You Really Think You're Somebody?

While Xi Yan and his group were heading to Zou, Sengoku and the others were escorting Doflamingo.

To ensure its safe transport to Underwater Great Prison, Sengoku, Fujitora, and Smoker all stayed behind.

"I will set off immediately after this escort is completed."

"Set off?"

Sengoku glanced at Fujitora with a puzzled look. What was this guy talking about?

With such a major incident, aren't you going back to Navy Headquarters?

The World Government could send troops to encircle and annihilate the Straw Hat Pirates at any time.

"If I don't take the heads of Straw Hat and Law, I can't enter the base," Fujitora explained. "That's what Marshal Sakazuki said."

Sengoku glanced at Fujitora speechlessly and said, "What an old stubborn man... Just give Sakazuki some face and apologize, that'll be enough."

He could understand Sakazuki's reasons for doing so; it was nothing more than protecting Ikko and saving face.

But there are other ways to protect the other party, right? Besides, the Blood-Eyed Ninja is still alive. Issho and Sakazuki could use this to their advantage, and even the World Government wouldn't be able to really punish Issho.

Besides... what difference would it make if we did absolutely nothing?

Could the World Government really kill Issho?

This is a combat force equivalent to Marine Admiral!

So... as long as Yixiao is willing to give Sakazuki some face, the matter should be resolved.

"No."

"No?" Sengoku frowned. "Why?"

"I also have my own pride to maintain."

"I just can't do anything with you."

Sengoku was somewhat speechless; these people were all obsessed with saving face.

Why can't we learn from Garp?

When it really matters, this bastard will throw his pride to the ground and stomp on it a few times.

'Sigh... whatever, let him be.'

Ultimately, this world still belongs to the young, and he doesn't need to interfere too much.

Then, he turned to look at Smoker, who had been eating in silence the whole time, and said, "And you?"

"Of course, we'll continue hunting down the Straw Hat Crew," Smoker said calmly.

"Catch the Straw Hat Crew?"

Sengoku was about to pick up his bowl to continue eating, paused for a moment, then looked at Smoker with a somewhat speechless expression and said, "Then why didn't you do anything earlier?"

"Which eye of yours saw me not make a move?" Smoker turned his head away and said, "I fought that Blood-Eyed Ninja guy for a long time."

Sengoku's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this. He'd been fighting that Blood-Eyed Ninja guy for a long time?

Do you really think his Observation Haki is just for show?

Those two guys are totally acting.

If things were really serious, the Port of Dressrosa would have been reduced to ruins long ago.

"While Straw Hat Luffy was fighting Doflamingo, Mr. Smoker was also fighting the Blood-Eyed Ninja," Fujitora said slowly.

This statement also tells the Sengoku that they were not truly doing nothing.

"Alright, you two don't need to put on an act in front of me anymore." Sengoku waved his hand and said, "I can see through what's going on in Dressrosa, but I'm not interested in getting involved. You two just need to know what's going on."

Just as he had thought, he was now a retiree and couldn't concern himself with anything else.

The future of the Navy should be entrusted to these young people.

Seeing that Sengoku had already said so, Smoker and Fujitora said nothing more.

"However, I suggest the two of you team up to pursue them," Sengoku said. "If you each lead a group to chase the Straw Hat Pirates alone, the mortality rate will be very high."

By the end, Sengoku's expression had become very serious.

He already knew how strong the Blood-Eyed Ninja was two years ago.

And now two more years have passed... who knows how much stronger this guy has become?

Although he's no longer involved in affairs, he doesn't want the Navy's hopes to die at the hands of that guy, Xi Yan.

Fujitora and Smoker exchanged a glance, then fell into deep thought.

Yes, if you think about it carefully... they might not necessarily have a chance of winning against the Blood-Eyed Ninja one-on-one.

But... as a top-tier expert, who would willingly accept being inferior to others?

Unlike Smoker, Fujitora's desire to pursue the Straw Hat Pirates was not strong, or even... nonexistent.

But he couldn't bear to let Smoker go to his death alone, after all, Smoker was one of the few colleagues in the Navy who could walk the same path as him.

After a moment's thought, Fujitora slowly said, "We'll consider it."

Sengoku nodded, then turned to Smoker, signaling for him to express his opinion.

"I know that guy is tough, but I'm not one to be trifled with either," Smoker said in a deep voice. "I haven't wasted these past two years."

"I know you've been training with that old bastard Garp," Sengoku said, "But you can't deal with someone like Xi Yan just by brute force."

"Putting everything else aside... do you have a way to deal with his immortality?"

"You should know that's a method that even the World Government can't handle."

Smoker fell silent. "Really?"

Actually, if you think about it carefully, he didn't.

His initial plan was to use brute force to attack the Blood-Eyed Ninja until he completely lost his ability to revive.

Whether it can be done or not, we'll have to fight a real battle first.

That's right, a real battle!

A completely different kind of fighting from that childish battle in Dressrosa!

So... he didn't want to give up.

Seeing that Smoker remained silent, Sengoku rubbed his temples, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "Another stubborn mule... just like that bastard Garp."

No wonder this guy became Garp's disciple; they're truly birds of a feather.

"I won't give up on pursuing the Straw Hat Pirates," Smoker said, "But I won't risk my men's lives either."

"So... I'll seriously consider your suggestion."

Sengoku nodded in satisfaction, finally taking some advice to heart.

He then said, "Actually, you don't need to worry too much. I believe that it won't be long before the World Government reacts."

"You mean..." Smoker frowned as if he had just realized something, "To form a fleet to encircle and annihilate them?"

"More or less." Sengoku's expression gradually became complicated as he said, "After learning that the Blood-Eyed Ninja is still alive, I'm not surprised at all that the World Government made this decision."

Although he didn't want the Straw Hat to be killed because of Garp, some things just won't happen even if he doesn't want them to...

Now, he can only hope that the kid is tough enough.

As for the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates?

What does it matter to him?

"To surround and wipe out the Straw Hat Pirates...?"

Fujitora clenched his fists. From the standpoint of a righteous person, he did not want to see that group wiped out by the World Government.

Because they weren't really evil pirates at all.

But from the Navy's perspective... he had to cooperate.

This conflicting feeling made Fujitora very uncomfortable.

As if sensing Fujitora's inner turmoil, Sengoku said, "Now you two know why I'm so happy after retiring."

He doesn't need to worry about such unpleasant things now; he can live each day as happily as possible.

This kind of life, I wouldn't trade it for anything, not even from a god.

Fujitora didn't speak, but clenched his fists even tighter.

He can't be as carefree as Sengoku, because he's now Marine Admiral!

"Yes, I understand." Smoker nodded, then raised an eyebrow as if he had thought of something, and said, "But Mr. Sengoku... you must have been quite conflicted back then, right?"

What do you mean?

As he spoke, Sengoku took another bite of Soba Noodles.

"Straw Hat saved Fire Fist Ace right in front of you back then."

Sengoku:...

Sengoku paused in his eating, then his lips twitched slightly. Why did this kid have to bring up such a sensitive topic?

After swallowing what was in his mouth, Sengoku laughed and scolded, "How could you make jokes like that, you little rascal?"

This guy is usually very serious, why is he saying these things today?

Smoker didn't speak, he just smiled slightly.

This unusual behavior made Sengoku shake his head.

Sure enough, after following Garp for a few years, his mind turned dark.

Then he said, "I... I have my own difficulties too..."

In the end, Sengoku sighed somewhat helplessly.

The Straw Hat is his old friend's grandson; what can he do?

If he really did kill Luffy, Garp would absolutely go berserk!

No one will be able to stop him then, and the Navy will suffer an extremely heavy blow.

Many naval personnel actually realized this, which is why no high-level combatants were sent to kill the Straw Hat back then.

Otherwise, with that kid's strength, he would have been killed by the Three Admirals long ago.

As for the fact that Straw Hat is protected by the Blood-Eyed Ninja... if the Three Admirals really use their full strength, even that guy wouldn't be able to stop them.

Ultimately, the war two years ago was also about killing Whitebeard; the Straw Hat wasn't even on the kill list.

Even... Ace was the same.

Their true purpose in that war was to trade Ace for Whitebeard.

"Yes, I understand." Smoker nodded, then lit a cigar, using the smoke to conceal his expression, and continued, "During the two years I trained with Mr. Garp, I also figured out what happened two years ago."

"That battle... was actually about killing Whitebeard, wasn't it?"

Isn't this something that's obvious to everyone?

"That's not what I meant." Smoker cleared the smoke from his eyes, revealing his own, and said, "Trading Ace for Whitebeard, am I right?"

Sengoku fell silent; he truly hadn't expected this kid to think of that.

Seeing that Sengoku had already made his decision, Smoker didn't make things difficult for the old man any further.

Ultimately, he just wanted to confirm whether his idea was correct.

Then, his expression became somewhat complicated.

Sometimes... being in the navy is tough.

"I won't go after Ace," Smoker said slowly, "But similarly... I won't give up on capturing the Straw Hat."

This was something he had been thinking about for two years, and he had even mentioned it to Mr. Garp.

Garp wasn't angry, he just told Smoker to work hard, otherwise he wouldn't care if his grandson beat him up.

"Whatever." Sengoku waved his hand, showing no interest in the young people's affairs anymore; let them handle it themselves.

As for whether Smoker can catch the Straw Hat?

With the Blood-Eyed Ninja around, his chances of catching Straw Hat are practically zero.

As for whether the Blood-Eyed Ninja will kill Smoker?

For Garp's sake, it shouldn't be that bad.

'Hmm... it's all about social etiquette~'

After shaking his head, Sengoku picked up his Soba Noodles and continued eating, his expression gradually becoming relaxed.

Ah~

Retirement life is so comfortable.

Hmm, I'll go find that old bastard Garp another day and take all his treasured senbei and tea with me~

Hahahaha.

Then, Sengoku glanced at Smoker and Fujitora and said, "You two better be prepared. The World Government could start a war at any time."

"War?"

"Suppress and eliminate the Blood-Eyed Ninja..." Sengoku said in a deep voice, "Without mobilizing a war-level force, it's simply impossible to take him down."

He believed that the World Government understood this better than he thought.

The two exchanged a glance and then nodded together.

Well then, let's see how the World Government reacts.

"Fujitora..."

"Fufufufufu~"

Doflamingo, chained to the ground, grinned and said, "Staff Officer Tsuru, that guy's really stupid."

"If he could have helped me deal with those kids back then, things wouldn't have turned out this way... That was my last chance."

"Fufufufufu~"

"What do you want to say?" Tsuru asked expressionlessly.

Even after things have come to this, this guy is still so arrogant?

What gives him his confidence?

"I was the one holding the reins that bound monsters all over the world. If I fall... you'll all regret it!"

"Fufufufufu~"

"Ha, stop with the nonsense." Tsuru sneered, "What if?"

"At the beginning?"

"That's the most useless thing to say in the world."

"This is the only realistic outcome; you've already lost."

Doflamingo's smile vanished. Was this old man mocking him?

"I just can't argue with you."

"I'm just stating the facts," Tsuru said calmly. "And... do you really think you've contained those monsters?"

Ultimately, you're nothing more than a tool to provide them with convenience.

"If the tool doesn't work, they don't mind replacing it."

By the end, a mocking expression appeared on Tsuru's face.

Doflamingo really knows how to pat himself on the back. Does he really think those monsters are only behaving themselves because of him?

No!

They are the Four Emperors!!

In reality, the New World is stable mainly because the Four Emperors each have their own territory, which checks and balances each other. In addition, the Navy and the World Government work together to restrain each other, which prevents the New World from completely descending into chaos.

Otherwise, chaos would have erupted in various places long ago.

Although she disliked being in the Navy, it was a fact she had to admit.