Maybe He'll Even Have to Thank Us Then!
The Sabaody Archipelago is very close to the Marines Headquarters, Marineford, which also means that it won't be long to travel from the Gate of Justice to the Impel Down, Impel Down.
After receiving a definite answer from Dragon, Ortolan didn't intend to sit idly on the Sabaody Archipelago. What was the point of him staring at this country bumpkin, Rayleigh?
Instead of rushing to implement the plan, he decided to go to Impel Down and have a good talk with Magellan to see how to smoothly facilitate Shiki's escape.
Soon, Ortolan returned to Marineford with Gion. Gion didn't follow, but instead planned to wander around the area. Ortolan didn't even stop, boarding a warship and ordering his men to head to that godforsaken place, Impel Down.
After passing through the Gate of Justice, Ortolan took out Den Den Mushi and contacted the Admiral Sengoku.
Soon, the Admiral Sengoku answered the Den Den Mushi and asked with some surprise, "What's wrong? I heard you were just in the second part, and then you left Gion and ran off on your own? Did you have a fight?"
"That's not true..." Ortolan casually brushed it off, then asked, "Admiral, if I remember correctly, your birthday is coming up soon, right?"
Upon hearing Ortolan mention this, the Admiral Sengoku chuckled and said, "What do you mean, 'in a while'? It's only the beginning of the year, there's still a while to go. I don't celebrate my birthday until September... But as you know, I don't really have the habit of celebrating my birthday, so don't worry about it. Are you asking me this because you want to give me a gift?"
"Hahaha, I really am preparing to give you a big gift, after all, you have taken good care of me over the years," Ortolan laughed.
"I appreciate your sentiment, but please don't accept the gift. Don't make that mistake. If I accept your gift, how can others refuse it?" Although the Admiral Sengoku refused, he still sounded very pleased.
"Rest assured, this gift will certainly not be the vulgar kind, and no one will find fault with it," Ortolan responded first, before asking, "Speaking of which, Admiral, I am on my way to Impel Down and have some things I would like to consult with you about."
"Hmm? What are you going to Impel Down for?" Admiral Sengoku asked, puzzled.
"We G-5 have a long-standing labor export cooperation relationship with Impel Down, after all. Now that I'm here, I thought I should at least meet Magellan, the Chief Warden, and get to know him better," Ortolan said, offering a somewhat acceptable excuse.
The Admiral Sengoku didn't think much of it and casually asked, "So, what do you want to ask?"
"Magellan, is he... trustworthy?" Ortolan's tone turned serious as he pointed to the crux of the matter.
Upon hearing this, the Admiral Sengoku fell silent. Was he trustworthy? For Ortolan to suddenly ask such a question couldn't be a mere platitude; otherwise, there would be no point in asking. Although Magellan was the head of Impel Down, his faction actually belonged to the Marines's Marines Division, on par with a Vice Admiral, placing him between the Fleet Admiral and the Admiral. Based on these relationships, he was undoubtedly one of their own. Why ask whether he was trustworthy?
Therefore, after a brief silence, the Admiral Sengoku said, "You mean, it's related to G-5?"
"Just a little bit..." Ortolan replied after a moment's thought.
"So you want to cooperate with him more deeply?" Admiral Sengoku smiled, then said meaningfully, "From the moment he handed over the first batch of pirates to you, haven't you been on the same ship?"
Upon hearing this, Ortolan's face lit up with a look of sudden realization. That makes sense, damn it, that makes sense!
Although Magellan may not know now, and he probably doesn't know where the G-5 pirates go or what they do with the things he gives them each time, he has in fact become an accomplice to the development of G-5, and in terms of importance, he can even be called an accomplice!
If the things G-5 has been secretly doing all these years are ever exposed, and the world government investigates, good heavens, Magellan will have no chance of exonerating himself!
Therefore, it is entirely accurate for the Admiral Sengoku to say that they were all on the same boat.
Just as Ortolan was pondering these things, Admiral Sengoku Taisho chuckled and said, "Besides, Magellan is a very intelligent man; otherwise, he wouldn't be sitting in this warden's position, don't you think?"
If an Admiral Sengoku said that Magellan was very intelligent, then it meant that Magellan was a man worth trusting.
However, Ortolan asked again, "I heard that he and you are on very good terms?"
"He was also promoted by me personally." The Admiral Sengoku did not answer directly, but gave this answer instead.
"Then I understand..." Ortolan replied with a smile.
One boat, smart, with impeccable revolutionary credentials—what more can be said? They're definitely one of us!
"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Seeing that Ortolan understood, the Admiral Sengoku didn't say anything more and changed his tone to ask.
"Ahem, I have a bit of a problem here that I need Magellan's help with. Since you promoted him yourself, Admiral, why don't you send him a letter from headquarters to ask for his cooperation? That way, I can ask him for help when we meet again." Ortolan didn't stand on ceremony. If you have a problem, go to your superior. Otherwise, what's the point of having a superior?
From Ortolan's very first question, Admiral Sengoku mistakenly believed that Ortolan's plan was related to G-5.
On this matter, the two of them had a tacit understanding: they would not interfere much, and if the other did not report it, they would pretend not to know.
The Admiral Sengoku did not ask Ortolan what he was going to do. He calmly said, "I know. Like I said, don't make too much trouble. Keep a low profile."
"Understood, understood!" Ortolan immediately assured him.
Soon, the Admiral Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi, and Ortolan felt more confident.
His abrupt approach to Magellan, discussing arranging Shiki break for him, was highly inappropriate, even though Magellan had a long-standing labor dispatch partnership with him. Magellan might not even dare to agree to help.
Moreover, it was obvious that if he brought it up, Magellan would definitely have to consult Admiral Sengoku. This put Ortolan in a very passive position. Although he felt that he could discuss and explain things clearly with Admiral Sengoku might not be able to accept his impulsive and wild plan.
Dragon shook his head at the mention of burning Mary Geoise, let alone him!
But as an excellent subordinate, you should know how to share the burden and solve the problems of your leader. Let alone that you have done a good job and helped him get promoted, how could your leader punish you?
So after much deliberation, Ortolan decided that it would be best to have Admiral Sengoku issue a vague and incoherent document first. Magellan, being a shrewd man, would then personally visit Ortolan Admiral Sengoku give him a gentle reminder, telling him not to bother the Admiral Taisho with such trivial matters. In that case, there would be no need to report the matter again.
This made things much easier for him, Ortolan.
As for what happened after Shiki's 'prison break' and the major incident that Mary Geoise caused, will Magellan realize that there's something wrong with it once he finds out?
If he's not stupid, he'll definitely realize there's something wrong here!
However, as I said before, based on the established facts, he had already become one with Ortolan again, and they were practically accomplices!
Would he even dare to report it?!
If the noble lords of Mary Geoise knew about this, would they let him off?
Moreover, as long as the plan goes smoothly, it will be a great achievement for the entire Marines system. The top leaders will all be promoted and receive higher salaries. When Fleet Admiral finally understands and becomes the Admiral Sengoku, how could he not remember Magellan?
Compare the two options: is it better to keep quiet and accept the favor, or to fight to the death and expose Ortolan?
Having exposed Ortolan, a whole bunch of high-ranking Marines officials have lost their chances of promotion and salary increases. How can he possibly survive in this system after this?!
Magellan Ortolan, who was praised as a 'wise man' by Admiral Sengoku, must have had his own set of principles.
Moreover, for Magellan, once this matter is settled, his status can change from a capable subordinate promoted by the Admiral Sengoku to a confidant of the Sengoku Fleet Admiral.
From both a moral and logical standpoint, he had no reason to turn against Ortolan after the incident!
"Maybe he'll have to thank us then..." Ortolan clapped his hands and muttered to himself with emotion.