NOVEL NEXT Chapter 101: CHAPTER 101
Sengoku felt this arrangement was perfect. After all, who would suspect that Vice Admiral Vergo, the base chief of G-5, was secretly allied with the Donquixote Pirates? His hidden allegiance to Doflamingo made him a valuable double agent in this critical operation.
Meanwhile, Kaido, the feared "Hundred Beasts," had also sent his subordinate to Marineford, adding another layer of intrigue to the gathering. As Sengoku issued his orders, he rose from his desk and walked toward the conference room, accompanied by Vice Admiral Tsuru, the seasoned tactician.
With a push, the heavy doors of the room creaked open, and an oppressive aura filled the space. Sengoku strode to the head of the round table, his expression impassive as he placed his hands on the table.
"Long time no see, villains of the sea," he said evenly.
"Fuffuffuffu…" Doflamingo perched lazily on his chair, laughing. "What's this, an attempt at flattery, Sengoku?"
Before Sengoku could reply, another voice cut through the room.
"Zehahahaha! This isn't exactly a begging tone, Fleet Admiral."
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach sat smugly, his grin as wide as ever. Sengoku's sharp eyes scanned the room, landing on Teach. It was Blackbeard who had replaced Crocodile as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a move Sengoku suspected had ulterior motives. Teach's ambition was palpable; becoming a Shichibukai was merely a stepping stone.
Surveying the room further, Sengoku's gaze rested on the other Warlords. Even those present had their own agendas, from Mihawk, who seemed lost in thought about Shanks, to Boa Hancock, whose disdain for her company was evident. Only Bartholomew Kuma, who had been rendered emotionless through modifications, remained devoid of schemes.
"Let's get to the point," Sengoku declared, nodding to Tsuru.
As Tsuru began outlining the mission details, Doflamingo's usual smirk wavered for a moment under her gaze, perhaps recalling her relentless pursuit of him in the past.
However, the room's atmosphere was one of distraction. Blackbeard was already envisioning his next move, his ambition brimming beneath the surface. Mihawk thought of his encounter with Shanks, who had spoken of preventing the war—an impossible feat at this stage.
Boa Hancock, meanwhile, was deep in her own thoughts. Surrounded by pirates she detested, her mind wandered to a single figure—Alastor. The thought of him softened her expression, though she quickly masked it with her usual arrogance.
Elsewhere in the New World
On Beast Island, a figure sneezed loudly. Alastor rubbed his nose, a grin forming.
"Someone must be thinking about me. Yamato? Or maybe that crazy girl Ulti?" he mused.
His thoughts shifted to Boa Hancock, recalling her striking figure and regal demeanor.
"Yeah, it could be her…" he chuckled.
Just then, Rebecca approached, her cheeks flushed as she reported, "Brother Alastor, all the food supplies have been gathered."
Alastor ruffled her hair affectionately. "Good work. Your control over your Dragon-Dragon Fruit is improving."
Rebecca blushed, replying shyly, "There's still a lot I can't manage…"
"Haha, don't worry. Once this war is over, I'll help you fully master it," Alastor promised.
Overwhelmed with joy, Rebecca impulsively kissed his cheek, leaving a faint blush on her face as she turned away. Alastor laughed, amused by her boldness.
Meanwhile, at the G-5 Branch, Vergo received his orders from Marine Headquarters.
"So, I'm to monitor the Beast Pirates?" he muttered with a rare smile.
Gathering his troops, he set sail for Wano. Standing on the deck, Vergo gazed at the tranquil sea, sensing the turmoil beneath its surface.
The war was imminent, and the tides of the era were shifting. As Whitebeard's time drew to a close, the battle for supremacy among the world's strongest began. Who would emerge as the final king?
Vergo firmly believed that Doflamingo was destined to reign supreme. Doflamingo was a born king, having awakened Conqueror's Haki at a young age and carrying the bloodline of the Celestial Dragons. Despite being allied with Kaido and operating under his shadow, Vergo knew this relationship was merely temporary—a strategic alliance to further Doflamingo's ambitions.
Doflamingo wasn't the type to remain subordinate for long. The SMILE trade and arms dealings with Kaido were tools to destabilize the world and challenge the World Government. Vergo was certain that one day, Doflamingo would surpass Kaido and ascend as the ultimate king of the seas.
With this unwavering belief, Vergo set sail for Wano Country after receiving orders to monitor the Beast Pirates. However, true to his nature, Vergo had no intention of following orders to the letter. Instead, he stopped in the waters outside Wano, sending small reconnaissance ships to observe from a distance.
"This is just to enjoy the show," Vergo muttered, a faint smirk breaking his usually stern expression.
From Doflamingo, Vergo had learned that Kaido and his crew were planning a significant move. He was curious to witness the Beast Pirates' might firsthand—and to see the man known as "Thunder Calamity," a figure Vergo had encountered briefly in the past.
This man, Alastor, had made waves across the world for daring to kill a Celestial Dragon at Sabaody Archipelago—something even Doflamingo, despite his disdain for the Celestial Dragons, would never do so recklessly.
"I wonder what chaos that man will cause this time," Vergo thought to himself.
But Vergo's expectations would go unmet. Alastor was no longer in Wano Country; he had chosen a different path entirely.
10,000 meters below the ocean's surface…
Alastor was aboard the Heart Pirates' submarine, pushing the vessel to its limits. Alongside Trafalgar Law, he planned to bypass the Navy's extensive surveillance network surrounding Marineford. The Navy had deployed numerous patrol ships to monitor the area, making surface travel nearly impossible.
"The Navy has prepared well," Alastor remarked, gazing at the underwater landscape through the submarine's window. "But they've overlooked one thing—they don't monitor the seabed."
Beside him, Rebecca's eyes sparkled with wonder at the vibrant underwater scenery. Having grown up in the war-torn kingdom of Dressrosa, she had rarely seen such beauty.
Seeing her excitement, Alastor smiled gently. "Enjoy the view while you can, Rebecca. But remember, once we reach Marineford, you're to stay hidden. Doflamingo will be there, and we can't risk him spotting you."
Rebecca nodded obediently, her usual confidence softened by his words.
"And you, Trafalgar," Alastor continued, turning to Law. "Be cautious. If Doflamingo catches wind of you, it'll jeopardize your plan to become a Shichibukai."
Law responded with his usual calm demeanor. "I'm well aware. I've waited this long; I can wait a little longer."
Alastor smirked. "Good. Then we'll wait here for Whitebeard's fleet. Once they arrive, we'll move together."
Meanwhile, at Marineford…
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was deep in thought. Moments ago, an intelligence officer had reported a troubling development:
"The scout ships monitoring the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World… all of them have gone silent. We've lost contact with every vessel."
Sengoku's expression remained composed, but his sharp mind worked quickly. "Whitebeard must have destroyed them. He's erasing any trace of his movements."
Despite the setback, Sengoku remained confident. "It doesn't matter. We've prepared a trap he cannot escape."
The waters surrounding Marineford were lined with patrol ships and special barriers. Even if Whitebeard managed to breach the port, Sengoku had a contingency plan: massive walls constructed from an unbreakable alloy, designed to rise and trap any intruders.
"When Whitebeard arrives, we'll surround him like a rat in a cage," Sengoku declared, his eyes glinting with resolve. "Even the so-called strongest man in the world will fall into the palm of my hand."
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