There Is One Thing You Seem to Have Gotten Wrong!

"This operation is called the Pruning Plan!"

Inside the cell, Hina's excitement was hard to suppress as she spoke to Jogo.

Jogo was still punching.

Compared to a few days prior, following massive amounts of imitation and data analysis, he was no longer confined to fixed forms at this moment.

He lowered his stance, squaring his horse stance parallel to the ground, and threw punch after punch into the air, churning the surrounding currents of air into disorder.

With each retraction and release of his fists and palms, it felt as though he were stirring water, and a faint, low hum could be heard coming from the air.

"Keep talking."

Hina was already used to this state of his.

Aside from sleeping and eating times over the past few days, Jogo had hardly stopped practicing his punches.

"To sustain such heavy injuries and still manage to train to this extent."

"You're truly insane!"

Even within the Marines, Hina rarely saw such a crazy fellow.

And Jogo's rate of progress was all the more exaggerated.

Even though Hina had never studied Hasshoken, she knew very well that pushing a profound martial art to the point of such effortless mastery in just four or five days was completely abnormal!

It was hard to imagine just how far Jogo's physical prowess had progressed by now.

Still... whatever!

Hina was already numb!

The man before her always managed to accomplish things she never expected.

"Hina cannot tell you the specific plan; it's Marine classified information."

"But I can tell you some general operational directions."

Hina raised a single finger.

"First, the Marines will lay an ambush on Crab Claw Orchid Island, having several warships launch an attack on the advance ships of the Happo Navy."

"At that point, upon receiving the news, Sai will definitely head to Crab Claw Orchid Island at full speed!"

"Once he arrives, the hidden Marines will launch a simultaneous attack, surrounding the two pirate ships of the Happo Navy, and finally capture all of them in one fell swoop!"

"That's it!"

"Good!" Jogo praised.

"An unpretentious tactic!"

"But how are you going to deal with Sai?"

"If no one keeps an eye on Sai, it won't be clear whether you're surrounding the Happo Navy or the Happo Navy is surrounding you."

A powerhouse of Sai's caliber already possessed the ability to rewrite the course of a localized battle.

"Are you planning to go yourself?"

"Don't tell me I look down on you, but locked up for so many days, how much strength can you still muster?"

"Besides, you won't be able to lock down Sai's Armament Haki plus Hasshoken!"

Hina frowned as she looked at Jogo.

"How do you know Hina can lock people down?"

"Hina clearly hasn't exposed this ability in front of you!"

Jogo did not stop his movements.

"Just tell me if it's true or not!"

"And if it is?"

Hina gave a proud smile.

"Did you think Hina was lurking for so many days and doing nothing?"

Jogo stopped moving and looked at her in shock.

Wasn't that the case?

I thought I was the one carrying a teammate to rank up!

Hina read the look in Jogo's eyes and instantly grew exasperated.

"What kind of look is that?"

"Let me tell you, Hina has requested a Marine rear admiral from headquarters!"

"This time, Sai won't be able to run no matter what! Heh-heh~ Hina is very proud!"

Seeming to picture the scene of capturing Sai alive, Hina could not help but laugh as she spoke.

--To capture a newly appointed pillar of the Happo Navy alive would deal a heavy blow to the already declining Happo Navy!

Every Marine in West Blue had been dreaming of this, and she never expected it to fall to her.

It was hard to imagine what a massive merit this was!

"Then what do I need to do?"

Noticing his mental stamina reaching its limit once more, Jogo skillfully put away his Observation Haki.

He knew that Hina telling him all this meant she definitely needed his cooperation for something.

"If there's an opportunity, Hina needs you to tamper with the sails beforehand to ensure that once the battle starts, this ship cannot withdraw quickly."

"Also..."

Hina hesitated for a moment.

"Also what?"

"Never mind, it's nothing."

Hina shook her head.

She had originally wanted to ask Jogo to help her get the keys amid the chaos so she could regain her mobility.

Yet on second thought, it was too dangerous.

Sai and Abu rarely separated, and if Jogo exposed himself early, he might face mortal danger.

"That's it, wait until the chaos starts before acting!"

With that, the two closed their eyes to rest their minds in the dark, quietly waiting.

Time ticked away drop by drop, and the sound of footsteps reaching the cell grew denser and more chaotic.

There was no need to look; by now the entire ship had gone into full operation.

A flurry of heavy footsteps echoed from outside, and a voice carried from afar.

"Jogo? Where's that slave? Aren't you coming out?"

The person urging them to work had arrived.

The two people in the dark opened their eyes simultaneously.

"I'm going."

Jogo got up and walked toward the door.

"Be careful..."

Hina reminded him from behind, hesitating for a few seconds before saying softly,

"Hina will wait to leave together with you!"

Jogo waved his hand and opened the door without looking back, walking out.

"Damage the sails, actually..."

His footsteps halted.

Outside the door,

more than a dozen pitch-black gun barrels were pressed against his forehead.

Jogo:"..."

A few minutes later, Jogo and Hina were shoved by a group of pirates onto the forecastle deck.

The sky was overcast with thick clouds, pressing down so heavily it suffocated people.

A large number of pirates gathered on the deck, with Sai and Abu standing at the bow, their green cloaks fluttering in the wind.

"Pillar, the people are brought!"

A bald man shouted loudly and shoved Jogo.

He didn't budge.

Jogo glanced at him, then turned his head to scan the bloodthirsty pirates surrounding him.

Trait switch!

[...

Observation Haki (Awakened)

Trait Equipped: "Otherworldly Soul (Silver)", "Helpful (White)"

...]

In his perception, it was a sea of black.

Enveloping him and Hina like pitch-black, thick ink, exuding an undisguised malice.

"It looks like it will be hard to settle this peacefully today."

Jogo thought to himself, looking forward.

At the bow, Sai and Abu slowly turned around, both of their complexions exceptionally ugly.

"...That's how things are, I've already smoothed things over for you regarding Crab Claw Orchid Island."

An Abu-shaped Den Den Mushi crawled in Sai's hand, stroking its mustache as it emitted a robust and powerful voice.

Sai's voice was low.

"Understood, Grandpa!"

"I'll handle matters here cleanly!"

With that, he hung up the phone.

Turning his gaze back to Jogo and Hina, his expression was so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

"You two, you've done well!"

"What are you talking about? Hina doesn't understand!"

Hina still wanted to quibble.

Beside them, Abu couldn't help shouting angrily,

"What are you pretending for?"

"Did you think we wouldn't find out about your plan on Crab Claw Orchid Island?"

"If Grandpa hadn't been hiding on the ship, you might really have succeeded this time!"

Grandpa... Chinjao?

The 500-million-berry "Cone" Chinjao?

Hina widened her eyes.

Just hearing that name made half her heart turn cold.

If Chinjao really appeared on Crab Claw Orchid Island, it was certainly not something a rear admiral could resolve!

The entire situation might even flip, turning into the Happo Navy wiping out the Marines!

Yet... how could that be?

"Didn't 'Cone' Chinjao retire into seclusion?"

Her voice trembled slightly, her face displaying a hint of bewilderment and disbelief.

"Why would he suddenly appear on Crab Claw Orchid Island?"

Heh-heh-heh...

Sai let out a cold laugh, his icy gaze falling squarely upon Jogo.

"Want to know?"

"Just in time, someone wants to chat with you for a bit."

He dialed a number, and after a round of blu-blu sounds, a familiar voice quickly came through the receiver.

"Looks like I guessed right, Sai."

Jogo raised an eyebrow slightly.

He recognized it; this was Capone Bege's voice.

"Cut the crap,"

Sai said impatiently.

"Didn't you want to chat with Jogo for a bit? He's right in front of me now."

With that, Sai turned the Den Den Mushi around, aiming it at Jogo.

The Den Den Mushi held a cigar in the corner of its mouth, a smug smile plastered across its face.

"Jogo?"

"Did you notify Chinjao?"

Jogo asked directly.

"Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo~"

A mocking laugh came through the phone.

"Still acting tough? Your current situation must be quite grim!"

"However, if you want to die with a clear understanding, I can tell you..."

"That's right, it was me!"

Jogo looked thoughtful. "So Daz Bones was sent by you as well?"

The expression on the Den Den Mushi's face froze visibly.

Jogo had already obtained the answer he wanted:

"So, you got the news that Sai saved me from Daz Bones."

"So you made a guess and passed the word to the Happo Navy... No, you didn't notify Sai..."

In his surveillance, he had never heard a call from the Capone Family.

Besides, judging by Sai's expression right now, he obviously only just found out.

"You don't even trust Sai? Quite cautious."

"So you notified Chinjao directly?"

"No wonder, lagging behind by so many days, a pirate ship still set sail from the Flower Country."

Jogo reeled off his deductions in one breath, tilted his head back, let out a long sigh, and looked at the Den Den Mushi as if he were looking at some maggot, frowning deeply:

"You really are persistent, Capone Bege!"

The Den Den Mushi fell silent for a moment.

Obviously, Jogo's deduction was spot on.

"Heh~ Pretty smart."

"Too bad I won't get to see that smart head of yours."

Bege's voice dropped a distinct octave.

He had originally wanted to make this call to enjoy the sound of despair and pain from Jogo upon learning the truth.

As a result, he had barely started when Jogo took all the words right out of his mouth.

It left him feeling as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly.

Fortunately, though, Jogo was going to die anyway.

At this thought, his mood recovered somewhat, and he leisurely flicked the cigar at the corner of his mouth.

"Before you die, do you have any last words to send back to Ohara?"

"When I slaughter the historians there, I'll pass them on for you."

Jogo was so angry he laughed:

"I don't have anything to say to Ohara, but I do have one line for you."

"Oh? What line?"

Jogo looked at the Den Den Mushi, the smile on his face gradually turning into cold indifference:

"You'd better start praying right now that I don't find you!"

The surrounding crowd of pirates, as well as Hina, looked at Jogo in astonishment.

They didn't know where Jogo got the nerve.

Clearly trapped in heavy encirclement, he still dared to talk tough?

Anyone who didn't know better would think Jogo had them surrounded!

The Den Den Mushi was silent for half a second before emitting Capone Bege's uproarious laughter.

Hohahahaha~

"Found by you?"

"Did you hear that, Sai?"

"He's looking down on you!"

Sai wore a dark expression, looking down at the Den Den Mushi:

"Shut your trap, he's definitely going to die here today!"

"Then our business..."

"We'll talk later."

Sai hung up the phone, tossing the Den Den Mushi back into Abu's arms.

When he looked at Jogo, his gaze no longer concealed its murderous intent.

"I've tolerated you long enough, Jogo!"

"Ever since we boarded the ship!"

"Right, it's that exact look! Do you know how annoying it is?"

"Clearly just a slave, yet you've always been so arrogant!"

"Today, you must die here!"

As the words fell, the surrounding pirates shouted in unison:

"Kill him!"

"Kill this arrogant brat!!"

In an instant, a tsunami-like wave of malice overwhelmed the two of them!

Cold sweat seeped from Hina's forehead.

She knew that given the complex relationship between the Marines and the Happo Navy, even in the worst-case scenario, nothing would happen to her.

But Jogo was different; he was merely a historian!

Hina hurriedly stepped forward and said, "This has nothing to do with Jogo, it's all..."

Before she could finish, Jogo reached out and pulled her behind him.

"There's one thing you seem to have gotten wrong."

Jogo slowly unwrapped the bandages on his hands, facing the increasingly violent sea breeze as he looked at Sai.

His gaze no longer held its usual gentleness and amiability... leaving only coldness and impatience.

"What makes you under the illusion that you're a match for me?"

He asked softly.