Chapter 77
In Sabaody Archipelago, at the Grove No. 73, inside a hotel.
After the battle, Carnes and Albedo returned directly to the hotel. Once there, Carnes took a shower, washing off all the bloodstains from his body. He then relaxed on the hotel's windowsill, sipping tea.
During his trip, he made sure to check his influence value.
After a whole day of events, his influence value had increased by over 500, bringing it to a total of 3677 points.
He now had 333 power points left to recruit special crew members, but his current influence value was more than enough to get crew of three lower levels.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully recruiting senior crew members +5!]
[Ding! Congratulations to Host for successfully recruiting a medium crew member +10!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully recruiting junior crew members +10!]
[Host]: Carnes
[Influence Value]: 3677
[Total crew]: 231
[Affiliated Pirates]: "Noruko Pirates," "Vibrus Pirates," and "Bonney Pirates"
[Special Crew]: "Demiurge," "Otoko Yuta," "Ulquiorra Cifer," "Uchiha Obito," "Nagato," "Power," "Albedo"
[Senior Crew]:45
[Medium Crew]:90
[Elementary Crew]:90
[Item]: Eternal Gale･Medium
"Is the total number only 231? It's still too short..." Carnes murmured as he looked at his panel.
But he soon felt relieved, despite the relatively small crew size compared to others, Carnes wasn't in a rush to eliminate everyone. He believed that taking down a few key targets would be enough for now.
Gazing down at the tea in his cup and seeing his reflection, Carnes fell into deep thought.
Time flew by, and during this time, the Marines were seemingly inactive. The first half of the Grand Line had fallen into an eerie silence, signaling the calm before the storm.
Almost all the Marines were secretly mobilizing and gathering troops to face the Whitebeard Pirates.
At Marineford, Navy Headquarters:
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there's news from Vice Admiral Momonga!"
"Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, has finally surrendered and agreed to our terms. She's now heading this way!"
A Marine officer rushed to report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Upon receiving this news, Sengoku's stern expression eased slightly.
"Finally she agreed, huh? She's quite powerful it would be helpful when she's on our side for this war," he remarked, looking at the file on his desk.
"With this, we have five of the Seven Warlords of the Sea ready to face Whitebeard Pirates!"
"What about Dracule Mihawk? Haven't we received any contact from him?" Sengoku asked the officer.
The officer shook his head. "No, no contact at all, and no news of his whereabouts."
Sengoku's face darkened. "Where did that guy disappear to at this crucial time?"
Just then, another officer rushed in, gasping for breath.
"Report! Fleet Admiral, regarding the Sabaody Archipelago incident, Admiral Kizaru captured over five hundred pirates in a fit of rage. It's now too difficult and time consuming to send them to Impel Down, what should we do with them?"
"Let someone else handle it for now," Sengoku waved his hand.
"Except for news related to Whitebeard, don't bother me with such matters right now."
At this moment, Sengoku was too occupied with preparing the war against Whitebeard Pirates to concern himself with these minor matters.
Suddenly, he thought of someone and felt a little headache.
"By the way, where is Garp?"
The officer hesitated before responding, "Vice Admiral Garp... just went to 'Impel Down'."
As soon as he heard that Garp had gone to Impel Down, Sengoku's headache worsened.
"What is that man doing? In such a severe situation like this, he still goes there."
But before Sengoku could finish speaking, another officer rushed in, gasping for breath.
The officer continued, "Sir, something's wrong!"
"Huh?" Sengoku looked at the officer with some doubts.
Then, the running officer spoke in a panicked voice.
The Whitebeard Pirates...they've taken action!"
As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of many Marine officers present turned serious.
The room fell into tension, and Sengoku demanded more information.
"Is this report from the surveillance ship? Hand it to me, I want to hear it myself!" Sengoku said pointing at the den den mushi beside him.
But before the officer could speak, he said, "Actually, let me make the call, I want to hear it myself."
The officer hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sir, we lost contact with the 23 surveillance ships responsible for monitoring the actions of the Whitebeard Pirates' main ship, the Moby Dick!"
Sengoku's face changed immediately. "What did you say?!"
The report didn't end there. "In the New World, other pirate groups seem restless as well. The scale and timing of their actions are completely out of our control!"
Sengoku slammed the table in frustration. "We've been preempted! Arrange new surveillance ships immediately!"
The ordered officer turned around and ran away to inform others!
As the officers hurried to comply, Sengoku's mind was preoccupied.
Sengoku turned his head to look at the other officers and said:
"Now it is impossible to know the whereabouts of the Whitebeard pirates. Due to the imprisonment of Fire Fist Ace, there may even be a decisive battle between Marines and Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Quickly notify everyone!" Sengoku commanded, and the officers responded in unison.
"Yes, sir!"
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