Chapter 226: A New Crisis
Hartlepool was an unremarkable little island.
Its population was sparse. It had no special products, no famous scenery, and no great history to speak of. It was merely one of countless ordinary islands that pirates occasionally passed through.
If there was anything unique about it, it was the presence of a Marine base.
And the fact that it was geographically close to Dressrosa.
There was a reason a Marine base had been established on such an ordinary island.
Donquixote Doflamingo had legally seized the throne of Dressrosa through the Seven Warlords system.
The World Government had no intention of intervening, but the Marines could not simply ignore it.
In the Marines' eyes, the Seven Warlords were still pirates in the end.
At most, they were a neutral faction.
They were never truly considered allies.
And no one could say for certain what the Marines meant to the Seven Warlords either.
For that reason, Hartlepool was one of the bases specifically established to restrain the influence of Doflamingo.
At this moment, however, the island's peaceful atmosphere had been shattered.
"You damned brat, my rank is higher than yours! You have to listen to me!"
Doberman roared angrily.
The one making him furious was Axel, who sat leisurely in a chair before him.
"No," Axel replied without hesitation. "Although your rank is higher than mine, remember this. I'm in charge of this mission, so I make the decisions."
He glanced at Doberman.
"If you have an objection, go ask that old geezer Sengoku yourself."
"The enemy is nearby, and the Marines are still avoiding them. What kind of Marine is that?"
Doberman's voice grew even heavier.
"Are you going to listen to me or not?"
"No."
Axel's answer was brief and clear.
"You... you!"
Doberman's face darkened with anger.
"Then I'll go myself. Is that acceptable?"
"Still no."
Axel's tone did not change.
"The same thing applies. Although your rank is higher than mine, I was appointed as the highest person in charge of this matter. If you have objections, go find that old geezer Sengoku."
Doberman was left speechless.
As someone who believed in Absolute Justice, he could not accept this situation.
Yet since he had accepted the order, he also could not violate it.
Just then, a young Marine rushed in from outside, panting heavily.
"The enemy's offensive is getting fiercer, and the attack range is gradually approaching the residential area. If this continues, there will be civilian casualties."
"...Continue investigating," Axel said indifferently.
The Marine soldier hesitated after hearing the order.
Further investigation might not only mean getting closer.
It might mean casualties.
As Marines, shouldn't they fight back?
Doberman could no longer hold back and roared, "Do you understand what you're doing? If civilians die, can you still face the justice you uphold?"
"The Seven Warlords are merely carrying out normal plunder," Axel said calmly. "The Marines have no authority to interfere."
This attack had been initiated by Doflamingo.
And as one of the Seven Warlords, Doflamingo did indeed possess a legitimate right to engage in plunder.
Therefore, under such circumstances, the Marines had no legal authority to interfere.
"For a reason like that, you can disregard the lives of civilians?"
Doberman's voice was filled with resentment.
"I truly don't understand how someone like Garp could have a grandson like you."
Doberman admired Garp of the older generation.
Because Garp could disregard rules for the sake of justice and protect what needed to be protected.
But toward Axel, Doberman truly had nothing to say.
"As long as the Marines don't attack Doflamingo, Doflamingo has no right to attack us," Axel said. "Because he needs to maintain his title as one of the Seven Warlords."
"But once the Marines obstruct him, he gains a legitimate reason to attack, because we would be hindering his lawful plunder."
Axel looked at Doberman.
"Now, you only have three choices."
"First, civilians die."
"Second, both Marines and civilians die."
"Third, you defeat Doflamingo, and everything is resolved."
He paused briefly.
"But I don't think you can win."
Although Doberman did not know Doflamingo's exact strength, how could someone capable of stabilizing the balance of the sea be weak?
"But how will you know without trying?"
Doberman's tone was stern.
"To let him invade freely like this is a disgrace to the Marines."
His voice dropped.
"More importantly, Doflamingo even arranged for Vergo to infiltrate the Marines. Under these circumstances, shouldn't he be arrested?"
The moment Doberman mentioned Vergo, Axel muted the sound, preventing those words from spreading.
The fact that Doflamingo had instructed Vergo to infiltrate the Marines was known only to a few people.
Doberman, as one of those few high ranking officers and a Vice Admiral second only to an Admiral, naturally knew about it.
However, the mastermind behind this incident was one of the Seven Warlords recognized by the World Government.
If the matter truly leaked out, the impact would be too great.
Because of the potential consequences, an order had been issued to conceal it.
Doberman had been too agitated just now, which was why he blurted it out.
Logically, Axel could have allowed the information to spread.
But for Axel, keeping it hidden was more advantageous.
As long as Doflamingo still wanted to maintain his position as one of the Seven Warlords, he could not openly clash with them.
And as long as the Marines wanted to preserve this balance, they had to keep the matter hidden.
That meant Doflamingo also had no reason to openly resist them.
It was a dead loop.
And that was exactly the result Axel wanted.
Looking at Doberman, who was still agitated, Axel sighed.
He finally understood why Sengoku had appointed him, a lower ranking officer, as the highest person in charge.
It was because Doberman was too impulsive.
Too righteous.
With his attitude, he would definitely clash directly with Doflamingo.
Axel had also wondered why Sengoku had not sent someone with a different personality.
But then he realized.
This was also Sengoku's way of restraining him.
Doberman, who held an absolute belief in justice, was here to prevent Axel from doing anything illegal or disorderly.
Regarding Doflamingo, Axel was indeed the highest person in charge.
But outside that matter, he was not.
Which meant Doberman could turn around and supervise him at any time.
"Then that's it."
Axel stood up.
"If you want to go out and stop them, I won't prevent you. Go if you want."
He turned toward the door.
"I'm going to sleep."
Doberman had not expected Axel to be of much help anyway.
All he wanted was permission.
He immediately turned to the still stunned Marine and ordered, "Tell the Marines in the base to prepare for battle against the pirates."
"Yes!"
The Marine soldier answered at once.
Although he had only heard fragments of the earlier conversation, one thing was clear.
Vice Admiral Doberman had secured the chance to engage.
Respect immediately rose in the soldier's heart.
At the same time, he could not help wondering why the officer in charge was not Doberman, but Axel.
After Axel left, he reached an unoccupied corner, opened a window, and stepped out directly.
Then he used Moonwalk and moved toward the port.
What he had said just now was half true and half false.
The Marines indeed had no authority to interfere with the plundering rights of the Seven Warlords.
And he truly did not intend to participate as a Marine.
However, he had never said he would not participate under another identity.
He had not told Doberman simply because telling someone with that kind of temperament would only make things more troublesome.
It might even cause the situation to exceed his control.
That was why he concealed it.
Although, just as Axel had said, the most correct approach was indeed to ignore it.
Doflamingo would never do something that harmed his interests while bearing the title of Seven Warlord.
So choosing to ignore the attack was the best way to protect themselves.
But Axel recalled something Accelerator had once said.
"It's over? What are you talking about? The road is still long, especially for a killer."
If Axel chose to ignore it, it would be no different from killing those civilians himself.
That kind of sin could not be redeemed.
It went against his original intent.
So no matter what, he had to intervene.
Moreover, at sea...
He might not necessarily lose.
.....
https://discord.gg/KvMN2CFsMR
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]