Chapter 172: Plan to Attack the World Government
"Fleet Admiral, news just came in: the four great pirates have separated. Red was spotted leaving on a small boat outside Whitebeard’s territory in the Lubloom Sea. As for the Golden Lion, he most likely used his ability to make his battleship fly, preventing us from detecting him."
In the Fleet Admiral’s office at Marine Headquarters, Marineford, an intelligence officer reported to Kong.
Kong frowned. "Are you forgetting someone?"
Among the four, Alucard was the most unpredictable and the youngest.
The intelligence officer bowed his head in shame. "My apologies, sir. After Shiki and Red left, the branch Marines reported monitoring the area for over ten hours but still haven’t seen Alucard emerge."
Kong closed his eyes in thought for a moment, then speculated, "That guy killed the former second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates; Whitebeard would never agree to him staying. And I know Red’s personality, he wouldn’t either. So that means..." Thinking this, Kong’s closed eyes suddenly snapped open. "Did he leave on the Golden Lion’s ship?!"
"If that’s the case, we need to take precautions, Fleet Admiral!" A civilian official standing beside the office quickly urged.
"But the Flying Pirates, with the Float-Float Fruit ability, are impossible to track," another person lamented.
Kong considered this, then gestured for the others in the office to calm down. He said, "Indeed, with the Marines’ current capabilities, we cannot pursue Shiki. In that case, we will simply strengthen our defensive readiness." He paused, then added, "As for Red, I already have a detailed plan. Notify the high-ranking officials still at Headquarters to gather for a strategy meeting regarding Red’s immediate arrest."
"Yes, sir."
...
Aboard the Flying Pirate Ship, the Golden Lion.
Shiki sat on a throne in the center of the inner ship, which resembled a palace. However, having only recently escaped prison, he hadn’t yet managed to recruit new subordinates or even reassemble his surviving old ones. As a result, the enormous living room below him felt incredibly empty.
Alucard sat on a tatami mat to Shiki’s right, a low Japanese-style table laden with various delicacies before him.
"What’s wrong? Not to your taste? I’ve collected delicacies from all over the world here," Shiki said, biting into the meat of a rare Sea King.
"Do you have virgin blood?" Alucard asked in a half-joking, half-serious tone.
Shiki, with meat still in his mouth, his expression hardening, swallowed the meat without chewing. After relaying Alucard’s request to his waiting subordinates via a Den Den Mushi, he then commanded the ship to descend over the nearest town.
Less than ten minutes passed before Alucard heard the screams of countless people from outside. Five minutes later, the sounds turned into roars and pleas. Approximately five more minutes passed, and a maid, her eyes filled with terror, approached Alucard holding a tray. On it was only a stemmed wine glass filled with fresh blood.
Shiki chuckled. "I told my subordinates to capture and kill the youngest ones; they’re definitely virgins. Enjoy! If you want more, don’t hesitate."
Shiki was currently observing Alucard with an air of amusement. When Alucard made that request, he thought Alucard was playing a trick, assuming Alucard would never expect him to actually procure virgin blood in such a short time.
But to Shiki’s surprise, Alucard expressionlessly took the stemmed wine glass from the maid’s tray. After gesturing for her to leave, he genuinely began to drink the blood.
"A vampire...?" Shiki instinctively muttered to himself. Though he was the "Golden Lion," he couldn’t bring himself to eat raw meat or drink animal blood like a lion. But this kid in front of him... could it be that he wasn’t just messing with him earlier?
"Hmm... it is virgin, but the blood of such a young one has a somewhat bland taste." Alucard took only one sip before setting the glass down. He glanced at Shiki. "Have you thought it over? Do you want to attack the World Government?"
He had spent several days on this ship, and Alucard had slowly revealed the reasons behind Roger’s surrender, allowing Shiki to largely understand why Roger did what he did. As for the changes in Shiki’s mindset, Alucard didn’t care.
"Ah, that certainly is a very interesting proposal." The Golden Lion lit a new cigar, took a drag, and exhaled a puff of smoke. "But you must be well aware of the World Government’s true strength. Just you and I working together, let alone adding that Whitebeard fellow, would still probably be unable to shake them."
Shiki added at the end, "Don’t think I’m afraid of death. That Red guy has lost his fighting spirit, but I haven’t."
"Hah..." Alucard chuckled faintly, ignoring Shiki’s last remark. He went straight to the point: "Regarding what you said yesterday, the method you originally planned to use to attack the East Blue with those monsters can be adapted for attacking the World Government."
"Hmm?" Shiki looked puzzled. "Didn’t you always look down on that plan of mine?"
He clearly remembered the intense disdain on Alucard’s face during their conversation yesterday when he spoke of using the bizarre animals from the "Miracle" island to completely devastate the East Blue. Why would he suddenly want to use that plan to attack the World Government now?
Alucard finally drained the glass of blood and said, "Of course, relying solely on those beasts is impossible. It would require the application of my ability as well."
"Your ability?" Shiki asked curiously.
"I happen to want to test this out, and show you in the process." A look of anticipation appeared on Alucard’s face. "Let’s head to that "Miracle" island."
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