Chapter 26: Plan to Eliminate Roger’s Descendants (II)

"Ugh!"

As Sakazuki stepped out of the vacant office, he gazed up at the sky outside, exhaling a heavy sigh. Frankly, he had delegated this task to himself. It could be argued that it was quite the commendation, given that he might be the only one, apart from Garp, aware of Ace's existence as well as his mother's.

'How should I handle this?'

Recalling the pledge Kong had just made to him, Sakazuki felt genuinely touched, entertaining the notion of eliminating Ace's mother and child.

'Marine Admiral!'

Indeed, Kong's promise to him was that as long as he could locate Roger's descendants and eliminate them, it would earn him considerable recognition, propelling him to the position of Marine Admiral.

The temptation of becoming a Marine Admiral was immense. If he could attain such a rank, he would rank amongst the most powerful figures in the Marines. Both in terms of status and other privileges, it would elevate him far beyond his current standing. How could he not be enticed? He would merely be dispatching a defenceless pregnant woman.

But it was easier said than done. He wasn't the same man as before; he couldn't be so callous, especially in a world where pregnant women were in dire need of care. Suddenly asking him to harm pregnant women was simply unthinkable.

'Fleet Admiral Kong, you've certainly presented me with a conundrum.'

Returning to his own quarters, Lucas and Rear Admiral Onigumo immediately approached, inquiring, "Vice Admiral Sakazuki, did the Fleet Admiral assign you any tasks?"

As a Marine Fleet Admiral, Kong was typically quite occupied. Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn't summon individuals without reason. Therefore, their assumption was that Sakazuki had been given a task. Given the recent rumblings amongst Marine personnel, they were privy to some extent of information.

Seating himself, Sakazuki spoke slowly, "Yes, it was indeed a task."

"Will you be departing Marineford?"

Observing Sakazuki's lack of enthusiasm, the two toned down their voices, sensing it wasn't good news.

Sakazuki confirmed, "Yes, and if this task is accomplished, he will promptly elevate me to the rank of Marine Admiral."

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, both Rear Admiral Onigumo and Lucas exclaimed in astonishment, then quickly shifted to excitement. Sakazuki's promotion to Marine Admiral would mean great things for them both.

As Sakazuki's closest confidants, their promotions would be inevitable alongside his. It wouldn't be a stretch for the Rear Admiral Onigumo to become a Marine Vice Admiral, while Lucas could also ascend further. Naturally, they were thrilled at the prospect.

"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, what's the task? Why does Fleet Admiral Kong hold it in such high regard?"

Sakazuki lifted his head, gazing at the excited duo before responding lightly, "Well, this task is as straightforward as it is complex. Its difficulty lies in the choices one must make."

The Rear Admiral Onigumo and Lucas exchanged glances, perplexed. Neither understood the significance of Sakazuki's words. What appeared simple also seemed intricate. What kind of task could elicit such ambivalence?

'What does the task entail?'

Rear Admiral Onigumo suspected it must be a formidable challenge if it caused Sakazuki to hesitate.

"Gol D.Roger!" Sakazuki uttered the name slowly.

Instantly, both Rear Admiral Onigumo and Lucas were taken aback. So it was connected to Roger. No wonder it was being taken so seriously. Roger's legacy loomed large. Despite his demise, the mere mention of his name had profound implications.

"Roger is dead. Are we dealing with remnants of the Roger Pirates?" inquired Rear Admiral Onigumo, his suspicion evident.

Sakazuki shook his head. "No, it concerns Roger's lineage. The Fleet Admiral received intelligence from CP0 indicating that Roger left descendants in this world and marked a location. Our mission is to locate Roger's descendants. If successful, and we eliminate them, I'll be promoted to Marine Admiral."

"What? Roger still has his descendants in this world?"

Both Rear Admiral Onigumo and Lucas were incredulous. Having witnessed Roger's execution alongside Sakazuki, they were aware of the might of the Pirate King Roger. If indeed he had left descendants, it was a significant development. It explained why Kong regarded it with such gravity and promised such a lofty reward.

"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, can we trust CP0's intelligence?"

Sakazuki replied, "Although CP0 is a spy agency directly answerable to the Five Elders, their authority is considerable. They wouldn't dare to fabricate information on this matter. The intelligence is sound, albeit their area of search is vast. It's an enormous island; do you reckon it'll be straightforward to pinpoint a target?"

Rear Admiral Onigumo hesitated before replying, "It shouldn't be overly challenging, should it? Regardless of the island's size, there are limits to where one can hide. We'll collaborate with CP0 of the World Government and the Marine to conduct a comprehensive search. If someone is found, the task shouldn't pose significant difficulties. Moreover, is Roger's descendant already born?"

Sakazuki paused, acknowledging the point. No matter the size of Baterilla Island, with the determination of the World Government to eliminate Roger's child, finding the target shouldn't prove insurmountable. Had Ace's mother not disguised her pregnancy, as depicted in the comics, the child would likely have been discovered by now.

"As per the information, the child remains within the mother's womb, yet to be born," Sakazuki confirmed.

The Rear Admiral Onigumo's eyes lit up, "That simplifies matters. We can exclude any born children and focus our efforts on pregnant women. With systematic checks, none shall evade our scrutiny."

Sakazuki regarded Rear Admiral Onigumo with surprise. He certainly had a knack for swift problem-solving. Indeed, in the plot, the Marine Headquarters employed this method during their search.

"It's premature to say. Fleet Admiral Kong has ordered our immediate departure for South Blue tomorrow."

The intensity in Rear Admiral Onigumo's eyes grew, "Just us? No additional personnel?"

Sakazuki affirmed, "Only our contingent."

Rear Admiral Onigumo exclaimed joyfully, "Understood. I'll make the necessary arrangements; we can depart first thing tomorrow morning."

In his view, this mission was a grand opportunity for merit and recognition. Once accomplished, with Sakazuki's promotion to Marine Admiral, they would undoubtedly reap rewards. Naturally, such a distinguished task couldn't be entrusted to others.

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