"A Shichibukai made contact with one of the Four Emperors?"
At Marine Headquarters, Akainu received the latest intelligence.
After all, Ballywood was one of the World Government Member States, with thriving trade and frequent pirate visits. Both the World Government and the Marines had stationed spies there.
The moment they spotted the Red Hair Pirates' ship at the docks, they passed the news up the chain.
"Hasn't Asura been training in seclusion all this time? I hear that fellow's a masochist who goes looking for ways to get himself killed just to train," Kizaru said.
"Does he have ties to the Red Hair Pirates?" a long-haired man beside him asked with a smile.
"No." Kizaru shook his head.
"Then will they clash? One's a Shichibukai and the other's one of the Four Emperors, after all. Weren't the Shichibukai chosen by the World Government to counter the Four Emperors? I watched the recording of the Marineford War. That Shichibukai, Rogge, has guts. We didn't see much from him, but he stepped in twice at critical moments. He held Whitebeard back and shattered Blackbeard's plans, keeping him from obtaining the Tremor-Tremor Fruit," the long-haired man said.
"He wouldn't approach one of the Four Emperors on his own. Even his contact with Kaido back then was apparently at the World Government's request," Kizaru said.
"Keep watching them. Find out what they're trying to do. Red-Hair shouldn't be that impulsive, and Asura wouldn't go out of his way to provoke one of the Four Emperors. Those two..." Akainu said gravely, a cigar clenched between his teeth.
In the New World, news of the Red Hair Pirates' arrival and their meeting with Rogge quickly reached those with keen ears.
At the very least, the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates knew, but neither cared.