Marineford, World Government.
An urgent secret report landed on Sakazuki's desk, and Sakazuki was carefully reviewing its contents.
The secret report was delivered by carrier seagull from a Marine lookout post in the White Sea region. The Den Den Mushi wasn't used because the lookout post's rank was too low to directly contact Sakazuki.
This secret report was passed up through various lower-ranking Marines before reaching Sakazuki, which caused a delay in its reception.
The content of the secret report was very simple: "The Akatsuki Organization's Floating Island has appeared flying at low altitude above the White Sea. Based on its flight direction, it is predicted to be heading towards Water 7."
A brief piece of information, yet it caught Sakazuki's serious attention. Sakazuki was already considering how to arrange things to achieve maximum benefit.
Sakazuki no longer intended to use CP0. After all, Kozuki Oden of the Akatsuki Organization possessed formidable combat power, and the severely depleted CP0 was no longer capable of handling such an important task.
Sakazuki also didn't want to alert the enemy. Although he knew the Akatsuki Organization's whereabouts, their objective remained unclear. After much thought, Sakazuki still couldn't come up with a plan.
Sakazuki decided not to rack his brain alone and immediately summoned Monkey D. Garp and Chief of Staff Tsuru with a Den Den Mushi.
Garp is a Vice Admiral at Marineford, a legendary figure in the Marine, who has repeatedly pushed Pirate King Roger into desperate situations.
Thirty-eight years ago, he single-handedly stopped the advance of the Rocks Pirates in God Valley, protecting the Celestial Dragons and civilians, and teamed up with Roger to completely annihilate the pirate crew, thus becoming a Marine hero.
He is known as "Hero Garp" and "Iron Fist Garp." From the Roger era, Sengoku and Garp consistently led the Marine front lines until the Marineford War ended, after which they both retired but retained their military ranks, moving to a secondary role training Marines at Marineford.
Garp is a tall, broad-chested, muscular old man. He has a scar over his left eye. His eyes are blue, and he has a full head of short, graying hair.
He usually likes to wear a dog-head hat and a Marine "Justice" cloak when out and about. His shoulder pads are black and red.
Garp has a strong, straightforward personality and cares deeply about his subordinates, making him a very good superior.
Garp always appears "idle," drinking tea and eating snacks, but as a revered hero, he is actually a man of both wisdom and courage, with long-term vision and a precise grasp of world trends.
Sengoku, as the Fleet Admiral, often consulted him on various situations. Much like Luffy, he often fell asleep in the middle of scolding someone. No matter how strange the situation, Garp would always maintain a firm smile.
Vice Admiral Tsuru of Marineford, known as the "Great Strategist," is 76 years old. She is a Wash-Wash Human who ate the Paramecia Wash-Wash Devil Fruit, and an old rival of Donquixote Doflamingo.
Tsuru is a Marine strategist admired by Marine soldiers, who, along with Sengoku and Garp, supported the Marine even before the Great Pirate Era began. She is a wise general with extensive experience and knowledge. Monkey D. Garp calls her "Little Tsuru."
Tsuru is a tall, thin old woman with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles. She wears two bracelets on her right hand and green earrings. Her Marine cape is purple.
In her youth, Tsuru was a beauty, with a pretty face, a good figure, dark blue hair, loose bangs, and a ponytail.
Tsuru is a seasoned Marine member with extensive knowledge, a typical wise general, whose strategic prowess is so great that even Donquixote Doflamingo fears and respects her.
Tsuru is very calm and collected. During the Marineford War, when Vice Admiral Yamakaji told her to retreat, she believed there was no safe place, not even at the end of the sea.
Furthermore, Tsuru has good relationships with the female members of the Marine, and her ship is almost entirely staffed by female Marines.
Garp and Tsuru have known each other their entire lives and are practically inseparable at Marineford.
Upon receiving Sakazuki's summons, they arrived together at Sakazuki's Fleet Admiral's office.
After they sat down, Garp immediately ordered a cup of tea and snacks from the orderly, while Tsuru proactively asked Sakazuki for the reason for the summons.
"I've received intelligence that Akatsuki Organization personnel are expected to appear in Water 7, but their objective is completely unclear. I'd like to hear both of your opinions."
Sakazuki only saw official ranks, lacking the respect due to his Seniors, and spoke bluntly without honorifics.
As Marine Vice Admirals, Garp and Tsuru were fully aware of the Akatsuki Organization and CP0 matters. Garp directly ignored Sakazuki's question, while Tsuru fell into deep thought.
"Fleet Admiral, what is your objective?" Tsuru asked after thinking.
Tsuru's main reason for asking this question was to understand Sakazuki's objective, so she could formulate an appropriate plan based on it.
"Primarily to capture Kozuki Oden; if absolutely necessary, he can be killed."
"The Akatsuki Organization should be dealt with as a secondary matter."
"But they must have a purpose for going to Water 7, and I want to know what their objective is." Sakazuki had intended to do this since receiving the intelligence, but he hadn't yet planned how to arrange things to achieve maximum benefit.
"In that case, we can handle it this way."
"First, dispatch CP0 to secretly investigate the Akatsuki Organization's objective in Water 7. Do not act until their objective is clear. They are good at covert operations."
"Second, in the name of the World Government, summon Shichibukai Dracule Mihawk and Boa Hancock to Water 7 to apprehend Akatsuki Organization members."
"The benefit offered to them would be a guarantee that their Shichibukai status will not be revoked, and they will continue to receive World Government protection in their territories."
"Third, and this is the crucial step."
"Send Admiral Kizaru and three Vice Admiral-level combatants to lie in wait in Water 7, acting as a cleanup crew to strike at the critical moment and capture Kozuki Oden."
After careful consideration, Tsuru presented this series of plans according to Sakazuki's requirements. As for whether they would be adopted, Tsuru felt it didn't matter.
Tsuru and Garp both disliked Sakazuki, but Sakazuki was the Fleet Admiral, and as Seniors, Garp and Tsuru were obligated to obey orders based on military rank.
Tsuru's plan was actually quite perfect; if Pain's strength hadn't progressed rapidly, Tsuru's plan would have been enough to overthrow the Akatsuki Organization.
Tsuru only mentioned the Shichibukai Mihawk and Hancock because, apart from these two, the other Shichibukai were essentially defunct and would no longer heed the World Government.
Doflamingo had been defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates a few days ago, and Doflamingo had also been stripped of his title and imprisoned in Impel Down.
Edward Weevil, after being defeated by Pain last time, was spared by Pain and his group, thus saving his life, but he has since disappeared without a trace.
Trafalgar Law is currently allied with the Straw Hat Pirates, plotting major events, and was also stripped of his title by the World Government after his involvement in dealing with Doflamingo was exposed.
The remaining "Lucky King" Buggy the Clown was deemed unreliable, and Bartholomew Kuma voluntarily became a Marine research subject, transforming into a terrifying weapon and losing his consciousness.
Sakazuki carefully considered Tsuru's plan and raised a question, "Aren't we afraid of exposing the news of Kozuki Oden's survival by sending the Shichibukai?"
"Mihawk and Hancock are both people without ambition. Even if they knew, it wouldn't affect the overall situation, and they certainly wouldn't go around spreading the word." Tsuru had already considered this issue and answered smoothly when Sakazuki brought it up.
After hearing the explanation, Sakazuki also found it very feasible, so he issued a long string of orders via Den Den Mushi to execute Tsuru's plan.
To be continued...