Being assigned to the West Blue? Isn't that basically exile?
Dassault wasn't from the Navy, but he'd dealt with naval high command for years and naturally knew how personnel assignments worked inside the Navy.
Anyone posted to the Four Seas was very hard to transfer back to Headquarters for duty reports, unless they had a backer at Headquarters.
So once Brian was posted to the West Blue, his prospects were essentially gone.
Would Dassault really stand up for Brian?
Obviously not.
Kū and Sengoku both understood that perfectly well.
Dassault's impression of Brian only reached as far as the graduation assessment two years ago.
Although Brian had made startling remarks during that assessment and had won the Outstanding Cadet Award with excellent scores, who was Dassault? He was essentially a mouthpiece for the Five Elders. Dassault might admire talent in principle, but he would never waste time and energy defending Brian.
Still, Kū and Sengoku also knew why Dassault had suddenly changed his tone — he wanted to use the opportunity to pressure Naval Headquarters and force them to correct their "attitude."
As Brian had said, the Navy's mission was to preserve the World Government's rule; so-called justice was always judged by the World Government's interests. Anyone who shook or threatened the World Government's rule had to be eliminated — root and branch.
Therefore, assigning a cadet with such convictions to the West Blue was tantamount to betraying the Navy's mission!
Of course, they could let the matter slide, or they could blow it up into something bigger — it depended on Sengoku's rhetoric.
Sengoku composed himself and explained:
"Mr. Dassault, ever since Roger opened the Age of Pirates two years ago, the seas have been anything but peaceful, especially the West Blue. A large number of vicious pirates have appeared. Without exaggeration, the stability of the West Blue is directly tied to the safety of routes along the Grand Line, so Naval Headquarters must post a shrewd, capable governor — someone bold yet meticulous — to guard the West Blue."
Sengoku proved his reputation as a wise strategist. After hearing Sengoku's explanation, Dassault nodded in agreement and then asked,
"You mean Brian will become the governor of the West Blue?"
"If his performance meets our expectations." Sengoku smiled faintly. The answer was elastic — it suggested to Dassault that this was the Navy cultivating Brian, while cleverly avoiding the truth that Brian was being sent to the West Blue as a form of exile. Sengoku also made no promises and left no openings for Dassault to seize.
"Kū thought that was a beautiful answer," Kū thought inwardly, secretly giving Sengoku a thumbs-up.
"The West Blue mustn't be neglected. The choice of governor there is crucial. Since you intend to groom him, I won't interfere further." Dassault dropped the matter and handed a document to Sengoku.
"What's this?" Sengoku took the paper but hadn't opened it yet.
Dassault chuckled.
"According to CP9's investigation, scholars in Ohara are conducting dangerous research, suspected of subverting the World Government and even destroying the world. The Five Elders are very concerned; they want the Navy to coordinate with CP9 and handle this carefully — there must be no omissions."
Scholars in Ohara conducting dangerous experiments that could overthrow the World Government and destroy the world?
Garp frowned slightly. He did not buy such nonsense. He had been to Ohara in his youth; the scholars there devoted themselves to humanities and history and had made enormous contributions to all mankind. Claiming Ohara's scholars were doing terrorist research was sheer balderdash.
If Garp knew that, of course Sengoku did too.
But this matter had been raised by CP9 and had alarmed the Five Elders — which meant it truly was considered a threat to the World Government. The Navy's duty was to clear away such threats and hazards.
Sengoku assured him,
"Rest easy, Mr. Dassault. I will handle this with extreme caution. There will be no mistakes."
"Good. I look forward to the joint operation between the Navy and CP9." Dassault smiled faintly and left the office.
Only Garp, Zephyr and the others were left, fuming in silence.
Kū and Sengoku went back to Kū's office to discuss how to handle the Ohara issue.
Three mornings later, when the orderly opened the governor's room, the scene inside made her scream.
Her scream brought the Governor's guards running. When they saw the governor lying on the bed, stabbed to death, their minds went blank and they froze in place.
The governor had been assassinated!
News of Governor Karl's assassination quickly spread through the Governor's Mansion and soon reached Naval Headquarters and the West Blue branches.
The West Blue branch commanders, upon learning the dreadful news, left their bases and rushed to the Governor's Mansion as fast as they could — Brian among them.
Seeing Karl lying quietly amid flowers, covered with the Navy's Seagull of Justice standard, Brian's lips twitched. Inwardly he thought,
"Rest well, Karl senior. If there's a next life, remember to come find me and take revenge."
Karl had to die — only Karl's death could create a power vacuum in the West Blue. Brian needed that vacuum to carry out his plan. As long as Karl lived, Brian's attempt to forcibly marry the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Nasia would face tremendous resistance and trouble.
With Karl gone, the West Blue would be leaderless, chaos in the West Blue Navy was inevitable, and the Governor's Mansion could not interfere with Brian.
Of course, Karl's death brought other benefits as well. The post of West Blue Governor was Brian's next target. With Karl alive and backed by connections at Headquarters, Brian's path upward would be far more difficult.
Therefore, as long as Karl lived he would be an obstacle that had to be removed.
After the wreath-laying ceremony, Brian looked at Karl's pale face and put on a show of grief. He placed both hands on the coffin and declared mournfully,
"Karl senior, rest assured — no matter who the killer is or where they are, I will find them and personally gut them for you to avenge you!"
His performance was flawless, nearly Oscar-worthy.
Even the branch commanders were stunned; in their impression Brian and Karl had not been that close.
At that moment, Ann, dressed in mourning, arrived with a squad of marines wearing armbands. Amid the smirks and prying eyes of the branch officers, she pointed at Brian and ordered,
"Arrest him!"
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