Four Shichibukai had come, but three of them refused to take part, leaving Sengoku, who had thought he had everything under control, dumbfounded.
He had considered that Hawk-Eye and Jinbe might not attack Xie Wen, but what was going on with Boa Hancock? Didn't this woman have a grudge against Xie Wen, and wasn't she willful to the extreme?
Vice Admiral Tsuru, the only one who knew Sengoku's plan, calmly sipped her tea, a smile of schadenfreude appearing on her face...
She had never really approved of Sengoku's approach. Judging by Xie Wen's actions since he set sail, he was clearly a child with a strong sense of justice and a very good disposition. They could simply have discussed it with him, then worked together to put on a show for the higher-ups, but Sengoku had insisted on playing his little strategic games, hoping to take the opportunity to scheme against the other Shichibukai.
Now you're dumbfounded, aren't you?
After silently mocking Sengoku for trying to gain an advantage only to lose out instead, Vice Admiral Tsuru gradually reined in her smile.
Although the other Shichibukai had not gone after Xie Wen as Sengoku had expected, there was one person who would never let Xie Wen get through this so easily.
Having once been responsible for pursuing Doflamingo, Vice Admiral Tsuru knew very well just how arrogant and vile this former Celestial Dragon was. He might not care about those three Devil Fruits, and might not even care that Xie Wen had destroyed his businesses, but he absolutely could not stand anyone receiving better treatment than him... even if the Heavenly Yaksha did not actually value his Shichibukai title.
Moreover, Doflamingo would have absolutely no objection to striking hard and killing Xie Wen outright in the process.
His status as