Chapter 113 Full-Scale Arrest

Kaguya showed a victorious smile.

“Very well, then it’s settled. I’ll give the Marines one week to deliver the ransom to King Cobra of the Alabasta Kingdom. Once the items arrive, I will immediately release Vice Admiral Gumir and the others.”

“You’re not coming to the trade personally?”

Sengoku asked warily, the eyes of the den den mushi narrowing slightly.

“Trade personally?”

Kaguya sneered.

“Lord Fleet Admiral, do you think I’m stupid enough to meet you while carrying so many Marine prisoners? If the Marines change their minds at the last minute and send an Admiral to surround me, I won’t be able to handle it. I have done a favor for the Alabasta Kingdom, so King Cobra will act as a middleman to ensure the trade goes safely.”

As Kaguya spoke, he lightly patted Gumir’s cheek with the back of his blade.

“Of course, if the Marines dare to play any tricks, this Vice Admiral and these fine Marine soldiers will likely remain in the Grand Line forever.”

On the other end of the den den mushi, Sengoku was clearly suppressing his rage, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light behind his glasses.

“In one week, the items will be delivered to Alabasta. But Kaguya, remember this—the Marines will settle this debt sooner or later.”

“Then we’ll see if the Marines have what it takes.”

After saying that, he hung up the den den mushi, leaving Sengoku to slam the table in anger on the other end.

On the deck, the girls all showed joyful expressions.

“It worked!”

Nami waved her fist excitedly.

“Five hundred million Berries and a Devil Fruit, we hit the jackpot this time!”

Robin smiled slightly.

“It seems even the Marines have to bow their heads.”

Nojiko, however, was a bit worried.

“Still, we have to be careful if the Marines try any tricks.”

Kaguya nodded.

“Don’t worry, Fleet Admiral Sengoku still cherishes his subordinates.”

He looked at the bound Gumir and spoke in a lighthearted tone.

“Mr. Vice Admiral, I’ll have to trouble you to be our guest for a few days.”

Gumir snorted coldly, but the initial anger in his eyes was gone, replaced by deep helplessness.

In Marineford, several loud bangs of a table being slammed echoed from the Fleet Admiral’s office, and documents were scattered all over the floor.

After venting his anger, Sengoku shouted to the messenger outside the door: “Summon all commissioned officers currently at HQ for a meeting!”

Soon, all the officers currently at Headquarters arrived at the Fleet Admiral’s office.

However, the three Admirals were not at HQ.

Akainu was currently stationed at the G1 Branch in the New World and would not return to Marineford unless there was a reason; Kizaru was protecting Vegapunk and was also not in Marineford.

As for Kuzan, he had just left Marineford to recruit Kaguya into the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Sengoku looked around at the gathered officers, his face terrifyingly grim.

He slowly recounted Gumir’s capture and Kaguya’s conditions, and the meeting room instantly erupted into chaos.

“This is nothing short of blatant blackmail!”

Onigumo stood up and slammed the table.

“Fleet Admiral, we must never bow down to pirates!”

“But Vice Admiral Gumir and hundreds of Marine soldiers are in their hands,”

Vice Admiral Tsuru analyzed calmly.

“If we refuse, the Marines will face an unprecedented morale crisis.”

The atmosphere in the conference room grew increasingly heavy, and the seagull flag on the wall seemed to sigh silently.

Vice Admiral Momonga looked at the grim-faced Sengoku and asked, “Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you’ve already decided to agree to Kaguya’s conditions, haven’t you? After all, the safety of Vice Admiral Gumir and those Marine soldiers cannot be ignored.”

Sengoku took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

“That’s right, the Marines cannot abandon a single comrade. But this compromise does not mean we’ve lost.”

His sharp gaze swept across everyone present.

“This debt, we will certainly pay it back twofold!”

“But Fleet Admiral…”

Doberman frowned.

“If we compromise this time, I’m afraid it will embolden the pirates. Other Pirate Crews might follow suit…”

“That’s why this operation must be kept strictly confidential. To the outside world, we will claim that Vice Admiral Gumir is leading a team on a special mission. And the reason I’ve summoned you here is to prepare you to search for the Kaguya Pirate Crew’s whereabouts with all your might. Once the trade is complete and Vice Admiral Gumir and the others return safely, the Marines will immediately launch a full-scale encirclement and suppression operation!”

After a brief silence in the meeting room, the officers stood up and saluted one after another.

“Yes, sir!”

Kaguya’s blackmail had completely enraged Sengoku; the Marines dispatched over a dozen Headquarters Vice Admirals at once to capture Kaguya.

This kind of lineup was a treatment usually reserved for the Great Pirates of the New World. Kaguya, a rookie pirate who had just debuted with a bounty of only fifty million, was fortunate enough to enjoy this “luxurious” treatment.

After the Vice Admirals left, Sengoku thought for a moment, picked up a den den mushi, and called Kuzan.

The den den mushi rang for quite a while before someone picked up.

Kuzan’s lazy voice came through the den den mushi.

“Arara~”

“It’s Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Is something the matter?”

Sengoku suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice,

“Kuzan, regarding the recruitment of Kaguya as a Shichibukai, cancel it immediately.”

“Arara~”

“It’s Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Did something happen?”

Kuzan’s voice was still languid, but there was a hint of confusion in his tone.

“That bastard just kidnapped Gumir and hundreds of Marine soldiers, extorting five hundred million Berries and a Devil Fruit!”

Sengoku’s voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

The other end of the den den mushi was silent for a few seconds, and then Kuzan’s slightly surprised voice came through.

“That’s truly… unexpected.”

“Your mission is now changed to capturing the pirate Kaguya. Once you find his trail, capture him immediately. No negotiation needed.”

Sengoku said through gritted teeth.

“I want him to know the consequences of provoking the Marines!”

On the other end of the den den mushi, Kuzan sighed softly. His voice was still lazy, but it held a hint of seriousness.

“Understood, I’ll find him as soon as possible.”

After hanging up the phone, Sengoku rubbed his temples wearily.

He looked out the window, where the afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the port of Marineford, reflecting a blood-red hue.

This incident was no longer just about the ransom; it was a war concerning the dignity of the Marines.

Meanwhile, after Kaguya finished contacting King Cobra, he had the dragon soaring ten thousand miles continue toward Drum Island.

A dozen warships followed closely behind.

Nami and the other girls were forced to stay on these warships to watch over the prisoners.

On the decks of the warships, the captured Marine soldiers were closely guarded, but they were not mistreated; instead, they were given basic food and water.

Vice Admiral Gumir sat on the deck, silently observing everything.

“Mr. Vice Admiral, no need to be so tense.”

Kaguya walked over and handed him a cup of hot tea.

“We may be pirates, but we aren’t at the point of mistreating prisoners.”

Gumir took the teacup but didn’t drink it immediately, instead staring blankly at the reflection in the cup.

“Who exactly are you? With your strength, it’s impossible for you to be just a rookie pirate.”

“Don’t overthink it, Mr. Vice Admiral. I really am just a pirate who hasn’t been out at sea for very long. As for my strength, I’m naturally gifted, and combined with my hard work, that’s why I’m this strong.”

….

“Rajivbk”