Right after Rosse and Cobra set out.
[First Half of the Grand Line, Waters of Water 7]
BOOM!
Fiery red magma swept across, the wooden pirate ship melted into ashes, the pirates on board marched toward death amidst crying and screaming.
"As expected of Admiral Sakazuki."
"Even the infamous 'Blood Tiger' in the Underworld couldn't escape Admiral Akainu's judgment in the end."
"So strong!"
"This is the future of the Marine!"
"Lord Sakazuki, mighty!!"
"..."
Cheers rang out from the Marine warship, the marines stared fanatically and with reverence at the tall figure standing at the bow.
They had just received news that a great pirate passed through Fishman Island and returned to the first half of the Grand Line from the New World.
When learning that the one returning was the wicked 'Blood Tiger' Nordson, Sakazuki decisively returned to the first half of the Grand Line, chased him all the way to Water 7, and finally captured him.
Sakazuki held a cigarette in his mouth, standing at the bow of the warship, his face showing indifference.
Nordson wasn't some great pirate, but he needed his head to solidify his own position in the upper echelons of the New World.
By age, Kong should've already retired or been promoted.
But it's been delayed again and again, and it still looks like it'll be delayed further, that already says a lot.
Plus, the information Rosse disclosed to him made Sakazuki very clearly understand that he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before him.
As long as he seized this chance, his dream of eliminating all pirates might really come true one day.
What he needed now was to accumulate more military merits, best if they surpassed Sengoku's, to shut everyone's mouths.
"Purupurupuru!"
The sound of the Den Den Mushi rang out, Vice Admiral Onigumo hurried over, still holding a Den Den Mushi in his hands.
"Admiral Sakazuki, it's your call."
"Mm."
Seeing it was the Den Den Mushi used specifically to contact Rosse's side, Sakazuki suddenly smiled slightly, waved Onigumo away, and then answered the call.
Usually, Rosse rarely contacted him. If he did, it meant there was good news.
This was also what Sakazuki appreciated most about Rosse.
Even though Rosse was a Celestial Dragon, he never made the Marine do tedious and meaningless things and always brought him surprises.
["Sakazuki."]
A voice from the other side came, it was Zannie's. Sakazuki instantly recognized it.
"What is it?", Sakazuki said calmly.
Towards Zannie and Gion, he still held a sliver of respect.
In terms of strength, Gion and Zannie were much stronger than ordinary vice admirals, such powerhouses were few even in the Marine.
["I got word that you're not far from Arabasta."]
"He's in Arabasta now?", Sakazuki's eyes flickered. Rosse wouldn't call him for no reason.
["His Highness is in Arabasta, and the Red Count might appear too."]
"What's his plan?", Hearing the Red Count's name, a trace of excitement flashed in Sakazuki's eyes.
Just now, he was wondering how to kill more pirates to earn merit, he didn't expect a big fish to show up this soon.
["Take him down. Publicly, it'll be said he attempted to attack a Celestial Dragon and a king of a member nation, and was personally apprehended by you. If he refuses to surrender, then his only outcome is death,"] Zannie said calmly.
"No problem!", A savage grin appeared on Sakazuki's face. He had long wanted to fight one of those big-time pirates.
Previously, HQ kept telling him not to provoke them, now he finally had his chance.
In his eyes, the Red Count was already a dead man.
"Do I need to summon other personnel?"
Sakazuki was very excited, but he didn't forget the Red Count's strength.
He didn't think he couldn't beat the Red Count, but if the latter tried to flee, it'd be hard to stop him.
["No need, just you will do. Zephyr and Gion are both beside His Highness. You're someone His Highness favors, so there's no need to hide some things from you, His Highness's strength is above Zephyr's,"] Zannie said.
This was exactly what Rosse wanted Sakazuki to know.
Sakazuki was a very simple and direct person, that's why Rosse chose him.
As long as it didn't hinder Sakazuki from killing pirates, Sakazuki was willing to do anything.
In Rosse's view, Sakazuki was the ideal Fleet Admiral in his mind.
Because in the World Government, only he could give Sakazuki what he truly wanted.
Those old geezers, none of them really wanted to wipe out the pirates.
After all, if there were no pirates as external enemies, how would member nations be willing to pay the Heavenly Tribute?
The more peaceful the world, the more likely these member nations would point their guns at the World Government, that's what the Government feared most.
"Got it!", Hearing about Rosse's strength, surprise flashed through Sakazuki's eyes.
He had heard of Rosse going on a killing spree during Heaven's Hunt, but after all, there weren't many strong enemies on Holy Land. Massive firepower didn't necessarily equate to great strength.
Now, hearing that Rosse's strength was above Zephyr's, Sakazuki's mindset instantly shifted.
'Strong and bold, this kind of person should be the leader of the World Government, not those old, useless fossils.'
———
[Enies Lobby, CP9 Director's Office]
"What? You want me to recruit Moria?", Spandine, who was lazily sitting down, bounced up like a spring, face looking like he'd swallowed a bitter gourd.
It's fine for him to deal with small-time pirates. With CP9, that's not a problem.
But with his frail frame, asking him to recruit Moria, that's just making things hard for him.
That's a big pirate with a bounty of 320 million, that bounty is considered high even in today's New World.
"No, no, I need to really think of a way."
After hanging up the call, Spandine started pacing anxiously.
He had Moria's entire file brought to him and began studying it carefully.
This was the first mission Rosse had given him. If he handled it well, maybe his whole family would benefit.
For someone chasing power like Spandine, this was practically poison.
"Use pressure? No, no, Saint Rosse said Moria is more important than me. If we can recruit him, even my life is worth giving up. So that's not gonna work."
"Bribe him? Moria isn't short on money."
"Kidnap him? Moria's teammates are all dead, all he wants now is revenge."
"But just saying revenge is pointless. Even if Saint Rosse said he'd take him to get revenge, which big pirate would believe that? I sure wouldn't…"
Spandine scratched his head and suddenly thought of his usual trick.
"Right, just talking revenge isn't enough, but I can make promises and use provocation tactics."
"First stir up Moria's hatred, then offer him promises. Just saying revenge, he definitely won't buy it. So I'll say it's a transaction, Moria pledges loyalty to Saint Rosse, and in return, Saint Rosse avenges him."
"Yes, that's the way!"
"Now there's only one problem left. How do I get Moria to believe that Saint Rosse will actually avenge him? The World Government hasn't hunted pirates in the New World for years."
"If only Saint Rosse could kill a big pirate right now, then I'd have real proof."
"Whatever, I'll just paint the picture first, say Saint Rosse is planning to eliminate a big pirate."
"Who cares, those big pirates are always on the move, it's not like they can be taken down on demand. I can figure out how to patch things up later. The key is to make contact with Moria first."
"Alright, let's do it!"
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