"That won't be possible. If it were just about dealing with the World Government, Fleet Admiral Sengoku wouldn't have sent Vice Admiral Garp along.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's intention is to get the blueprint of 'Pluton' without offending the World Government as much as possible.
And we can't let the World Government know that the Navy got the blueprint.
In other words, the best person to obtain the blueprint for 'Pluton' is you—a pirate on the surface but actually a Marine undercover agent."
As soon as Gion finished speaking, Wood's head was already shaking like a rattle, refusing her suggestion.
That old man Sengoku was clearly setting him up! He was just a rookie pirate, and even before his defection, he was only a Marine major. Did they really think he was some kind of 007?
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku didn't say that when he assigned me this secret mission.
He promised that he wouldn't make me do anything beyond my capabilities, and he said I was only responsible for gathering intelligence.
But according to this script, I'm supposed to go from a rookie pirate to a top-tier superstar overnight!"
Stealing the blueprint for 'Pluton' right under the World Government's nose would undoubtedly make Wood a sworn enemy of the entire World Government.
And if he managed to snatch that blueprint from Vice Admiral Garp and Rear Admiral Gion, his name would undoubtedly spread across the seas overnight.
For a pirate, having a huge reputation is undoubtedly a good thing.
However, the problem is that when your fame surpasses your level of strength, it's not as wonderful as it seems.
The name of the ancient weapon 'Pluton' would attract interest from more than just the World Government; many other powerful figures on the seas would have their eyes on it as well.
As the holder of the blueprint, Wood would not only offend the World Government, but he would also become a target for countless others. He'd be relentlessly pursued by both sides.
"Regarding that, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru have discussed it.
If you manage to get the blueprint for 'Pluton,' Vice Admiral Garp and I will handle the pursuit, and Marine traitor Wood will ultimately 'die' at sea, with the blueprint for 'Pluton' lost in the ocean, its whereabouts unknown.
Your undercover mission can end early, and afterward, the headquarters will send you to a remote area to serve as a base captain for a few years. Once things calm down, you can return."
To both the World Government and the powerful figures in the New World, Wood is just a small, insignificant character.
A small fry who got lucky and stumbled upon the blueprint for 'Pluton,' only to die at the hands of someone like Garp, is completely believable.
Neither the World Government nor the great pirates of the New World would pay much attention to such a minor figure. After a few years, Wood could easily return under a new identity.
Indeed, when Fleet Admiral Sengoku initially assigned Wood the task of going undercover among the pirates, it was meant to be a long-term plan, allowing him to grow gradually.
But the appearance of the ancient weapon 'Pluton' had thrown off his rhythm.
Letting Wood abandon the mission would be a shame, especially since Sengoku had witnessed his impressive intelligence-gathering capabilities through this incident.
However, if they could secure 'Pluton,' Sengoku felt it would be a worthwhile trade-off.
"We'll see how things play out. After all, things often don't go as smoothly as planned."
Now that Wood knew the Navy's entire plan, he didn't outright refuse to cooperate with Gion's operation because he understood that while Sengoku's plan was good, the process would likely be far from smooth.
Especially since Spandam was only suspecting that the blueprint for 'Pluton' was in Tom's hands; getting him to hand it over wouldn't be easy.
After discussing the matter, Wood turned to leave, but Gion quickly stepped in front of him.
"Is there something else?" Wood asked.
Without saying a word, Gion simply extended her slender hand toward him.
"Uh, Gion, even though I'm a pirate now, I don't go around looting and plundering like other pirates, so I'm a bit short on cash.
Don't worry, after this is all over, I'll rob a few wealthy pirate crews and pay you back double!"
Seeing Gion make a gesture asking for something, Wood thought she was angry about the previous incident and was now demanding payment, so he immediately started making excuses.
Honestly, back when he was in the Navy, Wood always felt that living off his salary was financially hopeless. But even after switching careers to become a pirate, he was still dirt poor.
No, to be precise, he was even poorer now than before. At least when he was a Marine, he had some spare cash in his pocket.
But now that he was a pirate, he had to ask Robin, who managed the finances, for pocket money whenever he wanted to buy something.
"Who's asking for money? I want my Vivre Card back!
Don't misunderstand—since you have a piece of my Vivre Card, it's only fair that I have yours too. It's not fair that only you know my whereabouts while I'm left in the dark about yours!"
Gion's demand made Wood instinctively want to refuse. After all, there were times when he wanted to do things that he didn't want others to know about, and having his movements monitored by Gion wasn't ideal.
Don't get the wrong idea; the things Wood didn't want others to know about were only related to the Navy.
In fact, Wood had been thinking about contacting the Revolutionary Army. After all, he was no longer a Marine but a pirate with a sense of justice.
While being loyal to multiple factions was generally frowned upon, it was always wise to have a backup plan.
Many of the high-ranking Marine officers were genuinely just, but they were ultimately bound by the World Government.
The Revolutionary Army, though weaker now, would eventually grow into a significant force. Investing in them early could secure more leverage for the future.
Now, on the surface, he was a pirate, but in reality, he was still with the Marines, while his heart leaned toward the Revolutionary Army. Navigating among these three forces, he wasn't worried about his future.
"You have three choices: either let me cut you twice to vent my anger, pay me back immediately, or give me your Vivre Card!
As your biggest creditor, it's reasonable for me to keep track of your movements!"
Seeing Wood's hesitation, Gion grew impatient and reached for her sword, Konpira.
Out of instinctive fear, Wood quickly handed over his Vivre Card, decisively choosing to give up the third option.
When faced with the choice between life, money, and freedom, freedom didn't stand a chance!
*******
P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 275+ at patreon.com/Emik01.