdo will land on an island to the north of Rubeck Island. This island is in no-man's land. I suggest we launch our operation there," he continued.
Sengoku, in the warship's cabin, listened to the report coming from the military phone and gradually frowned.
"Darren, can you confirm that this information is accurate?"
"Byrnndi Valdo's movements have been unpredictable over the last three days, and even the government hasn't been able to trace the Ward Pirates. If this intelligence is wrong and our Marines' actions become known, the efforts we've made to encircle and suppress them will be wasted," he explained with concern.
Sengoku glanced at Borsolino, who was nonchalantly picking at his nails.
"Admiral Sengoku, you can rest assured. There will be no mistakes," Darren replied confidently.
"The intelligence is from a reliable source. I have learned that Byrnndi Valdo has bought a large quantity of smuggled arms via the underground channels of North Blue, and the deal is set to happen on the target island."
A smile slowly formed on Sengoku's face as he heard Darren's assurance.
"Excellent. I knew I chose the right man."
After a moment of thought, he asked, "What are your suggestions for dealing with Byrnndi Waldo?"
Darren feigned hesitation before replying, "Admiral Sengoku, I'm merely a colonel at headquarters. It might be inappropriate for me to suggest military tactics in taking down a significant pirate like Byrnndi Valdo."
Sengoku couldn't help but laugh wryly, "Come on, don't play coy with me! Speak up if you have ideas. You'll certainly share in the credit once this operation is successful. Besides, your promotion application has already been filed. As soon as it passes the procedural reviews, a Commodore... you'll be officially qualified to be involved in this level of operation."
Sengoku was no fool.
Recognized as "The Resourceful General" within the Marines, his political savvy and strategic acumen were topnotch. After the Celestial Dragons Shields Saint incident, the Ward Pirates had become more cautious and elusive.
Even with the intelligence networks of the Marines and World Government CP agencies working hard, Byrnndi Waldo had managed to disappear.
Sengoku had used many personal connections, spoken with political leaders across North Blue, and sought any clues on Byrnndi Waldo's whereabouts, to no avail.
Yet here was Darren, the admiral of North Blue, presenting specific information within just two days.
This fact alone raised certain suspicions.
An outrageous idea flashed through Sengoku's mind.
Was it possible that...
"Darren! Did you set up this arms deal?" he asked seriously, his expression tensing.
After a brief silence, Admiral North Blue responded with a smile in his voice.
"Admiral Sengoku, your vision and resourcefulness are astonishing. Nothing can be hidden from you."
"Yes, I arranged this business."
"Byrnndi Waldo has been frantically recruiting troops, buying munitions in the past few days, and even built an amazingly large cannon. He's trying to destroy the troops led by Admiral Sengoku."
Boom!
Sengoku slammed his fist hard on the desk in front of him, his face gloomy as if it could drip water.
"Damn Byrnndi Waldo!!"
"Is he trying to blow away Marineford!?"
As a Marine Admiral who has fought Byrnndi Valdo many times, Sengoku knows the terrifying power of the former's Momo Fruit better than anyone else. If Byrnndi gets a hand on large-scale heavy artillery, not only the Marine troops he leads but also the whole Naval Headquarters Marineford could be blasted into the sky with one shot. And with Byrnndi Waldo's crazy, violent, and arrogant character, he might just dare to do it. But with this information in advance, there was time to deal with it.
Thinking this, Sengoku's anxious heart calmed down a little:
"You didn't give him that heavy cannon, did you, Darren? Well, I still believe in you, kid. You wouldn't do such a thing..."
"No, Admiral Sengoku... I indeed built him a cannon of unprecedented scale."
Darren interjected.
Sengoku: ...
A second later,
"--What did you say!!?"
Sengoku collapsed in his seat, his roar nearly lifting the cabin lid.
The sound was so loud that Borsolino couldn't help picking his ears.
"Are you insane?"
Sengoku, gritting his teeth, stared at the calm look of Darren transmitted by the phone bug with two lines of smoke coming out of his nostrils.
"Admiral Sengoku, don't worry. I have my reasons."
Darren's voice was steady.
"Byrnndi Waldo might seem crazy, but he's actually an extremely difficult man to deal with. While he has the ambition to destroy the world, he's not a reckless fool. Without a significant incentive, luring him out and killing him would be tough. Without this heavy artillery, he wouldn't rush to fight us, especially injured. Trapping him now in North Blue presents the best opportunity we can't miss. If he escapes to the Grand Line or even the New World, it'll be much harder to attack him later."
Listening to Darren's well-reasoned analysis, Sengoku's eyebrows were still tightly furrowed. He raised his hand to his temple and said:
"But Darren, it's too risky for you to do this."
"No, Admiral Sengoku, trust me."
The voice of the Admiral of North Blue was convincing.
"If I had the guts to give Byrnndi Waldo that heavy cannon, I have the confidence to deal with him. Regarding the mission, I have a suggestion."
Darren paused and then said clearly:
"I would like to command this operation. I will lead the North Blue fleet into battle!"