The Umbrella

Buru Buru...

Buru Buru...

The Den Den Mushi in Victor's office rang.

Victor picked up the receiver.

"Victor." The Den Den Mushi imitated Kong's voice.

"Fleet Admiral, is something wrong?" Victor asked.

Kong sighed and said, "I know you want to wipe out all the pirates, but some things can't be rushed."

Victor's dream of "purifying the sea" had long since become common knowledge.

Therefore, Victor needed power and wealth.

Kong couldn't deny Victor's motives.

It was just that Victor's justice was too radical.

It didn't fit the strategy set by the World Government at present.

"I understand what you mean."

Victor showed no emotion.

Kong said, "Pay more attention to Roger and Golden Lion. That is also the Gorosei's intention."

"Yes." Victor ended the call, then had Wright relay the order to lift the Level One Combat Readiness order.

"Have you heard? Vice Admiral Victor's operation has been terminated."

"Of course they'll restrict him. He caused a huge commotion the moment he arrived."

"If they really followed Vice Admiral Victor's plan, the New World would truly fall into chaos."

After the Level One Combat Readiness order was lifted, the marines at Branch G1 breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, they gathered together and chatted.

During the period of combat readiness, they had been tense every day, unable to eat or sleep peacefully.

The inspection team's dozens of inspections each day had even forbidden the officers and marines at Branch G1 from chatting.

However, after Victor had cut off one of Kari's hands and demanded that Kari hand over the black-market customer list,

the marines at Branch G1 understood Victor's intentions.

Victor wanted to move against all the pirates.

Pirates obtained most of their guns and cannons from the black market, with only a small portion acquired through robbery.

Therefore, as long as they found the customer list, along with the times, locations, and dates of deliveries, they could locate the pirates.

Victor wasn't deliberately making things difficult for them. He truly wanted to clean up those pirates.

"What a pity. If Vice Admiral Victor could really succeed, it would definitely be a good thing."

At that moment, a marine sighed.

This marine was named West. His hometown had been destroyed by pirates, and his parents and younger sister had been killed by them.

As a result, he bore a deep hatred for pirates.

If the sea could truly be purified, he was willing to join in and follow Victor.

Gion and Tokikake were transferred back to Marine Headquarters.

Marine Headquarters truly lacked manpower.

At the same time, keeping Gion and Tokikake by Victor's side would give Victor more room to act.

Whether it was the Gorosei, Kong, Sengoku, or the others, they only wanted Victor to serve as a deterrent, like a nail driven into the New World to make its Great Pirates uncomfortable.

At that moment.

Inside Branch G5.

Borsalino was reading a newspaper.

Recently, most of the news in the papers had concerned rookie pirates who had just made their debut.

The Great Pirates had not been very active lately.

"Have you heard? Senior Victor was reprimanded."

"What happened?"

"Senior Victor wanted to purify the New World, but Headquarters rejected his plan."

"Really? Where did you hear that?"

"I just heard it from Rear Admiral Matt."

Two military academy graduates from this year, now promoted to lieutenants, were discussing the matter of Victor being "reprimanded."

The reprimand was a recent rumor.

As for whether it had actually happened, that was all based on rumors and hearsay.

However, the fact that Branch G1 had canceled its Level One Combat Readiness order was real.

Borsalino drank his coffee and continued reading the newspaper.

Compared with Victor, he was much more low-key.

At that moment, Sakazuki sat in the dining hall, silently eating lunch.

Onigumo and Doberman chatted idly.

"I didn't expect Victor to really go through with it."

"We really underestimated him."

Onigumo and Doberman hadn't expected Victor to attack the black market.

Of course, the black market was indeed a filthy place where all kinds of corruption gathered.

Pirates sent their spoils to the black market to sell them, and they also bought weapons and even Devil Fruits there.

Starting with the black market, Victor could indeed accomplish a great deal.

Akainu remained silent. He wasn't opposed to Victor's actions.

On the contrary, he even admired Victor somewhat.

He dared to act.

It was a pity that Marine Headquarters was too cowardly!

"Sakazuki, if only we had the power to make decisions," Onigumo sighed.

"Yeah. There are too many incompetent people at Headquarters," Doberman agreed.

At that moment, Kizaru and the others looked toward Onigumo and the others.

"Keep your voices down. Don't let them hear you."

Onigumo reminded Doberman.

The incompetent people they were referring to were the current decision-makers at Headquarters.

Those Vice Admirals, Admirals, and Fleet Admirals who could order them around.

During their time at Branch G5, they had carried out quite a few missions, but against the pirates of the New World, they had merely scratched an itch through a boot—completely useless.

To purify the New World, they had to declare total war on it.

Sakazuki picked up his tray and left.

Kizaru and the others watched Sakazuki.

Sakazuki had been taciturn lately, like a dead volcano.

"How has our senior been feeling lately?" Wright asked Connor carefully.

"Can't tell whether he's fine or not," Connor replied.

"I really hope our senior can become Fleet Admiral soon. Then he'd have the authority to make his own decisions."

Wright's thoughts were the same as Akainu's at present.

They both believed that becoming Navy Fleet Admiral would allow them to determine the Navy's strategic direction.

At that moment, Victor was writing a reply.

Oren had written him a letter.

In the letter, Oren mentioned that he wanted the Kingdom of Arthur to make a donation as well.

Oren simply didn't know where to begin.

The Kingdom of Arthur was a member country of the World Government.

The Navy couldn't openly enter and shake them down.

In his letter, Victor encouraged and supported Oren. As for the method?

Victor didn't mention it at all.

Victor merely told Oren that he believed in Oren's abilities and that Oren would surely be able to overcome any difficulty.

"Connor." At that moment, Victor called toward the door.

Connor walked over.

Victor said, "Go reply to Colonel Oren."

"Yes." Connor left with the letter.

The fax was delivered to Branch 189.

Oren looked at Victor's reply, a smile spreading across his face.

"Commander, did Lord Victor give us a method?" Oren's adjutant asked.

"This letter is enough." Oren threw his head back and laughed, then said to his adjutant, "Send invitations to the nobles of the Kingdom of Arthur."

"Yes." The adjutant turned and went to carry out the order.

"With Lord Victor backing me, I no longer need to hold back."

Oren smoked, feeling immensely pleased with himself.

Although Victor hadn't replied with any method, he had already given him an answer.

Victor's meaning was clear: No matter what you do, I'll support you.

Because the reply contained no objection.

No objection meant approval!

Oren planned to begin with courtesy before resorting to force. First, he would invite the nobles of the Kingdom of Arthur to a banquet and ask them for money there.

Of course, if those nobles were unwilling to pay, he had ways to deal with them as well.

Moreover, the consequences of refusing him would have to be borne by the entire Kingdom of Arthur!