Tsuru's previous analysis suggested that the compromise of Dr. Vegapunk's return route and his subsequent kidnapping by Alucard wasn't necessarily due to a mole within the Marines. Instead, she suspected it was a play directed by Vegapunk himself.
Perhaps, for some unknown reason, he no longer wished to work under the Government and decided to defect to Alucard.
While her theory didn't hit the nail precisely on the head regarding the truth, it was halfway there. With Dr. Vegapunk's intellect, had he truly wanted to escape, Alucard might still have succeeded, but it certainly wouldn't have been that easy.
Regardless of the circumstances, the necessity of reclaiming Dr. Vegapunk from Alucard remained paramount.
However, just as Dr. Vegapunk had predicted, neither the Marines nor the Government wanted to expend their own military strength to assault Alucard. Both factions had suffered massive setbacks at Alucard's hands before and knew all too well the staggering losses a reckless attack would incur.
A month had passed since Dr. Vegapunk's abduction, and the situation remained at a stalemate.
One had to remember that Vegapunk's kidnapping was a state secret. If they delayed any longer, they would have to issue a Wanted poster, yet they still hadn't made a move.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was currently plagued by this dilemma. This morning, the Government had once again ordered him to deploy troops.
What a load of rubbish!
Sengoku nearly flipped his desk.
To demand the Marines deploy their heavy hitters to fight Alucard for the Government—if they lost, the Marines would be crippled; if they won, the prize they brought back, Vegapunk, would belong solely to the Government.
The Marines swallow the bitter pill while the Government reaps the rewards? There was no such bargain in this world.
After a month of contemplation, Sengoku's current strategy was simple: he would stall.
He would rather let Alucard hold the "Wild Card" that was Dr. Vegapunk than waste his heavy military force to retrieve him for the Government.
This stalling lasted for three months.
Finally, the Government ran out of patience. They didn't force the Marines into a mandatory deployment; instead, they forcibly summoned one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Bartholomew Kuma, and issued a notice to Sengoku.
[Permission granted for Warlord Bartholomew Kuma to enter Firs Island to retrieve the prohibited weapon: Dyna Stones.]
Sengoku was startled when he saw the notice. The contents detailed that Kuma was to obtain three Dyna Stones, each capable of obliterating a large island, and use his Paw-Paw Fruit ability to secretly travel to New Amazon Lily, one of the Immortal Pirates' territories, and plant them there.
Once the explosion was triggered, Alucard would inevitably be distracted and rush to New Amazon Lily to assess the situation. That round trip would take at least five days.
Taking advantage of this window, Vice Admiral Yako of the Government's Air Force would lead a unit to paradrop onto Arderay and snatch Dr. Vegapunk back.
Sengoku took a sharp breath at the plan. The Government was playing a ruthless hand; with one move, they intended to wipe out the core of Alucard's fleet, including his woman, Boa Hancock, and the "Sea King" Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons.
The Marines' responsibility was to cut off the retreat.
Since the Air Force's equipment couldn't sustain flight for long periods, they still required warships. The majority of the combat power for these ships would be provided by the Marines.
"Those bastards... they insist on taking a bite of meat out of the Marines," Sengoku grumbled. However, compared to two months ago when they wanted him to lead a frontal assault on Arderay, this was within the realm of the acceptable.
His only worry now was that if they succeeded, the Marines and the Government would undoubtedly face Alucard's maddened retaliation. That man might seem more "normal" than Kaido, but when he went berserk, he was every bit as dangerous.
Just as Sengoku was thinking this, the next section of the report dispelled his concerns.
The Government had a solution for Alucard's revenge. They planned to reignite the old grudges between Kaido, Big Mom, and Alucard, instigating a war between the three monsters. When that happened... would Alucard have any time left to attack the Marines or the Government?
"Hmph! What a truly sinister bunch."
Even though the target was Alucard, Sengoku couldn't help but mock the Government's interlocking schemes. The old foxes of the Gorosei had lost none of their cunning.
…
Meanwhile, in the inner hall of the castle on Arderay.
Dr. Vegapunk was showcasing his latest research to Alucard. He was attempting to use the specialized Blacklight Stones invented by Dr. Indigo as a starting point, enhancing them to control the Contenders and Dominators.
Out of pure scientific interest, he had already invented a suppressor for the Blacklight Virus that was even more perfect than Indigo's.
"A pity. If Zephyr hadn't died, I could have modified him into a monster that surpasses an Admiral," Dr. Vegapunk lamented.
"Life is always full of regrets, Punk," Alucard chuckled. "However, why haven't the Government and the Marines attacked yet?"
"Soon," Dr. Vegapunk analyzed. "Just as I predicted, neither the Navy nor the Government will move their own troops. The protagonists of this operation will be the Warlord Bartholomew Kuma and the Dyna Stones."
As soon as Vegapunk finished speaking, Alucard's subordinate, Stragus, hurried into the hall to report: "Alucard-sama! Our pirate crews stationed in the first half of the Grand Line report seeing Bartholomew Kuma heading toward Mariejois."
"See? They're making their move."
Dr. Vegapunk smiled and cracked his knuckles. "The Government's next step is to have Kuma use his ability to carry the Dyna Stones to your New Amazon Lily and blow it up. Once you're lured away, they'll strike here in the gap."
"And... the Government will likely send a surprise attack force. Equipped with the flight gear I modified and possessing strength rivaling a Yonko crew..."
Vegapunk did a quick mental calculation. "In all likelihood, it will be the Air Force led by Yako."
"Mnh-heh-heh... Hahahahahahahaha!"
Alucard burst into a wild laugh, so intense that Stragus didn't dare speak. Dr. Vegapunk simply watched Alucard on the throne with a calm expression.
"A fine analysis! A beautiful analysis, Vegapunk!"
Alucard raised his right hand, and the seal on the back of his glove glowed with a crimson light. "This is why I enjoy working with smart people!"