"Report! In the latter half of the New World, Alucard and Whitebeard have met. Meanwhile, Kaido is leading a force spearheaded by 'Jack the Drought'; they are expected to engage in a large-scale battle with Wano Country and the samurai within the coming days."
In the room of the Gorosei in Mariejois, an Intelligence Department agent from CP was reporting the recent movements of Alucard and Kaido through a silver Den Den Mushi.
"I knew Kaido held a grudge against Wano, but I didn't expect him to wait two years to seek revenge. There must have been a change within his crew," the Gorosei with the walking stick and curly hair spoke slowly.
"A few years ago, I saw the failure report regarding the artificialization of Devil Fruits on Punk Hazard. The other individual involved in that experiment, M. Caesar Clown, has been missing ever since. Combine that with recent reports of a surge in ability users within the Beasts Pirates..."
Before the Gorosei with the long white hair could finish, the blond Gorosei took over the conversation. "Caesar is likely under Kaido's protection, continuing the development of artificial Devil Fruits."
"The probability is high."
"Since Kaido is attacking Wano, we should seize this opportunity. Order the Marines at G-1 Branch to launch a sneak attack and confirm Caesar's presence."
The bald, sword-wielding Gorosei made the proposal. G-1 Branch was one of only two major Marine bases in the New World and was the closest to the Beasts Pirates' territory. They had to take advantage of Kaido's absence to find a way to sever the root of their expanding power.
"Send the orders immediately."
The five had just decided on a plan to deal with Kaido when the Den Den Mushi, which had only just been hung up, rang again. This time, the voice was different, more panicked and breathless.
"Report! Report! The Tuscany Legion has been ambushed by the Immortal Pirates on the Sky Island! The military base currently under construction has been burned to ashes!"
The sheer panic in the reporter's tone was enough to convey the gravity of the situation.
"What did you say?!"
The Gorosei with the birthmark and the curved mustache roared at the speakerphone. "Say that again!"
After the subordinate timidly repeated the report, the mustache-wearing Gorosei clenched his fists, trembling with rage. The Tuscany Legion was one of the Government's elite forces and the primary unit responsible for the military expansion into the sky. An attack by the Immortal Pirates… this fact alone signaled a crisis.
"Previously, Momousagi and Shirokitsune of the Army reported seeing Alucard on the Sky Island. It seems he had the same idea as us," the Gorosei with the short blond hair said solemnly.
"How many losses?" the curly-haired Gorosei asked, suppressing his fury.
"N-not many. After their ambush was discovered, they retreated immediately. The Tuscany Legion lost only a few dozen men, but... the branch base, which was a third of the way complete, has been reduced to ash."
The Gorosei were shaking with rage. Idiots! We would rather you have lost more men if it meant protecting the base!
Resources on the Sky Island were extremely limited. Essential materials often had to be brought up from the Blue Sea. Did they have any idea how difficult it was to transport construction supplies ten thousand meters into the air?
Suppressing their anger, they asked, "Who did Alucard send?"
"The one leading the raid was the user of the Age-Age Fruit, Jewelry Bonney. The primary damage was caused by Aranea Highwind and Bartholomew Kuma, though the Immortal Pirates are now calling him 'PX-0'."
"Those are all elite, cadre-level fighters."
"And two of them were taken right from the Government's hands!"
The mustache-wearing Gorosei gnashed his teeth. Aranea Highwind, former Captain of the Air Force's 2nd Mobile Regiment, and Bartholomew Kuma, a former Warlord of the Sea, these should have been the Government's assets! Now, they were being used to strike at the Government itself.
"Aranea's position in the Immortal Pirates is listed as Vegapunk's bodyguard. Does that mean Vegapunk is there as well?" the long-haired Gorosei speculated.
"Put the matter of Vegapunk aside for now. The most important thing is to wipe out these bastards."
The sword-wielding Gorosei proposed: "There are only two ways. Like we're doing with Kaido, we either launch a raid on Arderay, or we reinforce the Sky Island with enough troops to crush the Immortal Pirates."
The Gorosei with the long white hair stroked his thick, unnaturally long beard. "The combination of Viola with her Glare-Glare Fruit and Shirahoshi, the Sea Princess, makes their fleet invincible at sea. Launching a sneak attack on the Immortals like we are on the Beasts is impossible."
Silence fell over the five men. After a long pause, the long-haired Gorosei spoke again, "I have a way."
"Speak," the other four urged.
"Reinforcing the Sky Island is a necessity, but as long as the Sea Princess remains, she will always be a thorn in our side," he said with chilling eyes. "Shirahoshi, only fourteen years old, is a core combatant of the Immortal Pirates. She is heavily protected by both Alucard and the Kuja. Getting close to her, let alone striking her, is nearly impossible. However..."
A cold smirk curled beneath his thick beard. "Approaching her is difficult, but approaching her parents on New Fish-Man Island, Neptune and Otohime, will be very simple."
The other four nodded in understanding. That was one problem solved.
"And what about the meeting between Alucard and Whitebeard?" the sword-wielding Gorosei asked.
"That is a clash between pirates. Furthermore, it is happening in the deepest reaches of the New World. Let the Navy handle it."
The moment those words were spoken, it was clear: the rift between the Gorosei and the Navy was only growing deeper.