Chapter 59: Momonga's Lucky Day!
"It's October now. The deal can be completed by December at the latest. Because the locations are relatively far apart, it will take some time to get there. If you need to report back to a certain someone, then please tell him that he can start preparing. If nothing unexpected happens, I will make my move in early December, when those attending the World Conference have returned. And I will act in all three places at once."
Hearing Buggy's words, Caroline snapped open her fan, covered her little mouth, and let out a gasp of surprise.
"Pirate Buggy, are you sure you will proceed in three places simultaneously? Do you understand what you will be facing?" It was clear that Caroline knew some inside information.
"Then may I ask how much you know about my pirate crew? I have met that person. He knows I don't make empty boasts. So let's complete the transaction quickly; I still have to travel." Being questioned by Caroline made Buggy very displeased.
"Young captain, I apologize for my words. I will give you the 99 Vitality Recipes first. Later, I will relay your words to that esteemed person without changing a single one." Making an apologetic gesture, Caroline immediately handed the scroll in her hand to Buggy.
Without saying more, Buggy had Hancock put down the gifts they had brought, then turned and left.
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, in the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku rubbed the bridge of his nose as he looked at the one-sided reports from the East Blue and from a certain heavily injured Vice Admiral.
"Garp, do you think this is a coincidence? When you put all this information together, it points to a terrible situation," Sengoku said in a deep voice, handing the documents to Garp.
Taking the documents, Garp's frown deepened as he read.
After a long while, Garp put down the documents and leaned back on the sofa.
"I've fought Roger countless times. To be honest, I'm not surprised at all that Red-Haired Shanks has reached the level he's at today. But I never thought that red-nosed kid who was on his ship back then would amount to much. I really misjudged him. Looks like I'm getting old, hahahahaha." Garp's low tone suddenly turned into loud laughter.
"Garp, I'm showing you these documents to ask for your opinion, not for you to get sentimental," Sengoku was truly helpless against Garp's carefree personality.
"The situation has already developed. Right now, all we know for sure is that that man is a member of the Red Nose Pirates. As for Daz Bonez, Sengoku, you should have noticed his personnel file, right? The time he joined the Marines is not far off from when the deserter Paula defected. Although it's a bit hard to believe, I think you'd better consider the worst-case scenario." With a sigh, Garp's expression turned very grim.
"So you think so too. If that's really the case, then the little brat we all looked down on back then has done something incredible. I wonder in what manner this guy will appear before the world. It's a pity we know too little about him and his pirate crew. We want to be on guard, but we don't know where to start," Sengoku said with great helplessness.
"To be able to endure for sixteen years and only form a pirate crew now, he's much more difficult to deal with than Red-Hair. Roger is really a troublesome one. Not only did he kick off the Great Pirate Era, but he also left behind two very difficult successors."
Just as Garp and Sengoku were discussing in the Fleet Admiral's office, a man in the medical department suddenly opened his eyes.
"Vice Admiral Momonga, you're finally awake! This is great!" a nurse at the side immediately exclaimed happily.
Hiss!
Momonga, who tried to get up as soon as he opened his eyes, couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath as pain shot through his body. I survived?
The originally dazed look in his eyes was instantly dispelled by the pain. With his vision cleared, Momonga immediately said to the nurse beside him, "Quickly inform the Fleet Admiral! The Great Swordsman Dracule Mihawk and the deserter Paula belong to the same pirate crew! The captain is named Buggy, and he was a member of the Roger Pirates along with Red-Haired Shanks! Go now!"
After speaking, watching the nurse run out, Momonga once again recalled the scenes before he collapsed.
Former Marine intelligence officer Paula had suddenly murdered Dr. Weber of the Science Division for some reason and defected, causing headquarters to issue a wanted notice.
Under normal circumstances, as long as a deserter didn't actively appear in front of the Marines or get discovered by them, they could basically remain at large. After all, the massive Marine organization had people deserting every year. Though the number wasn't large, it was definitely not non-existent.
The Marines didn't have the time to hunt down those deserters all day. Such matters were generally handled by the World Government's special agencies, and it would never be the turn of a Vice Admiral like Momonga to handle it personally.
But who could blame Paula for her bad luck? On her way back to the Calm Belt after leaving Marine Headquarters, she actually ran into Momonga, who was returning from a mission.
A small boat operated by one person against a warship—it would be a miracle if Paula could escape.
After a round of cannon fire, a very helpless Paula actively leaped onto Momonga's warship and began to fight him.
Although Buggy had said that Paula's ability had a chance to kill an Admiral, that was under the condition of a surprise attack. Now that she was exposed and fighting a Marine Vice Admiral face-to-face, Paula was having a very hard time.
In any case, Momonga was a mainstay of the Marines, a veteran powerhouse. He was worlds stronger than Paula, who had only mastered Haki for a few years.
The fact that she could hold her own for a period of time without being defeated was thanks to Buggy's efforts in helping her train her ability back then.
Seeing Paula gradually losing ground, Momonga felt a little fortunate to have stumbled upon such a good thing on his way back.
Looks like today is my lucky day!
And just as Momonga thought the extra merit was within his grasp, a voice rang out.
"Taking so long to take down a single woman. It seems the strength of a Marine Vice Admiral isn't all that great!"
Hearing the voice, Momonga proactively stopped his attack and turned his head to look up at the figure who had appeared on the mast at some unknown time.
"Hawkeye, you are no longer one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. How dare you appear so arrogantly on a warship? Are you provoking the Marines?" For a moment, Momonga couldn't figure out what the suddenly appeared Hawkeye wanted, but the dignity of the Marines could not be challenged.
"I'm just passing by out of boredom, watching a boring fight, and making a comment. As for provoking the Marines, I don't feel like it today." Staring at Momonga for a moment, Hawkeye considered, then shook his head and replied.
After speaking, Paula saw Hawkeye jump down from the mast and walk towards the side of the ship.
"Great Swordsman Mihawk, please wait!" Paula suddenly called out to Mihawk.
"I have no interest in saving you." Without even turning his head, Mihawk showed no interest in rescuing Paula.
(End of Chapter)