Chapter 52: The Preparation Begins
Kizaru eyed the troublesome Luffy standing before him. Things were about to get tough.
"Admiral, we've arrived at Marineford!" a soldier reported.
"Take these supernovas to Impel Down and make sure they are well guarded," Kizaru instructed, making his way to the Fleet Admiral's office.
About half an hour later, Kizaru arrived at the office. He was greeted by an overturned desk and two ominous stares. One came from Garp, the other from Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Ahem!" Kizaru coughed, beginning his report. He summarized his mission, stating he had captured ten of the eleven supernovas, with Zoro from the Straw Hat Pirates being the only escapee. The others were currently on their way to Impel Down.
"You've done well!" Sengoku retracted his glare and pointed to the messy office. "Sit wherever you like!"
Kizaru scanned the room and chose a spot far from Garp. But no sooner had he sat down than a shadow loomed over him—it was Garp, with a dark expression.
"How did you handle this?" Garp demanded.
"Garp, this is the Fleet Admiral's office. If you want to talk, take it outside!" Sengoku reprimanded.
"No, I must get to the bottom of this today!" Garp insisted, his anger simmering. Sengoku already knew about the money Garp had secretly given Kizaru. Today, if Kizaru didn't give a satisfactory answer, not even the Red-Haired Shanks with his Conqueror's Haki could stop him.
"I didn't want this either!" Kizaru was exasperated, recalling how Lin Yan had forced Luffy onto him. He wore a pained expression. Actually, if Kizaru had been a bit more shameless, he could have thrown Luffy overboard during the return trip. The problem was, ten warships were accompanying him, with thousands of people on those ships. Letting Luffy go in front of so many people was out of the question—Kizaru still had his pride!
Kizaru then explained what happened in the Sabaody Archipelago. Sengoku and Garp had anticipated Rayleigh's interference. However, the appearance of a division commander from the Whitebeard Pirates was unexpected.
Initially stern, Sengoku began to ponder, stroking his chin. Another point puzzled him—why did this division commander insist on handing Luffy to Kizaru? Sengoku couldn't believe Lin Yan had no motives or plans. But what was he plotting? Unable to predict the future, Sengoku couldn't foresee Lin Yan's next move. However, this no longer mattered—he didn't believe Luffy could stir up trouble in the most secure Impel Down!
At that moment, the office door opened. An elderly woman with gray hair and a Navy staff uniform walked in, followed by a few youthful and beautiful women. This was Tsuru, the current Vice Admiral and Chief Staff Officer of the Navy. She had worked with Garp and Sengoku for many years, and even admirals showed her respect!
Tsuru walked in, her eyes sharp and body slightly hunched. She calmly removed her gloves, saying, "Are you done arguing?"
Hearing Tsuru's words, Sengoku and Garp stopped talking.
"Currently, the Navy's forces are fully assembled, all warships are ready, and the Marineford defenses are set," Tsuru announced. "Sengoku... it's your move!"
Tsuru's eyes sparkled as she looked at Sengoku. Knowing what her old friend intended to do, they understood each other without deliberate discussion. As her words fell, the previously noisy office fell silent.
Why had the Navy set up Marineford this way? Undoubtedly, preparations for the Summit War were underway! Now, with Marineford ready, the troops poised, and the warships prepared, it was time. Using Ace as the bait, they would go to war with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Sengoku remained silent for a long time, his eyes gleaming. "It's time to settle old scores from the previous era!" he declared.
"Oh, we're really going to face the Whitebeard Pirates!" Kizaru mused, recalling Lin Yan from the Sabaody Archipelago, smiling.
"Sengoku, can't we delay this?" Garp, who had been confident moments before, now spoke with a trembling voice. He thought of Ace suffering in prison, his eyes filled with years of hardship showing a hint of pain. No matter how rebellious Ace and Luffy were, he was still their grandfather! Especially thinking of the prison, Roger had entrusted Ace to him. Scene after scene played like a slideshow in his mind. Unknowingly, so many years had passed!
Thinking about it, Garp's face grew even more wrinkled, making him look decades older.
Tsuru looked at Garp and sighed, "Ah, what a tangled relationship!"
"Guards!" Sengoku called out, unable to afford any distractions at such a crucial moment.
"Fleet Admiral!" Several soldiers entered, saluting.
"Watch Garp. He is not to leave Marineford for any reason!" Sengoku pointed at Garp and issued the order.
Soon, surrounded by soldiers, Garp left the office.
"Tsuru, Borsalino, you two also go and prepare!" Sengoku assigned their tasks.
As he walked out the door, Sengoku gazed into the distance. It was the plaza of Marineford. At the center of the plaza, the seagull flag fluttered in the wind. Eradicating the Whitebeard Pirates and reclaiming control over the Grand Line was a conviction that had grown stronger in Sengoku's heart.
After the Sabaody Archipelago incident involving the Celestial Dragons, in the blink of an eye, the Summit War—this epic clash between the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates, the most intense battle since the start of the new era—was gradually unfolding.