Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

"Oh, Vice Admiral Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru are here too!"

"Fleet Admiral, did something happen for you to summon us so urgently?"

The office door was pushed open.

Dalmatian, Doll, Urban, Bluegrass, and Pomsky, the five vice admirals, entered through the door.

Apparently, they had met in the hallway and come together.

The arrival of the five also interrupted the conversation between Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru.

"Take a seat. Wait for Borsalino!"

As soon as Sengoku finished speaking, the office door was pushed open again.

Wearing sunglasses and a flashy yellow-and-white striped suit, Borsalino strolled in with sleepy eyes, yawning.

It was hard to imagine.

That such a frivolous, sleazy-looking man was one of the Marine admirals who symbolized the Navy's highest combat power.

The moment he entered.

Borsalino acted as though he were in his own home, walked over to the sofa on the other side, and lay down directly.

Everyone was already used to it.

After all, each of the Navy's three admirals had their own personality and temperament.

As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku was undoubtedly broad-minded.

If he were not so tolerant, never mind the three admirals—even Garp alone could anger him to death.

Besides, which Navy officer, from top to bottom, did not have a few flaws?

So long as they did not let the Navy down at critical moments, betray the Navy, become excessively greedy, or commit some utterly unforgivable crime, he generally turned a blind eye.

The Navy was such a massive organization that managing it was troublesome and consumed enormous amounts of energy and lifespan.

Outsiders only saw that, as Fleet Admiral, he wielded great authority and ruled over all, but in truth, he worked overtime until late every night, with endless work and problems to handle.

As he grew older.

He had even begun suffering from insomnia and feeling increasingly unable to keep up!

"Half an hour ago, Saint Marcus Mars, one of the Five Elders, issued an order for Borsalino to lead a fleet of Buster Call-standard warships to Jaya Island on the Grand Line."

"The other vice admirals are either stationed elsewhere or have other missions, so the five of you will accompany him this time."

Sengoku's expression was solemn as he looked at Dalmatian, Doll, Urban, Bluegrass, and Pomsky and explained the reason for this operation.

"An order personally issued by the Five Elders?"

"Fleet Admiral, once a Buster Call is deployed, it means Jaya Island will disappear from the map."

"As far as I know, Jaya Island is a very prosperous island, aside from the lawless area known as Mock Town."

"Fleet Admiral, a Buster Call will cause many innocent people to lose their lives. May we know why the Five Elders wish to destroy Jaya Island?"

The five spoke in turn.

Because a Buster Call was no joke. Once deployed, it meant the disappearance of an entire island.

It was bound to cost many innocent people their lives.

"I don't know the specific reason either. Perhaps you will understand once you reach Jaya Island."

"Time is of the essence. Go make your preparations! We depart in two hours—"

Sengoku shook his head, unwilling to continue discussing the matter.

When faced with an order—especially one personally issued by the Five Elders—the Navy had only one path: obedience.

"Yes."

Seeing that Sengoku did not wish to say more, Doll and the others rose one after another.

"Hahaha, wait for me. I'll go join the fun too."

Garp casually stuffed the doughnut wrapper into the gap in the sofa, then stood and slung an arm around Pomsky's shoulder.

"Vice Admiral Garp is coming too?"

"Is the situation that serious?"

Pomsky and the other four's expressions changed dramatically. A Buster Call and Admiral Borsalino were already one thing, but Vice Admiral Garp was joining them too?

Had one of the Four Emperors appeared on Jaya Island? Was the Navy going to war with them?

"No, no, don't misunderstand. I'm really just going along for the fun!"

Seeing that Doll and the others had misunderstood, Garp waved his hand carelessly and strode out of the office first.

He even looked back and gestured for the five to follow quickly.

Soon.

Only Tsuru, Sengoku, and Borsalino, who appeared to have fallen asleep on the sofa, remained in the office.

Sengoku did not urge him. He merely turned to discuss other matters with Tsuru.

With the abilities of Borsalino's Pika Pika no Mi, even if Garp and the other six left a day earlier, he could still catch up afterward.

"Saint Mars, aren't we going to wait for the Straw Hat crew?"

"By my calculations, it should only be a few days before the Straw Hat crew arrives at Jaya Island and begins the Sky Island Arc adventure."

"If the Navy fleet reaches Jaya Island first, it will alert them."

"At that point, the Straw Hat crew may change their route, causing the plot to change."

"Then I won't be able to prove it!"

Golden City Shandora.

When Sumer saw Saint Marcus Mars directly mobilize a Buster Call and have Admiral Kizaru lead it.

With such a lineup.

The Straw Hat Pirates would certainly avoid it at all costs. Even if that blockhead Luffy insisted on going to Jaya Island, the more sensible Nami, Zoro, and the others would stop him.

If the Straw Hat Pirates did not come, then the Sky Island Arc plot he had revealed would no longer be perfect.

That was highly disadvantageous to him.

And there was Blackbeard.

Even if he were on Jaya Island right now, the moment he spotted the Navy, he would definitely flee immediately.

"It doesn't matter!"

"Didn't you say that after the Sky Island Arc come Water 7 and the Enies Lobby Arc? We still need to go to Water 7 and find the Pluton blueprints anyway."

"It won't be too late to wipe them all out then."

Sumer's words made Saint Marcus Mars frown. Earlier, consumed by anger, he had forgotten about that.

But the order had already been issued. He could not retract it.

Nor could he tell Sumer that he had failed to think things through.

Seeing Saint Marcus Mars act so rashly and completely disregard the Straw Hat crew, Sumer fell silent.

Could the protagonist's plot armor be taking effect in some unseen way?

Saint Marcus Mars's current behavior was clearly idiotic.

Come on, that was the protagonist!

Did he have any idea what the word "protagonist" meant?

What Saint Marcus Mars should have done was set an ambush on Jaya Island, then secretly summon Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji as well.

The moment they saw the Straw Hat crew, they should not waste words and attack immediately.

To ensure nothing could go wrong.

They should also activate the Teleportation Magic Circle at once and summon Saint Saturn, Saint Warcury, Saint Nasjuro, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, and every member of God's Knights.

If possible.

Saint Nerona Imu should personally make a move as well!

Only that would be the greatest respect for the "protagonist," as well as the safest way to nip Straw Hat in the bud.

"Saint Mars, protagonists are very difficult to kill. I think we should—"

Sumer tried to persuade Saint Marcus Mars to change his mind, since this was a rare opportunity.

Because as long as Straw Hat was killed on Jaya Island, there would be no unexpected developments later.

Otherwise, the protagonist would get back up every other minute.

For all he knew, by the time they met at Water 7, Monkey D. Luffy might somehow awaken into the form of Sun God Nika.

At that point, Saint Marcus Mars might even be beaten into fleeing with his head in his hands.

That scenario sounded utterly absurd, perhaps even impossible.

But he was the protagonist. Any unbelievable thing that happened to a protagonist was perfectly reasonable.

And what if the plot changed again, and the Straw Hat Pirates never went to Water 7?

"I know what I'm doing!"

Before Sumer could finish, Saint Marcus Mars impatiently cut him off.

Ignoring Sumer, he walked straight toward the Poneglyph that recorded Poseidon's whereabouts.

As Sumer watched Saint Marcus Mars's incomparably arrogant back, his heart sank.

Were all Celestial Dragons this arrogant and conceited?

Still, he understood. They had stood above the clouds for too long and had long forgotten the taste of defeat.

If that was the case, then he could only become the one pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

When the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman profited.

—And the profit would be mine!!!