Chapter 258
In a region of the New World claimed by Whitebeard, the Moby Dick sailed through calmer water when a News Coo dropped the emergency edition onto the deck.
The nearest crewman unfolded it, read the headline, and stopped smiling.
"Hey... you guys need to see this."
The relaxed mood disappeared quickly.
"What the hell is Linlin doing?"
"Kaido too?"
"Wasn't Hawkeye already demanding a rematch with Zaraki?"
Marco took the paper and walked toward Whitebeard, who sat near the bow with an enormous bowl of sake in one hand.
"Pops."
Edward Newgate scanned the article.
"Gurararara... that old hag is making noise again."
Ace had already moved closer.
The moment he saw Zaraki's name beside the report of a missing Marine Vice Admiral, unease tightened across his face.
"Something's wrong. Linlin and Kaido hate each other. If they're both moving around Zaraki at the same time, somebody gave them a reason."
Whitebeard drank before answering.
"Those two sailed under Rocks. They know exactly what the other is capable of, and they know better than most why trusting each other is stupid."
Several younger crewmen stiffened at the name.
Marco's frown deepened.
"But they could still move toward the same target if there was enough in it for both of them."
"Exactly."
A junior intelligence officer rushed up from below deck with a fresh underworld report.
"Pops! We got confirmation from one of our contacts near the Totto Land routes. Gion was taken during a reconnaissance operation, and Zaraki left the Oni Slayer behind. He's going into the inner waters with no Marine escort force."
Ace's hand tightened around the edge of the report.
"He actually went."
Jozu grunted.
"Did you expect him not to?"
Ace ignored him and turned toward Whitebeard.
"Pops, if Linlin's people are holding Gion and Kaido is moving too, Zaraki could end up fighting both of them."
Whitebeard remained quiet for a moment.
Then he lowered the sake bowl.
"We're not sailing there to rescue a Marine."
Ace opened his mouth, but Whitebeard continued.
"Two Emperors moving around the same target while the World Government suddenly starts feeding people information is everybody's problem if it turns into a new balance of power."
His gaze moved toward the horizon.
"I want to know whether Linlin and Kaido are actually cooperating, or whether they're about to tear each other apart again. And if somebody thinks they can stage an execution in the middle of the New World and force every other crew to accept the result..."
A grin spread beneath his crescent mustache.
"...they can learn otherwise."
Whitebeard rose and lifted Murakumogiri.
"Change course. We head toward the outer Totto Land routes."
The commanders answered immediately.
The Moby Dick began turning.
Ace kept his gaze fixed on the newspaper.
Whatever Whitebeard called the voyage, Ace knew what he intended to do if Zaraki truly ended up trapped inside.
...
Several hours later, on an island within Red-Hair territory, a bonfire crackled beneath the night sky while the officers of the Red-Haired Pirates listened to Shanks finish reading the latest intelligence report.
"Gion is confirmed missing, Zaraki left the Oni Slayer behind and entered the inner routes with no Marine force around him, Kaido is moving again, and Linlin has turned tomorrow's tea party into a public spectacle."
The lively banquet died away.
Lucky Roux stopped halfway through another bite, a huge piece of meat suspended near his mouth, while Yasopp lowered the rifle he had been cleaning and looked toward his captain.
Too many top-level forces were converging on the same place for anyone to dismiss it as coincidence.
Shanks scratched irritably at his red hair.
"Linlin and Kaido nearly killed each other the last time they were put in the same place. If they're both willing to move around Zaraki now, somebody has been feeding each of them exactly what they want."
Benn Beckman removed the cigarette from his mouth.
"The Government."
"Probably."
Shanks frowned toward the fire.
He knew enough about the World Government to recognize the shape of the problem even without Tsuru's intercepted recording.
Using one enemy to pressure another was nothing unusual for Mary Geoise; the alarming part was how many pieces had begun moving at once.
"Lucky, confirm whether Zaraki really entered the inner waters."
"No need," Beckman said.
Shanks looked toward him.
"We got the confirmation less than an hour ago. The Oni Slayer stayed outside the main patrol ring. Zaraki went ahead using a captured Big Mom route and no Marine escort force."
Several officers cursed under their breath.
Beckman continued.
"Gion is the reason. The Big Mom Pirates took her during reconnaissance."
Shanks's expression changed.
That explained why an obvious trap had worked.
Before he could say anything else, the solitary figure seated farther from the bonfire stood and lifted Yoru onto one shoulder.
Dracule Mihawk walked toward the light.
"He was always going to go once they used her."
Shanks studied his old rival.
"You sound certain."
"I fought him."
Mihawk's hawk-like eyes remained calm.
"He is reckless, not indifferent. There is a difference."
Beckman nodded slightly.
Shanks sighed.
"So what are you planning? Don't tell me you intend to sail into Totto Land and demand your rematch while he's trying to rescue someone."
"No."
That answer came immediately.
Mihawk rested Yoru against his shoulder.
"Our duel waits until this is finished."
Shanks blinked.
Mihawk continued.
"But if he comes out of Totto Land alive, I do not want the Government using my challenge as another piece on its board. The rematch is between him and me. If Mary Geoise or some opportunist tries to turn it into another ambush, I want advance warning."
A slow grin returned to Shanks's face.
"That's the favor?"
"For now."
"Much more reasonable than asking me to keep two Emperors away from your fight."
Mihawk gave him a cold look.
"I was not going to ask that."
Lucky Roux laughed around his food.
Shanks lifted another bottle.
"Fine. We'll watch the routes and the underworld chatter. If the Government tries to hide something behind your rematch, you'll hear about it."
Mihawk gave a small nod and returned to the edge of the fire.
Shanks took a long drink, although his expression remained thoughtful.
Zaraki going into Totto Land over Gion was predictable once the hostage existed.
What happened after he reached her was not.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Sengoku and Garp returned from Mary Geoise shortly after noon in worse moods than when they had left.
The conference had produced almost nothing useful.
Four of the Five Elders had spent hours questioning Sengoku about Zaraki's conduct, the provisional Giant Warrior charter, Charlos, and Marine control over the Warlord evaluations.
Whenever Sengoku raised Kalles directly, the discussion had been redirected. Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro had not appeared in person at all.
That absence no longer looked accidental.
The emergency report from the Oni Slayer was waiting in Sengoku's office.
He read it once.
Then again.
His fist struck the desk hard enough to crack the wood.
"Charlotte Linlin took Gion as bait?"
The Vice Admirals gathered in the room remained quiet.
Garp stood near the wall with a bag of rice crackers in one hand, but for once he was not eating.
Tsuru entered carrying the duplicated Kalles recordings and placed them on the desk.
"This is not a new operation," she said. "It is the Kalles operation changing shape after Gion kept the Oni Slayer out of the central harbor."
Sengoku's face darkened.
"The shot that disabled her launch came from Kalles."
"Yes."
"And Linlin's ships were already waiting."
"Yes."
Garp finally spoke.
"So the old bastards used one of our own Vice Admirals as bait after their first trap failed."
Tsuru did not answer directly.
She did not need to.
Sengoku rose.
"Prepare an intervention fleet."
One of the Vice Admirals stiffened.
"Fleet Admiral, a Buster Call?"
"No."
The answer came sharply.
"I am not erasing islands full of civilians because Linlin abducted one of our officers. This is a rescue and extraction operation. We enter with enough force to recover Gion, the Oni Slayer, and Zaraki if negotiations collapse, but nobody fires on civilian islands without direct authorization."
Tsuru nodded.
That was the distinction that mattered.
Sengoku looked toward Garp.
"You take a fast ship toward the western approach. If Kaido's fleet moves into Totto Land, you intercept or delay it before it can close on Zaraki."
Garp grinned, though there was no humor in it.
"That sounds more useful than paperwork."
"It usually is."
"And you?"
"I'm leading the main group."
Tsuru looked at him.
"You just returned from Mary Geoise."
"Exactly."
Sengoku picked up the Kalles recording.
"They wanted me away from the board while the trap closed. I'm done cooperating with that part."
For the first time since entering the office, Garp bit into a rice cracker.
"Now you sound reasonable."