In the living area, in the courtyard of the Ortolan family, the midday sun was high, and Ortolan was playing with Ace on the grass.
This little guy can crawl around everywhere now, babbling away, I don't know what he's saying, but his expressions are very rich, and he's incredibly healthy and full of energy.
"I saw that all the other generals went to the headquarters for a meeting. Why didn't you go?" Rouge asked as she came out of the house with a cup of hot tea in her hand, handing it to Ortolan.
Ortolan took the tea and said with a smile, "I know what I need to know. The Admiral Sengoku and the others have also expressed their opinions. This meeting is just to allow the other admirals to express their thoughts, vent their frustrations, and strengthen the spirit and unity of the Marines. I don't need to go."
"Is it alright for you to be absent like this?" Rouge asked with concern.
"No problem, the Admiral knows too. Didn't you see that Teacher Zephyr didn't have a meeting today, but went to class as usual?" Ortolan said nonchalantly.
"So, how many days are you going to rest at home this time?" Seeing this, Rouge stopped asking questions and started inquiring about other things.
"Let's wait until the meeting is over. In less than two days, I'll have to return to the New World. There's a ton of stuff to do at G-5, and now they've created the Shichibukai. Tsk tsk, there's never a single peaceful day on the high seas," Ortolan remarked.
Rouge nodded and then said, "Come back and visit more often when you have time. Ace likes you very much."
"Yes, I'll come back when I have the chance. I'll leave things at home in your care," Ortolan said.
The two then chatted about some casual things, mostly Rouge talking and Ortolan listening. Most of the conversation was about Ace, and there was also some gossip about the families of the various generals of the 2nd Division.
Ortolan didn't notice that his relationship with Rouge was becoming more and more like that of a real couple. The initial awkwardness and distance between them had faded naturally, or perhaps it had disappeared under Rouge's subconscious guidance.
Just as the two were chatting about these everyday topics, the Den Den Mushi that Ortolan was carrying suddenly rang.
He took out a Den Den Den Mushi and saw that it was a call from Momonga. This time when they returned to the 2nd Division, Issho and Momonga stayed at G-5 to oversee things and did not come back with Ortolan.
Without thinking twice, Ortolan answered the Den Den Mushi and asked, "It's me, what's up?"
"We've found information on Douglas Bullet. Are you done with your work on that side?" the Momonga replied quickly.
Ortolan raised an eyebrow and said, "There are a lot of things going on in the department, but it's not really my concern anymore. You could say I'm done with my work."
After a pause, Ortolan added, "Have someone keep a close eye on that guy. Don't make any rash moves. We'll talk about it when I get back."
Since Roger's execution, Douglas Bullet seems to have lost his goal and has begun to rampage across the sea, indiscriminately attacking various areas.
He fights pirates, he fights the Marines, and he frequently attacks countries, causing massacres and such—he's like a madman.
People like this can't be kept around. Like I said, what the Marines can't stand the most are these headstrong, impulsive types who act without logic or style, relying entirely on chaos. When they're in the mood, they'll do anything. People like this can't be kept around.
Ortolan didn't like people like that either. You're always talking about massacring cities and destroying countries in the New World. Isn't that wiping out my clients? How can I tolerate that?
Moreover, the G-5 that Ortolan took over was destroyed by Douglas Bullet. As the new base commander, he has the responsibility and the necessity to avenge the G-5.
In this way, he will be able to further enhance his prestige within G-5.
"I understand, but judging from his trajectory, he seems to be heading towards the Newland Sea Area where the Whitebeard Pirates are currently located. If he continues like this, he is very likely to come into contact with the Whitebeard Pirates, and an unexpected battle may break out..." Momonga added.
"He really thinks he can fly?" Ortolan sneered.
Douglas Bullet is undeniably powerful, but Ortolan still believes his reputation is overstated. On the high seas, the general consensus about him is that he is a berserk monster.
Back then, some rumors circulated from Roger's ship that Glass Bullet was able to fight Rayleigh to a draw.
To be honest, Ortolan was skeptical of this claim. At that time, Douglas Bullet was only fifteen years old. He had been with the Roger Pirates two years and left at the age of seventeen.
In other words, he was at most seventeen years old when he fought Rayleigh, most likely around sixteen.
At sixteen, he fought to a draw with Rayleigh, who was at his peak.
Just kidding. Ortolan is already a monster enough. At eighteen, he was still beaten like a kid by Rayleigh. If Bullet could fight Rayleigh to a draw at sixteen, then the one who should be worried now that he is heading towards the Whitebeard Pirates is probably the so-called Strongest Man Whitebeard!
On this vast ocean, you probably won't find anyone stronger than him!
Therefore, Ortolan simply did not believe that this guy could fight to a draw with Rayleigh at his peak when he was sixteen. Even if there was such a result, it was most likely that Rayleigh held back, after all, they were partners in the same boat.
Therefore, Ortolan believed that if Douglas Bullet really went after Whitebeard, he would only end up getting a beating.
Today, Whitebeard truly deserves to be called the number one pirate, and he certainly lives up to the title of the Strongest Man.
Roger, the old rival, is dead, Shiki is in jail again, and the Red Count has long been arrested. Looking across the entire ocean, the Whitebeard now claims to be invincible, and doesn't seem to have any problems.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing, it's just a rumor, it hasn't been confirmed yet." Momonga seemed to remember something and said, "The reason why the Whitebeard Pirates are currently in the Newland Sea Area is possibly to meet their Second Division Commander, Kozuki Oden, who is the Wano Country samurai who arrived at Laugh Tale with Roger."
"Huh?" Ortolan was genuinely surprised this time and asked, "Isn't that guy in Wano Country?"
"Yes, Wano Country is now Kaido's Beasts Pirates territory. Furthermore, the country is closed off, so not much news gets out. However, according to observations, a fierce battle seems to have broken out in Wano Country before. Kozuki Oden was probably driven out of Wano Country by Kaido. Strangely, he escaped from Wano Country alone; his family is missing. Our information ends here; we know nothing else, and even this is all hearsay," said Momonga.
Although Momonga said it was just a rumor, the fact that such a rumor could reach Ortolan's ears through the ranks meant it was practically true. Therefore, it was highly likely that Kozuki Oden had indeed escaped from Wano Country!
This was indeed unexpected for Ortolan, because in the original story, this guy was used as hot pot broth in Wano Country!
Ortolan had originally considered whether, after this incident, he should try to instigate Newgate and Kaido to start a war from behind.
In the story, no war broke out. One reason was that Newgate and his Kozuki Oden Kaido had already become quite powerful at that time, Wano Country had obvious geographical advantages. If the two sides had gone to war, Whitebeard would have won, but he would have faced a very awkward situation.
Even though Kozuki Oden only stayed on his ship for a short time, he was kidnapped by Roger. Newgate and his crew may have had a lot of ties with Kozuki Oden, but most of his men probably didn't even acknowledge him.
So the matter was eventually dropped.
However, if someone pushes Newgate into a corner, he will have no choice but to fight Kaido, which was also Ortolan's initial idea.
Looking at it now, how did Kozuki Oden inexplicably escape from Wano Country?
But that's alright. Kozuki Oden had two tricks up his sleeve. The first was to use them to sow discord between Kaido and Whitebeard. That probably won't work now, but because of Wano Country, there will probably be another chance in the future.
Secondly, now that Ace is his son, and Ortolan likes him quite a bit, he naturally won't sit idly by and watch the Summit War break out. But when there's a need and the time is right, he will definitely wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates.
Kozuki Oden... come to think of it carefully, he's actually quite suitable as a replacement for Ace.
Ortolan was actually quite looking forward to this guy kneeling on the Execution Platform and yelling at the Whitebeard, "Brother, you shouldn't have come," or something like that.
And his lecherous son should be sent to Ivankov for a sex reassignment surgery, then sold into prostitution in the Pleasure District!