Fleet Admiral Sengoku had just submitted the intelligence report regarding Sabo to the World Government. Before he could even catch his breath, Kuzan suddenly walked in.
"What is it, Aokiji?" Sengoku asked, leaning back in his office chair.
"I just remembered something from Water 7 that I haven't reported to you yet."
Faced with a uncharacteristically serious Kuzan, Sengoku sat up straight, listening intently to the report.
"Did Alucard really say that?" Sengoku's face turned grim.
"Dalmatian's first words after being resuscitated were exactly that. I don't think there's any mistake," Kuzan stated firmly.
Sengoku stood up immediately. "Let's go. You're coming with me to Mariejois. We're going to ask the Gorosei for an explanation."
In the past, Sengoku would never have dared to bring someone along to question the Gorosei in such a confrontational manner. Only a Fleet Admiral with a fierce temperament like Sakazuki, or someone like Fujitora who disregarded hierarchy, would typically do such a thing.
However, as the rift between the Navy and the World Government had deepened over the years, Sengoku's dissatisfaction with the current administration had grown. More importantly, what Kuzan had just shared was far too serious. If true, Sengoku couldn't imagine what the Government's true intentions were.
A Fleet Admiral and an Admiral rushed to Mariejois.
Actually, Vice Admiral Dalmatian, as a key witness, should have been part of this, but he had been so severely injured by Alucard that he wouldn't be able to leave his bed for six months. Sengoku and Kuzan had to go with only his written statement.
Soon, they arrived at Mariejois. Inside the Gorosei's chamber, Sengoku was uncharacteristically aggressive, surprising the five elders who had watched him rise from the rank of Seaman Recruit to his current position.
"Sengoku, if you are here to ask about the handling of the Sabo incident, we are still deliberating. You need only wait for the result," the curly-haired Elder with the cane said dismissively.
Sengoku let out a cold snort. "Compared to what I'm here to ask, the Sabo matter is trivial."
The Gorosei turned solemn. "Speak plainly, Sengoku."
Sengoku held his head high and detailed Dalmatian's battle with Alucard in Water 7, specifically recounting the words Alucard had spoken.
After he finished, an oppressive silence filled the room. Finally, the blonde Elder spoke: "Sengoku, what are you implying?"
"If Alucard spoke the truth, then you, the Gorosei, already hold the secret to his undying body. You hold the key to defeating him," Sengoku growled, his eyes fixed on them. "I know that during the battle at the Holy Land, you used the legendary National Treasure. But before that, you must have had a brief exchange with him..."
Sengoku paused, his gaze sweeping across their faces. "With the experience the five of you possess, you must have figured out the secret of his physique. If that's the case, why wasn't the Navy informed?"
The Elder with the handlebar mustache furrowed his brow. "Watch your tone. As the face of the Government, you in the Navy do not need to know too much."
"We are the ones fighting on the front lines! You didn't share enemy intelligence with us? What is that supposed to mean?"
Sengoku tilted his head, his eyes cold as he spoke words that sounded more like something Sakazuki would say. "The Water 7 operation cost us over fifteen hundred Marines in one go. If you don't give us an explanation, how am I supposed to continue as Fleet Admiral?"
"Don't you dare put on airs as a Fleet Admiral here, Sengoku!" the handlebar-mustached Elder barked, slamming his fist onto the sofa's armrest. "We indeed have hypotheses regarding Alucard's physical abilities, but the failure at Water 7 was due to the Navy acting on its own initiative."
Sengoku knew that arguing further was futile. Dalmatian wouldn't recover instantly, and those fifteen hundred dead Marines weren't coming back. The priority now was Alucard's secret.
Under Sengoku's near-threatening persistence, the Elder in the priest-like robes finally shared the three hypothetical possibilities they had deduced. With that, the two Marines departed.
"They are getting out of hand! These Marines!" the handlebar-mustached Elder fumed after they left.
"Forget it. Let us continue our previous topic," the Elder with the long white hair said. "How do we handle Sabo, the sworn brother of Fire Fist Ace? His act of helping a pirate is a clear violation of the regulations."
The robed Elder looked down, adjusting his glasses. "While his strength is superior to Gecko Moria's, the battle between the Navy and Whitebeard is imminent. Fire Fist Ace is the catalyst; we cannot leave such a time bomb at our side."
In the end, the Gorosei unanimously decided to strip Sabo of his Warlord title and allow Gecko Moria, who was originally slated for elimination, to remain as one of the Seven Warlords. Even if Sabo was stronger, they couldn't keep such a liability close during this critical period.
"As for Alucard stealing Pluton..."
"Yes, proceed according to the previous plan."
…
On the way back to Marineford from Mariejois, Kuzan walked behind Sengoku. "If those three hypotheses are true, then our methods for dealing with Alucard have been wrong all along. We shouldn't use one-on-one tactics. Instead, we should use overwhelming numbers at the right moment."
Sengoku snorted. "Nowadays, pirates tell the truth while the people in the Government harbor hidden agendas and don't trust the Navy. If it wasn't for your reminder, we'd still be in the dark about something this important."
Troubles never come singly. Just as Sengoku and Kuzan returned to Marineford, an urgent report was delivered.
It claimed that the prospective new Warlord, Weevil, and his mother, Miss Buckin, were approaching Moria's base in the Florian Triangle.