84. Do You Think I Came To Him For Tea? Fire!

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Rough sea.

The military fleet sailed steadily towards its destination in a fan formation.

Fleet Admiral Akira stood on the leading warship. With his hands in his pockets, he faced the sea breeze, his gaze deep and contemplative, lost in thought.

"Akira, what do you plan to do next?" Sengoku approached, accompanied by Garp and the three admirals—Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan—curious about Akira's intentions.

Sengoku knew Akira was furious with the Director of Impel Down, who had obstructed the progress of the God General's plan. However, he had no idea how Akira intended to resolve the situation.

By nature, Sengoku believed that the best course of action was to involve Commander Kong or the Five Elders. They could mediate, allowing both sides to sit down and communicate calmly. But everyone had been angry earlier, and Akira, the Marine Fleet Admiral, had already spoken out, making it difficult for Sengoku to oppose him.

Given that only a few were aboard this warship, with the rest of the fleet trailing behind, Sengoku decided to probe Akira's thoughts and intentions.

"What do you think?" Akira asked in return.

"If we can talk it out, we should. After all, we're all fighting for justice," Sengoku replied, expressing his honest opinion.

Akira chuckled at his words.

To be fair, if they were ordinary people or just small business owners, Sengoku's approach would indeed be the wisest. Harmony leads to profit, and it's unwise to make enemies over pride. But Akira wasn't just anyone—he was the Marine Fleet Admiral, representing all Marine soldiers worldwide.

Anyone else could afford to compromise, but not him.

Not to mention, the Marines weren't afraid of Impel Down; they could easily crush it if needed. When you have both "reason" and "power," if you don't assert yourself now, you might never get another chance.

"No, no, I should kneel down when I go in later, and ask him to forgive me, the junior, for advising the old Vice Admiral earlier," Akira said, pulling out a cigar, lighting it calmly. "After all, he's a senior official, and my previous actions did embarrass him a bit."

"Uh... what?" Sengoku was immediately silenced.

Garp and Sakazuki's expressions turned sour, their clenched fists whitening at the knuckles—not against Akira, but against Desmond, the Director of Impel Down.

What does Marine's internal discipline have to do with him? And when one grows old, they should know when to step down. Clinging to power despite declining strength would only lead to disaster, likely at the hands of pirates.

As a friend of the old Vice Admiral, Desmond should be grateful, for them not seeking trouble. Especially since everything they did was for justice, for the world's people, with no selfish intent.

In truth, the Marines held the moral high ground.

Particularly now, with Akira stoking the flames.

Though they all knew Akira was only speaking hypothetically, they couldn't help but envision the scenario—a dignified Fleet Admiral of the Marines kneeling before the Director of Impel Down in public. Who could accept that?

Sengoku pursed his lips, realizing that Akira didn't appreciate his earlier suggestion.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have responded like that.

Quickly, Sengoku winked at Garp.

Garp understood immediately and stepped forward. "The one who should kneel is Desmond, Akira. Just tell me what you want to do, and I'll be right there with you," he said, pounding his chest for emphasis.

Akira nodded, satisfied. What he needed was loyalty from his subordinates.

He didn't require unwavering dedication at all times, nor did he demand a constant display of discipline. But when it mattered, they had to stand by his side without hesitation.

When faced with a conflict, even one where the Marines had the upper hand, they couldn't afford to falter.

"I want to use Desmond to establish the Marine's dignity within the World Government," Akira said, taking a deep drag from his cigar. "Let those CP guys know that when they work with us, they need to show more respect to our soldiers."

"You know I'm the Marine's Fleet Admiral. If even I appear weak, what will people think of our sea power? What will our soldiers think of themselves?"

After serving as a Vice Admiral for six years, Akira hadn't lost touch with the rank-and-file soldiers. During Commander Kong's tenure, the Marines were at the beck and call of the Celestial Dragons. The CP agents, being the "close servants" of the Celestial Dragons, were even more insufferable, treating even high-ranking Marines with disdain.

Consider Lucci, the future CP0 in the original story, who didn't hesitate to issue commands to Fleet Admiral Akainu. Or closer to the present, Spandine's brazen attempt to assassinate the Marineford leadership.

The Marines might be the strongest of the three branches, but strength alone doesn't command respect.

Last night, Akira had thought long and hard, deciding to use this situation to accomplish three objectives at once.

"And everyone, don't forget, Impel Down is crucial to the God General's plan. If Desmond decides to cause trouble down the line, this era of great pirates could be prolonged for years," Akira added quietly.

Now, no one hesitated.

Challenging Impel Down was not only beneficial for the Marines but also for the world as a whole.

So what were they waiting for?

F**k him!

"Alright, then I'll make sure to beat Desmond to a pulp," Garp declared, his fists colliding with a thunderous crack. "At worst, I'll get chewed out by the Five Elders and Commander Kong."

Clearly, Garp intended to take full responsibility for whatever happened.

Desmond, as the Director of Impel Down, one of the three major agencies under the World Government, held a rank comparable to that of the Fleet Admiral of the Marines.

Normally, the best solution would be for Akira to handle Desmond himself. Once the matter was settled, the punishment would likely be minimal, with both sides receiving equal blame.

But Akira knew his own limitations. Despite being Fleet Admiral, his power wasn't based on sheer combat strength. If it came down to a direct confrontation, Akira would likely end up on the losing side, even with the strange abilities of his Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon. He might hold out for a while, but the outcome would be inevitable.

So, even though Garp knew his actions would bring severe consequences and escalate the situation, he was willing to take the risk.

A Headquarters Vice Admiral attacking the Director of Impel Down was akin to a CP9 agent attacking the Marine Fleet Admiral.

"This old man still holds the title of Marine Hero, so nothing too serious will happen," Garp sighed.

"No need, Mr. Garp!"

Akira raised his hand and patted Garp's shoulder, a smile on his face. "It's better if I handle this myself."

"Akira, you can't afford to be reckless in a situation like this," Garp cautioned, his brow furrowed. "That guy Desmond belongs to a rare race, and his strength doesn't decline with age."

"Don't worry, I won't lose," Akira replied, clenching his fists confidently. He believed his emperor-level defense, emperor-level speed, and the transformation abilities of his Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon made him unbeatable by anyone except the Four Emperors or an Admiral.

He was also prepared for the possibility that Desmond might possess the combat power of an Admiral.

Garp hesitated, wanting to argue further, but seeing Akira's confidence, he shook his head and remained silent. 'Fine, I'll just keep an eye on things. If it looks like Akira's in trouble, I'll step in.' Garp thought to himself.

"By the way, it looks like there are a few eyes on us. Should we take them out?" Borsalino suddenly pointed to the sky, indicating the presence of a few small black dots.

Akira glanced up and saw the dots—most likely CP agents from the strongest intelligence department. After a moment of thought, he signaled for them to be ignored.

"Fleet Admiral, we're 500 meters away from Impel Down!" A soldier ran over, saluting as he requested further instructions.

Akira looked ahead and saw the massive, ominous structure of Impel Down, its gates tightly shut, standing like an island amidst the cloud-covered sea.

"Hmm, no one's coming to greet us? I will go ask them to open the door," Borsalino muttered, his body beginning to glow as he prepared to dash forward.

Akira stopped him. "Do you think I came here to have tea with Desmond today? Don't bother calling out. Fire at the gate!"

Sengoku, Garp, Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuzan: "..."

---

Inside Impel Down, in the superintendent's office:

"Director Desmond, the Marine's chief staff officer still hasn't left," reported a huge man with two horns on his head, resembling Satan himself. His face was full of worry.

Desmond took the cigarette from his mouth, pressed it hard into the ashtray, and waved dismissively. "Let her stay as long as she wants."

"But..." the man hesitated.

"Huh? Magellan, do you have a problem with my orders?" Desmond's tone was sharp.

Magellan froze, realizing he'd crossed a line. His boss was known for his bad temper. Desmond had spent decades in Impel Down, listening to the wails and pleas of prisoners, and had personally executed countless would-be escapees. His prolonged exposure to the dark, oppressive environment had not only shaped the worldview of all the jailers but had also made Desmond irritable and bloodthirsty.

Magellan sighed inwardly but quickly adjusted his demeanor, knowing that any further hesitation could be dangerous. He couldn't afford to test Desmond's patience any further.

"Of course not! Your orders are absolute, and we will all carry out your will to the letter," Magellan responded firmly.

"Boom, I love hearing that, especially from you, Magellan," Desmond chuckled, leaning back in his chair, thoroughly amused.

Magellan stood silently, not daring to interrupt. He had made that mistake before and received a severe beating for it.

"I know you're here to play the diplomat, but before the Marine Fleet Admiral arrives, I don't want to hear another word about it. Now get out!" Desmond's tone turned cold, his amusement gone as he waved Magellan away.

Magellan exhaled deeply and retreated, closing the door behind him. As he turned, he found himself face-to-face with his colleague.

Hannyabal, wearing his pharaoh's turban, approached cautiously. "Well, Magellan, did the Director agree?"

"No," Magellan replied, shaking his head.

"What? But you've seen the plan Marine sent over. You know it's a good one!" Hannyabal said, his disbelief evident. He even forgot to keep his voice down, raising it slightly as he continued, "Just follow the plan, and the world will return to peaceful days. Civilians won't have to live in fear of losing their families anymore. It's an excellent plan, and it doesn't cost us anything. What is the Director thinking?!" He grabbed Magellan by the collar, frustration boiling over.

Magellan's face darkened. "In Impel Down, we just follow orders."

Hannyabal's enthusiasm deflated, and he muttered to himself, "Director, Director... If I were the Director, I wouldn't be so emotional."

In the bureaucratic institutions of the World Government, the immediate superior was almost like a god. Unconditional obedience to orders was the rule, whether you were in Marine, CP, or Impel Down. Subordinates couldn't refuse or argue with their superiors without severe consequences.

Marine was relatively better in the past, with a sense of justice acting as a moral restraint. However, Impel Down was different. Here, the Director ruled like an emperor, with the power to do as he pleased, even to kill.

Resigned, the two left together, only to find the Marine Chief Staff Officer, Tsuru, waiting quietly nearby.

"Magellan, Hannyabal, hello!" Tsuru greeted them warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, she asked, "Is Director Desmond willing to see me today?"

Magellan lowered his head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Chief Staff Officer, but the Director still refuses to see any guests."

Tsuru sighed, but she had expected as much. "It's okay. I'll wait until he's willing to give me a chance to persuade him."

Hannyabal couldn't contain himself and blurted out, "Vice Admiral Tsuru, why not convince Fleet Admiral Akira to come over? It's because of him that our Director refuses. If—just if—he's willing to come and give in, your plan that benefits the whole world will definitely be approved quickly."

Tsuru was taken aback. She stared at Hannyabal, trying to process what he had just said. What surprised her most was that he wasn't joking—he genuinely believed that the Fleet Admiral of the Marines could simply come over and give in to make things right.

Tsuru took a deep breath, unsure of how to respond. But after a moment of thought, she realized that trying to explain would be a waste of time. Spending too long in Impel Down could narrow one's perspective, like a frog at the bottom of a well.

"My child, the world is a big place," Tsuru said gently. "Sometimes, it's good to go out and see more of it."

Hannyabal frowned, about to press further when suddenly, a loud explosion echoed through the facility.

The piercing sound of alarms immediately followed.

"Warning! Warning! Impel Down is under attack."

"The enemy has invaded, the enemy has invaded."

"Prepare to meet the enemy!"

"Prepare to face the enemy!"