"What's got you so troubled?"
At that moment, Tsuru walked into the office. The instant she saw Sengoku's furrowed brow, she knew something was bothering him.
"That brat Victor."
Sengoku did not hide anything and chose to tell her the truth.
"He really isn't a disobedient child." Tsuru smiled.
Tsuru was friends with Major General Shelley, Victor's mother.
After the Andersons died in battle, Marine Headquarters had kept Victor there to raise him, worried that he might be bullied elsewhere.
Thus, Tsuru had watched Victor grow up.
Later, they had also respected Victor's decision and sent him to military school, where he became one of Zephyr's first students.
"Take a look." Sengoku handed Major General Hagen's fax to Tsuru.
After reading it, Tsuru furrowed her brow as well.
Delaying a military operation was a serious crime.
Moreover, the delay had led to the annihilation of Branch 189.
If Victor was sent to a Court Martial, he would definitely go to prison.
Tsuru asked, "How do you plan to handle this?"
Leaning back in his chair and gazing at the ceiling, Sengoku said, "We can't just listen to Major General Hagen's side of the story. I'll send a fax to Victor to ask about it, then dispatch people to South Blue to investigate. If it turns out to be true, we'll deal with it then."
"Mm." Tsuru nodded, believing that this was indeed the proper way to handle it.
Sengoku said, "Regardless of whether it's true or not, we have to find a way to relocate Victor. Keeping him in South Blue isn't a long-term solution."
Tsuru suddenly suggested, "Why not send him to the New World? Garp happens to be short-handed, and Victor could help him."
Sengoku was silent for a while before saying, "I'll think about it."
Although Victor was only twenty, he possessed tremendous talent for cultivation, especially in Haki and Body Arts.
Moreover, as one of Zephyr's first students, Victor possessed strength no lesser than Sakazuki's or Borsalino's.
Now, Sakazuki and Borsalino were both active in the New World, directly facing its monsters!
"Lord Victor, a fax from Marine Headquarters." Lieutenant Colonel Mata handed the fax to Victor.
After reading the fax, Victor replied, "Reply to Headquarters that we encountered a storm on the way. The ships sustained varying degrees of damage, which resulted in the delayed rescue."
"Yes." Lieutenant Colonel Mata turned and left.
Faced with Marine Headquarters' inquiry, Victor casually came up with an excuse.
The weather was the most suitable excuse.
As for whether Headquarters believed him?
Victor couldn't be bothered to care.
He had no other goal now—he just wanted to make money.
If he could no longer make a living in the Marines, he would leave them. He could either seize a country or become a pirate.
Money was capital.
Only with money could he recruit soldiers and horses, obtain weapons and ships, and establish his own power.
In the year since Victor had come to East Blue, he had already obtained more than three billion Beli.
The gains from William Port this time were equivalent to twice his earnings for an entire year.
After Victor replied to the fax, Sengoku could not find anything wrong with it.
Of course, whether Victor had actually encountered a storm still needed to be verified by investigating Branch 191.
Since Major General Hagen had reported him by name, Sengoku had to carry out the investigation properly.
Thus, Sengoku ordered Vice Admiral Wood of Marine Headquarters to form an investigation team and head to South Blue to investigate the matter.
Dispatching a Headquarters vice admiral represented the importance Marine Headquarters placed on the matter, so Major General Hagen certainly had no objections.
Vice Admiral Wood was a battle-hardened man. Within Marine Headquarters, he was renowned for his fairness and impartiality.
When Major General Hagen learned that Vice Admiral Wood would be conducting the investigation,
his confidence grew even stronger!
Thus, Major General Hagen immediately dispatched Colonel Gabri and had him secretly travel to the Talos Kingdom.
The Talos Kingdom lay within the jurisdiction of Branch 191.
Unlike the Kingdom of Koth, which focused mainly on light-industry trade, the Talos Kingdom's primary industries were agriculture and mining.
The land and mines were controlled by the nobles.
As a result, the nobles of the Talos Kingdom were extremely wealthy.
However, ever since Victor had been transferred there, the nobles' lives had become difficult.
That was because Victor demanded protection money from them.
Of course, to avoid leaving evidence that could be used against him, Victor would collect it in the form of donations, asking the nobles and merchants to contribute.
If they refused to pay, Victor would no longer guarantee that their ships could leave his jurisdiction safely.
Victor would detain their cargo ships, search them, and "discover" weapons, ammunition, or even wanted criminals aboard. Then he would find an excuse to arrest people at the homes of the nobles and merchants.
Thus, the nobles and merchants of the Talos Kingdom seethed with resentment but dared not speak out.
Colonel Gabri first arrived at Marquis Charlie's castle and handed him Major General Hagen's personal letter.
After reading the letter, Marquis Charlie's face lit up with delight. However, he was still somewhat uneasy. "Can you really drive that man out of South Blue?"
Colonel Gabri said seriously, "Your Excellency, as long as you're willing to testify and accuse Victor of extortion, Vice Admiral Wood will definitely deal with him."
The investigation team led by Vice Admiral Wood had just arrived at Port Leinster in the Talos Kingdom when it immediately received an extravagant welcome.
The king of the Talos Kingdom, a group of nobles and wealthy merchants, Major General Hagen, the commander of Branch 6, and several commodores from South Blue were already waiting at the port to greet them.
A vice admiral from Headquarters ranked far above Hagen.
If they could earn Vice Admiral Wood's appreciation, be promoted and appointed, and be taken back to Headquarters, their futures would be limitless.
Therefore, the senior officers of South Blue were all exceptionally energetic, their uniforms immaculate.
Before Vice Admiral Wood arrived, Major General Hagen had already sent people to contact the nobles and wealthy merchants of the Talos Kingdom, asking them to testify and confirm that Victor had committed extortion.
Hagen did not want Victor to remain in South Blue. Thus, he was even more enthusiastic than the investigation team in gathering evidence of his crimes.
The base of Branch 191 was located inside Port Leinster.
At that moment, Victor arrived at the port with a yawn, looking sleepy.
Seeing Victor's appearance, Hagen sneered inwardly.
Hagen had also made inquiries about Vice Admiral Wood. He had heard that Wood was famous within Headquarters for being "iron-blooded and incorruptible."
This time, with Admiral Sengoku sending Vice Admiral Wood, Victor would definitely be sent to a Court Martial.
"He's here!"
"Vice Admiral Wood's ship is here!"
At that moment, a commodore said excitedly.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, a huge warship appeared in the distance.
It was a large warship issued only to Headquarters. A single ship could carry a thousand marines!
As the warship entered the port, dropped anchor, and set up the gangplank, a stern-looking man with hawk-like eyes walked down the ship one step at a time.
The man swept his gaze across the port. One by one, the senior Marine officers fell silent, and their heartbeats began to quicken.
It was the oppressive presence of a strong man!
Gulp~
Major General Hagen swallowed, and a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
He was a little nervous.
This had to be Vice Admiral Wood. He truly was an iron-blooded tough man!
Just as Hagen imagined Vice Admiral Wood dealing with Victor, Victor waved and shouted, "Uncle Wood."
Before you continue