Kapitel 89: 89. Sakazuki, You Go To Be The Factory Director!
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"Um?"
Under the Red Line, Akira had just stepped onto the warship and was about to order the soldiers to set sail when he suddenly froze.
Even without mastering Observation Haki, his inhuman senses picked up on something.
— On Mariejois, there's a powerful figure who's furious~.
Although he wasn't there, he was certain it was the Five Elders.
After all, who else would dare to unleash such an imposing presence?
"It feels... very oppressive!"
Akira squinted slightly, silently trying to sense more.
The momentum of the Five Elders isn't something you feel every day.
If he didn't take advantage of this rare moment, how could he get a general sense of their strength?
At that moment, the thick dark clouds in the sky shifted.
It was as if five invisible tornadoes had torn through them, leaving five massive gaps.
And then, just like that.
In the span of a few breaths, the Five Elders withdrew their aura.
Akira shook his head in disappointment.
In such a short time, and from such a distance, he couldn't gather much information.
He could only tell from the disrupted clouds that they were on par with Whitebeard and Roger in their prime.
After all, only the Four Emperors could release such an aura that would stir the clouds.
Akira ordered, "Return to Marineford."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
The warship turned and headed back to Marineford.
All the way there.
As Akira disembarked, the soldiers guarding the port immediately saluted.
"Welcome back, Fleet Admiral!"
"Welcome back, Fleet Admiral!"
The voices rang out in unison, echoing across the fort.
It was like an announcement, and all the soldiers, whether busy or resting, heard it, knowing Akira had returned.
"Fleet Admiral-sama is back from the Holy Land, hurry up! Let's go greet him."
"I regret not going to Impel Down today. If nothing else, I could at least see the Fleet Admiral."
"I hope Fleet Admiral Akira wasn't wronged in the Holy Land. I worry his fighting spirit might be dampened. I remember someone once said that only a woman's gentle heart can restore one's fighting spirit. I'm ready."
"If you're feverish, go elsewhere. Fleet Admiral Akira has several wives at home."
Soldiers gathered from all directions upon hearing the news.
But they all tactfully left a path leading to the office building, not blocking Akira's way. Their eyes were full of admiration.
Seeing this, Akira couldn't help but smile.
With a slight nod to both sides, he walked straight ahead.
Under everyone's gaze, Akira finally returned to the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Fleet Admiral-sama, welcome back."
Rouge stood up and approached, quickly taking his cloak of justice, a smile on her face.
Akira loosened his tie, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "The enthusiasm of the soldiers can be quite stressful at times."
"Doesn't that just mean you're very popular among them?" Rouge replied with a smile.
"Hahaha, yes," Akira chuckled.
It was indeed far better to be admired by the soldiers than to be ignored or even criticized by them. Their excitement today was understandable, considering the significant victory they were celebrating.
Crushing a powerful force and personally defeating their leader was a major victory for the Marines, and it boosted their morale immensely. This wasn't just a victory; it was the most devastating attack on Impel Down in eight hundred years. No wonder the soldiers were so thrilled.
As for how the soldiers knew about the operation?
Most of the officers and soldiers who had returned from Impel Down couldn't help but boast to their comrades. Word spread quickly, and soon 90% of all Marineford knew about the major action that had taken place.
Akira picked up the documents on his desk and began to review them. But suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Akira looked up, curious.
Little Robin, the deputy to the chief staff officer, appeared, clearly in a rush. Her face was flushed from running so fast.
"Brother, brother!"
Robin took a few deep breaths as she hurried over, raising a document in her hand. Her tone was filled with excitement. "The latest instructions from the Five Elders just came from the CP department."
"That Director Desmond has been fired!"
"And not only that, the Five Elders are allowing you to mobilize the Marines to execute the God's Generals Plan in Impel Down."
"The official papers for the removal of the Impel Down Director and for the Marines to be stationed there are being sent by the CP0 and are still on their way."
Akira's eyes widened in surprise.
Without a word, he took the document and read it carefully, word by word.
Good grief, he had planned to return to Impel Down tomorrow for a thorough discussion with the director. But the Five Elders had already taken decisive action. Not only did they remove Desmond, but they also approved Akira's previous proposal.
"What on earth did Desmond do to make the Five Elders so furious?" Akira muttered to himself after reading the document several times.
He was extremely curious.
Unfortunately, the Marine intelligence department wasn't as powerful as the CP, so it was impossible to know what exactly had happened in the Holy Land.
"It seems I'll need to visit Commander-in-Chief Kong soon and get the full story from him."
"That'll also make it easier to carry out the second ultimate mission in the future."
A wide smile spread across Akira's face, a clear sense of joy radiating from him.
Seeing this, Rouge and little Robin couldn't help but smile as well.
"But speaking of it, the butterfly effect is in motion."
"In my memory, it was only when Shiki escaped from prison that the position of leader was replaced by Magellan."
Akira pinched his chin, lost in thought. But after a moment, he shook his head, dismissing his concerns.
"Well, I'm always causing some butterfly effects anyway," he mused.
The early replacement of Impel Down's director was just another ripple, like how future Admiral Fujitora had joined the Marines years ahead of schedule.
"Rouge, order a few bottles of champagne from the kitchen. Keep some in the office from now on."
Akira's instructions carried a celebratory tone. This was a significant victory, both for the Marines and for him personally, and it called for a proper celebration.
After Rouge acknowledged his request, Akira turned his attention to little Robin.
"Robin, I need your help with something."
"Anything, brother," Robin replied eagerly.
"I need you to write a sincere apology letter. The main purpose is to apologize for leading the fleet to attack Impel Down today."
Akira's lips curled slightly as his eyes glimmered with a plan.
If Desmond were still the director, an apology would be the last thing on Akira's mind. He'd probably settle things with a fistfight instead.
But with Desmond out of the picture and no new director appointed yet, it was crucial to build a positive relationship with the jailers. After all, the Marines were about to start using the pirates imprisoned there for their own training.
Those jailers, having just been overwhelmed by the Marines and then losing their director, would likely be feeling a mix of fear and anger. A well-crafted apology could help smooth things over, ensuring they wouldn't cause trouble and would even cooperate in the future.
"It's just a letter," Akira thought. "No need to make it public. It's for internal circulation within Impel Down."
Akira, ever the strategist, saw no harm in swallowing a bit of pride for the sake of long-term gains.
"In the letter, make sure to explain why the Marines acted as we did," Akira instructed. "Emphasize the necessity of our actions—make sure it's clear we had good reasons."
He added with a smirk, "And mention how Desmond was always giving us a hard time. Just a little embellishment with some creative language."
"Finally, stress that the world is counting on the Marines to take action and save lives."
Akira raised a finger for emphasis. "My one requirement is this: make sure the jailers let go of today's events and are willing to work with us."
Robin nodded, understanding the gravity of the task. She took Akira's words seriously and quickly left to get started on the letter.
Not long after, a CP0 arrived.
"Fleet Admiral-sama, I'm here to deliver documents on behalf of the Five Elders."
The CP0, dressed in pure white and wearing a mask, approached the door. Usually, he would've walked in without hesitation, but this time, seeing Akira engrossed in his work, he hesitated.
He gently knocked on the door instead.
"Huh? Please come in," Akira said, surprised.
The CP0's sudden politeness caught him off guard. Back when Akira was just a Vice Admiral, he'd seen these CP0s march into the office of Commander-in-Chief Kong without a second thought, as if they owned the place.
But now, they were showing respect. Had something changed? Akira couldn't help but wonder what had brought about this shift.
Akira turned his mind, piecing together the situation, and seemed to grasp the underlying reason behind the sudden politeness from the CP0. However, he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he got up and responded courteously.
The CP0 handed the documents to Akira, exchanged a few polite words, and left in a hurry. Akira watched the CP0's hurried exit with a smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
He then placed the document on his desk, tapped the table thoughtfully, and reached for the Den Den Mushi.
"Pere~Pere~Pere~Pere~!"
"Moshi Moshi, this is Akira. Send Sakazuki to me at once."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral! Right away!"
Akira hung up, and before long, Sakazuki, having learned it was the Fleet Admiral summoning him, stormed into the office with his usual intensity.
"Fleet Admiral, you called for me?" Sakazuki asked, his voice as firm as ever.
"Hmm! Take a look at this document," Akira said, handing over the papers brought by the CP0.
Sakazuki took them and quickly scanned the contents, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Impel Down's director has been removed? And we're allowed to send in soldiers to extract the strong prisoners?"
Sakazuki's face reflected his shock. Even he hadn't expected that after Akira and Desmond's visit to Mariejois, one of them would be dismissed and sent packing.
"Fleet Admiral, what about your punishment?" Sakazuki asked, concern lacing his tone.
He was genuinely worried that the Five Elders might have imposed a similar or even harsher punishment on Akira. If Akira were removed, it would be a significant blow to the Marines and the entire world.
A grin spread across Akira's face as he tossed a cigar to Sakazuki and lit one for himself. Taking a deep drag, he exhaled a cloud of smoke and chuckled, "My punishment? Just a simple apology for offending them."
"That's it? Nothing more?" Sakazuki asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Hmm! That's all," Akira confirmed with a nod.
Sakazuki was first relieved and then astonished. By all logic, given that the Marines initiated the conflict and caused Impel Down to lose face, Akira should have faced severe consequences. Yet, the outcome was entirely different, a testament to Akira's exceptional diplomatic and strategic skills. The fact that the Five Elders chose not to pursue the matter further spoke volumes about Akira's influence.
"I have a task for you now," Akira said, pulling Sakazuki out of his thoughts.
Sakazuki immediately straightened up, ready for orders. "I'm at your command."
"Vice Admiral Tsuru is currently managing the situation in Impel Down. Take this document to her and announce the news to everyone there," Akira instructed, handing Sakazuki the official papers.
He then pulled out the thick apology letter Robin had written, handing it over as well. "And bring this letter with you. Apologize on my behalf with passion and sincerity."
Sakazuki accepted the letter with a serious expression, knowing the importance of delivering the message effectively.
Akira continued, "After that, take some soldiers and establish the new Marine branch at Impel Down. Vice Admiral Tsuru will guide you on how to manage the pirates and ensure their cooperation."
"And don't rush back. The pirates in Impel Down are dangerous, and they need someone strong to keep them in check. You'll be in charge there for the time being."
Sakazuki nodded, understanding the gravity of the assignment. However, Akira's next words caught him off guard.
"Oh, and one more thing," Akira added, his eyes gleaming with a sudden thought. "There's a secret mission that only you and I will know about."
Sakazuki leaned in, lowering his voice as if they were sharing a clandestine plot. "I'm listening."
Akira leaned closer, his tone serious yet strangely casual. "I want you to build a good relationship with Deputy Commissioner Magellan. Make him your close brother."
Sakazuki blinked, momentarily speechless. "..."
"Wait, what?" Sakazuki's mind raced. "Did I just hear that right?"
He was still reeling from the recent clash with Magellan, and now Akira was asking him to befriend the very man he'd just beaten up. The irony wasn't lost on him.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein